THE SCANDAL that destroyed the political career of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer had many victims beyond the governor’s family.
Of course, it is reasonable to feel sorry for Spitzer’s wife and children — even for his friends and political supporters. But those people are far outnumbered by another group of victims — the people of New York.
Never mind the desperate assurances from Albany that state government is perking along just fine. Spitzer’s foolishness has thrown the executive and legislative branches into confusion at a crucial point in the year.
The state is working to resolve a $4.7 billion deficit — not created by Spitzer, but a problem he assumed. Before he dropped through the trap door out of public life, the governor had proposed a $124 billion budget. Work on the budget must be completed by April, without Spitzer.
Spitzer has left his lieutenant governor, David Paterson, holding the bag. Paterson has been in state government for years, but has no particular power base. He will be learning on the job, and that could be an expensive education for the taxpayers of New York.
Eliot Spitzer did not raid the public treasury — the money he spent on prostitutes was his own. He did not sell favors to the rich or take bread from the poor.
But that does not mean that he was involved in a victimless crime.
Whether it was foolishness or blind arrogance that led him to that hotel room in Washington, his actions affected millions of people who had counted on his honesty and probity. They made him the chief executive of one of the greatest states in the nation.
But Spitzer broke his bargain with the voters. He acted badly and then fled the scene, leaving others to straighten out the mess.
He deserves to be prosecuted for any crimes he has committed.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
create (anonymous) says...
Of course he deserves to be prosecuted, but then again, so does Bill Clinton for dallying on the public dime then costing us again for the entire three ring circus that followed. Until specific laws are passed against this sort of idiocy, the boys who play will get away with it while exposing us to yet another mea culpa mess. The problem I have with all of these fools is that they take the public for being as stupid as their wives are.
March 15, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
Did you ever see so many lily white journalists in your life? All the way from NYC to our local community. Maybe they really are that lily white but few other fields are. But it is all the same horror story about how terrible Spitzer was. But just for fun, look at the other side for a moment. The editorial discussed all the problems the new governor would have with the budget etc and how much it could cost the taxpayers and he is probably correct. But Spitzer met the girl, testified before Congress and was back home days before any of the public knew a thing about it. If he was as awful as the media seems to think how was he able to run the state for that period of time between the Washington meeting and when the media and all the do-gooders landed on him? I guess my thought is that the media and the opposing politicians have done a lot more harm to taxpayers than Spitzer ever did. I'm not saying it was morally proper but he's not the first and he won't be the last. Did the public shoot themselves in the foot and lose more than they gained? Just a thought....
March 15, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Pizza, okay, you said it's not "morally proper," but what I'm hearing you say is that it's okay for governors to break the law as long as they are doing their job. Where do we draw the line for the rest of us? As long as no one is looking and no one gets hurt, we can break the law?
What do you tell young teens who watch the news and "You Tube" and see that the hooker is now making money hand over fist for interviews, music contracts, etc.?
On the other hand, ever see the movie, Erin Brockovich? True story. She was definitely not lily white, but she took on a huge corporation that was poisoning ground water. Should we have lessened her accusations because she wasn't the perfect girl next door? Or should her reputation be moot?
March 16, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Presidential promiscuity. You want to begin the discussion with Clinton? Okay, but then to be completely fair you need to list all the other presidents who have gotten their rocks off while in the Oval Office: Harding, Eisenhower, Kennedy. It has also been rumored that Reagan placed his lips on more women than just Nancy.
My point is: who cares? We have more important issues to concern ourselves with than who is chasing whom around the desk. Recession, war, unemployment, disease, education. Let's keep our eyes on the ball, shall we.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
March 16, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kelonia (anonymous) says...
Ha ha. My thinking is a bit different. First off, I think that the Republicans ought to be the ones paying for the 3 ring circus. That whole thing was just plain silly and sounded a lot like sour grapes. Second, why in the world is prostitution illegal? I've never gotten that.
March 16, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Disease and education are a part of this picture, Brian. What's more, this is a lot more than "chasing" someone around a desk. Not only are you making light of breaking the law, you're casting women as nothing more than playthings.
March 17, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Who cares? Oh my. I guess morals and ethics don't mean anything anymore to some people. That type of attitude worries me.
Brian I have a question for you. We hold teachers to extremely high standards when it comes to their personal lives, so are you saying that teachers should be allowed to do such things as well - I'm just curious because according to you, we have "more important issues to concern ourselves with", right? Like failing students, students with confidence issues, students being bullied, bringing weapons to school, etc. Do you see how your "who cares" attitude is a tad hypocritical if it only applies to certain individuals?
March 17, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
The point I am making is, when it comes to promiscuity on the part of our elected officials, there's a knee-jerk tendency to refer back to President Clinton and burn him on the stake. Am I proud of his actions? Of course not. However, to be fair, one should also be reminded of all those who preceded him with "loose zippers" in the Oval Office. The Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal was a "witch hunt" that did nothing more than waste money and distract our elected officials and the public from the day's more important business.
Personally, I don't think infidelity is anyone's business but that of the offender and his/her spouse. If you were the offender or victim, would you want your "dirty laundry" hung out to dry?
March 18, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
As for the comment "failing students, students with confidence issues, students being bullied, bringing weapons to school," how does that relate to Governor Spitzer's illegal actions? Are these issues important. 110% they are. But spattering his name across the headlines, just like that of Senator Larry "wide-stance" Craig, only makes a mockery of our democracy and does nothing for our students.
March 18, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
So we should do what? Just leave it all alone? I expect a bit more from elected officials who promise to uphold the law when they take their oath of office than I expect from the guy down the street who cheats on his wife. What makes a mockery of our democracy are elected officials who promise to uphold the law then behave as though they are above it.
March 18, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
create, I second!
March 18, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Create - I agree with you 100%. I believe and have witnessed that people who are willing to cheat in one area of their lives are very likely to "cheat" in other areas of their lives. If a person is willing to lie to their spouse, what is to stop them from lying to a coworker, a boss, a friend, etc.? It does come down to morals. I'm not saying anyone is perfect or that people cannot change, but let's be realistic.
Brian - my comment about "failing students, students with confidence issues, students being bullied, bringing weapons to school," relates to your comment - it was a comparison to your "Recession, war, unemployment, disease, education." - those are items that you think are more important than the morals of our country's leaders (I don't agree - I think all is important). I was simply asking if you felt the items regarding students are more important than the morals/actions of teachers. It was a comparison - perhaps not a perfectly clear one, but that is what it was meant as.
March 18, 2008 at 6 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )