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The Brian Lehrer Show
Open Phones: Where Should Spitzer Go From Here?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
We begin our coverage of Eliot Spitzer with listener reactions. What do you make of the scandal? Should the Governor resign?
Comment below.
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Comments
Someone I heard said he should go to the hottest part of hell.
As a voter of Spitzer he should of course resign and throw himself at the mercy of the justice system.
However he'll get off (again :))on nothing more than a parking ticket because politicians in this country are above the law and not held accountable to the laws they create.
He should go to jail.
Please, can't yall figure it out? Spitzer was undercover. He was not a John, he was only acting the part and will be cleared by Friday. Oh please, he is still in character.
Brian, didn't you say at the end of yesterday's show (before the Spitzer news broke) that you'd be taking today off?
I took your impending absence from the show as a sure sign that the Gov's political career would end today. But if you're on the air--maybe not much will happen today.
leave him alone!
we all wish we could engage in such sexual escapades!
there is no reason Spitzer should resign. He never claimed to be a moral-Calvinist, even though as part of his job he had to prosecuted two prostitution rings in the past. this is between Spitzer & his wife.
Of course he was cheating on his wife. He’s an ALPHA-MALE that’s what they do, but who pays $4000 for sex? That’s ridiculous couldn’t he find a groupie or something. the press should let it drop now that it's out in the open. non story for me. out dated laws morality should not be legislated.
the bigger issue to me is it a common practice of the federal government to track bank account actives or is this done only to democratic governors by republican administrations?
why do so many men cheat? should prostitution be a crime? also why do democrats like to shoot themselves in the foot
It seems all too "Portnoy's Complaint" to be real. What would Philip Roth have Elliot Spitzer do?
He's done. I mean, if he decides to stay out of principle, and somehow isn't thrown out of office, the government will grind to a halt. He needs to resign and remove himself as the roadblock to progress.
Brian: Weren't you supposed to take today off? Was your vacation day a casualty of the scandal?
Governor Spitzer should not resign! Remember the Clinton impeachment, folks? Remember the pledge, then, of every democrat: "We don't care about the private sex lives of public servants!"
Really, you may find sex work distasteful, but it has nothing to do with his job as governor. It's a private matter.
He prosecuted prostitution rings. Would he have sent himself to jail? Of course he should resign.
Why is the David Paterson succession issue continually couched in "...should he turn down the job..." I've never heard of such hedging. He's the next in line. Why is this news cycle hedging like this? Why is there an assumption that there's a chance me might turn down the job if Spitzer resigns?
Spitzer is an embarrassment ot eh D party. He should get out of Dodge ASAP.
When I saw this late last night, my heart sank. I have followed Spitzer's career and admired his tenacity as attorney general. Finally, I thought, here's someone with some backbone and guts.
Unfortunately, I now learn that he is no better than anyone else in power -- both public or private. Greed, dishonesty, shamelessness, hypocrisy -- it seems to be as common as oxygen once people reach a certain income/status/political level.
Should he be castigated and made miserable by his wife and his synaogue? Definitely.
Should he resign? No. Its a moral issue. The agenda he came into office with is the one people voted him in on. That hasn't changed. We need Spitzer to rein in the wolves of Wall Street.
Powerful man hiring a high-end prostituted. Imagine my shock and awe. This happens all the time. Did he steal from the taxpayers? Did he give no-bid contracts to his family or friends? No. He lied about sex.
I grew up in Illinois...if our governor did this, it'd be page 5 news. We expect far worse from our governors in Illinois.
Spitzer should have resigned yesterday.
I'm so sick of seeing loyal wives (or wives who appear loyal but might be thinking of butcher knives) standing next to their hypocritical husbands.
Finally, your news people keep saying Paterson would be governor if Spitzer resigns unless Paterson "denies" the job. Huh? Do they mean unless he "declines" the job.
