Some interesting quotes came from this:

"Why am I the only person being prosecuted?" she told TIME over the phone. "Sen. Vitter should be prosecuted [if he broke the law]"

-SF-

In 2003, same senator denied this whole article...

-SF-

Jeanette Maier of New Orleans comes forward to say then-Congressman Vitter was a client.  Just another day in the Big Easy.

With the stretching of RICO precepts used against Palfrey I hope she and Flynt make the prosecutor(and some other high up hypocrites) sorry the charges were ever filed.

The following is an interesting quote from the senator's wife:

One gossip blog, [email protected], cites Mrs Vittner as being critical of Hillary Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal in a news story of the time. She’s quoted as saying, “I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbit than Hillary – I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony”.

-SF-

Looks like some are enjoying the fix this senator has found himself in. Sorry, but I don't see anything to smile about.

Many probably can't get beyond his politics and the irony of his being caught up in all this. But I would venture to say that there are more than a few men here who are in positions of esteem- either in business or community- who would be seriously and/or negatively impacted were they to find their name and number amongst this madam's phone logs. There are many hypocrites posting right on this board. Maybe you're not on THIS madam's list but if you've been hobbying for any appreciable length of time, chances are pretty good you're on somebody's list.

There are many many prominent men who participate in this, including otherwise good and honest family men- hypocrites all. What we believe and what we do are often in conflict. This is nothing new.

The difference between the senator and most of us is that he got caught. Nobody has discovered the list our name might be on yet. No sir, I find no joy in any of this...  

-- Modified on 7/10/2007 11:14:29 PM

If u r running for public office as a saint, then u had better be a saint.... i am sure there are some hypocrites on this board but i am also sure 75% or above would like to see this hobby legalized....the problem is that this politician ran under the belief he could talk like a christian but walk like a hobbyist.

....as opposed to male ones.

Sen. Vitter and (most of) the rest of us part ways after the hobbying is over.  We get on with our lives: work, taking care of families, going to church in some cases.  We don't normally pontificate in public about the sanctity of marriage and moralize about how the rest of the human race should behave. So, yes, many of us are vulnerable to getting caught because of our hobbying behavior but very few of us will end up in the papers.  That's because we're probably not that prominent and we don't engage in public hypocrisy.

that no one is asking the question:  "Why is there anything wrong with this?"

In truth, there isn't.  Most countries, in fact, allow sex for pay, to one extent or another.

Instead, these stories just provide titilation and a chance for the respective political sides to scream "hypocrit", when instead they should be asking why we have laws against pay-for-play in the first place.

if and when enough pompous proselytizers of piety are dragged through the cesspool of retribution that they vehemently champion; the luster of their legislated morality will oxidize along with the credibility of their careers.

Well put, Mr F. - the good old U.S. of A is caught in a Middle-Ages backwater when it comes to human sexuality. Just in the past few months I've become somewhat radicalized on the topic. I blame my boy scout upbringing...

People worry about what would happen to the economy if we suddenly deported 12 million illegal aliens. I wonder what would happen to the economy if everyone suddenly stopped with the hobby. How many hotels would go out of business? On any given day, how many (thousands? hundreds of thousands?) of our hotel rooms are employed in the pursuit of carnal intrigue?

And don't forget the market for whipped cream, edible underwear, etc. C'mon folks - what do you think whipped cream is really for? Do you REALLY think it's all used for ice cream sundaes and pies?

The senator's sphere of influence is a wide one-- as a result, his transgressions make the paper.

For most here, our sphere of influence is much smaller. The consequences though can be just as devastating to us on a personal level were our transgressions to be found out. Families lost, jobs put at risk, social standing compromised, etc.

I know a school principal in his early 50's- a soft spoken and good man- a family man. He was a deacon in his church and a well respected citizen in his little community. He was caught up in a provider scandal out in California-- you know, that liberal bastion of open-mindedness and carefree living. The parents of the school and the  schoolboard ran him out of town and he hasn't worked in his chosen profession since. He never proposed "values legislation" in Congress and never said a bad thing about anyone. He was the guy you'd call if you ever needed a friend. But, like many here-- he cheated on his wife of 27 years. The reasons don't really matter but in his case, his wife had serious medical issues that made marital sex all but non existent. He sought solace elsewhere-- and yet he was conflicted about what he was doing- a not uncommon dilemma for many.  

Some here have weighed the risks and act accordingly. I'm sure there are exceptions but certainly most married guys have a lot to lose in this little game we call a hobby-- especially those whose wives take marriage vows seriously and/or have standing in their community. Our participation in this puts most of us at risk. And I'm not talking just pay for play but play for play as well. No you won't likely make the newspaper were you to be caught only because you may not be news to the masses. But you'd most certainly be news to those that know you and the ramifications could be just as serious for you in your circle as it is to the Senator in his.

So, I respectfully separate myself from those that relish seeing a man "fall from grace". Your state of grace may not be as prominent as Vitter's but   should you ever be publicly or otherwise outed,            the I "don't engage in public hypocrisy" defense strikes me as a little weak. But who knows, maybe  your circle of influence is a lot more compassionate and understanding than mine- good for you.

-- Modified on 7/11/2007 10:33:18 PM

I guess I just never considered the economic impact of the whipped cream industry.   LOL