Governor Eliot Spitzer is yet another politician caught up in a sex scandal. According to CNN, federal prosecutors have obtained an affidavit that gives details of a "rendezvous" last month between the governor and a prostitute known as "Kristen". Though he has not been charged for anything yet, his alleged involvement is said to be caught on a federal wiretap.

Yesterday, Spitzer went before reporters to confess to an undisclosed personal matter in which he made the statement that he had acted "in a way that violates my obligations to my family, that violates my or any sense of right and wrong". If this doesn't spell out his acknowledgement of being involved in this prostitution ring, then I don't know what would. This is about three words short of saying "I did it".

The prostitute who is only known by the name "Kristen" worked for the Emperors Club which would charge its clients between $1,000 and $5,500 per hour. I also heard on another report that the fee was based on a rating system that the Emperors Club had in which the lady's were given diamonds. The more diamond ratings the women had the higher the fee was per hour. So this is where tax dollars are spent!

The ironic matter in this all is the fact that Spitzer was well known for "rooting out public corruption" as the New York attorney general and for prosecuting prostitution rings. So how is it then that we continue to have this discussion of politicians who have failed their constituents? For one, politicians, just like everyone else is susceptible to the same humanly desire that many of us have. Their title isn't a shield that shuts off those desires.

Before you start to wonder where I stand in this matter let me make it clear that I am not for prostitution because of my moral and ethical standards. I am also against a politician using a certain platform to gain popularity in office only to find out the very thing he was supposed to be "against" he's found to be perpetuating the cycle. Though I'm sure this happens more often than we know.

Because prostitution (so I've heard) is still illegal, there are other issues at hand with this matter. On my way home yesterday, I was listening to the radio and of course this was the breaking news that everyone was talking about. A question was raised about legalizing prostitution and taxing it.

To a certain degree I can understand that concept because whether it's legalized or not people are going to continue to participate in this activity. I can't find any rationale that states that just because something is legal, people will want to do it. Drinking alcohol for someone my age is legal yet I don't drink. Personally I see drinking as being much more harmful to someone than paying for sex (if it's safe of course).

Ok so I'm getting sidetracked a bit so let me reel this back into perspective. Yes, what the governor did was in fact wrong. It violated everything he said he stood for, it broke laws on obvious levels and on a personal level it violated the trust and image of his family. There is no excuse for this type of behavior and though he has not been charged yet, when he is, it should be to the highest degree which includes his resignation.

For some reason though, people just love a good sex scandal. I'm sure the violation of the law by a politician will be overshadowed by the prostitution sting. Beg to differ with me…I heard the website for the Emperors Club was already taken down. I bet that was the first place everyone went when this story first surfaced. Funny how some will condemn a man for the same thing they're interested in. 




Aaron Fields is the Sales Marketing Coordinator for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are strictly his.