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You are here: Home / TV & Movies / Movies / Double Standards

Double Standards

by John Cole|  April 11, 20088:11 am| 33 Comments

This post is in: Movies

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This seems unfair:

A Navy supply officer and former Naval Academy instructor testified Thursday that she moonlighted as a prostitute for the D.C. Madam, a California woman accused of running an escort service that prosecutors say netted her several million dollars over a 13-year period.

Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Dickinson told federal prosecutors at U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that she had sex with nearly every client she met while working for Deborah Jeane Palfrey from October 2005 until April 2006.

***

After her statement, Dickinson also received nonjudicial punishment and was given a punitive letter of reprimand. Hanzlik said she could face additional punishment in the future and has been placed on leave. When she exhausts her accumulated leave time, Dickinson will revert to unpaid leave status and remain there until she is separated from the Navy.

“We expect the men and women who serve in our nation’s Navy to adhere to a standard of conduct that reflects our core values of honor, courage and commitment,” Hanzlik said. “Lt. Cmdr. Dickinson’s conduct will prevent her from wearing this uniform again in the service of our country.”

We have a long national history of fucking people for money, so I don’t see what the big deal is. Dickinson should get a Medal of Freedom.

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Reader Interactions

33Comments

  1. 1.

    Jen

    April 11, 2008 at 8:15 am

    There was also a 62 year old Ph.D. occupational therapist working for the D.C. Madam. I thought that was odd. Maybe the 401(k) and dental plans were just really good.

  2. 2.

    shortstop

    April 11, 2008 at 8:21 am

    This is perfectly consistent with the thousands upon thousands of male officers the Navy has put on unpaid leave for having sex with prostitutes. What? Oh.

  3. 3.

    jack fate

    April 11, 2008 at 8:28 am

    There’s a Tailhook joke in here somewhere. . .

  4. 4.

    Wilfred

    April 11, 2008 at 8:28 am

    I guess being on the game constitutes Conduct Becumming of an officer,

    she had sex with nearly every client she met while working for Deborah Jeane Palfrey from October 2005 until April 2006.

    If that doesn’t reflect honor, courage and commitment, what does? It is a clear case of supply and demand and natural market forces.

  5. 5.

    smiley

    April 11, 2008 at 8:29 am

    Dickinson should get a Medal of Freedom.

    If torture had been involved, she would have.

  6. 6.

    Crusty Dem

    April 11, 2008 at 8:31 am

    I can see the new recruitment ad now:

    “In the Navy, where you can swim the seven seas
    In the Navy, where you can get down on your knees
    in the Navy, make millions fucking who you please
    In the Navy, in the Navy”

    Ok, that was weak. But I’d rather see the Navy using the Village People and Lt. Commander Dickinson to recruit than that weird “navy moms” thing they’ve got going now.

  7. 7.

    Catsy

    April 11, 2008 at 8:31 am

    Yeah, the hypocrisy and sexism burns more than a little bit. Availing oneself of the local prostitutes is a time-honored tradition in most branches of service–for the men, that is. She’s getting a raw deal.

    On the other hand, I can see a solid argument being made that once the knowledge of her past became active, it would irreparably undermine her ability to command. Which isn’t at all fair, and reflects more on the military than it does on her, but it is what it is, and it’d be naive to deny it.

  8. 8.

    Zifnab

    April 11, 2008 at 8:34 am

    “We expect the men and women who serve in our nation’s Navy to adhere to a standard of conduct that reflects our core values of honor, courage and commitment,” Hanzlik said. “Lt. Cmdr. Dickinson’s conduct will prevent her from wearing this uniform again in the service of our country.”

    Firstly… qua? Non-sequitur much? The least he could do is run off and proclaim that Navy Officers are required to adhere to a standard of conduct consistent with state and national law. But honor? Courage? Commitment? What the hell does that have to do with giving it up for money? If she’d been a giant slut who boinked everyone for free, would that have been preferable? Or should we start equipping our nation’s bravest and brightest with chastity belts to defend them from dishonorable urges in their pants?

    Secondly, I’d just like to point out that – given her occupation – I don’t see why she needs to wear a uniform to service her country. Unless Hanzlik is just into that sort of thing.

    Finally, her last name was Dickson. I’m just say’n…

  9. 9.

    Shinobi

    April 11, 2008 at 8:41 am

    So, prostitutes get kicked out, but rapists are A-OK? Gotta love the US Military.

  10. 10.

    Punchy

    April 11, 2008 at 8:56 am

    I thought when you’re in the Navy, you’re supposed to enjoy the seamen, no?

  11. 11.

    bootlegger

    April 11, 2008 at 8:57 am

    Gotta concur, the gender double standard is appalling.

