When news broke of Elliot Spitzer's call girl rendezvous (let it not be lost that we're using both a singular and plural word here), MSNBC's guests were aghast the public was paying so much attention to a silly little sex scandal — that was about to tear Albany politics apart. Not to mention the not unsubstantial event of potentially naming New York's first black, and blind, governor.
"You know, big deal, married man goes to prostitute!" exclaimed commentator Alan Dershowitz, who was Harvard's youngest professor at age 28. "In Europe, this wouldn't even make the back pages of the newspaper. It's a uniquely American story. We’re a uniquely, you know, pandering society and hypocritical society, when it comes to sex."
Yes, let's follow European policy on this one: A man whose platform rests on ethics reform, and who took pride in busting a prostitution ring, sleeps with a call girl. Proceed directly to Go.
MSNBC's Contessa Brewer: One more thing to ask you, Alan, you point out and rightly so that in other countries, there's a completely different view of having mistresses or visiting prostitutes, and even whether that activity is legal or illegal, but the fact of the matter is the people were arrested last week on charges of running this emperors club vip, their not only accused of prostitution, they're also accused of funneling profits and laundering money.
Dershowitz: Yeah, he has nothing to do with that. That's why I didn't approve of The New York Times headline, involved in prostitution ring. I mean, at worst, he's a john, he's a customer. And a customer can't be held responsible for whether or not the ring pays their taxes or launders money. I mean, let’s not take him beyond what his level of accountability is.
Editorial Director
No, the prostitution scandal is not that big of a deal, he's human but I still find it amazing how these public officials know they are constantly in the spotlight and everything they do is scrutinized yet they for some reason believe that they are invisible and invulnerable. Why do they get themselves in such big messes to then look like idiots when they are apologizing? Why is it that such people just throw out their morals to see how far they can take things? I feel awful for the lack of common sense of these men and what they do to their families. To survive the lack of common sense these men have their wives are very strong women to take such crap from the ones that supposedly love them.
Anne, you are absolutely right.
Another thing is Alan is not wrong, but, considering he's a LAWYER who knows the law as well as he does, he has to argue this both as a guy who had sex, okay, but as a Lawyer, he knows the legal ramifications, especially since this guy was an Attorney General and Governor of a state. Geeeez, Alan, get with the program!
I expected the local media hoo-ha about this, but starting at 6pm Eastern the evening news from the BBC, France and Rome spent significant time on it (BCC opened and closed with it.)
absolutely horrid. I couldn't care less who Eliot was or wasn't screwing, much less constant and ongoing coverage of this "scandal". It made me yawn.
The only good thing was her pic from the yacht in St. Tropez, that made me compliment Eliot's tastes, but at those prices, I'd rather sleep with my hand.
I usually always disagree with Dershowitz, but he couldn't be more correct.
on the other hand, this is the same society that craves daily Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan updates.
The only thing I'll say is that I am happy Spitzer got busted and humiliated because he's a sanctimonious and hypocritical prick who when trying to prosecute Grasso for essentially making too much money (say what?)
tried suggesting he was screwing his secretary and threatened to put her on the stand.
I want Spitzer in jail getting a foot of someone's Mississippi blacksnake daily.
No, it isn't a big deal at all.
The media is just groping for any sweet gossip that they can make a big deal out of.