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From Jack Johnson to Eliot Spitzer
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Posted By:
ladyred at 03/18/2008 9:05:09 AM
Comment:
omar, thanks for your responses. i think having a more feminist informed view of coercion would help your analysis. while i don't agree with catharine mackinnon's work, for example, i think her analyses of coercion and consent, and women's capacity to consent under conditons of patriarchy might help you deepen what you are writing about here. as of right now, it just seems like you're not considering the lengthy feminist debates about sex work, consent, and coercion - that debate is far more complex than either women-are-always-coerced/women-are-free-agents. might be worth checking out. -
Posted By:
omar at 03/13/2008 5:44:45 PM
Comment:
My thanks to everyone who has commented. Some quick responses:
First, I put quotes on sex trafficking because the term is loaded. As I note in the article, under the White-Slave Traffic Act many unmarried couples were prosecuted. Should they legitimately be referred to as sex traffickers? In Spitzer's case, the interstate trafficking involved a woman riding Amtrak on her own. This hardly seems to be the sort of abduction the law was ostensibly targeting.
Second, the sex trade is not exclusively men hiring women. There are male prostitutes, too. For a high profile example, see Jeff Gannon.
Third, on the question of consent, so far I have seen no evidence that Ashley Alexandra Dupr?? (aka "Kristen"), the woman who met Spitzer in DC, was in any way coerced. Take a look at the FBI affidavit at TheSmokingGun.com for strong evidence that she was a willing and conscious agent in the act of selling sexual services for money.
Fourth, the Mann Act has been amended but the broader question of why prostitution is a concern of the federal government remains. Since the passage of the Mann Act, many have suggested that targeting threats to national security would be a better use of federal resources. As Letterman said "We can???t get bin Laden but by God, we got Spitzer." If the issue is interstate kidnapping or organized crime, there are already laws on the books that should suffice.
Fifth, thanks for catching my slip in using nineteenth century. I've asked the site editors to correct and note the error.
Lastly, again, my gratitude to all for the questions and kind words.
Omar
owasow (at) fas dot harvard dot edu-
Posted By:
crimefighter at 05/17/2008 5:25:42 PM
Comment:
Omar, why are you and nearly every other established contributor to the media missing the single most important aspect of the Eliot Spitzer scandal. It is not about sex. It's the organized crime. Spitzer was doing business with organized crime. One or more organized crime families had career ending dirt on Eliot Spitzer at the same time Spitzer held the power to decide which investigations and prosecutions would proceed. How many criminal referrals did Eliot Spitzer suppress in order to protect his associates in the prostitution ring? How many other criminal enterprises where these associates involved in? Only a Federal Special Prosecutor would have the resources, and political freedom, to conduct a full and complete investigation of the reigns of Eliot Spitzer as U.S. Attorney and NY Attorney General whose corrupt abuse of prosecutorial discression is undeniable even as has been ignored.
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Posted By:
omar at 03/13/2008 11:46:11 AM
Comment:
My thanks to everyone who has commented. Some quick responses:
First, I put quotes on sex trafficking because the term is loaded. As I note in the article, under the White-Slave Traffic Act many unmarried couples were prosecuted. Should they legitimately be referred to as sex traffickers? In Spitzer's case, the interstate trafficking involved a woman riding Amtrak on her own. This hardly seems to be the sort of abduction the law was ostensibly targeting.
Second, the sex trade is not exclusively men hiring women. There are male prostitutes, too. For a high profile example, see Jeff Gannon.
Third, on the question of consent, so far I have seen no evidence that Ashley Alexandra Dupr?? (aka "Kristen"), the woman who met Spitzer in DC, was in any way coerced. Take a look at the FBI affidavit at TheSmokingGun.com for strong evidence that she was a willing and conscious agent in the act of selling sexual services for money.
Fourth, the Mann Act has been amended but the broader question of why prostitution is a concern of the federal government remains. Since the passage of the Mann Act, many have suggested that targeting threats to national security would be a better use of federal resources. As Letterman said "We can???t get bin Laden but by God, we got Spitzer." If the issue is interstate kidnapping or organized crime, there are already laws on the books that should suffice.
Fifth, thanks for catching my slip in using nineteenth century. I've asked the site editors to correct and note the error.
Lastly, again, my gratitude to all for the questions and kind words.
Omar
owasow (at) fas dot harvard dot edu -
Posted By:
omar at 03/13/2008 11:45:37 AM
Comment:
My thanks to everyone who has commented. Some quick responses:
First, I put quotes on sex trafficking because the term is loaded. As I note in the article, under the White-Slave Traffic Act many unmarried couples were prosecuted. Should they legitimately be referred to as sex traffickers? In Spitzer's case, the interstate trafficking involved a woman riding Amtrak on her own. This hardly seems to be the sort of abduction the law was ostensibly targeting.
