Are You Afraid to Talk about Sex?
So, I’m reading BBC News the other day, right? “There is the jaw-dropping cost of a two-hour session with a prostitute: $4,300 (£2,143)! Forgive me for asking, but isn’t that a touch inflationary?” Gotta love the British sense of humor. Anyway, so, like you, I’ve been following the stories about NYC (soon-to-be-ex) Governor Eliot Spitzer’s so-called “fall from grace.” Emperor’s Club Call Girl Agency. Ashley Alexandra Dupre. Client 9. The Mayflower Hotel. All names that were once unfamiliar — that is, except one. The Mayflower Hotel. Hmmm, rings a bell. From BBC News … “There is the Mayflower Hotel, where Client 9 booked into room 871 as George Fox, the name one of Mr Spitzer’s fund-raisers … [T]his hotel was where Franklin Delano Roosevelt allegedly wrote one of the greatest lines in American history: ‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’ He penned those words in room 776, on the floor below.” Interesting comparison. It makes me think about this question: Why are we so afraid of the cocktail of sex and politics? Is it right, fair and just that Monsieur Spitzer is leaving his post? Maybe. Maybe not. (Feel free to use the comments section to share your views.) I mean, sure, yeah, prostitution is illegal, and the man broke the law. Coke snorting, drunk driving and murder ( … Um, Iraq War? Five years in. Death toll continues to rise. Ring any bells? … ) are all illegal, too. But, people don’t seem to care about that as much. If Eliot got caught committing non sex-related crimes, he — not the distinguished David Paterson — would be probably still be our governor next week.
Sex scandals are only “scandalous” because we’re not comfortable talking about sex in public spaces. What could be less private than a newspaper printing a story about a public official dicking a paid-by-the-hour girl (sans condom)? Hell, Monica Lewinsky’s presidential knee pads and dick-sucking sessions with Bill Clinton was the stuff impeachments were made of — and, Monica wasn’t even a whore! (Word choice is deliberate; read sex-worker-turned-author Audacia Ray’s blog post about how an MSNBC reporter called her a whore.) So, here’s where this post comes to a close. A couple of weeks ago, Sex in the Public Square had a forum on sex work, trafficking and human rights. Great site! Great forum! Amber Rhea posted this question: Would sex work be so profitable if it weren’t stigmatized or criminalized? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that topic. And, more specifically: Would “sex & politics” be less newsworthy — and, therefore, less career-ending — if we weren’t so afraid of conversations about sex entering the public sphere?
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Photo credit: Image of “Kristen” Ashley Alexandra Dupre appears online at the Sydney Morning Herald. Kristen’s website ad appears on Wikipedia. Emperors Club VIP Client 9 T-Shirt (pictured) is available for purchase at Busted Tees with the special pre-sale pricing of $14.99.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
FunkyBrownChick wrote: “Coke snorting, drunk driving and murder ( … Um, Iraq War? Five years in. Death toll continues to rise. Ring any bells? … ) are all illegal, too. But, people don’t seem to care about that as much.”
…and you didn’t even mention derelection of duty (National Guard), betraying the public trust so that cronies can profit (Halliburton), and jeopardizing the life of a CIA operative in retaliation for her husband’s opposition to his war.
And that’s just for starters.
I’m not going to be one of those left-wingers who places a hand over his heart and immediately pipes in with, “In Euuurooope they’re more open minded about sex! This would have set a few tongues wagging but nothing more! How puritanical we are in the US…!”
Well…YEAH. But this isn’t Europe, as much as I wished our politics and societal mores sometimes mirrored Europeans’.
When I first heard about this “scandal,” I shrugged my shoulders and went back to reading my new Jonathan Kellerman novel and thought about my next session of Warcraft.
Is this a case of wag the dog? Or even if the United States wasn’t in the sad shape it’s in now, this would have blown up in the media because, well, we’re just that provincial and narrow-minded? *shrugs*
Oh, and…FIRST!
March 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
It almost makes sense that the guy that’s the hard-ass on prostitution is involved. Hypocrisy is just so rampant in politics. Shit, look at the Republicans and all their gay scandals!
March 14th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Um, why is prostitution illegal anyway? I don’t see the big deal, I mean, what man doesn’t like his share of hoes? Oh, and like other politicians don’t hire prostitutes, yeah, um…really…
March 14th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I disagree a bit. I think if this had been a coke scandal or tax evasion or something, this would have been just as big. Remember Spitzer was a crusader against All Things Shady. He’s also the governor of our 3rd largest state –a state that’s chock full of media people who live there and who probably voted for him. He’s a former prosecutor. He’s a bit of an arrogant f*ck who made it to the governorship because (we thought) he’s a little bit Holier Than Thou. A parking ticket would have been a big deal.
When governors — or any politicians, really — commit crimes, they and the people around them / involved in the case tend to get put on full blast. Sucks but it’s true. And at least in this case, “Kristen” seems to be getting the pity for being 22 and under a microscope.
(And the Iraq war is not illegal … immoral and based on a lie, but not illegal since Congress gave them permission and all *Grumble* … And um, yeah, I agree that we’re not all that comfy talking about sex in public.)
March 15th, 2008 at 2:10 am
well….. it’s kinda like this….. somebody dropped a dime..
that is all…. period…. when you rolled deep like he did…
some one …. somewhere is gonna flex on you if you didnt
do right by somebody…. there are times where a favor
will kill you quicker than a bullet…… he may forgot a favor
or dissed somebody….. or karma….. or… just being stupid…… ’cause when you roll that deep … ya better do your dirt…. deep…. for it will come ( pardon the pun)
to the light of day…. one day…. not … his biggest battle
with be with his wife…. his family…. his cabinet….. his public…… and … when the lights go down low….
himself…… meanwhile…. just who did he piss off in the
Favor food chain
lamesabassman….. let’s go to the video tape……
March 15th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
And furthermore, why all the mock surprise?
