Monday, March 10, 2008

Spitzer, prostitution, and superdelegation

By Michael J.W. Stickings

NYT: Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring

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Chait at The Plank:

Clinton Loses Superdelegate?

Eliot Spitzer is about to have a news conference, allegedly regarding his involvement with a prostitution ring. (As a customer? Prostitute? Did he handle their finances? We'll see.)

Anyway, let me be the first to go there: Spitzer is a superdelegate and has endorsed Clinton. I assume he may lose his superdelegate vote.

Still waiting for him to speak...

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The NYT article has been updated: "Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a person briefed on the federal investigation."

Spitzer = Client 9.

Whoops. Nice job, Mr. Crusader.

(Whatever my views on prostitution -- I do think prostitution laws should be relaxed, but, obviously, it doesn't look good when a crusader against prostitution rings gets caught in one himself.)

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Spitzer has apologized (via CNN): "I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public, to whom I promised better... I am disappointed that I failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself."

Alas. I have always liked Governor Spitzer, but this looks to be a pretty damaging scandal.

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New NYT: "Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who gained national prominence relentlessly pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing, has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a law enforcement official and a person briefed on the investigation."

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Update (5:37 pm): It is being reported that Spitzer could resign as early as this evening. Lt. Gov. David Paterson would be sworn in as governor.

What a sudden, and dramatic, political fall.

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