Must Spitzer go?
Eliot Spitzer is out of the VP running then - though I guess he was never really in. If he stays on though, hangs around embarrassing his friends and delighting his enemies like the Democrats' own version of Republican Senator Larry Craig, he could provide a difficult choice for the woman he backs in the presidential contest.
Mrs Clinton will surely be asked before long whether he should go: and she or her people are surely on the phone to the governor now, informing him that this is a question she does not want to answer. He has to go: for the sake of her campaign, if for no other reason.
Meanwhile, on the subject of less than wonderful news for Mrs Clinton, in the British press. The question: as Northern Ireland's peace deal was being thrashed out, was she watching basket-weaving displays (or whatever the Ulster equivalent is), or was she locking horns with the players as she suggests? David Trimble ought to know and has no reason to diminish her role.
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Quick correction: Larry Craig is a Republican senator from Idaho, not a Democrat (Elliot Spitzer, though you don't mention his political party, is the Democratic governor of New York).
As for Spitzer, I think it's best to get all the facts before any judgments are made. If true, however, he probably should consider resigning before his now-tarnished "Mr. Clean" image affects the rest of his party as Sen. Craig's has tarnished the GOP's.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Please pass this note along to Mr. Spitzer.
It is time people like Bill Clinton, Senator Larry Craig and Gov Spitzer of New York resign. There must be some decent men or women in this nation that can run for office without jersks like these.
I am sick of defending them. What they do in private does matter and sets a bad expample for kids.
Unless he paid for them with public funds, I don't see a problem. A reprimand should be sufficient if he's doing his job.
Family types will shriek about what a horrible example this sets, but in light of other criminal deeds by more powerful politicians (who these same types simply adore), this is very minor. We have greater problems to tackle with tax dollars than fussing over such frivolity.
A sad story.
The monumentally epic hypocrisy and, in all probability, hubristic belief both that it was okay and that it wouldn't come out are hard to ignore.
He staked his reputation (like Elliot Ness) on fighting corruption and sleaze. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
But, it would be sad to see him go although it is possibly inevitable. He may well find governing and the fight against Tammany hall impossible now but he was a tireless and just Attorney General and a reform-orientated Governor. I don't think the sin of Lust is the best moral benchmark against which to judge representatives. Sloth and misuse of power are worse.
I am tempted to say that the hypocrisy and moral failure is a tragic and personal waste of potential rather something heinous. And I don't care about the effect on Hillary. I support her but she should have won the race months ago.
Mr. Spitzer and his wife provided a interesting contrast to John McCain and spouse. When McCain was last defending himself in front of the camera against NY Times accusations, his wife radiated her support. Mrs. Spitzer looked as if pained silence could be the most support she can offer.
During his time as Attorney General of New York Elliott Spitzer set out his stall in cleaning up all sorts of crime in a moralistic way. His pursuit of white collar "crime" was carried out like a zealot. He can no longer be Mr Clean and as someone who has based his whole career he should do the decent thing and fall on his sword. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party appears to be similar to New Labour and those in high places rarely if ever do the honourable thing. I suspect many a celebratory drink is being downed around Wall Street tonight and with good cause.
There are two, and only two, criteria for sex. 1. Consenting and 2. Adult. All else is illegal.
Who cares who Larry Craig, Eliot Spitzer, Bill Clinton, et al has sex with?
What business is it of anyones other than the Consenting Adults engaged therein?
As a New Yorker I find the Govenor Spitzer story disappointing, but the comparison to Senator Craig is unfair. The Craig story is about the hypocrisy of the homophobic Republican Party.
Assuming Spitzer paid for whatever with his own money, I not only see no need for his resignation, but will likely vote for him again.
I don't understand the idea of a running mate?...what is the point of them?...who is being elected, the president or some other bloke? If the other bloke is important, why do they not campaign together from the outset? Seems like all it is for is to get more votes, nowt else...
I don't think Hillary had any real affect in the NI peace deal...since the principal negaotiations started in J.Major's time and continued under Blair.
All she could ever claim would the icing on the cake...perhaps as a reward for being a cheerleader??
Hmmm...well, it IS a bit hard to rebound from being a reform-based Attorney General-turned-Governor known and elected for tackling public corruption (not only on Wall Street but also breaking up and prosecuting past notorious prostitution rings)...and then to get busted yourself for paying over $4,000 a night as a customer of such a ring!