    A sailor told me a story once about a guy on his boat named Sammy Morris who was kin of a shy loner. One time they had shore leave in Thailand and this guy and another buddy went to find hookers. While bartering over the price the girls kept saying “no do Sammy Morris”. The guys had no idea what they were talking about so when they got back to the ship they looked up Sammy Morris and asked him what that was all about. Sammy Morris says: “Man I do love to cornhole those slant-eyed sluts.” My source indicates this story always creates much jocularity among the navy boys. I guess the navy girls can’t be a Sammy Morris.

  12. 12.

    Dennis - SGMM

    April 11, 2008 at 8:57 am

    “We expect the men and women who serve in our nation’s Navy to adhere to a standard of conduct that reflects our core values of honor, courage and commitment…”

    What? Capt. Jack Hanzlik must have stayed aboard when his ship made a Liberty Port – assuming that he ever did Sea Duty. Things must have undergone a huge change since my Navy years.
    If sex for money is sufficient to get a sailor discharged then half of our ships would have been idle for lack of a crew. No, not all sailors frequent brothels but plenty of them do.
    Yes, LCDR (Proper abbreviation) Dickinson broke a civil law. She should be allowed to quietly resign.
    And I don’t appreciate the little morality lecture either. Again, if sex for money means that someone lacks honor, courage and commitment then we can blame the hookers of Vietnam for the fall of Saigon.

  13. 13.

    Jen

    April 11, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Yikes, bootlegger, that isn’t really what I want to read at 10:00 a.m.

  14. 14.

    Dennis - SGMM

    April 11, 2008 at 9:15 am

    Yikes, bootlegger, that isn’t really what I want to read at 10:00 a.m.

    Then I guess that the Sea Stories about liberty in Olongapo City, P.I., are out too.

  15. 15.

    bootlegger

    April 11, 2008 at 9:19 am

    Sorry Jen, the drive through idiot at McD’s substituted dcaf for my real coffee and I’m still a bit groggy.

  16. 16.

    Zifnab

    April 11, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Again, if sex for money means that someone lacks honor, courage and commitment then we can blame the hookers of Vietnam for the fall of Saigon.

    If they can blame the gays for 9/11, I’m sure someone is way ahead of you.

  17. 17.

    ThymeZone

    April 11, 2008 at 10:09 am

    World’s oldest profession.

    Dog bites man.

    Next story please.

  18. 18.

    Svensker

    April 11, 2008 at 10:19 am

    So I guess that means that Mr. Vitter will be getting that old letter of reprimand and disapproval as well, right, instead of the standing ovation he got from his GOP confreres?

    Is the co-ed Navy that much different from the co-ed Army? When I was in the Army the idea seemed to be for everyone to pretty much boff everything that wasn’t tied down. Or maybe WAS tied down…ahem. Maybe doing it for pay isn’t kosher?

  19. 19.

    Tsulagi

    April 11, 2008 at 10:25 am

    What, no pictures? What freaking good is this blog?

  20. 20.

    The Other Steve

    April 11, 2008 at 10:26 am

    Rape is not nearly as bad as prostitution, because you aren’t exchanging money.

    Does this mean the Navy is communist?

  21. 21.

    The Other Steve

    April 11, 2008 at 10:30 am

    Maybe doing it for pay isn’t kosher?

    I believe to qualify as Kosher you have to have a Rabbi bless the event.

  22. 22.

    Incertus

    April 11, 2008 at 11:46 am

    What’s wrong with me that my first thought was “she’s a Lt. Commander and she’s having to moonlight?” Is Navy pay that bad?

  23. 23.

    empty

    April 11, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    I believe to qualify as Kosher you have to have a Rabbi bless the event.

    And it can’t be just any Rabbi. And you have to pay him.

  24. 24.

    DM

    April 11, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    I’m all for legalizing prostitution and, in fact, think that it’d probably make it safer on the whole. But considering the military code of conduct allows an officer to be repremanded and put in the brig for being late on their bills or anything that “tarnishes the image of the military” why is it surprising that an officer moonlighting as a prostitute would be punished (and lightly, for what they could have done)?

  25. 25.

    Tara the anti-social social worker

    April 11, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    “This is perfectly consistent with the thousands upon thousands of male officers the Navy has put on unpaid leave for having sex with prostitutes. What? Oh.”

    There was a story a few years back about a woman in the military (can’t remember which branch) who was court-martialed for adultery, while her married lover (also in the military) got off lightly. Every news organization covered the story with exact same turn of phrase: “percieved double standard.”

    Of course, shortly afterward they dug up a high-ranking man who was also committing adultery. When he was disciplined, those same news organizations said it had turned into a “witch hunt.” For some reason, when it happened to a guy, it wasn’t a “perceived” witch hunt.

  26. 26.

    paradox

    April 11, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    To me there’s a story here, but not in Navy or cultural hypocrisy, it’s in her choice to do it.

