Governor Spitzer aka Client 9
Nathan Greene
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Obviously we are going to take a little break from Iowa Politics to discuss New York Governor Spitzer’s (D) involvement in the prostitution sting. Before we get into all of the political ramifications, I first want to offer my thoughts and prayers to the Spitzer family. I can’t imagine what his wife and daughters are going through.
From all accounts I have been able to read, Eliot Spitzer was an up and coming star in the Democratic Party. Spitzer attended Princeton University and then received a J.D. from Harvard. After a few years of private practice he joined the Manhattan district attorney's office. He was elected as the New York State Attorney General in 1998 and was elected Governor in 2006.
From the media reports Spitzer was believed to be a man of integrity and high ethical standards. He fought to clean up corruption on Wall Street, and fought organized crime. Its safe to say Spitzer was made of presidential timber.
It seems like the only thing that could prevent Spitzer from ultimate greatness was himself. He used his position as Governor to have the state police follow and keep records on the State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R). And now he is involved in an FBI prostitution sting.
I find all of Spitzer’s actions to be despicable, and while it was nice that he held a press conference to apologize to his family, what about the people of New York? I would also think the New York taxpayers deserve to know how much of this type of activity they paid for. I say that because the Governor of New York travels with quite an entourage: state police, chief of staff, and other officials. I can remember that when George Pataki was visiting Iowa while contemplating a White House run of his own, his entourage many times outnumbered the people that came out to meet him.
I think it’s pretty safe to assume that other state employees either turned a blind eye or helped Spitzer plan and carry out his escapades. What is troubling about this is that it wasn’t like he was having and affair with another woman, he was breaking the law.
It’s obvious from reading the FBI’s affidavit that Spitzer used the services of the Emperors Club multiple times. He had a credit from a previous encounter and also paid extra for this visit which would be used as a future deposit. It is also very clear that Spitzer was covering his tracks, meaning he knew the consequences of being caught.
I don’t think Spitzer has any option but to resign. I see this in the same exact light of Sen. Larry Craig, who also should have resigned after his ordeal in a Minneapolis Airport bathroom. (Will George Clooney do a little skit about Spitzer at the next awards show?) Craig was an outspoken proponent of traditional marriage and family values, however, he led a secret life that ran counter to his public persona. He also broke the law. Spitzer has a record of breaking up prostitution rings and being a man of integrity and high ethical standards, yet he pays prostitutes for sex and breaks the same laws that he once enforced.
Governor Spitzer should do the right thing for his family and the State of New York: resign.
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