Comments on: A spotlight on prostitution

By: Maggie C

Maggie C — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:48:26 +0000

Drew,

I hope your comment about Ms. Dupre being in for a "rough" ride was an oversight and nothing more. It was, however, sort of funny!.

Maggie

By: Eugenia

Eugenia — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:51:18 +0000

Would the conversation/blog be as dramatic if this were Nevada?

By: Rose/Canada

Rose/Canada — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:40:21 +0000

Sad yes in deed for so many involved.

I am not so sure I feel for Ms. Dupre. As I too came from a very abusive background and I seemed to have made it through without resorting to prostitution. I wish there was a way to prevent young women and men from turning to such demeaning (just my opinion) measures just to pay for their shelter and food.

But let's face it Drew, once all the media flurry dies down she will be able to live in the lap (no pun intended) luxury . She will be rich once she sells her story, and it's made into a tell all book which will be followed by a major movie deal!

We all know it will happen sooner or later.

By: regina rosemire

regina rosemire — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:30:55 +0000

Such a paradox! A beautiful young woman living in manhattan, visitng the most luxurious hotels in the world. Did she understand what she was doing to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous?. In the mind of a 22 yr old, its simple. I'm sure she thought " I have a part time job, I care for my assets (my body and mind) and i get paid more than anyone can imagine." To her, it didn't matter who the men were. It was a means to an end. At her age, she can't see long term. She is going to have to total rethink her plans if she had any at all. Now she joins the likes of Monica Lewinsky, Donna Rice and that guy in the stall next to Sen. Craig. The whole thing is sad as her life is changed to the core. Its too late for her to assess ethics, legality or any other part of the thing. Its over, and she doesn't get a "redo". I only hope some where there is a ray of hope or stability to pull her back from would could be irreputable damage. This is why prostitution is a moral and ethical delimma. It is not a victimless crimee.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:21:47 +0000

You know, obsessing to this length about someone else's sexual escapades is a completely treatable mental illness. There is no need for the CNN writing staff to continue suffering with their voyeurism. Perhaps you could have a few of the psychiatrists on your panels offer some assistance. Also, I am sure there are mental health clinics in your area who would be happy to see new clients and they typically charge a fairly low rate–many are even free. By all means, though, please get some help. We all hate to see such a large group of people suffering from such a serious condition and so needlessly.

By: Patricia D.

Patricia D. — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:06:56 +0000

Would this be as "sadly glamorous" if Ms. Dupre was actually walking the streets to ply her trade? I don't think so.

Glamor is another word for mask. Take off the mask, and we see yet another young woman being exploited for the profit of others, including the public just dying to see the hooker who brought down a governor.

Anyone remember John Profumo?

By: Claudette, TX

Claudette, TX — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:17:50 +0000

"She even told the NYTimes she doesn’t know how she can pay for her apartment since a man she was living with walked out."

Come on Drew...don't try to garner sympathy without telling the entire part of that story. She found out her boyfriend had fathered 2 children...THAT'S why he left! The high-priced hooker's beau cheated on her! So NOW she has opinions on both sides of the story. And EVERY girl knows that prostitution is illegal, and so does EVERY boy.

By: Charlotte D

Charlotte D — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:07:27 +0000

Me again. And another thing, as I reread this piece, I hope the press is not going to play this debacle like it is Pretty Woman. This is real life and Julia Roberts and Richard Gere are no where in sight.

By: Frank, Waverly

Frank, Waverly — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:34:10 +0000

I imagine the IRS is going to want a piece of her too!

By: Joseph Kowalski, North Huntingdon, PA

Joseph Kowalski, North Huntingdon, PA — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:22:03 +0000

As long as the person who choses prostitution as a career is an adult and isn't being forced into this choice, then they alone are responsible for the possible consequences of their actions.

We live in a time where information about everything is right at our fingertips, at least in the developed world. The women and men who chose to be prostitutes know what can happen.

The trouble with many people in this country is they refuse to take personal responsibility for their actions.

By: cary

cary — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:04:55 +0000

other than money, alot of people worship fame. Ms Dupre will probably "sell" her story and write a book or have a movie made about her. All for money and / or fame. Like Glenn Beck said the other day on cnn, kids are worshipping fame instead of God or goodness and we see that in campus shootings, where a desperate kid knows at least they will gain fame by making drastic moves like killing or harming others. Mr Dupre is another lost soul who needs help now.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:59:03 +0000

Why don't leave the girl alone?

why media feeds us with this kind of information? Why is it matter whose girl that agency sent for the client? This girl is on every channel, every news website front page. What is so newsworthy about it ? CNN downgraded itself to the tabloids level.
yes, you are right, you are contributing to the glamorization of prostitution.