The hypocrisy abounds, and makes Spitzer look like an idiot but that never stopped American politicians from giving a weak apology and then staying out their term in office-- oftentimes anyway, Senator Craig being a recent exception. Personally, morally, I don't think this kind of scandal is a reason to resign but the foolishness and hypocrisy of such situations does really erode one's credibility and make it even harder for real reform to take place. To me that's the real abomination in cases like this.
Look Justin, this pro-Obama spiel is getting really tiresome. I fail to see how this impacts negatively on Clinton's reputation - if this was an ally of Obama, would the news be worth a post to you? It's telling that it's Obama supporters who are accusing their rival of a scorched earth policy when they themselves are willing to play into the hands of Republicans in this way. Leave well alone is my advice...
>>>Unless he paid for them with public funds, I don't see a problem. A reprimand should be sufficient if he's doing his job.>>>>
If he was just screwing around with his secretary, I might agree with you. But if he did transport a prostitute over state lines for illegal purposes, he's broken a Federal law. My guess is that he is going to have to cooperate with the Feds and plead guilty (to a minor charge, at least) to avoid going to prison.
It's really an awful shame because Spitzer was the first governor in a long time who had a shot of cleaning up New York State's ridiculously corrupt political system.
For all of Obama's campaign rhetoric about "change" the timing of this revelation about the misdoings of an important Clinton supporter smells suspiciously like good old fashioned political hard ball. How providential that it serves to attract press coverage away from the corruption trial of one of Obama's long time political cronies.
The knives are out at last and the electorate will get a chance to see both candidates' darker sides. It should be much more entertaining and informative about their character than their usual stump speeches.
It would be interesting - mischievously so - to know what mention was made of Hillary Clinton's input to the NI peace process in Chelsea Clinton's undergraduate thesis!
Spitzer must go. He has lost his fizz by shedding his Mr. Clean image. To stay would mean that New Yorkers are above ethics and decency and that it only applies to the rest of the world. Not too long ago a female New Yorker said that only little people pay taxes. Just because one is from New York you cannot be spared for political sins. His endorsement of Hillary is an embarrassment just as McCain's endorsement by Bush. If the press is going to define guilt by association then Spitzer's association of Hillary needs to be questioned. It seems she cannot control her flock or manage a decent campaign. It is certainly a time for a change, too bad it is not coming soon enough.
I can't be sure, but to me this is a little different than Craig. Spitzer wasn't in the habbit of ranting against prostitution with the kind of holier-than-thou attitude that Craig displayed toward homosexuality. Still, he's going to have to go. What he allegedly did is a felony that carries a possible 20-year sentence.
C'mon Justin grow up! The "Republican's own version of Larrg Craig." Are you serious?! Craig was in a public toilet looking for gay sex. Spitzer was soliciting good old normal hetero hookers. How wholesome can you get? why it's as American as apple pie.
haha your sorry!? thats great buddy...unfortunately you've broken the law, so like us normal people the only words coming out of your mouth next should be "I plead guilty and or not guilty" to a judge....
The worst part part is how much he was supposedly paying.
But seriously, the issue is not shrill religious straw men, it's female voters. Look at his poor wife up there. I can't imagine him actually being forced out over something this minor (unless the state's economy really goes south), or leaving to save a campaign which is apparently hopeless. If he leaves it would be to spare his family further press scrutiny.
is this suprising to anyone? Politicians by nature are creeps. Sociopaths, who crave power. Any regret he has is because he got caught, likely because he had so many enemies from prosecuting so many people and corporations. Mr. Spitzer may have gone to Harvard, but he's obviously not very intelligent to have done this. I mean, if you wanted to see a hooker, at least go where it's legal? You can afford a drive to Canada or a flight to Europe. For the love of God, virtually every woman in DC would jump at the chance at a powerful man. You could have gone to a bar in Georgetown and picked up a woman there! Now your career is over! Your wife is going to divorce you and you will lose half of your fortune. Worth it?
Hi there -
Don't start licking your chops too soon! In 2005, Eliot Spitzer was one of the first officials to begin investigations of the now failing subprime loan industries and the college loan industries that currently are savaging lives on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific. Also - many of the above industries have faith - based funding arrangements with the IRS and The U.S. Office of Faith - Based Funding. The dirty little secret that many well -heeled persons don't want the rest of us to get ahold of.
