Who had it out for Spitzer? … who didn't?

 

 

Novosti, Russia

Who Wanted the Head of

the New York Governor?

 

"Spitzer, it must be recognized, had his career and family life taken down by the forces of political retribution … Only the naive can doubt that this was a pre-arranged 'sex scandal.' … Perhaps the explanation is that Hillary frightens Republicans far more than her party-comrade, Barack Obama?"

 

By Political Columnist Andrei Fedyashin

 

Translated By Igor Medvedev

 

March 14, 2008

 

Russia - Novosti - Original Article (Russian)

Ashley Alexandra Dupre: The woman with whom Spitzer let loose his inner wants. But was there more to this story than Spitzer's ungoverned libido?

MOSCOW: Less than a week after a "sex scandal" erupted around the Governor of the State of New York, on March 17 Democrat Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation.

 

Unofficially, on the day that The New York Times published the spicy details of his phone order for a "short brunette," it was clear that Spitzer, who two years ago was thought to have a promising future as a likely Democratic candidate for the White House - had destroyed his political career and probably his family. She [the brunette] was "delivered" to the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, where the 48-year-old Spitzer spent the night before testifying to Congress. How badly everything turned out! Bad from a purely moral point of view and doubly bad in a U.S. presidential election year.

 

It later transpired that Spitzer had used the services of this brunette and other call girls through a certain company called the Emperor's Club VIP, and over the last ten years had paid it over $80,000. And considering that he allegedly paid $1,000 for this one brunette, one concludes that he must have had 80 of them during this time. This is quite a propensity for variety - even in ten years.

 

In a nutshell, this is the tale of the downfall of the now-former governor of America's third-largest state. And now, apart from having to completely quit politics, he stands accused of the "illegal promotion of prostitution," since the call girl was dispatched from New York to Metropolitan Washington D.C. According to the laws of the United States, transporting someone across state lines to procure sex is an even greater offense than prostitution itself. Moreover, he may also be deprived of his right to practice law. Simply put, when it rains it pours.

 

If you are unfamiliar with Spitzer's record and fail to take account of his backround, you might get the impression that these charges of "illegal sex" came like a bolt from the blue. Sex scandals in America, of course, are nothing new: Almost every second U.S. President has committed adultery, with John F. Kennedy - given his record of such transgressions - mastering his White House rivals. That's to say nothing of Senators, House members and other governors.

 

At his Beverly Hills office, Hustler magazine publisher and sex magnate Larry Flynt offers Spitzer's 'short brunette' Ashley Alexandra Dupre, $1 million to pose in his magazine, Mar. 14.

But these scandals do differ. Some are more moderate while others hit like a thunder-clap. The Spitzer story is of the latter category. Since this is a presidential year it couldn't have been otherwise. It's embarrassing again to speak here of political hypocrisy in the United States. It's so unfortunate to devalue this meaningful notion through such frequent repetition.

 

Spitzer, it must be recognized, had his career and family life taken down by the forces of political retribution. Prior to his election as governor, he was New York State Attorney General for seven years, winning fame for two "great deeds." First, he had been quite successful in battling abuses in the banking and financial spheres of Wall Street. During this time he even won the nickname the "Sheriff of Wall Street," earning himself large numbers of enemies in America's financial center (almost all of them Republican supporters). Secondly, he cracked down on "prostitution rings" (which, as it turned out, he used himself), demolishing at least two of them.

 

After his election as governor, the abrasive and arrogant nature of Eliot Spitzer's character was exposed. In the two years that followed his 2006 victory, his popularity had evaporated. He fought with everyone. By March he had made many enemies, and these enemies had many reasons to organize a small scandal for him - a scandal with wide-ranging consequences.  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Only the naive can doubt that this was a pre-arranged "sex scandal." Who better to bring down, if not a Democrat and personal friend of Hillary Clinton who had formally pledged last May to support her at the upcoming Democratic convention? As a governor, Spitzer is among one of about 800 so-called super-delegates, who may well decide which candidate will lead the party's fight for the White House - Clinton or Barrack Obama. 

 

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer endorses John Kerry in 2004.

How can anyone believe that the FBI - less than a half-year before the Democratic Party Convention - suddenly received from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) information about Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring, and that within only two weeks had conducted an inquiry and published its results? Perhaps the explanation is that Hillary frightens Republicans far more than her party-comrade, Barack Obama?

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

To summarize, this is altogether bad and dishonest, but alas, it isn't new for America. After all, it's no coincidence that while visiting America in the beginning of the last century, one of Britain's most famous writers, Bernard Shaw, issued the ironic phrase, "Yes, irony is of course my element, but in front of the Statue of Liberty, even I lose my sense of humor."

 

[Editor's Note: Could not confirm this Bernard Shaw quote in English].

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US March 15, 11:57pm]