You mean to tell me that the majority of rich and powerful men aren’t cavorting around with working girls?
It’s perfect that Spitzer’s mission in life was to attack prostituion rings such as the one he allegedly frequented. Hasn’t history show time and time again that the more zealous, publicly zealous at that, one is in various matters of “collective morality”, the more hypocritical that person tends to be?
And you’re absolutely right. If his name were Dick Cheney and he’d shot someone, there really wouldn’t be all that much of a fuss.
March 16th, 2008 at 10:25 am
@ Andrew: Glad to have you as my first. Oooh, and how’s the Jonathan Kellerman novel?
@ AkA “Paul”: Now, now. Let’s not turn this into a Rep vs. Dem thing. ;) Both sides have tons of hypocrisy.
@ Wonderlove: You asked, “Why is prostitution illegal anyway?” Man, fuck if I know.
@ tiffany: I love it when people respectfully disagree. It makes the world more interesting! I’m still holding my ground on the “this is only a big deal because it’s about sex” stuff. But, I totally agree with you about the “Iraq war is not illegal.” You’re 100% right; Congress gave permission. Who’s responsible for that, how do we account for the countless civilian deaths/murders, what’s the way out? These are answers that extend much further than this blog. Love the dialog nonetheless.
@ lamesabassman: Hmm … would love to see a non-freestyle comment from you. I know it will come one day. I can feel it.
@ Desiree: Oooh, good point: “the more zealous, publicly zealous at that, one is in various matters of ‘collective morality’, the more hypocritical that person tends to be.” Very true. I can’t say that I’m perfect and I can’t say that I’ve never been a hypocrite *BUT* I can say that no one usually accuses me of espousing collective morality. ;) In fact, I told a little cutie named Erica M that I’ve never been a “proper little black girl.” Her response? “In the five minutes that I’ve known you, proper isn’t a word I’d use to describe you.” That hurt my little feelings … but I hope she’ll pet them to make everything better. ;) And, by the way, since you mentioned Dick Cheney:
http://dickcheneyquailhunt.cf.huffingtonpost.com/.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Totally not my intention! =)
From what I hear, Spitzer pissed of both parties pretty bad… and recently too. Who knows, that might’ve even been a factor in his unseating.
I feel bad for the wife though… she’s going through that “Hilary Syndrome” where she’s forced to stand by him no matter what her actual desire might be.
*Sigh*…. politics.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Ditto about his wife! And their three kids.
March 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I think the issue is more complicated than just prurient interest in the sex lives of elected officials. It’s also about cheating on wives, misusing power to: transport prostitutes across state lines in this case, turn an employee into a geisha in Clinton’s case.
The interest is more than just the lure of public sex – after all porn is a huge industry, but not as “sexy” as political sex scandals…it’s watching someone elected for the judgement and commitment to put their constituents first execerise such bad jusgement by cheating, hurting, and humiliating their most important constituents – their own families.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:59 am
and … your wish just came thru….. we elect people we dont really know to positions they cant really handle, then expect them to do well… maybe if they took a test for the
job… kinda like REAL PEOPLE DO, then maybe… just maybe they would get it right for once…. but we keep putting people in office that we wouldnt let them wash
our car…. they promise you the moon , while stealing
the stars right out of our eyes…. and .. while it is said
that politics makes strange bedfellows… there are a
few that take it to heart….. there is a very,very fine line
that should not be crossed and that is public trust
it’s like no one ever took an ethics course…. ’cause it’s
all about the dough-re-me deal and everyone wants in
so they can add to the Favor Bank…. some do well and
some catch hell…. am hoping that he brought enough
sunblock…. ’cause he is gonna be under the lamp for a
long while….. if we took the mystery out of sex, instead
of keeping it in the dark… be a bit open and not be so in the closet…. guys like him and slick willie might stand
a chance of doing something positive…. instead of driving off a pier and swimming home and forget that
you did have a female passenger with you and you did
remove her seatbelt or go back and get out of there…you just left her there to die and your Father ’s money bailed you out….. does a certain Senator’s name
ring a bell…. if we are to elect anyone to rep us anywhere… we had better do a Dun and Bradstreet number on their ass….. for the whole world watches
what we see, say and do…. and maybe … just maybe
one day … they will wake up and decide that they wont be needing us … as a nation and a superpower … any more….. just pray that one Monday morning that the Sun wont rise in the West and set in the East … for we
might glow in the dark…. forever….
lamesabassman…… keep watching the skies…..
March 17th, 2008 at 1:46 am
$ HippieChyck: This is def going to be tough on his family.
lamesabassman: So maybe next time, huh?
March 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am
well… maybe if these guys read some of your work,then
just maybe they feel better about themselves….
or if they just saw one of your pictures….
I think that we should start from the beginning…
neuter them all and their brains should work just fine…
lamesabassman…… did I make it thru … ma’am
March 17th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
This whole thing is sending the wrong message out to all the little girls. Should they be like the powerful women on television and stand by their cheating men? I don’t think so.
Think I’ll do a post of my own about it…
March 17th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
As disgusting a public spectacle as this is, especially for Client 9’s wife and kids, it sure makes for a good excuse for every TV channel to air, 24/7, pics of hot, scantily clad call girls. Gotta love the U.S. of A.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
@ lamesabassman: You made it!!!! :)
@ AkA “Paul”: Good point! And, yes, if you do a post about, let me know.
@ Baba Doodlius: You crack me up! :)