Left with limited options, Spitzer resigns

March 12, 2008

In the grand scheme of things, this really didn’t take long. Eliot Spitzer was caught on Monday afternoon, he pondered his fate on Tuesday, and he gave up his office on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after the story broke in the New York Times.

Here’s the transcript of Spitzer’s brief announcement in New York this morning:

“In the past few days, I have begun to atone for my private failings with my wife Silda, my children, and my entire family. The remorse I feel will always be with me. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the love and compassion they have shown me.

“From those to whom much is given, much is expected. I have been given much — the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York, and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.

“To every New Yorker, and to all those who believed in what I tried to stand for, I sincerely apologize. I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been, but I also know that as a public servant, I and the remarkable people with whom I work have accomplished a great deal.

“There is much more to be done and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people’s work. Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can, and will, ask no less of myself.

“For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor. At Lt. Gov. Paterson’s request, the resignation will be effective Monday, March 17, a date that he believes will permit an orderly transition. I go forward with the belief, as others have said, that as human beings, our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

“As I leave public life, I will first do what I need to do to help and heal myself and my family. Then I will try once again, outside of politics, to serve the common good and to move towards the ideals and solutions, which I believe can build a future of hope and opportunity for us and for our children.

“I hope all of New York will join my prayers for my friend, David Paterson as he embarks on his new mission, and I thank the public once again for the privilege of service. Thank you very much.”

He did not take or respond to questions. [Update: here’s the video, if you’re interested.]

As for the soon-to-be governor, Ben Smith had a good item on Paterson.

David Paterson was never supposed to be governor of New York.

The No. 2 to a dynamic, healthy executive a few years younger than he, Lt. Gov. Paterson, 53, is a lifelong legislator widely viewed by New York’s political class as waiting in line for a different job: United States senator, in the event Hillary Rodham Clinton vacates the seat upon election to the White House. […]

“He comes in with certain strengths – he knows state government, he knows the formal and informal rules, he knows the players,” said Doug Muzzio, a professor of public affairs at Baruch College in New York. “The question is, does he have the strength as an executive to get it done. There’s a big difference between being governor and being minority leader in the state Senate [Paterson’s previous job]. The minority leader in the Senate is nothing.”

The relief and trepidation in New York share a common source: Paterson’s charm, his quick wit and his eagerness to please. Those traits could be an asset after Spitzer’s 14 months of bitter conflict. But at a time when the state is wrestling with a difficult, multibillion-dollar budget, there are drawbacks to having a new governor who describes his own worst failing as a difficulty in saying “no.”

“I think I’m by nature a conciliator,” Paterson said in an interview during the 2006 campaign. “When I feel I have erred, it’s in that direction — of trying too hard to keep people together and to keep everybody happy, which is not always what should be your first mission in government.”

It should be interesting.

As for Spitzer, his career has become something of a tragedy. I don’t doubt he tried to figure out how to salvage his future and stay in office — Larry Craig and David Vitter didn’t resign — but Spitzer’s moral authority and credibility were gone, and with the prospect of criminal charges on the horizon, his prospects were only going to deteriorate.

What a sad ending to a once-promising career.

Harlem Represent?

The good news is this will all make one KICK ASS episode of Law and Order: SVU

  • David Paterson was never supposed to be governor of New York.

    The question is, does he have the strength as an executive to get it done.

    And this proves why Hillary’s offer of the Vice Presidency is disingenuous. Because no one knows when or for what reasons the number two may be called on to be number one.

    So if her ill-informed and ignorant opinion is that he isn’t qualified to be number one, then it should follow that the believes him unqualified for the Vice Presidency.

    …widely viewed by New York’s political class as waiting in line for a different job: United States senator…

    Does this mean Hillary isn’t losing a super, then? And I thought RFK, Jr. was in line for that job?

    Larry Craig and David Vitter didn’t resign…

    Of course, they’re Republicans, so it’s okay.

  • So, he’s officially resigning on the day 3/4 of New York will be drunk off their butts and spewing green beer all over each other? Brilliant move;>

  • If Spitzer hadn’t tried to go for the three for the price of two special he might not have got caught. How do you be cheap when you’re talking about paying thousands for sex in the first place.His actions were just so dumbly rational. They weren’t impulsive mistakes they were well-planned mistakes. And couldn’t he have gotten legal info about unsigned cash transfers without asking his banker? Did he not know about reporting requirements?

  • I agree with your analysis. This is tragic; Spitzer could have done a lot of good and could have moved on to bigger offices, but while the scandal in which he’s involved is similar to those which other politicans have survived, Spitzer, having cast himself throughout his career as a straight-arrow reformer, simply lost all credibility and clout the moment the news broke. He could have remained in Albany as a laughingstock for the rest of his term, but he’s smart enough to see that his authority would never recover. Having worked for a Manhattan law firm on some matters related to Spitzer’s investigations as AG, I had an enormous amount of respect for him. It’s a shame he wasted his potential like this.