Second, the sex trade is not exclusively men hiring women. There are male prostitutes, too. For a high profile example, see Jeff Gannon.
Third, on the question of consent, so far I have seen no evidence that Ashley Alexandra Dupr?? (aka "Kristen"), the woman who met Spitzer in DC, was in any way coerced. Take a look at the FBI affidavit at TheSmokingGun.com for strong evidence that she was a willing and conscious agent in the act of selling sexual services for money.
Fourth, the Mann Act has been amended but the broader question of why prostitution is a concern of the federal government remains. Since the passage of the Mann Act, many have suggested that targeting threats to national security would be a better use of federal resources. As Letterman said "We can???t get bin Laden but by God, we got Spitzer." If the issue is interstate kidnapping or organized crime, there are already laws on the books that should suffice.
Fifth, thanks for catching my slip in using nineteenth century. I've asked the site editors to correct and note the error.
Lastly, again, my gratitude to all for the questions and kind words.
Omar
owasow (at) fas dot harvard dot edu -
Posted By:
omar at 03/13/2008 12:28:16 AM
Comment:
My thanks to everyone who has commented. Some quick responses:
First, I put quotes on sex trafficking because the term is loaded. As I note in the article, under the White-Slave Traffic Act many unmarried couples were prosecuted. Should they legitimately be referred to as sex traffickers? In Spitzer's case, the interstate trafficking involved a woman riding Amtrak on her own. This hardly seems to be the sort of abduction the law was ostensibly targeting.
Second, the sex trade is not exclusively men hiring women. There are male prostitutes, too. For a high profile example, see Jeff Gannon.
Third, on the question of consent, so far I have seen no evidence that Ashley Alexandra Dupr?? (aka "Kristen"), the woman who met Spitzer in DC, was in any way coerced. Take a look at the FBI affidavit at TheSmokingGun.com for strong evidence that she was a willing and conscious agent in the act of selling sexual services for money.
Fourth, the Mann Act has been amended but the broader question of why prostitution is a concern of the federal government remains. Since the passage of the Mann Act, many have suggested that targeting threats to national security would be a better use of federal resources. As Letterman said "We can???t get bin Laden but by God, we got Spitzer." If the issue is interstate kidnapping or organized crime, there are already laws on the books that should suffice.
Fifth, thanks for catching my slip in using nineteenth century. I've asked the site editors to correct and note the error.
Lastly, again, my gratitude to all for the questions, comments and kind words.
Omar
owasow (at) fas dot harvard dot edu -
Posted By:
omar at 03/12/2008 8:24:56 PM
Comment:
My thanks to everyone who has commented. Some quick responses:
First, I put quotes on sex trafficking because the term is loaded. As I note in the article, under the White-Slave Traffic Act many unmarried couples were prosecuted. Should they legitimately be referred to as sex traffickers?
Second, the sex trade is not exclusively men hiring women. There are male prostitutes, too. For a high profile example, search on Jeff Gannon.
Third, on the question of consent, so far there is no evidence that "Kristen," the woman who met Spitzer in DC, was in any way forced. If there is any evidence that she was coerced, please bring it to my attention. Take a look at the FBI affidavit at TheSmokingGun.com for strong evidence that she was a willing and conscious agent in the act of selling sexual services for money.
Fourth, the Mann Act has been amended but the broader question of why prostitution is a concern of the federal government remains. Since the passage of the Mann Act, many have suggested that targeting threats to national security would be a better use of federal resources. As Letterman said "We can???t get bin Laden but by God, we got Spitzer." If the issue is interstate kidnapping or organized crime, there are already laws on the books that should suffice.
Lastly, thanks for catching my slip in using nineteenth century. I've asked the site editors to correct and note the error.
Omar -
Posted By:
ladyred at 03/12/2008 4:23:36 PM
Comment:
why is sex trafficking in quotes in this article? and why is wasow assuming that prostituted women are "consenting adults"? since when is buying another human being (let's face it- it's always a woman) just a private act between two people? -
Posted By:
ladyred at 03/12/2008 4:22:24 PM
Comment:
i'm a little confused as to why sex trafficking is in quotes in the article, and as to why the consent of the prostituted woman is assumed here. i think wasow is too quick to fall prey to the assumption that prostitutes are in their line of work because they choose it, like any other line of work. some analysis of patriarchal power and gender inequity might help him write a more powerful and insightful article. -
Posted By:
cvhonolulu at 03/12/2008 3:50:01 PM
Comment:
The Mann act was also used to go after Chuck Berry in Missouri in 1960. Spitzer's in august company. -
Posted By:
timmyd at 03/12/2008 1:35:32 PM
Comment:
Chuck Berry served a few years under the Mann Act. His absence from the Rock and Roll scene in the early 60s is incredibly significant. You could almost argue that the Mann Act stole Rock and Roll from African Americans. -
Posted By:
PD at 03/12/2008 1:28:30 PM
Comment:
You state: "The nearly century-old law prohibits transporting across state lines "a woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose."
