Advocate for legalizing prostitution donated $40k to Obama
by ALEXANDER BURNS, politico.comMay 22nd 2012 2:48 PM
A California lawyer who donated $40,000 to the president's reelection efforts is also a vocal advocate for legalizing prostitution.
Edward Tabash, a Beverly Hills-based attorney who defends women accused of prostitution, cut a big check last month to the Obama Victory Fund. On his personal website, he says that he believes "prostitution among consenting adults should be decriminalized."
He's advocated that position in several op-eds over the years. In a 2008 letter to the editor in the Los Angeles Times, Tabash called Deborah Jean Palfrey – the so-called "D.C. Madam" – a martyr after she committed suicide.
"Laws criminalizing prostitution among consenting adults are among the most hypocritical and oppressive in the criminal justice system. Just look at the high-ranking political figures who were among Palfrey's clients," he wrote. "The best lesson to take away is that prostitution among consenting adults should no longer be a punishable crime. No more women or men should ever again hear the jail doors slam shut because of buying or selling adult sexual pleasures."
Tabash has been a prolific Democratic donor over the years, cutting thousand-plus-dollar checks to California lawmakers including Reps. Janice Hahn, Loretta Sanchez and Brad Sherman and Sen Barbara Boxer, as well as organizations including the Democrats for Israel Committee.
The Obama campaign declined to comment on the donation. I submitted a request for comment on Tabash's website and will update if necessary.
Original Page: http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/05/advocate-for-legalizing-prostitution-donated-k-to-124235.html
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