SPITZER SHOULD HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND PROCLAIM "I AM A STRAIGHT AMERICAN" AND THEN RESIGN.
hmmm, he BROKE the law...he should resign.
hmmm, he is funding an illegal enterprise which he doesn't even know the outer reaches of: he should resign.
He should stay. He's the man!
Typical Democrat politician, in the same mold as Clinton....RESIGN, RESIGN! NO morals!
he was a serial breaker of the law...
We have a president who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands, yet no one calls for Bush's resignation.
Meanwhile the Times and others are in a snit over Spitzer's personal sex habits. Give us a break.
Americans have to get over their endless lust for violence and their pathetic repression of sexuality.
You know, I do feel sorry for these guys (Bill Clinton and Spitzer). I think there is so much pressure on them, they just crack at a certain point and going for inappropriate sex seems to be one of the ways they crack. Also, both men have lovely wives with whom they're very close, wives they respect tremendously and so sometimes in that kind of situation, the man doesn't want to go "all out" with his WIFE - he wants to take it to someone he can be "down and dirty" with. In a strange way, it's a form of "keeping the marriage clean" - so I don't think it's the completely immoral thing that people take it to be on a more simplistic level - (not that I'm advocating it - just trying to understand it on a deeper level) - but of course there are so many people who do - and a good number of them are Republicans! - and of course they will make hay with this!
I'm with Alan Dershowitz - the Governor should not resign unless the situation becomes untennable.
Joan Rosenfelt
New York
I don't think he should resign. If he didn't break the law, I think we should keep him. Also, this goes to show that people should not judge people's personal proclivities. The most morally ardent politicians end up participating in unorthodox sexual activities. Don't legislate sex or personal preferences in terms of vice!!! All humans are susceptible. We shouldn't punish people for these minor flaws, only for crimes against other humans.
Let's draw some distinctions here, this situation is not comparable to Clinton, who was having sex with another consenting adult.
He must resign immediately. His hyprocrisy is too overwhelming. He would have had no mercy on anyone if the roles were reversed.
As a dem, it infuriates me that we gives these Pols a great mandate and they spend it dropping their pants.
Somehow Bill Clinton has a warm fuzzy glow around him these days. What I remember is that a list of progressive reforms were destroyed by his reckless oval office sexing of an intern.
I know Dems who claim that this is private life? Earth to them: There is no such thing as a private life as President or Governor.
I think he should stay in till we all find out just what happened, who is involved with this - I smell setup big time. I also think this is too easy a way to ruin public servants - so we should do like the Dutch and legalize it - the sex workers would have protection and the real crimes would get punished.
he should resign- that he wanted sex without a condom
is a matter for his wife to deal with - that he transported a prostitute across state lines- well he broke the law..
not fit to be governor -
Eliot Spitzer was elected as a clean guy, *NOT* as a man who had his private demons. For me, I think it's the disappointment and betrayal of trust. I say resign. I was definitely a Spitzer supporter, but now I say go.
BTW, at my gym this morning, everyone was talking about - from the gym floor to the locker room. He didn't have a lot of support.
Let him stay unless there is something of substance prior to this that makes him unqualified.
Actually, what bothers me the most about his action, and to wish we had a different governor, is that he had to be stupid to conduct himself the way he has. But I do not think he should resign.
Give me a break! "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone". The man has done nothing against us, his constituents. This is between him and his wife.
Yes - he should step down. This isn't just a private matter - this is a matter of a person who not only went to a prostitute, but was therefore well aware that a big prostitution ring existed. Its not as if he just picked a single woman up on the street, though I personally think its reprehensible. Not because an adult is having sex, but because I believe prostitution is exploitation of women. As Spitzer himself said, these rings are often involved in human trafficking, drugs and more. And, news flash for Alan Dersherwitz who thinks that the women are well paid for this - mostly the women give the money to the people who RUN the ring. And most prostitutes make nothing - most are desperate and just making enough to live, or support their kids. Ugh. Spitzer makes me sick - his stupidity and his arrogance. And yeah, I feel sorry for his wife and daughters.
Gov. Spitzer should stay.
