Where to start…Okay let’s just jump right in with Spitzer.  I mean really who doesn’t love a little ‘paid for sex’ sleaze?  I totally understand why he is a story.  He really is the epitome of hypocrisy in regards to this type of conduct.  Yes, he is still human, but the hypocrisy is important to expose so that we as Americans remind ourselves that those so often in power are in it for themselves.  My issue with this whole scandal is the negative focus on his wife and the labelling of the prostitute as the “woman who brought down a governor.”  I will not get into a petty debate about who went down on whom.  At $1000 bucks an hour–my money is on her being the one to go down…

But I digress.  Once the scandal broke the CBS Early Show had on two WOMEN to analyze and discuss why MEN CHEAT.  And more specifically, why powerful men cheat.  I have a problem when women who aren’t experts in male behavior–neither was a psychiatrist or a sex therapist.  Their reason was of course that men cheat and more importantly powerful men cheat because they can and because it makes them feel more powerful.  I think this is a crassly simplistic view at why people cheat.  There are many complex issues as to why men and women cheat–both powerful and run of the mill.  But that is a topic for another day.  My main problem with this CBS piece was that one of the women–a staunch radical, bra-burning feminist–railed on Spitzer’s wife for standing next to him when he was giving his press conference.  She was enraged that this woman would stand by her man [she must not be strong enough to stand up for her self she implied].  She said that by standing by her man she was sending a message to all women that it is okay what her husband did.  I too think that is a gross simplification of the situation. 

One of the things I have very recently learned and come to understand is that you can accept what people have done, feel, believe, without condoning it.  You can respect a person, institution, vows, without condoning the behavior.  Mrs. Spitzer vowed to be married for better or worse.  By standing next to her man she was not saying it was okay what he did, but she was respecting the institution of marriage.  I was impressed to see that marriage still means something.  I am sure she is angry, pained, hurt, humiliated, and a long list of other adjectives, but that is private and who are we to judge her for her choice to respect her vow.  She has more than herself to think about–her children, her own feelings about the sanctity of marriage.  We should not throw stones.  Lets focus on the real issue…Oh yeah, paying for sex is really not that scandalous it has been happening for as long as there have been money/goods to trade. 

Now onto the “woman who brought down a governor.”  Shame on you media.  She didn’t come forward and rat him out.  Stop playing it up like it is her fault.  She was just a girl doing her job.  The guy got caught–by the IRS or some other financial group looking at money going out and seeing suspicious activity.  Then when he came forward and admitted what he did, the hounds were released and they didn’t stop until they tracked this woman down.  Why the hell do we care?  Sure taking money for sex is “illegal” but come one.  Leave her alone.  It is not her fault.  I don’t think high-class escorts cold call like those annoying Edward Jones folks who canvas neighborhoods looking for business.  I am pretty sure he sought her out.  Just a guess, but I think that just might be the way it happened.  So, if that is the case…how is it her fault?  Isn’t it the fault of Spitzer who chose to spend huge amounts of money for sex?  I might be going out on a limb here, but shouldn’t we be looking at him as the person at fault and not this chick just trying to make a living? 

These are just a few of the reasons.  I could go on, as I got really pissy at GMA this morning when Chris was interviewing an Obama staffer about Obama’s retired minster’s political views.  Isn’t there still a war going on in the middle east?  Isn’t there still a terrible genocide happening in Darfur?  Aren’t people in New Orleans still struggling to rebuild?  Isn’t our countries dependency on oil crippling our economy? 

 I guess it is still sex that sells and like Kennedy learned in the 60’s if you aren’t a protestant or an evangelical christian your relgious and political values are challenged at every turn.  I happen to think Obama’s “radical” minister speaks a lot of truths that those fat, rich white fellas don’t want to admit.  What do you think?