Reluctantly Weighing in.....

BBC reactions to the Eliot Spitzer Scandal

OK....I don't know why anyone is so surprised that a power hungry politician would have an invincibility complex, and a thirst for more... so to say.

I'm not going to get caught up in Eliot Spitzer's morals... whatever, those who know anything about me already should know what I think about this. I have certain beliefs, but for others, live and let live I say.

What ultimately drove me to mention this wasn't so much the story itself but rather the reaction to it, and the perceptions related to it... both domestically and abroad.

The BBC link above allows you to check out comments from readers which include Americans, as well as people from all over the world, primarily Europe.

A couple of things struck me. First the BBC is often promoted by intellectuals in America as being an unbiased news source. I think such an ideal is tough to achieve, and the BBC's reporting on this issue showed a lack of comprehension of the story.

The headlines and rhetoric of BBC writers support an idea that this is nothing more than the U.S.'s puritan leanings. I'm pretty certain there are a lot of Muslims all over the world who would question the notion of the United States as "Puritan". Certainly there are many residual behaviors that remain from the puritan era, however, the people who go out of their way to crack down on the social mores of others are a minority here in the states (albeit too powerful of a minority).

There is a lot of data to support that many secularists here have just not found motivation to become involved in politics in the past. Turnout in the Democrat primaries has shown that the increased discontent with Washington has brought more of the masses out of the woodwork. In fact even the Republican party, largely controlled by social conservatives has elected arguably a secular moderate to represent it in the fall (in part because the social conservatives & fundamentalists were politically fractured).

But anyway.... I digress...
If you read a random sampling of the BBC comments there is almost NO MENTION OF MONEY LAUNDERING!!!!! Which I guess goes to show that the BBC was largely successful in perpetuating the stereotype.

Experts: Spitzer's potential troubles may include prison

Money Laundering, Cross-Border Prostitution at Heart of Spitzer Allegations

"Anti-money laundering laws require financial institutions to report suspicious transactions to the government. The objective of the laws are to help the government catch terrorist financiers, drug lords and other criminals. One bank's call on suspicious activities is the reason the FBI's public corruption unit got called in and uncovered the prostitution ring, one Justice Department official told ABC News.
The investigation into Emperors Club VIP began with an Internal Revenue Service inquiry into wire transfers that showed up on transaction records as QAT consulting. QAT and the Emperors Club have the same address listing in New York."

Prostitution is a misdemeanor in NY. However Money Laundering, and potential identity theft (Apparently he used a "friend's" name in the Emperors Club ledgers) and transporting prostitutes across state lines... all carry much more weight.

What pisses me off is this isn't about whether you think prostitution is a big deal or not.... As far as I'm concerned it might even be better for the U.S. to legalize it (regulation & taxes... help prevent spread of disease, and abuse of minors). Again, what you think about that issue is IRRELEVANT!

Because:

A. A governor is supposed to uphold the law
B. Spitzer broke the law he claims to uphold on multiple counts
C. Spitzer's dilemma show incompetence (He is supposed to be an expert on the law).
D. Spitzer's actions have made him a lame duck and have tied up the New York government.

Now, Should Spitzer get prison time? Well I'm no expert on the law... but I'm guessing probably not. A fine, a misdemeanor charge, sure.... loss of his job as governor (provided he didn't have the sense to step down) ABSOLUTELY. While his actions are phsycologically damaging for his family and associates, there is no crime against that. It would be rather tough and perhaps even more arbitrary than typical law to enforce.

The American system of justice is supposed to provide Spitzer with a fair and reasonable trial. Unfortunately for Spitzer his hypocrisy as a former prosecutor with zero tolerance will probably be his undoing. It will be an excellent example of the theory of karma in action.

So in summary should Spitzer have stepped down? Yes because no longer belongs there, nor will he have the political leverage or respect to serve.

And for the Europeans who dismiss this as a sex scandal that is no big deal... it happens here all the time.... etc., etc., Again, the crime wasn't so much deviant sexual behavior as it was the law enforcer breaking the law. And if they believe that law officials abusing the law is NO BIG DEAL.... then it is sort of a real sad world isn't it? And for those that will say what Bush has done is worse.... well you are probably right, but as it stands no American laws that can legitimately be prosecuted were broken. The Bush Administration knows how to manipulate the system without damning infractions. They are perhaps even more skilled at it then the Clintons before them.

I think the question is why couldn't Spitzer have an old fashioned extra marital affair? No one would have really cared too much about that. I'm guessing it is because of freaky fetishes. Thoughts?