“Our greatest glory consists not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”
In quoting 18th century writer Oliver Goldsmith, at least, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer was right. After the sordid events leading to his demise became public and forced him to resign the governorship this week, Spitzer’s parting comments – Goldsmith’s quote included – served as a stark reminder, that yes, he’ll be back. Never with the glory he once held, but rest assured, he’ll try to return.
But of all the salacious details to emerge in the wake of the Spitzer sex scandal this week, the one most relevant detail will probably never be exposed.
Why?
Why would a man with Spitzer’s reputation risk it all for a tryst (or what appears to be several) with a prostitute? Why would a man considered in some circles to be a future presidential candidate toss it away for a roll in the hay?
Why?
Rather than turn this into some diatribe about politicians who misbehave and what their punishment should be (that list is a little too long to tackle for now), let’s focus on the hypocrisy of the man who is now the ex-governor of New York. Spitzer was supposed to be a difference-maker in state government, promising to fix the most corrupt elements of New York State and put the government in the hands of the people. He promised to be a watchdog, an initiator and a warrior. He promised to be different.
But really, he never was. There was the scandal last year that saw Spitzer dispatch State Police to spy on Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. There was the tenure of angry and hypocritical behavior as state attorney general, a time when he was busting Wall Street crooks and breaking up prostitution rings while at the same time patronizing one himself. And there’s his apparent stubborn insistence, judging by his actions in this case (a trail of money transfers and questionable behavior) that he is above the law.
We’re supposed to believe that not all politicians are dirty, but every time we turn around, there’s another one involved in scandal or corruption. New York has never been the model of ideal leadership, but that’s what makes the Spitzer situation so galling – he pledged to do better. Judging by his winning margin in 2006, people believed him. And judging by the outcry from both Republicans and Democrats after the scandal broke, more than a few of those trusting folks felt seriously betrayed. And that’s saying nothing about the affect the scandal will have on his children and family, those who will probably suffer the most as this criminal case proceeds.
He was going to clean up Albany. He was going to govern for the people. Spitzer promised to be different.
Instead, he’s just the sorry punchline to another political joke, one we’ll no doubt hear again in some different form.