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Me and (Ashley Alexandra) Dupre

09:53 H | Topics: Controversia - Politics - Women

No, I don't know Ashley Alexandra Dupre aka "Kristen", Client #9 aka as NY governor Eliot Spitzer's favorite gal but I kind of feel bad for her.

I should probably make it clear that I'm not against prostitution or sex work, I am against much of the exploitation that happens in that realm. For example, regardless of how much Ms. Dupre was paid for her services, she isn't likely being given the same protections that Eliot Spitzer is. I doubt there are backroom legal deals being negotiated on her behalf. Sure Penthouse magazine wants her on their cover, but somehow I don't think that's much comfort for her.

Ms. Dupre was more than a prostitute who had an A list government client. She, according to her MySpace page, was an aspiring musician. She didn't list her occupation as sex worker, because she knew she would be attacked, legally and personally, for how she chose to make her living. Eliot Spitzer, on the other hand, had no problem patronizing her and no problem attempting to distance himself after being exposed.

Ms. Dupre, after being outed in the New York Times, has apparently changed her MySpace and Facebook pages, deleting friends and pictures, attempting to protect whatever is left of her privacy. All Spitzer had to do was hide out in his mansion.

Of course Ms. Dupre had choices. She could have laid low, not have a life on a social online network like most other people, except she was most other people, trying to balance an illegal occupation with her day to day. But Eliot Spitzer didn't lay low. He promoted laws against sex workers while paying out thousands to them. Can we say hypocracy?

Image Via / CNN

Related

• New NY States Gov's First Agenda Item : Affairs! (Tuesday, Mar 18 2008)
• Eliot Spitzer Resigns (Wednesday, Mar 12 2008)