Justin,
There it is. The Clinton style of politics that every statement made, 'IS' how they say it is. I just read an Andrew Sullivan piece, "The Clintons, a horror film that never ends" posted in the Drudge Report 2008 on March 10th. Now thats a classic discription of the Clinton-esk campaign and mind set of those who love them.
Keep up the great work, and I mean those who comment on your site as well!
Doug
Read the article on Northern Ireland and Hillary's involvement in the Peace Process and while everyone is entitled to buff up their CV she is getting into Jeffrey Archer territory. Can't think of a US equivalent to JA for American readers, sorry.
Governor Spitzer should resign. When he was Attorney General, he destroyed the New York Black United Fund and Hale House. It's time for the Lt. Governor David Paterson to take over. I know he'll do a better job.
@ Daniel: I think that Justin Webb was making the point that Spitzer is now the Democratic *version* of Larry Craig, rather than saying that Craig is a Democrat.
I tend to agree with the last two posters. Politicians aren't any more perfect than ordinary people. If you start disqualifying people from office because of private indiscretions, you'll surely soon find that few people remain - and those that do will be the kind of bland, teflon politicians that are decried by many (and particularly the press - more hipocrisy).
The contrast with the private sector is also instructive. My impression is that in that sphere if you perform well in your role and aren't doing something criminal, you'll be judged more on your effectiveness at running the company than what you do in the bedroom. I seem to recall Lord Browne (of BP)'s sexuality being something of an open secret among BP's senior management, but that wasn't seen as enough to cost him his job - even after he perjured himself.
Well...here is a man who has made more enemies in powerful positions than Ralph Nader. "Schadenfreude" will be the buzz word on Wall Street as well as other foreign words such as "Coup de Grace" which will no doubt be self-inflicted or performed on him by the media, the moral majority and the Republican party.
Here is another shining example of a hypocrite extolling moral virtues whilst at the same time poking his parts into places that have yet to be accepted by anyone except the French!
All the efforts that he has made to strengthen the power of the consumer were laudable but it doesn't make him "Mr. Teflon".
"Bon Voyage" - Mr. Spitzer! the corks of countless bottles of Bollinger will be popping in every investment house and Insurance company as they laugh at the apology you have given in the vain belief that it will undo what your trouser fly failed to stop.
As to the interests of the common man - it takes someone in a loin cloth who lives in India to stand up for the righteousness of the downtrodden - not someone in a slick Armani suit with a Governorship as the carrot for success.
Wait for the response from Mrs. Clinton - she's experienced this before but it was her own husband and he was generally liked even if we all knew he "inhaled". It would be a misguided politician to stand up for the indiscretion of someone else's spouse so soon before the finishing post is in sight.
If, like the comment says, in the above, that should he have paid for the prostitute from his own funds.;then that is his business...however, if funded from public funds, its quite simple..he has to resign....he cannot be trusted to eliminate corruption, if he has put his hand into public funds, to fund his personal idiosyncracies.
Spitzer should find a big soft chair in a dim room, put on his noise-cancelling headphones, crank up Queen's BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, and set it on "replay". Listen closely, Eliot. The music speaks to you.
Paul, 4.. I think commiting a crime and going against everying your platform stood for is a big deal. sorry.
Daniel, 1.. the writer does state the parites and the correct ones. ??
I'm amazed that some would dismiss his actions as mere frivolity. Whether or not one thinks it should be, the fact remains that in the State of New York prostitution is illegal, as is soliciting a prostitute. The Chief Executive of the State allegedly participating in illegal activity is not frivolity; it is criminal. Add to that the fact that Mr. Spitzer ran his campaign based on his earned reputation of ethical conduct in government and his dogged pursuit of the same standard in private enterprise and you have a situation where his hands are soiled with the very dirt he was purportedly sweeping out of the house. So much for ethics in government and so much for trust in public figures, both of which are already quite strained. Frivolity indeed.
Daniel, 1.. The writer does mention both Craig and Spitzer's parties and the correct ones.
Paul, 4.. He committed a crime and also went againts everything his platform stood for, which is what got him elected in the first place. that is a problem.