This reeks of selective prosecution by a Bush controlled Justice Department.
He should stay, and fight as he has for the people of the State of NY for the past 10 years.
In my experience (I am 73) it is common practice for men of power and prestige in many walks of life--government,the professions, the arts--to have some sex on the side, either a long term mistress or a one-night bimbo or something in between. And yet the press and the public are constantly shocked and horrified when such revelations come along. It might be easier to figure out what Spitzer should do next if we recognized the truth about the initial offense, which is that it is ROUTINE in our society and many others.
Of course he should stay! As a working therapist/writer/poet with Parkinson's, his enormously generous contribution of support and public funds to stem cell research, and reforms of the sadly dead-locked NYS Legiislature, way, way trump the unfortunate problem men in power have with keeping it zipped in.
Very sadly, my opinion is that Mr. Spitzer must resign. It's not primarily about his private sexual practices, but the case seems to be that he broke the law in an aggregious manner that calls his character and ability into question.
Hate to say it - but considering the precedent set by the government in Washington - in terms of lying to people to go to war, going against Geneva conventions and torturing people, ensuring that the public is overseen, having ties to corporate interests, firing judges, every headline that can be thought of from the past 7 1/2 years, why come down on a governor in New York for something that is - relatively - a private matter?
I'm so sad, disappointed, let down...
He should have known better.
And yet, here's another reason prostitution should be legalized! (many) men just can't help themselves. Okay. But why illegal.
I had hopes that FINALLY, we could get a marriage equity law passed in NY with Spitzer in office.
But resign? No. ...just don't know how he can overcome the stigma (the media will constantly dog him with).
The news reports say he was involved in a prostitution ring---as if he was running it. He paid for sex a few times. It was stupid of him but not a sign of corruption.
Yes, he should resign. It's not about him having sex with a prostitute and outside of his marriage or comparing him with Bill Clinton (who stayed). It's not a moral question, it's a political question. He made a name of himself fighting corporate corruption, prosecuting prostitution rings, which he himself engaged on.
There is PUBLIC and PRIVATE morality. I would rather have a rascal like Bill Clinton or Eliot Spitzer, whose PUBLIC morality is good because they care about the wellbeing of the people, in office... than a personally pure politician whose PUBLIC morality is in the ditch because they don't care one whit about people who lack health insurance, decent housing, education, and jobs. Those are the real crimes!
I believe this is a politically motivated case. Yes, the bank may have alerted the feds, but the public revelations seem of a piece with the Rovian tactics of this administration. I believe the governor should stay in office. The republican Vitter, as you pointed out is still a U.S. senator after similar revelations (but notice that the salacious details weren't released by the feds in that case).
Why isn't anyone asking about the particular timing of this scandal? According to the New York Times today, the investigation, because it involved a highly placed official, had to obtain the approval of the United States attorney general. We know that Mr. Mukasey is a loyal Republican and isn't it just too, too, likely that this had a big political basis??? This has nothing to do with Spitzer's moral turpitude but how nice to distract and embarrass the Democrats right now???
he needs to get out, what he did was illegal and unethical.
I think that the term/phrase "Spitzer linked to prostitution ring" is overblown; it makes it sound like he was running the ring. Wouldn't it more accurate to have said "Spitzer patronizes prostitution service".
If he used public funds it is a different matter.
I think Eliot Spitzer must resign. I would not say this if this were merely a question of an affair. However, as a former attorney general who's main agenda is cleaning up government, I can't see how he can govern effectually after this. He needs to move on for the good of his party and the good of the people.
Elections should not be overturned for isolated poor judgement.
NO Resignation.
There are bigger worries in this country and state than Spitzers Sex life.
He is a Hypocrit and i thought he was smarter than this but i dont care about this scandal. It does not affect me. His policies do.
Forget about what he did to us or his wife, what about what he's done to his 3 teenage daughters? His wife is an adult, she can deal with it, but those girls - well, how are they supposed to cope with this public disgrace and humiliation? How could he do this to them? It's beyond despicable that he would harm them in this way. He's a monster and he should go - preferably somewhere far, far away.