By: Lorie Ann, Buellton, California

Lorie Ann, Buellton, California — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:52:43 +0000

Hi Drew,
This young woman will have countless job offers from every walk of life in show business. Book deals, tv appearances, probably every news program will interview her and on and on.
She'll be the big "get." Then time will move all of you onto the next big story and she'll sink or swim on her own. It's a predictable and a sad state of our society.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

By: Stephen Goldberg

Stephen Goldberg — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:47:25 +0000

Who is shining the spotlight on her? - it seems to be you. Now you are showing some conflict about doing so? This whole thing is is a surreal media circus. Who gives a damn about this girl and her myspace page. I think Spitzer should have stood up to this high tech lynching both by the Rep. U.S. Attorney and the media. He may be a pompous hypocrite, but he was elected by 70% of the voters. How about the pompous hypocrites in the media - does Bill O'Reilly have a right to chastise Spitzer, what about Rush, what about you guys at CNN - what's in your closet? We used to think it didn't matter, but if you want to play everything with such self-righteous indignation, then maybe you should be required to disclose visits to prostitutes, etc. just like some financial reporters are required to disclose conflicts of interest. I keep looking at you guys thinking - hey, he never paid to get laid in his life?! Let's face it, lots of media reporters have paid for sex and they must be carrying a burden of guilt when reporting the Spitzer story. Maybe time to come clean.

By: Susan Peterson

Susan Peterson — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:44:12 +0000

Sadly, the women who get involved with the 'famous' men are almost invited to star in the 'spotlight' and get lots of attention – what about the governor's wife and daughters? On and on about the prostitute.. following her.. gathering information about her.. who cares.. she's a prostitute... i care as little about her as i do how the governor is feeling.. they had a choice. The governor's wife was hurting .. you could see it all over her face and America only wants to check out the prostitute and she has to see the tramp all over the media, as do her daughters. And, may I add – - what about the money the 'governor' spent? is there not people in his state that could have used that money to feed their children? or help the homeless? or help produce jobs? something morally 'right' ? no. i do not feel sorry for him, nor his prostitute... but my heart goes out to his wife and lovely girls. Stop glamorizing the trashy women that help men to destroy their families... its getting very old.

By: Lita Gomez

Lita Gomez — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:31:53 +0000

Enough already about Spitzer !!
I wonder how many politicians in Washington use the services of a call girl since they are away from their spouses often.
About the primaries– Is it true that in caucusses, there are no absentee ballots and you have to be present to vote ? No wonder Obama won almost all the caucuses !!
I believe that caucusses are not fair. Election should all be held in the same manner. I am a disabled senior citizen and can't attend night meetings and don't drive at night, thank God we don't use caucusses in the primaries.
Anderson, I love your show ! It is really fair and you say it as it is!
Keep up the good work sweetie !

By: Diana-IL

Diana-IL — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:28:00 +0000

These so called news channels have turned to "sleaze reporting". I am old enough to know that sex sells but this is going too far. A mob of cameras and reporters stalking outside this women's apartment building waiting for her to make an appearance. It would have been 'sensational' for them to catch several 'Johns' entering and exiting the building. What a bunch of 'Drama Queens'. Hardly a mention of the soldiers killed in the last few days, how sexy is that? The news stations should be sponsored and run by the professionals like The National Enquirer , People and Star Magazine.
Same story with the Presidential candidates. No emphasis on their policies and solutions but targeting the petty snipings.

By: Claudette, TX

Claudette, TX — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:21:04 +0000

This is rich! She is worried about how she is going to pay rent on her apartment because her boyfriend moved out when she found out he had fathered 2 children. A prostitutes man cheats on her and now she expects sympathy because HER man cheated? Well...now you see what it's like from BOTH sides...huh?!?!?!

By: Jolene

Jolene — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:18:39 +0000

Drew: I don't believe Ashley will be left in a dark shadow. I'm sure she will rise more from the media attention than we all think. It's seems to me that most young women who are involved in these types of scandals end up getting a show, book or movie deal. Heck, we might just see her as a contestant on the next American Idol. She's no dummy, you may think that she was the one exploited here but it takes two to tango and at least she was getting big bucks for her part of the dance.

Jolene, St. Joseph, MI

By: Rapid

Rapid — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:07:08 +0000

Are you kidding?

CNN has given her music more airplay this morning than she could have bought.
Her 15 minutes is already on it way to hours thanks to the widespread media coverage.