In response to the glass house comment. You shouldn't throw stones, unless you are trapped inside of the glass house. In that case you might want to throw a stone.
I think Spitzer was able to inspire New York to be careful and have better standards. It is depressing to see the same figure entangled in prostitution rackets.
Now, having said that, this is nothing alien to politics. I hate the fact that sleaze has not finished its run through US politics.
Paul -- The real issue here is not the "family types" but the hypocrisy of Spitzer's ALLEGED activities. As NY attorney general, he was completely holier than thou. He was involved with breaking up several prostitution rings. He is a part of the political class that makes prostitution illegal, prosecutes the offenders, then cries when the laws he either passed or enforced come back to bite him.
One other issue is that he supposedly got caught not because the feds were looking for prostitutes, but because he allegedly engaged in some questionable financial transactions
He has admitted it. He should go.
$4,300 for 2 1/2 hours with a prostitute? There isn't a woman in this world worth that much. Either Spitzer has too much money, or he needs to spend it on a good shrink to get his brains unscrambled.
I don't know how much money he has thrown away on prostitutes over the years, but he would feel better about himself, and his family would respect him more if he had taken the money and established a scholarship fund to help poor kids get a college education.
Here goes American political morality ready to impeach based on her deluded sanctity of marriage. By putting our leaders on pedestals we ignore the fact of them being humans, with all the faults , foibles and misdemeanors that come as baggage. Too bad our head is buried in the sand for the most important issues, only to look up for the chance to admonish with extreme prejudice those minor faults we all have, getting tribal and divisive at the first sign of a chink in the false armor of so called Morality.
If we are to believe the allegations, it's not the immorality that matters, it's the illegality. High-flying male politicians have always used prostitutes and always will, but one does expect them to pay their own way. And a man called Client 9 obviously has inside knowledge of a ring just like the ones he made a show of smashing; he isn't just your average casual john. 'I can, you mustn't' is not a tenable line. Perhaps the whole business should be legalized and destigmatized, but that's not what he's been campaigning for. Out.
Let us not all be hypocrites.I don't say that what Spitzer did was right. It is a moral sin and it sets an wrong example to our childrens and to us as well. But his crime is not terrible or dreadful so as to ask for his resignation. We should not forget what he has contributed to the nation. why are we all short sighted? We never appritiate the positive work what he has done and are targeting the only wrong that he has committed. We should not be hypocrites and forget that we are all human beings and we all make mistakes.The difference here is that his mistake is spotted and ours go unnoticed.Let us not loose an opportunity to forgive our neighbour and also not sacrifice an able men who do justice to the job we all have voted for. If he goes someone else will take his position who may not be competent as he is. We should judge a person on the work he has done to the nation and not on his private life. He himself is shamefull for what he has done and we should forgive him as we would expect others to forgive us.
To most Americans it must look like Democratic New York Governor Spitzer must be doomed.
But one needs only to remember US Senator Larry Craig, Republican, from my home state of Idaho. Craig pleaded guilty to lewd acts in a gents loo at airport in Minneapolis.
Yet after a few appearances with his wife on his arm, the media attention died out. Law-breaker Larry Craig is still in office.
Americans attention may be aroused at public scandals, but their response is often impotent.
Spitzer is a good man and good Democrat who worked diligently for the people of New York and America. He was not corrupt like most Repbulicans who inhabit the halls of Federal and State governments.
In his personal life he had a problem which he was not able to resolve. He will now need to resolve that problem with his family.
I do not want to see his resignation.
Come on guys, wake up! If no one is concerned about moral issues then what are we doing. Elect every pervert you can find and put them in high offices to run our affairs. Would you really have a State treasurer in the offices knowing he was a tax evader. Every company now has an Ethics department, is there one in the US Government? I have another big question, did his wife know about it? My opinion is make examples of people like these, popularity is not the criteria, it is a question of morality and ethics.
#4: Spitzer personally put people in jail for doing the same thing he's been caught doing. Of course he must resign. The issue isn't the rights or wrongs of prostitution but whether the governing class has the right to ignore the laws they impose on everyone else. I couldn't care less about his proclivities; I'm offended by his arrogance.
