Stop the Presses

The whole Deborah Jeane Palfrey, AKA ‘The DC Madame‘ situation is a fascinating one, and a barometer by which Washington, DC determines who is ‘powerful.’ ABC won’t (and can’t) embarrass all 10,000 people whose numbers show up on Palfrey’s phone records–and heaven forbid she called her plumber or ordered pizza from that phone–but they and other media will go after those who are the most easily embarrassed, e.g. those in power and those who have the most to lose.

The first targets will be people whose public actions or persona would make their interactions with Palfrey appear the most hypocritical. Case in point is Senior State Department official Randall Tobias, who preached abstinence as part of his job and resigned shortly after receiving ABC’s call.

If You Think You’re on Palfrey’s List

What if you fear you’re on Ms. Palfrey’s list? Rather than waiting to see if 20/20 mentions you in tonight’s broadcast it’s important that you understand ABC’s modus operandi, and that you take a few steps right now to protect yourself.

1. Understand ABC’s ‘evidence’: Realize that, as far as we know, ABC has only phone records. That means that they’re calling people on the list. If the phone number you had 4 years ago is no longer in service, you’re probably safe; see step 5 below for one caveat.
2. Dump your phone: If you conducted ‘business’ with Ms. Palfrey via your cell phone, now is a great time to NOT answer your phone unless you are certain you know who is calling…and even better, to lose the phone completely. Immediately change your cell phone voicemail message to a generic greeting (e.g. ‘This is 555-555-5555, please leave a message). Go buy a new phone with a new number.
3. Change your work number: If you used your work phone in this situation, it could go a couple of ways. If the number that appears on the call recipient’s caller ID is a ‘general’ work number, you’re probably fine. However, if your call can be traced back to a direct dial number in your office, you’re going to need to determine what kind or relationship you have with your boss. Can you tell him/her, “I think I’ve done something that may embarrass the company and I need my direct dial number changed?”
4. Determine your true risk: Decide how powerful you really are. If you aren’t publicly doing something that could be seen as hypocritical (like serving as chairperson for an AIDS prevention campaign or on the board of a large church–just as examples) then you are not likely to be singled out.
5. Google your number: Right now, ABC appears to be just calling numbers on Palfrey’s list, but it’s perfectly feasible that they or other media may choose to start using the Internet to find out who the owners of specific numbers are. If the phone number you used to conduct ‘transactions’ with Ms. Palfrey is published online anywhere that you have control over–e.g. your company web site–removing it from there is a stopgap measure. Be aware, too, that even if ABC chooses not to go this route that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear–other media outlets and bloggers may pursue it.
6. Get a lawyer: Keeping in mind the ‘powerful’ litmus test above, if there is any chance you’re on the list, see an attorney. Immediately.
7. Plan to talk with your partner: Decide how you will handle this with your spouse. If you’re single, there’s less chance that you would be of interest to the media–prostitution combined with adultery makes for better ratings, especially during sweeps week. If you are married, you need to start thinking about how and when you might approach this with your spouse so that they don’t turn on the news and see you exposed (double entendre intentional). Whether your spouse leaves, or stands beside and behind you, will be a determining factor in how you handle the publicity.
8. Stay low: A phone number is not guilt. Do not volunteer more than the evidence that is in play. Once the titillation of the first revelations has passed, people will lose interest. At some point, the list of the accused will be larger than the audience who’s watching.
9. Deny loudly: If you are innocent, scream loudly if the cameras come toward you. Make sure that your denials are louder than their accusations. Find 3^rd parties who are willing to publicly vouch for your character and credibility.

All of this makes me wonder about us as a society. How gargantuan is our salacious appetite? What we have here, and have had in other situations, is the possibility of a shocking story rapidly morphing into sexual McCarthyism. This story will harm both the powerful and the powerless.

I thought it was called a ‘private life’ for a reason.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 2:26 pm and is filed under Articles and Opinions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.