Mar 12 2008
Elliot Spitzer

NY Governor Eliot Spitzer Steps Down. The David Paterson Era Begins on Monday

It’s funny, I just saw The Bank Job, a movie that had some government folks slipping into dens of prostitution and deviant satisfactions, and a week later, in the real world, New York’s governor is exposed for emulating that exact behavior.

Really, it’s not the cheating on his wife or even the prostitution itself, it’s the hypocrisy. Eliot Spitzer’s career has been all about stomping on all forms of corruption: from backroom radio station payola to Wall Street’s financial shenanigans to what’s relevant here.. prostitution.

Last year, Eliot Spitzer signed off on a “Sex Slave” law, as the ink dried he said..

“Police and prosecutors will now have the ability to effectively investigate and prosecute those who exploit girls and women in brothels, massage parlors and on websites with sexual content.”

I’m guessing it was the exploitation he was hung up on. If a woman is willing to trade cash for ass, that’s providing a service - to him.

With zero credibility to continue his job, Eliot Spitzer resigned this afternoon. Lieutenant Governor David Patterson automatically gets New York’s top spot on Monday.

David Paterson

He’s obviously African-American, less obviously.. he’s blind.

David Patterson’s blindness hasn’t bent his career arc. He has 21 years of legislative experience. In 1985 he was elected to the state senate; worked his way to a minority leader position in the state assembly; he partnered with Eliot Spitzer in 2006, which snagged him the Lieutenant Governor spot in 2007.

For the next three years he’ll be Governor David Patterson.

Those who work with him have praised his abilities. Barbara Bartoletti, a state capitol insider for more than two decades, broke it down to Newsweek.

“I think there is confidence here in the capital among lobbyists and insiders who frequent the capital that he is a very bright man, deals with things with humor. There doesn’t seem to be any hesitation from anyone who knows Mr. Paterson whether he’s ready for prime time. Here in the capitol he is well known and well respected.”

New Yorkers voted overwhelming for Hillary Clinton 57% - 40%.

The idea of having a black governor who can’t see the road in front of him has got to be a great feeling for the folks who voted against Barack Obama for shallow reasons.

As Geraldine Ferraro would say..

Geraldine Ferraro

Can a white person get a break? He’s so lucky.


☼ What's Your Opinion? ☼

1 Morgana Wed, Mar 12, 2008 - 4:37 pm

I was waiting for your commentary on this!

Wow, talk about poetic justice. Those folks he helped to take down must be loving this right now. But it’s unfortunate that his family has to go through this.

I’m amazed at how many of his supporters have been on TV the last couple of days, saying “it’s no big deal”. So I guess they wouldn’t mind if it was one of their daughters servicing Spitzer, since prostitution is such “a victimless crime”. I think not.

2 QUESTION Wed, Mar 12, 2008 - 5:20 pm

I Would like to know who is the victim in prostitution? Not that it should be legal but there is no victim. If someone wants to pay for it and the other wants to give it I see no problem with it. Before anyone says anything NO I have never been with a prostitute.

3 answer Fri, Mar 14, 2008 - 1:46 pm

I guess society would be the ‘victim’. Prostitution is demoralizing for both parties involved. although we all know the decriminalizing or legalizing it would reduce crime rates, no one wants to be associated with that.

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