    She was an officer, believe me they make decent money. Why be a prostitute? If it had been for a drug habit it would have been in the story, and she never would have been able to pull that off in khaki anyway.

    It’s possible she wanted to some kind of lavish spending in her life, like clothes or travel, but….I find it doubtful prostitution would be a choice for something material, really.

    For some reason, or reasons, she liked it. Maybe in her mind she got money and attention for it….maybe it was a game to break the rules in secret.

    There’s no way to know. I hope she’s all right, and I hold no judgment toward her at all. There is a reason she did it, though….I hope she’s all right.

  27. 27.

    Tsulagi

    April 11, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    What’s wrong with me that my first thought was “she’s a Lt. Commander and she’s having to moonlight?”

    That is wrong. Your first natural thought should have been how hot is she.

    It’s possible she wanted to some kind of lavish spending in her life, like clothes or travel, but….I find it doubtful prostitution would be a choice for something material, really.

    For some reason, or reasons, she liked it. Maybe in her mind she got money and attention for it….maybe it was a game to break the rules in secret.

    What the hell do you base that fantasy bullshit on?

    Yes, as an officer she got a paycheck. As an O-4 with her years of service her basic pay would be in the $70k range.

    But just possibly rather than living out some lurid secret fetish of being a call girl in the Navy she used the part-time income to help support her three kids mentioned in the linked NavyTimes story. Or to pay the bills after marital problems and a bankruptcy also mentioned. You know, the mundane crap in everyday life.

  28. 28.

    Susan Kitchens

    April 11, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    From the double-take department. I read this (at conclusion of blockquote):

    “Lt. Cmdr. Dickinson’s conduct will prevent her from wearing this uniform again in the service of our country.”

    and thought for a moment that it said this:

    “Lt. Cmdr. Dickinson’s conduct will prevent her from wearing this uniform again in the servicing of our country.”

  29. 29.

    paradox

    April 11, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    Look, you belligerent asshole, you have no cause at all to take that pugnacious, virulently obnoxious tone with me. I wonder why I come here and say anything at all, so many times plain assholes spew their flatulence so vociferously at me.

    What the hell do you base that fantasy bullshit on?

    Where the fuck is a fantasy of mine in all this? Nowhere, sick dick. For some reason… and maybe. I don’t know what the hell the story is, Jesus, where do you get off acting like I issued a proclamation of knowledge?

    It was likely a mistake to state she liked it, yes. But I notice no other women on 70k a year with a college degree and with everything on the line professionally turning to prostitution to pay “mundane” expenses.

    I don’t care where the fuck all you live, but 70k is a lot of money, even in Silicon Valley you’ll be comfortable, and this is the most expensive place on earth. Is this a trend among professional women now, to turn to prostitution?

    Fuck you, you little internet blowhard keyboard badass. Come talk to me any time like that on the street, bitch.

  30. 30.

    Tsulagi

    April 11, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Thanks for the laugh, paradox. I bet you turn all kinds of heads in the Bay Area when you get pissy like that.

  31. 31.

    wobbly

    April 11, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    Conduct unbecoming of an officer and a…lady.

    Welcome to the new military, and, yes, s**tcan her.

    ASAP.

    What sucks for the gander sucks for the goose!

  32. 32.

    bud

    April 11, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    A male naval officer who got caught in a cathouse (with an arrest as part of it) – whether buying or selling – might as well kiss his career goodbye, as well.

    There is no “double standard”.

  33. 33.

    Jo Fish

    April 12, 2008 at 1:18 pm

    A little late to this party, but FWIW I noticed two inconsistencies in the story. Having a bit of legal experience in the NAV, I found this interesting:

    …Dickinson also received nonjudicial punishment and was given a punitive letter of reprimand. … When she exhausts her accumulated leave time, Dickinson will revert to unpaid leave status and remain there until she is separated from the Navy.

    First it says she was given NJP which is probably correct, and the it looks like she was placed on “appellate leave” which is the result of a General (in her case) Courts-Martial. NJP does not result in appellate leave, and if she had been to a GCM, then there would have been no NJP… there is a doctrine of “all known offenses” and an Office (or anyone else) has the right to demand the evidentiary and legal protections of a Courts-Martial over the hearsay and innuendo of NJP.

    I don’t quite get it. Was she courts-martialed or was this NJP and how is she on administrative leave following NJP? Unless there have been massive changes to the Manual for Courts-Martial and UCMJ since I was in the Navy, I’m missing some part of this story.

    Oh, and her fucking folks for money? Not sure how that’s different from a guy paying a hooker (Olongapo, Phattaya Beach, other places), or an adulterous affair going on (the “one fuel-stop rule”: never have extra-marital sex closer than one-fuel stop to the wife). Double-standard, much?

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