Public shame, private pain, 15 minutes of fame
The victims in a 'victimless' crime
Leah Werier, Staff
“I have always stated that I want ethics and integrity to be the hallmarks of my administration.” —Eliot Spitzer
It is ironic that a man who wanted the hallmarks of his administration as governor of New York to be ethics and integrity will be remembered as “client number nine” in an alleged prostitution ring. The New York Times reported on March 10, 2008 that Eliot Spitzer had been involved with a service called the “Emperors Club VIP.” Suspicious money transfers from Mr. Spitzer’s bank account to bank accounts set up by the Emperor’s Club VIP sparked a federal investigation into the alleged prostitution ring, which led to his ultimate resignation as governor.
Spitzer did not have to leave the comfort zone of his office to engage in this activity: he had only to visit the Emperor’s Club VIP website where 50 women were available for purchase. The women were rated from three to eight diamonds, with hourly rates ranging between $1,000-$5,500 per hour. The men who used this service could browse through the women as if the women were entrees on a menu. For Spitzer, the process of paying for sex may have been easier than ordering a Chinese food takeout supper.
What becomes clear in this case is the appalling ego that Spitzer must have in order to think that he could simply “get away” with hiring prostitutes. In a Globe and Mail article on Spitzer’s resignation, Rex Murphy commented on the name Emperor’s Club, saying, “What could be more appealing to the egotism of the clientele, the brassy overachievers of politics and commerce?” Somehow Spitzer must have believed he was immune from investigation and that engaging in prostitution was a victimless activity.
Murphy raised an important point about Spitzer’s character; he writes “real emperors alas, do not lurk in hotel room’s under aliases or pseudonyms. Napoleon would never check in as 'George Fox,' which was Mr. Spitzer’s nom de whore. The name, incidentally (besides being that of the 17th-century founder of the Quakers), is that of one of Mr. Spitzer’s closest friends, which must have pleased the real George Fox when it raced around the world in every newspaper and on every TV station.” Spitzer had no compunction about including his best friend’s name in his extra-curricular activity. Spitzer’s sense of integrity never affected his actions, which indicates that he believed he was both above the law and immune from hurting his family and friends.
While Spitzer has the luxury of exorcising his demons with a widely broadcast public apology (is all publicity good publicity?), he ignores the difficult position he has created for his wife and children. Silda Wall Spitzer chose to stand by the father of her children during her husband’s public apology and resignation. She has had to brave public scorn for her choice. Mr. Spitzer's children have to live with the public humiliation and the continuing hurtfulness of the rampant media coverage of his disgrace. Mrs. Spitzer, a Harvard law grad, lawyer and mother, has been presented in the media as another silent victim of Mr. Spitzer’s crime. Although Mr. Spitzer didn’t quite admit his mistake (only that he had failed to uphold his duties to the public and needed time to rebuild his family), the media gives Mr. Spitzer the platform of the injured party who needs to heal. Mrs. Spitzer is forced to shed her private tears in the public eye.
Ashley Alexandra Dupre, called the “the most famous hooker in America” by the Village Voice, should enjoy her 15 minutes of fame while it lasts. She has had a variety of offers — from the cover of Hustler to the cover of Penthouse. Her song “Move Ya Body” has increased from its pre-scandal price of $0.20 per download to the maximum price of $0.98, which has made an estimated total of $1.4 million. Georgi Vodka is reportedly in talks to have her be this year’s “butt girl,” the pin-up that the company plasters on city buses and taxi cabs. She sold herself to Eliot Spitzer and presumably other wealthy clientele, and now the market demands a glossy image of her for everyone to see.
One would be foolish to call any of these business offers admirable. Dupre was offered a deal for a photo spread and tour from Joe Francis, the Girls Gone Wild creator, but he revoked the offer when their archives revealed that Dupre has already done seven full-length videos that contain nudity and same-sex encounters. She will probably never be regarded as a legitimate artist when it comes to her music career. The job offers all have one thing in common: Ashley Dupre selling her body to the public.
Sadly, just days after being appointed the new governor of New York, David Paterson addressed the public with his personal tales of adultery. As Paterson said, “I didn’t want to be blackmailed.” Paterson, sharing his personal marriage problems with the public is another victim of Spitzer’s moral bankruptcy. While Spitzer has apologized and goes on to “heal,” he leaves many victims in the wake of what he probably still believes is a victimless crime.
Leah Werier is the features reporter for the Manitoban.