  • By all reports Spitz has been pulling this stunt for years. Interstate prostitution usually has ties to the mob. Obama has ties to the Chicago mob(Antoin “Tony” Rezko ). Rezko is under pressure from the feds, gives up info that might help his buddy Obama. Rezko is going to need a Presidential pardon someday. Follow the money.

    Spitz endorsed Clinton and was a super delegate. Where does the new guy stand? Meanwhile the MOONBATS are busy blaming Rove/Bush

    Who else benefits from this? I’m suspicious of the timing.

  • I’ve always had mixed feelings about Spitzer, ever since his first campaign for Attorney General years ago was dominated by TV ads proclaimed his desire to aggressively use the death penalty. But there seems to be something profoundly unjust that in his having to resign over the use of a prostitute while other office holders, far more powerful and in DC, remain in office despite their utter disregard for the constitution and rule of law, and their lies that send thousands of other people’s children into harm’s way in Iraq.

  • For a democracy to survive, its citizens must be informed and able to distinguish between important issues and minor ones. To be sure, corruption is a major one. However, Spitzer has done a lot to eliminate major corruption, and if we reject politicians over the smaller ones, we do a far greater damage to the institution of democracy.

    When Clinton was impeached, he was accused of perjury and obstruction of justice, as was Scooter Libby in the Plame case. In both cases supporters argued that the crime was secondary. The main crime (affair w/ ML, outing a CIA agent) was either minor or unproven. In both cases the focus should have been squarely on the primary crime.

    In Spitzer’s case the primary crime is soliciting a prostitute, though money laundering and transporting a sex worker across state lines are the more serious accusations. It is so important, however, to keep in mind the context. Lying to justify a war is different than lying to have an affair, even if the latter involves perjury and obstruction of justice, while the former is merely public speeches. Money laundering is different when it is done for the purpose of bribing government officials or manipulating elections than it is to pay for a hooker. But if we don’t focus on these differences, the more serious corruption thrives.

    This is a sad day.

  • Spitzer’s demise, although prehaps well earned because of his arrogance and stubborness, is a total political hit job. Wall Street cheered, literally, on Monday when it heard Spitzer’s testicles were on the block. And therein lies the explanation. Someone, somewhere, a Rethug no doubt, spent a lot of money looking for evidence of Spitzer’s vulnerability. Sex is always a good place to start.

    The story about a suspicious bank, the IRS etc. is all nonsense. The prostitution ring was incidental, they say. I bet it was. They were looking to catch Sptizer at something, anything. He just managed to hand them the sure-fire career ender (if you’re a Democrat). The Rethugs wanted a big Democratic fish to fry. Wall Street wanted him dead after his days as AG. How far are the Rethugs and Wall Street apart? Not very. Has anyone wondered why the only client using this upscale prostitution ring whose identity was revealed was Sptizer? Isn’t it reasonable to assume that there are other high ballers on the clientele list who are well known?

    Spitzer, whose arrogance knows no bounds, should have known better how to protect himself. Personally, I don’t think prostitution is morally wrong. An honest answer to the question, “Have you ever paid for sex?” would reveal how many, many, males (in particular) have bought sex of all kinds. That part is between Spitzer and his family. Clearly if you’re a Rethug all is forgiveable. If you’re a Democrat call the executioner.

  • I’ll give him credit for not trying to use weasel words in his speech. He said he messed up, and that he will take responsibility. Sure, the screw-up was dumb and preventable (being caught, that is) but in this day and age his speech was almost refreshing.

    For a contrast, see the current mayor of Detroit who has been caught lying six ways to Sunday, using city money for his private affair, etc. and says “eh, sorry if I hurt anyone’s feelings, but I’m staying on as mayor, so stop bugging me.”

  • With Patterson taking over as Governor, Bruno — a Repub — moves from the Senate into the Lt Gov position. Should be pretty much a deadlock on getting anything done in NY. What a clusterf***…

  • Let me say a few things, as a New Yorker who not only voted for Spitzer, but who when he voted for him regretted it was for Governor rather than President.

