March 11, 2008

Politicians and Prostitutes

Posted by Samhita Mukhopadhyay at 4:00PM

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(Ed's note: WireTap is thrilled to see our very own, WireTap contributor and editorial board advisor, Samhita Mukhopadhyay on The Nation online as their guest blogger this month! Be sure to check out her fearless, insightful takes on timely issues in the news, and post a comment of support. Thank you for highlighting some of the brightest young leaders, The Nation!)

I think I saw at least three different bloggers (including myself) refer to yesterday's admission by NY Governor Eliot Spitzer's hiring of a sex worker with just the word "wow." Understandable, given Spitzer's legal history wherein he has gained recognition for successfully prosecuting prostitution rings. Quite a contradiction it seems, but alas we see time and again, political power -- which often manifests as hyper-masculinity -- produces powerful men that just can't keep it in their pants. It makes sense to descend into the preconditioned response of chastising a politician for abusing power and trying to (stupidly) get away with paying for sex, not to mention transporting a human for the purpose of paying for sex. I think we can all agree that if a sex worker is going to get prosecuted, he should as well. No questions. ...