When Bill Clinton got laid, nobody paid.
(with apologies to the bumper sticker: When Clinton lied, nobody died.)
I'd guess that in many European countries, e.g., Italy and France, this wouldn't even come close to this level of coverage and calls for resignation. We live in a very moralizing and largely puritanical society, at least in theory, if not in deed.
Why was Spitzer's bank reporting his activity to IRS? Does anyone know how much cash was being moved around to make this qualify as suspicious activity? Do banks report on anyone who withdraws a few thousand dollars in cash?
My hunch is there's political motivation behind this -- from both the bank and the IRS. We need more details.
I do feel Spitzer should resign -- simply because of his prosecution of prostitution rings as Attorney General. Had he not had that record, I might feel differently.
A LEADER'S CREDIBILITY IS IMPORTANT.
And Spitzer's has been tarnished because
- Of his self-righteousness. He not only has conducted himself and campaigned as a reformer, but a self-righteous one. He's looking like a "moral majority" member.
- his poor judgement. As a former AG, he had to know the risks he was taking, and to do so, particularly while he's under fire in Albany, wreaks of recklessness and desperation.
yes it's true, powerful men do seem to have zipper problems - pressure release - make it legal!
Spitzer is correct when he describes this scandal as "a personal matter."
To sum it up: does the Governor of New York have any personal integrity? The answer is no.
Do the people of New York deserve a Governor with personal integrity? The answer is yes.
A man who lies to his wife and children will also lie to the voters.
Here, as elsewhere, baseball rules apply. Driver's licenses for the undocumented, strike one. Trooper-gate, strike two. Alleged money laundering and prostitution, strike three.
He's out.
he should resign. Many many women are forced into this line of work they are kidnaped trafficed and held against thier will, Spitzers actions has contributed for the demand fo these socalled services. Why are you not talked about the enormous human trafficking problem? Why are you not talking about the realtionship this has to sex slavery? Why to go on ignoring the larger issues, when will you apologists take your head out of the sand?
Spitzer was already headed to defeat in the next election. He might as well get it over with and bow out now.
Anyone who thinks he shouldn't resign should have their head checked.
He broke at least 2 crimes.
1. prostitution
2. having a prostitute move across state lines
For me the issue is not morality as such, it is the deep hypocracy the is revealed that is so disappointing. Certianly prostitution should be legal if for no other reason than to protect the prositutes. It is difficult to trust him now. He shopuld probably be prosecuted in the same way as he prosecuted others. This is NOT about sin. That's ridiculous. Its about consistency and values. If he wants to see prostitutes that;s fine but then he should work on legislating for the protection of prosittutes and the legalization of prostitution.
It's not about sex, it's about hypocrisy. He's simply too consumed by his own ego and arrogance. He will no longer be able to inspire respect from his consituents, and more important, from lawmakers in Albany, and New York as a whole will suffer. Being talented and smart is not a substitute for lacking humanity.
Does anyone think that this ISN't the tip of an iceberg?
What is the big deal? So he had an affair. Politicians always have affairs. And don't tell me the people around him didn't know anything as they kept mum to keep their careers as well. If this were Europe, it wouldn't even be news.
My main gripe is he built his career on the morality ticket and now he's damaged himself to the point people will now read him as a hypocrite.
I had high hopes he could change things, but now he has no leverage.
can't we get beyond the sexual peccadillos of men? Who cares? We have many more pressing issues to focus on.
that said, because of his past prosecutions, he will have a lot of issues to deal with.
We need to legalize black-market industries, and tax them - talk about economic recovery!
As long as there have been people in power, those people have sought sex. Why should we be shocked that it still happens? If this were any other society in history, there would be an official system of concubines/mistresses/wives/etcetera. It would be *expected*. We're the only society that places such a stringent expectation on public figures to be perfect model family men.
