I haven’t lived in New York for nearly 17 years, so perhaps I shouldn’t have an opinion, but it is really sad that the callgirl scandal is putting paid to his career and forcing him to resign (his aides say that will happen later Wednesday). The Repugs have been in control of the State Senate for decades, and it looked at one point like they might lose control to Democrats after the election this November. Now I’m not even sure that the Democrats can keep control of the State Assembly.
The first thing the Democrats will have to do is rally round the new Governor, David Paterson, who would be only the fourth black state governor in US history. He is also legally blind from a congenital condition called optic atrophy. So he’d be the nation’s first blind governor (perhaps he can get in touch with another David, David Blunkett, our former Education/Home/Work and Pensions Secretary here in the UK, who is also blind). He is the son of another New York politician, Basil Paterson, who was Borough President of Manhattan for many years. He’s going to have a lot of stuff dumped on him in the next few hours and he will need help and support. If he then pulls a surprise and captures the State Senate in November, he’ll be a miracle worker. Paterson’s office as Lieutenant Governor will not be filled between now and the next regular gubernatorial election in 2010; until then, the president-pro tem of the State Senate, 78-year-old Joseph Bruno, a Repug, will perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor, which include acting as Governor when the Governor himself is out of the state.
I gather that the FBI’s attention was drawn to Governor Spitzer through moneylaundering investigations. Again, even though prostitution is illegal (and in giving a callgirl a train ticket to Washington he was also committing a Federal offense under the Mann Act), it was the money that betrayed him in the end–a distinction he shares with Al Capone. The papers seem to imply that if Spitzer resigns, he will most likely be tried and, if convicted, sentenced to no jail time as his disgrace is thought to be punishment enough.
One good thing: no one will be able to tar the Democrats with Spitzer’s activities in November: they are almost unanimous in saying that he must resign and they want nothing to do with him. Contrast that with some Repugs who defended Richard Nixon to the bitter end.
Actually, I read in today’s paper that Sen. Clinton is in a somewhat awkward position: she can’t be seen to condone Spitzer’s actions, but on the other hand if she’s too harsh on him there’s a risk that people will mention that her husband got off pretty lightly for his sex scandal.
She also loses a superdelegate, since Paterson was already one, and doesn’t now get two votes.
I suppose she’ll have to confine herself to being sad about the whole thing and say that she’s looking toward the future.
When Spitzer was running for NY State Attorney General, I remember one opposing political advertisement that chastised Spitzer’s claim of being a “pragmatic liberal.” As much as I believe that Spitzer did the right thing by resigning, I don’t think his opponents should be cheering too loudly because it would not surprise me if they are in the same hypocritical boat. The only difference is that they have not been caught.
In addition, some have wondered why Spitzer is resigning from his post but Louisiana U.S. Senator David Vitter is still has his seat.
As the world turns…
some have wondered why Spitzer is resigning from his post but Louisiana U.S. Senator David Vitter is still has his seat.
I think it’s because most Repugs are hypocrites.
But you knew that, I’m certain.