Well, this totally sucks for the state of New York. So much for political reform.
I like Spitzer a lot. But I don’t see how he survives this. Not when the Democrats are ONE SEAT away from taking control of the state senate for the first time in more than 40 years and kicking the awful Joe Bruno out of power.
I agree with Homer. We all do stupid things. The body doesn’t have enough blood to control the dick and the brain at the same time. Spitzer took a risk, and he got caught. Unfortunately, (1) this isn’t the 1950s, where the press will keep these things hush-hush; and (2) it was a prostitute (illegal), not just adultery (legal). Regardless of whether prostitution should be legal or not, the former attorney general flouted the law.
Anyway, I wonder what this means for gays’ right to marry. Spitzer is a strong supporter of marriage equality. I hope David Paterson is, too. Not that it will matter if the Democrats don’t take back the senate.
Something seems weird. Why is the Justice Department wiretapping hookers? Shouldn’t this be the job of the local police dept.?
It’s 3am at the governor’s mansion…
The latest stuff shows that this all STARTED with an investigation of the governor because of weird financial stuff that looked like the hiding of bribes–it was actually paying for $5000 hookers. This isn’t a lone mistake. He was a regular customer. How very, very Clintonian.
Uhm… Why isn’t anyone (that I’ve seen) drawing the significant distinction here between hiring a prostitute (arguably a victimless offense) and the crimes he’s known for prosecuting: white collar crime and corporate fraud that affects thousands directly and affects the state of our economy?
granted we don’t like governors to commit crimes of any sort, but as far as I can tell, he didn’t use taxpayer money, he wasn’t part of any conspiracy, and his only deception was an omission over something he had no duty to reveal, and indeed a fundamental right to keep quiet about.
and it’s not like there’s really anything seedy or declasse about a $5500/hr hooker. It doesn’t bespeak corruption of any kind, and I kinda hate that he might leave office for it.
Why couldn’t he just be a gay american?`
Good point, Cr0mulence.
If he’d given the hooker a cushy state job that she’s not qualified for — like a certain gay American — that would be a totally different issue.
OTOH, prostitution is illegal and the chief executive of a political institution is supposed to uphold the law rather than violate it. OTGH, is there not a difference between “Eliot Spitzer” and “the Governor of New York?” “Governor” is a role, a relationship in the state’s political structure; Eliot is just the person who currently fills that office.
If he abused his position to support his habit for high-price call girls (what exactly do you get for that kind of cash?), that would be one thing. As it is, I don’t see this as different from if he’d been driving drunk or the like. He shouldn’t resign.
The irony that Spitzer is now succumbing to some of the very crimes he prosecuted shouldn’t escape anyone. I am extremely happy that this man’s shortcomings were revealed now and not, say, should he have (as he dreamed) risen to the US Presidency as the first Jew to hold the office. Imagine the tragedy and historic injustice under such a circumstance.
Despite what the press is stating, his PEP (Politically Exposed Person) fiscal status wasn’t the impetus that caused his exposure in this case. Even though PEP’s enjoy regular financial scrutiny, it was his stupidity that resulted in his carnal exposure. The facts are that he was diverting funds to the Emperors’ Club *shell* account (a falsified business entity) is what resulted in him coming under Fed investigation — akin to writing a check to your drug-dealer — wholly independent of their wiretap. Indeed, this man also seemed to want to be caught, funneling in excess of 80k towards the prostitution ring’s financial cover-ups.
The FBI regularly investigate prostitution rings that span inter-State borders. So, no surprise there. What is shocking is how easy Spitzer made it for the special agents to connect him to an ongoing investigation.
As to Paterson — a greater man now enjoys the office and history’s grace. He’ll do even greater things than Spitzer.
rob@egoz.org