I'm not approving or disapproving, because it's not my job to approve or disapprove of a politician's private life. We are way too hung up on sex in this country. The caller who said that this is a distraction is correct.
The issue is not one of sexual morality. It's true that what he did was stupid and hypocritical. He will have to answer for that. But let's not pretend to be surprised by this kind of thing.
I hate this "personal matter" argument! When it comes down to it, ALL criminal acts are "personal matters." If I decide not to pay my taxes, that's a "personal matter." If I hate someone enough to kill them, THAT is a "personal matter." If I steal from my neighbor, that is a "personal matter." More than the fact that he broke the law, Spitzer if the worst kind of hypocrite. And Democrats are hypocrites for continuing to support this man. And just for the record, prostitution is not a "victimless crime." You people who want to poo poo this as no big deal, you disgust me!!!!!
And if he were a Republican... ?
I voted for gov spitzer. yeah it was stupid and ill thought out for him to go see a hooker. i think he is a good governor and his years of excellent public service should not be wiped out because of personal BS.
many public office holders have been guilty of far worse misbehavior and stayed. GW bush for instance has gotten thousands of people killed in this disastrous war in iraq. i think his crimes are far worse.
i vote for spitzer to stay.
The question is whether he's a hypocrite. Larry Craig was a hypocrite who was publicly very anti-gay. For that reason I thought he should resign. How much was Elliott Spitzer publicly and actively against prostitution?
I agree that this is a distraction. It's gross, but I don't think it has anything to do with his job. People like politicians to have "fire in the belly", like JFK, etc... they just don't like to admit it. I think it shows him to be hypocritical, but the voters who are salivating over this and demanding his resignation are being a little hypocritical, too.
Was Spitzer an idiot? Yes, absolutely. Does he need to resign? That, to me, depends more on whether this is going to completely erase any semblance of influence in government. To me, a married man employing prostitutes is disgusting, but it's not necessarily a reflection on his ability to govern. However, in this country we have decided that it is a crime (one which Spitzer himself prosecuted!), and therefore Spitzer has probably completely destroyed his credibility. This means he probably won't be able to get much done as governor. Therefore, he should probably resign.
Coming from a European perspective, though, I think the American obsession with the sex lives of politicians is silly. Look at François Mitterand. The man had loads of mistresses, but there was never the suggestion that this had any impact on his qualities as a leader of the country.
I hope he resigns .. for nothing other than for being so stupid. We need a governor that is not stupid.
He should go to his bank and find out who is monitoring his accounts. I smell a political vendeta. Who filed the Suspicious Activity Reports and why? Rich people use shell accounts all the time - why did someone single this one out? I swear, there's more to this than sex.
I am, like many other voters, deeply disappointed by the actions (wrong or right) of the man for whom I voted. It is not so much if it where morally reprehensible or not, but that this issue would be a given for crippling his term as governor. However, I am not sure whether he should resign or be impeached.
I am, however, reassured that WNYC can now, with validly, have the motto of "All the news on which it is fit to speculate" It is good to see Brian is taking a break from following the horse race to speculate on a news story of limited details. Thank you for joining the media fray
Not knowing all the details of the case (money moving around etc.), I agree with one of the posts above regarding our lust for violence and blushing at sex. Bush should resign. The reaction to Spitzer's admittedly very very stupid mistake seems out of proportion. The only reason maybe he should resign is that if he doesn't it will cause so much furor that we'll all be focused on that instead the real problems of government. Again - this is not so much his problem as our culture's.
This was not an affair of the heart...it was high level prostitution. A victimless crime? Hardly: consider the organized crime involvement, human trafficing, and abuse, disease and death of countless women. Elliot properly prosecuted organized prostition; partaking is not just a character flaw--it's a crime.
The personal part--which is only a part--is devastating. I have little feeling for Elliot, but for his wife and children, I am so sorry.
New York, you could have had honest, hardworking and smart John Faso. You went for the glitz instead.
All of the debate surrounding the morality and legality of prostitution, personal failings, and such are interesting subjects but beside the point.
