The Elliot Spitzer Affair

Good grief, could any more be made of this? New York Governor Elliot Spitzer had apparently been paying for a little something on the side, so now the Republicans demand that he resign. Senator David Vitter (R. Louisiana) was implicated in a prostitution case, but never resigned…why the double standard?

Spitzer is like Bill Clinton. He is a very smart guy who has done a lot of good. This makes lots of bad people really mad at you (read Republicans). He revealed schemes that were costing ordinary people to pay more for their insurance. He slapped down people who were a half-step from blatant self-dealing. He exposed such stuff as bid rigging. Got of Dick and George’s friends into some serious trouble.

Then he goes and does a really really dumb thing. Also like Clinton, he obviously couldn’t control some stupid urges for just a few years. It was a dumb thing to do, and it’s idiotic to be in such a highly visible public office, and think you can get away with it. It’s also wrong. He’s a married man with a family, and his family will deal with him appropriately.

However, let’s look at this situation. First, how did this all get started. The story is that a bank sent a suspicious activity report to the IRS, so federal agents started investigating. Duhh. Spitzer is a wealthy man. I’m guessing he moves around large sums fairly regularly. That’s what rich people do. So now we have our FBI taking resources from that all consuming, all import war on terror protecting the homeland bullshit to investigate a high class hooker operation. I love how my tax dollars get spent.

So then what happens. Spitzer calls an “escort service” in Washington to arrange for an “escort.” OK, as noted above, it is the wrong thing to do…no question, but now we have the Republicans and the media coming out with talking points and headlines about Spitzer being “involved in a prostitution ring.” Listen to me…the guy hired a hooker. Saying he’s involved in a prostitution ring is like me saying I’m involved in the fast food franchise business just because I ate at McDonald’s one day last week. Get a grip people.

In an MSNBC report, you have law enforcement officials disclosing the gory details to make it look as bad as possible, but then demand anonymity because of “the sensitivity of the case.” Give me a break. If the case is so sensitive, what difference does it make if they disclose this information officially or anonymously? I’m sure it has nothing to do with Spitzer taking down a few of Dick Cheney’s Wall Street buddies.

And here’s a word to you Republican Assembly Leader Tedisco. Until you demand that Vitter resign from the U.S. Senate, you need to shut up about Spitzer.