    First, I agree with Glenn Greenwald that it should not have mattered that he — like a great number of politicians — chose to enjoy the service of high-level escorts. One of the points we have been arguing, as Democrats, is that a person’s sexual habits do not and should not matter. (I have not ever made a comment about Larry Craig’s ‘cottaging’ — though I criticized his hypocrisy and lying — at least partially because, even though I haven’t been in the closet since I was in my early twenties, the only reason I have never come across Craig in a men’s room is that we ‘travel in different circles.’ I don’t leave the city or visit airports, but if he had spent time pursuing his ‘hobby’ in NYC rest rooms at a time when I was more active, I might have competed with him for a particularly attractive guy.) And — I’m bisexual — I have, once or twice, ‘enjoyed the services’ of professional women, as well as having — during one period of my life — a number of friends who were in the profession. (In fact, it was having these friends, who freely admitted that what they sold was really a sham that probably kept me from experimenting more, that and a state of permanent brokeness that meant it was a luxury I couldn’t afford.)

    On the other hand, Spitzer, as Governor, did not live up to my expectations. His year in office was filled with controversy and fights — to the point where he didn’t really accomplish anything except to make himself one of the most disliked people in NY politics. And much of this had to do with his stiff-necked self-righteousness, as annoying as if he’d been a Christian Conservative.

    It was that self-righteousness more than anything that made his fall so welcomed by his political enemies and made his resignation so certain. That and the absurd price he paid — many of us have never earned that much, gross, in a month. (It’s also possible that further testimony might have brought out some ‘favorite kink’ that he felt would not be appreciated by those of his constituency who didn’t share it.)

    And before we get drowned in our own form of self-righteous criticism (“Oooh, what he did to his WIFE!”) let me ask which is more of a threat to a marriage. Purely commercial sex, or having a young mistress who eventually supplants the wife (McCain and Giuliani — twice), or engaging in consensual, non-commercial sex with a young (and willing) intern (guess who).

    The dynamic of EVERY marriage is different. We do not and can not know what went on in the Spitzer marriage. Perhaps he was ‘cheating’ and his wife was totally unaware. I would, though, be less surprised to find out that his wife knew and tolerated this, for any of a number of reasons. (Two possible examples: Spitzer liked a particular type of sex his wife was uncomfortable with — physically or emotionally — and she preferred he get it elsewhere rather than partake of it herself. Or her attitude was “if he’s out of town, that thing between his legs isn’t doing me any good. Let him enjoy himself in a way that doesn’t threaten emotional complications.” In fact, I have been in a couple of relationships in which this was the mutual attitude, and the simple fact was that being able to share stories with my lover or wife afterwards and the ‘return home’ made the sex a lot better.)

  • Jeff Farias,

    What on earth are you trying to imply? You’re comment is full of speculation and non sequitur off-topic ramblings about the mob, I have absolutely no idea.

  • Knowing little about Spitzer, I speak to lessons of life only: (one) If you body slam a lot of powerful and potentially vindictive people, prepare to watch your back for life. (two) You might lead an exemplory life, like another Ghandi or MLK, but if you get caught fucking ONE goat, your’e toast.

  • What the hell happened to innocent until proven guilty. Spitzer should have ridden this out and made the government force its hand as to why exactly they were looking onto his finances. By time this would have gone to trial we would have a Dem President and the whole thing could have been quietly been swept under the rug.

    Bad move by Spitzer. If Rick Renzi, Larry Criag, Tom Delay, David Vitter, et al on the Republican side could survive for months after similar maybe even worse scandals I dont see why Spitzer could not just ride this out….I mean he didnt kill anyone, he didnt defraud anyone, he paid for freakin’ sex. (Yes I know he is supposed to have a higher moral standard, but that didnt stop people from Bill Bennett from being employed long after his shananigans)
    If every poiltcian retired for paying for sex, there would be no one to run the government.

    And please I am not saying what he alledgedly did was meaningless but c’mon this is politics in the 21st century and to see guilty ass Republicans refuse to step down and deny deny deny even after they are locked up for even worse offenses makes me sick. In this case I dont think Spitzer’s alleged crime necessairly means the man must give up his post.

    Spitzer will regret walking away….

  • I look forward to the day when a politician’s public life, you know like how they do their job, is held to as high a standard as their private lives. The other day Ms. Joanne had the brilliant observation only sex seems to be an impeachable offense for politicians and government officials. Maybe one day the reverse will be true and the public will worry more about the metaphorical screwing that’s done rather the physical.

  • I think Spitzer did the right thing in about the right way. Vitter and Craig are not the exemplars by which I think public officials should guide their behavior. And, no, I do not particularly care about their offenses. But, I am not a big fan of the “this is ok for me but not thee” public philosophy.

  • It’s hard to get too worked up when the guy stepped in it like this, but how, exactly, is this involvment in a “prostitution ring”? It sure seems like old fashioned buying of a hooker to me.

  • I also agree that it is quite likely that powerful people played a role in the amount of scrutiny paid the activities of one Eliot Spitzer. He burned a lot of folks who deserved to be burned but had the wherewithal to exact revenge.

