Spitzer steps down
I was on call last night. I had an opportunity to watch the news. There has been a media frenzy over Elliot Spitzer. New information was being served up almost continuously. Spitzer was thought to be Client #9 in federal papers. Next, we found out that he reportedly paid these high classed hookers $1500 per hour. Only a couple of hours later we found out about a weekend that he went to DC and spent some time with “Kristen”. This morning or late last night we heard that he may have spent over $80,000 over several years. Reports of carefully planned transactions designed to throw off authorities.
It is my belief that politicians need to live up their rhetoric. Elliott Spitzer was compared to Elliott Ness - one of the untouchables. He was a crusader against unethical corporate behavior. He was a bull in a China shop. He made a ton of enemies.
Today Elliott Spitzer resigned.
As the Democrats return to power around the country after 25 - 30 years of Republican domination, Democratic leaders need to be better than Republican counterparts. Better in an ethical way. I think that Elliott Spitzer was the “perfect” democratic politician. He had a strong record for being tough on crime. He took no prisoner yet believed in a progressive agenda. He was being talked about as a future Democratic Presidential candidate in the next 4 - 8 years. All of that is now gone. Completely gone. I’m extremely saddened by Mr. Spitzer’s behavior. I guess the old adage is true if it looks too good to be true it probably is.
It always amazes me that the wives will stand next to their husbands in front of the cameras. Vitter’s wife stood by him too. I feel really bad for the wives and kids. Steve Corbert had a field day with him the other night.
MLK jr. made this country better. JFK made this country better. Bill Clinton made this country better. I know little of Larry Craig, but apparently his constituents think that he has made this country better… and so has Elliot Spitzer. WTF. I don’t care if these guys had sex with someone other than their wives. I don’t care that they lied about it. I don’t care that at some level they are hypocritical. I do care that they have improved the quality of my life. I’d rather have one of these “immoral” effective players on my team, than a hundred “moral” inffective politicians such as Kenneth Starr.
Wonder what would have happened if Spitzer had said, “I’ll resign when David Vitter and Larry Craig resign.”
Jeff-
What a GREAT thought!!
Oscar -
I agree. I think that the problem with Spitzer was the same problem that I have with these politicians that run on a moral agenda. They believe that they are more morally right than everyone else. I think that Spitzer would have done a lot of good for NY.
thanks for your thoughts.