Actually, the Act was amended to be gender neutral (applying to the transportation of "any individual") and to replace debauchery and immorality with "sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense." See 18 USC 2421. (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00002421----000-.html)
You argument that the law, as it is written today, is immoral doesn???t really hold water in a post-Lawrence world where non-commercial consensual sexual activity between adults cannot be criminalized. I don???t disagree that the law invited the government to make moral judgments about individual???s sexual practices before 1986 (and before Lawrence for gays and lesbians), but I don???t see the argument against the law as it is written now. -
Posted By:
sennacherib at 03/12/2008 12:43:18 PM
Comment:
Illuminating history. Well-written and informative. Highly recommended. -
Posted By:
sennacherib at 03/12/2008 12:40:53 PM
Comment:
Illuminating and well-written! Quite valuable insights. -
Posted By:
Th Paine at 03/12/2008 10:33:51 AM
Comment:
The reference to early 19th century media hysteria should be "early 20th century" (ie early 1900's)
Otherwise, a very interesting article. -
Posted By:
Th Paine at 03/12/2008 10:32:23 AM
Comment:
The author refers to the media hysteria about white farm girls being lured into prostitution in the early 19th century, but thes should be early 20th Century (ie early 1900's).
Interesithing historical background. -
Posted By:
Mike in MD at 03/12/2008 10:27:30 AM
Comment:
As an American, I am embarrassed by this country's antiquated laws, including the Mann Act. It is one of many, both state and federal, that should be repealed immediately. I lived in Germany for 11 years, so I know that prostitution is perfectly legal there, provided the women undergo a health screening and register their work so the government can get its cut of the action. I believe prostitution should be legal here under the same conditions. What does it hurt the government or our society if two rational, consenting adults make an "arrangement" like this? Some of the other politicians who have jumped on the criticism bandwagon are hypocrital because so many of them use the services of prostitutes themselves. This is just another sign of America's puritanism, which was odiously on display after Janet Jackson's little accident. Back then, FCC Chairman Michael Powell had to draw attention to his indignation over this incident. Oh, pleeeaaasse! -
Posted By:
Mike in MD at 03/12/2008 10:15:51 AM
Comment:
As a white person, or just a person for that matter, I am deeply embarrassed to see that the Mann Act is still on the books. It is one of many antiquated laws, both state and federal, that should be repealed immediately. Sometimes I'm almost reluctant to say I'm an American because of these laws. I lived in Germany for 11 years, a place where prostitution is perfectly legal, provided the prostitutes get health exams and register to pay "employment" taxes. After all, the government must have its cut of the action. I've always felt that prostitution here should be legalized under the same conditions. What does it hurt society if two adults agree to such an arrangement? Mike in MD -
Posted By:
Young Professional Unknown at 03/12/2008 9:59:27 AM
Comment:
"Amid early nineteenth century media hysteria and a moral panic about white farm girls being lured into cities and forced into prostitution, progressive Illinois Congressman James Robert Mann sponsored the White-Slave Traffic Act."
I'm fairly certain that 1910 falls within the early twentieth century, not the early nineteenth century. Thanks. -
Posted By:
n8 at 03/12/2008 8:34:17 AM
Comment:
I agree with your take on the Mann Act. However, from what I have read, it seems unlikely Spitzer will be prosecuted under the Mann Act, unless he said some very stupid things on the wiretaps. More likely, however, is that he will be charged with 'structuring' (basically hiding/obfuscating transactions), which is why he was being investigated initially (Gov't thought he was hiding bribes). -
Posted By:
TheVerum at 03/12/2008 8:19:03 AM
Comment:
Excellent article. Thank you. -
Posted By:
TheVerum at 03/12/2008 8:17:13 AM
Comment:
It is ironic that a Jew (by name only, not by conduct or inner faith or practice) was entitled "Crusader" by TIME magazine. After all, the Crusaders were Christians... They also excelled at killing Jews while traversing Europe moving Eastwards.
REFERENCES
http://www.jews-for-allah.org/messianic-jews/christianhistorywithjews/chronology_of_christian_crusades.htm -
Posted By:
ttf at 03/12/2008 3:19:22 AM
Comment:
Hear, hear! I was shocked to find out a few years ago that this heinous law was still on the books. It ought to be repealed and sent to the dustbin on legislative history. Thanks for bringing this important aspect of the Spitzer case up. -
Posted By:
canadense at 03/12/2008 1:06:45 AM
Comment:
A worthy insight.
A slip...
"Amid early nineteenth century media hysteria" should read "twentieth-century"
Thx,
David G Anderson, Canada
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