Spitzer story illustrates fact that high office itself corrupts
April 1, 2008

by Joseph P. Tartaro
Executive Editor

The fallout from the resignation of anti-gun Democrat New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer in disgrace on Mar. 12 could well reach far beyond the state, possibly even impacting the national elections in November. The sordid story of the fall from grace by the ultra-liberal, one-time “Crusader of the Year” is likely to overshadow any minor league mudslinging by other players in the congressional and presidential elections.

But the strength of any aftershock can only be measured by the duration of public contemplation of the lessons he provides beyond the steamy newspaper headlines. Spitzer and his family may not be the only ones to suffer through his ordeal. He was a media darling and a rising star in the Democratic Party, a super-delegate to his party’s presidential nominating convention later this year, the guy who promised to clean up the mess in Albany. To some, in the media particularly, he was the rising star and future of his party.

He was those things, but not anymore. Some people might think that Spitzer is just one more high ranking political figure out of many in both major political parties to disappoint voters and the American public by his abuse of power. In part, they would be right. He’s not alone in his hypocrisy; it’s just that the wealthy anti-gunner has taken hypocrisy to a new low.

The once-fawning liberal press, which lionized Spitzer as the headline-grabbing state attorney general and later overwhelming gubernatorial victor, is still trying to help by dredging up the old scandals involving both Republicans and Democrats, like so many cats covering one kind of dirt with another. Apparently, these journalists take the view that Spitzer’s transgressions won’t seem as bad if we remember that he is not the first politician corrupted by power.

The corrupting influence of power is not exclusively an American phenomenon. It seems universal regardless of the type of government. People in charge of the law easily convince themselves that they are above it, whether they are kings, dictators or presidents, lawmakers, governors or cabinet officials.

As Wall Street Journal Potomac Watch columnist Kimberley A. Strassel reminded readers recently, Spitzer portrayed himself as the moral avenger, when he was New York state attorney general and when he ran for and won the governor’s office. He was supposed to be the champion of the little guy, the righter of wrongs who made Wall Street giants take the “perp walk” for television cameras. Since the breaking of many federal laws is involved in Spitzer’s fall, he may yet be seen doing the “perp” walk for cameras himself.

Strassel noted that “Time magazine bestowed upon Spitzer the title ‘Crusader of the Year,’ and likened him to Moses. Fortune dubbed him the ‘Enforcer.’ A fawning article in The Atlantic Monthly in 2004 explained he was ‘a rock star,’ and ‘the Democratic Party’s future.’ In an uncritical 2006 biography, then Washington Post reporter Brooke Masters compared the attorney general to no less than Teddy Roosevelt.”

Most Gun Week readers will be familiar with the recent facts in the Spitzer case. It’s gotten a lot of attention in print, broadcasts and on the web. Here are the core items. Spitzer, who informed his most senior administration staff early on Mar. 10 that he had been involved in a prostitution and money laundering ring, spoke to the pubic later the same day, and then resigned two days later, effective Mar. 17.

He will be succeeded on that day by Lt. Gov. David Paterson, a former minority leader of the state Senate, a Democrat from New York City who is described as being even more liberal than Spitzer. A couple of years ago, Paterson had proposed legislation to force police officers to shoot to harm, not kill, with the prospect of facing manslaughter trials if they did kill someone. However, he later dropped that idea himself.

Spitzer, a first term Democrat who pledged to bring ethics reform and end the often seamy ways of Albany, is married with three daughters. A week before his resignation, federal prosecutors arrested four people in connection with an expensive prostitution operation. Spitzer was one of the men identified as clients in court papers, specifically as Client No. 9, and later information indicated that he had been a client for at least 10 years, including while he was state attorney general.

The affidavit filed in federal court in Manhattan in connection with that case lists six conversations between a man identified as Client 9, and a booking agent for the Emperors Club, and Spitzer was tagged as “Client No. 9,” a title that will grow more familiar as hundreds of different, often raunchy, T-shirt designs hit the market.

His resignation does not insulate him from prosecution on many different federal charges, and the US attorney’s office responsible for the investigation reports that no plea deals have been cut with Spitzer, although he could likely become their star witness against accomplices.

Spitzer had high popularity numbers when he came into the governor’s office in January 2007 but other events besides the bordello prosecution had already dropped his approval ratings by about 40 points.

He had a difficult first year in office, rocked by a mix of scandal and legislative setbacks. In recent weeks before the latest disclosures, Spitzer seemed to have rebounded somewhat, although his popularity ratings hovered around only 25% favorable.

Because of one North Country Democrat’s election to the state Senate in a special election and the retirement of another long-term Republican senator in Western New York, the Democrats seemed poised to perhaps gain control of the state Senate for the first time in 40 years. They already control the state Assembly.

Albany had been roiled by bitter fighting and accusations of dirty tricks in recent months. The Albany County district attorney is set to issue in the coming days the results of his investigation into Spitzer’s first scandal, his aides’ involvement in an effort to tarnish mostly pro-gun Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, the state’s top Republican, who ironically will become the de facto lieutenant governor on Mar. 17.

Not surprisingly, state Republicans were talking about impeachment in the days before Spitzer resigned. Surprisingly, so were a lot of Democrats in the state legislature.

Spitzer, 48, has apologized to his family and the public. “I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong,” he said in a brief statement. “I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself.”

In his televised resignation speech, Spitzer said:

“In the past few days I’ve 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 I did not live up to what was expected of me….”

Perhaps as a sidebar to the main Spitzer story it is worth mentioning that some have accused much of the major media of concealing Spitzer’s political affiliation as a Democrat. Maybe some of those journalists are the same ones who contributed to Spitzer’s campaign and other Democratic Party candidates and campaigns.

However, this is only a sidebar. The main story is the powerful illustration that power and prominent office tend to corrupt, “with absolute power corrupting absolutely” as Lord Acton wrote in the late 19th century.
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