Spitzer's failure here is not just about action but also context. It is not just what he's done but who he is.
If someone accidentally sets their house on fire because they absent-mindedly leave a hundred candles burning, that is one thing. If the fire chief does the same thing, it is another.
Spitzer has to resign because he's drained his credibility and cannot continue to perform his job. Which is very sad, not only for him, but the rest of us who actually supported the job he was doing and/or could do.
I am disappointed in Spitzer but I am as surprised at the reaction of shock from politicos and the press who know the guy. Hiring prostitutes might be about dominance and the expression of power. Does anyone doubt that this guy has a monumental degree of arrogance and an outsized ego? Because he doesn't bring hookers on canoe trips with his daughters it's inconceivable that he'll hire a prostitute?
That said, I hope he's busy working on his succession plan and a lunch time resignation.
The issue here is not whether Spitzer can survive the legal implications of his actions--I suspect he can.
The issues as I see them are (1) whether he is willing to sacrifice his marriage in the pursuit of power, and (2) whether he can govern effectively with all the Albany investigations that will ensue to check if government funds were misused to facilitate his trists with prostitutes.
His wife does not strike me as a political animal a la Hilary Clinton. If I were she--assuming she wants to salvage the marriage--I would threaten divorce unless he step down to focus on his marriage.
This is entirely a public issue. For a public figure of Spitzer's stature to engage in an illegal activity (whether it should be or not) is a total indication of where his priorities lie and the enormity of his ego. He betrayed the trust of his family and all of us in the state who's interests he should be protecting and advocating.
Spitzer has been a holier-than-thou type of guy from the get go. the way he went after bruno about the helicopter use the moment spitzer got into office absolutely reeked of partisan politics and was a clear signal that spitzer was on a major power-trip. that was scary and embarassing -- and i'm a democrat.
normally i would say this is between sptizer and his wife, but given spitzer's actions in the past i think this episode shows that he no longer feels that any rules apply to him. it's time for him to go now.
if he were Republican it would be a gay sex story
When listening to Dershowitz's specious arguments one cannot help but approach wonderment at his ignoring the big white elephant sitting in the middle of the room: Eliot Spitzer is a man who made his career out of prosecuting individuals on ethics issues and did so by employing the force of intimidation and government clout. All arguments about the crime are irrelevant faced with the enormous dereliction of public duty as a governor of a major state, who moved money around allegedly, in order to cover up what the majority of people think is a meaningless act. It is not a meaningless act to lose the public trust. If you want to end today's show with a de-moralization of the issue of prostitution, then all I can say is good luck as you head into the last days of Rome.
Yesterday I thought it was necessary for Sptizer to resign.
Then more details began to emerge, and oh so many questions.
Why did the Feds decide to out Spitzer and none of the other numbered clients? Why did they pursue the investigation after learning it was not public corruption (but only private immorality). Was this one of the Rovian USAttorney attempts to get Democratic politicians? (If you can't beat them in elections, we've seen with the Bill Clinton impeachment that Republicans will try to beat them jucidially--or at least assassinate their characters.)
I woke up this morning thinking we need to know much more about the Justice Department, NSA, and perhaps WH's involvement.
So, today, no, I lean toward his not resigning. Political considerations for the Democratic Party and for improving how the NYS government functions may make me chnage my mind.
The caller who talked about "pattern of behavior" captures what will be done with this information.
I'm not a NY resident, but I'm incredibly disappointed that his ability to govern will be damaged. Alas.
BTW, if I take cash out my bank to use to purchase something I'm breaking some kind of "structuring" law?
Eliot Spitzer should absolutelt NOT step down. I am not bothered by this revelation.
As a woman i find prostitution to be a tricky question to consider. It may seem arbitrary but i personally draw the line at the difference between "High-End" prostition where the prostitute can make a good living and possibly pay her/his way through college vs street walking and other low pay forms of sex for hire. If there were regulation of the industry and some garentee that 'pimping' or other forms of coersion were absent and that the sex workers were compensated well;society may benefit with some leagalization of the prostitution industry.