I think it is time for Spitzer to pack his bags. He brings more disgrace to the ongoing scandalous American political scenario. He was once known as Mr.Clean but his recent actions show how clean he his. This shows that American politicians especially the senior ones are not morally fit. Obama coming in to the picture will make a big difference by bringing change to this morally corrupt political system. No wonder Hillary Clinton had thoughts of making him her vice-presidential candidate because Spitzer resembles her husband Bill in terms of their actions.
arnold....
I would agree that a reprimand would be sufficient except for one thing....most prostitution has some element of organized crime behind it. What would happen if he was blackmailed afterwards? What would he do to cover this up?
If he cheated on his wife with some young girl, like Bill Clinton, I wouldn't care, but he really put himself in the worst possible position.
Presidential.
Absolutely Presidential.
This is not just a personal transgression, as some suggest. He knowingly broke the law, as the chief executive of the state of New York. And since he transported this woman from NY to DC, it now becomes a federal matter. This is the guy that, as a prosecutor only a few years ago, put people in jail for this crime that he is charged with. So how can anyone say that he should not resign, and continue on with his job, when others that did the same crime are now IN JAIL?! Not only should he resign, but he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including jail time, if he is found guilty. He needs to get a taste of his own medicine.
He who lives by the sword (in this case leaks to the New York Times, the "paper of record" that unsuccessfully tried to smear McCain recently) will die by the sword. Over and above prosecuting malfeasance on Wall Street (and rightfully so)one of the hubristic and abrasive Spitzer's weapons of choice, against those whom he pursued in an almost vendetta-like manner to destroy, was such calculated leaks. Is this what is referred to as being hoist with his own petard? This fall from grace will also remind American voters of Mrs. Clinton's relationship with he who aims to be the first co-president in the history of the country.
i think it is a good idea for eliot spitzer turn to resign from office is better than delaying the impossible....
So what exactly is wrong about visiting a prostitute ? As far as I am concerned, he did nothing wrong, and there is no reason for him to resign. If its found that he used public money to finance these meetings, then there should be suitable punishment. But for merely visiting a prostitute... ?? If I found out that my neighbour went to prostitute, I wouldn't expect him/her to quit their jobs. The calls for his resignation are ridiculous.
The ultimate stupidity of the whole thing is that prostitution is still illegal in the US.
I don't care who he sleeps with, as long as it doesn't involve spending government money. Just because someone has strong "ethics" doesn't mean there any good at there job, such is the case for our recent president, and just because someone has poor "ethics" doesn't mean there bad at their job. Ethics in and of itself is a matter of opinion and it's and individual opinion at that.
Hi Mr. Webb,
I'd like to address your observations about Mrs Clinton supposedly promoting peace in Ulster. Her claim of foreign policy experience based on this has effectively been dashed by Mr. Trimble's counter. Why is the press giving Mrs. Clinton a free ride on these exaggerations? She has been claiming that the media was soft on Mr. Obama, but this - among other examples - makes me think the boot is actually on the other foot!
As to Mr. Spitzer, holier-than-thou types usually get a comeuppance sooner or later, so the only victim here is his family.
Justin,
Why not post what the Telegraph piece says:
"Hillary Clinton had no direct role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and is a 'wee bit silly' for exaggerating the part she played, according to Lord Trimble..."
Your piece seems to imply something else.
For all those saying "well those Americans and their sexual squemishness" I don't think you understand the facts about the situation
1. Soliciting a prostitute is a misdomener, transporting people across state lines with the intention to commit a crime is a federal offense and very much deserving of impeachment. Spitzer is smart enough to know this but arrogantly holds the law in disregard
2. He would have not hesitated to ruin his enemies had he caught them in similar fashion. He indicted many but actually convicted few in an effort to embaress his victims into settlements
3. Larry Craig was some minor senator from Idaho, this is the governor of New York, a state that by itself is wealthier and more powerful than most of the nations in the world, illegal actions by the man in charge is big news
He was seeing prostitutes even as he was _prosecuting_ them!
Spitzer must resign.
I think it is time for Spitzer to pack his bags. He brings more disgrace to the ongoing scandalous American political scenario. He was once known as Mr.Clean but his recent actions show how clean he his. This shows that American politicians especially the senior ones are not morally fit. Obama coming in to the picture will make a big difference by bringing change to this morally corrupt political system. No wonder Hillary Clinton had thoughts of making him her vice-presidential candidate because Spitzer resembles her husband Bill in terms of their actions.
arnold....