  • It is not so much the ‘private’ sex, under the alias of a friend registered at the hotel, without his knowledge..It is all the sordid stuff that went with it: the secrecy, the hush money (this is why the girls’ fees are so high), the undoubted mob/pimp connections in international prostitution rings, Spitzer’s probable misuse of public finds and expenses for out of town trysts, his bank money layering, his persistent lying and covering up to his assistants and state troopers. to arrange these assignations. Thus guy was actually sworn to uphold the law as an Attorney-General and Governor but he seemed to value his VIP Emperor’s Club privileges and rights more than his duties as the states top public servant..He deserves what he got.

  • doubtful,
    I think you know exactly what I’m implying, don’t you find the timing of all this the slightest bit convenient?

    You really Rove/Bush really care about Spitzer? With their wiretapping powers they have to have known about this for years. Why leak it now? Who benefits most?

  • I think you know exactly what I’m implying, don’t you find the timing of all this the slightest bit convenient? -Jeff Farias

    No, I have no idea what you’re trying to imply, which is why I asked. Bang up job not explaining it, though.

    No, I don’t think it’s convenient. We’re getting ready to head into the general election and we’ve got the culture of corruption meme on our side, and this deflates that argument a little.

    You really Rove/Bush really care about Spitzer? -Jeff Farias

    I think given the opportunity to take down a Democratic governor, they do it every time.

    Why leak it now? Who benefits most? -Jeff Farias

    I don’t know, that’s why I asked you to clarify. All your giving us is vague, unrelated innuendo about mob ties and Rezko which sound more like the trailer to the latest John Grisham movie than anything grounded in reality.

    So spell it out. What are you saying?

  • Why is the prospect of criminal charges on the horizon? Since when does any jurisdiction let alone the feds ever prosecute johns for felonies?

  • we’ve got the culture of corruption meme on our side, and this deflates that argument a little.

    We’ve still got it. I’m willing to pry into corruption, and let anyone ensnared go down. In the end, we’ll have more left standing. What’s the ratio of Doolittle/Ambramoff’s to Jefferson/Spitzers at the moment? The problem is, you don’t get this much press about Republican corrpution or sexual deviancy. I’m willing to give it a pass this time, only because of the hypocrisy angle in Spitzer’s case, but it seems like exchanging prostitutes for security contracts is more scandelous. Shouldn’t people know that the government is trading our national security for the best whore?

  • Okay doubtful, try this…

    Spitzer’s Troubles May Hurt Clinton
    Echoes of the Past Could Drown Out Campaign Messages
    Now, his apparent involvement with a prostitution ring has not only distracted attention from her efforts to take down the front-runner, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), it has also brought back unhelpful memories of her own husband’s dalliances in office. There on cable television again were pictures of Bill Clinton hugging Monica S. Lewinsky. And the image of Spitzer’s wife standing painfully by his side while he acknowledged unspecified wrongdoing could not help but remind some of Hillary Clinton’s own stand-by-her-man moment.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/11/AR2008031102833.html

    Who is the beneficiary of a Clinton problem? Hint: He looks like Curious George.

  • What is sad is to consider all of the republican Bush administration jokers who should be up before grand juries not to mention jail – and many are still there or got medals.

  • Jeff,

    I don’t think Spitzer’s prostitute problem will have any effect on the Democratic primary. You and the Washington Post may imagine some benefit for Obama, who you seemingly implied has used nonexistent mob connections to ‘get’ Spitzer, but I think you’re dreaming and you only provided vapor and insinuation to support your claims.

    If anything, it hurts Democrats as a whole.

  • Wow, Jeff Farias.

    WOW! you seriously think that Obama has somehow managed to craft an arrangement with the mob, so that they sorted out Spitzer and …why?

    So there’s a little subtle negative association with Clinton for a day or two? In the middle of a 6 month primary campaign? A campaign filled with explicitly negative accusations that completely dwarf any miniscule advantages you’re talking about?

    I don’t see how the odd photo of Bill & Monica for a day, or the knowledge that Spitzer favoured his home-state senator, will have any effect on a single vote.

    And if he was going to pull a dodgy trick, and this was timed so “conveniently”, don’t you think it would have been more convenient two weeks ago when Obama was under attack? Or a month ago when the Obama wasn’t already dominating the primary? Or 3 months ago when he was the massive underdog? I’d say this timing isn’t convenient for anyone.

    Furthermore i’d say that you should seek professional help.

    Out of all the Hillary and Obama shill posts i’ve read, yours is among the scariest.

  • Oh, one other thing,

    If Obama was going to organise a mob PR hitjob on someone, not only would he have done it BEFORE he’d effectively won the nomination, but he’d probably do it on Hillary herself.

    It’s not like there’s any shortage of potential scandal there.

    Please, please, please – can Democrats stop acting like idiots and keep their eyes on the prize!

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