He HAS to go. This is not Clinton. This is not only adultery, this act was a crime! No ifs, ands, or buts. I liked him, I voted for him, but he is NOT above the law. In any other job situation, anyone else would be fired! I wish his wife and children well. The sooner he leaves the quicker they recover.
This is not Europe. This is not Neveda. This is NY. He should resign.
So someone moves money around to achieve what? What was he trying to achieve.
Spitzer has always been an arrogant, ruthless bully. There is no doubt that this public humiliation will make a better man and a better leader out of him.
I therefore think that he should NOT resign. In the end, New Yorkers will be getting a much better governor.
Bloomberg just paid half a million dollars in contributions to the Republicans to try and get control of NYS - Also I know an IRS prosecutor who told me if you want to make someone's life a livign hell, just give their ssn to the IRS and tell them you thinks something is fishy.
Spitzer should absolutely NOT resign. First, it's just sex. It's a personal matter and a minor legal infraction unrelated to his public service.
Second, the public is mostly tolerant of sexual shenanigans (as long as it's straight sex, of course), so his ability to govern should not be compromised - or if compromised, then only temporarily as his political enemies attempt to play the issue for all it's worth in the media.
Third, many of us believe this was a politically motivated sting, its snaring of Spitzer retroactively contrived to appear as incidental. His extremely wealthy political enemies are legion, and if this 'was' a politically motivated affair, it would be a shame to see yet another cabal of high-powered rich guys successfully achieve control of who leads and who does not lead in this country.
The puritanical nature of This Country and more importantly, The Media is ludicrous. How antiquated and back minded. It’s sex. Who cares. Why is there so much attention to this? We have real issues happening here, unemployment, credit debt, no health insurance, folks losing their homes, soldiers with lousy benefits, a lawless war and officials that are criminals causing harm and death to thousands of people, i.e. Bush, Cheney, etc. When is the U.S. going to be forward thinking and regulate the sex industry? Resign? Where are we? Is this actually a first world country? What a bunch of judgmental simpletons you all are. His wife and his children is not our concern.
The people who NY1 interviewed were fools, and I don't trust NY1 to give an accurate poll.
I think individual feelings on this are probably very multi-leveled. Most of us are unwilling to totally give up on a man for whom we've had such high hopes. Also, many of us believe the administration in Washington is guilty of greater crimes for which they should all be ashamed and should have resigned or been impreached.
But, then again, how many chances should we give him? He knew what he was doing was wrong--personally, normally, and professionally.
I think it's a question for the NY Democratic Party, whether Spitzer is too wounded to continue in the job, or whether he needs to step down.
But...
I never again want to hear that WOMEN are too hormonal for any job in the land!
Ha ha . Michael Winslow. he's the guy that does the sounds right?
This is a big deal, and it is not just an affair. The governor has solicited a prostitute. He has moved money around to hide the source of the funds. As Spitzer himself said, "I had a simple rule. I never asked if a case was popular or unpopular. I never asked if it was big or small, hard or easy. I simply asked if it was right or wrong."
I don't care about this at all. If he wants to go to a prostitute I don't give a godamm so long as he isn't using my tax funds for it. But due to the hystrionic attitudes toward sex in this country I think he's done politically.
The idea that he "should go to jail" mentioned in the first comment is the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard.
If he were a Republican, I would say: Resign.
Given how the justice system has been so corrupted by the Bush Administration, though, he should hang in there. It reeks.
Arrogance: The Poster Children
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/POLITICS/11/07/election.governors/story.spitzer.vic.gi.jpg
It pains me to hear my fellow progressives willing to equivocate on what is a very clear issue. He broke the law. He's sworn to uphold the law. If this were a Republican politician these same people would be demanding blood. In his reaction thus far it is quite clear that he's culpable. I think, and I hope, that this will end his political career. Stupid, arrogant, self righteous politicians have no place in our political system be they of either party.
This thread is closed.
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