Tuesday, March 11, 2008

HORSERACE

Sooner or Later, Spitzer Will Affect The Presidential Race

I had concurred with the consensus that Eliot Spitzer's horrific scandal would have a minimal impact on the presidential race.

But if Spitzer thinks he doesn't have to resign, that he can somehow wait and the storm will pass, he's insane. And then it will A) increase pressure on Hillary to call on him to resign B) offer an opening for Obama ("if we Democrats want to clean up the culture of corruption, we can't twiddle our thumbs when we see it in our own ranks", etc.).

What's more, there was once a time when resignation within hours was the only thinkable resolution to a jaw-dropping scandal like this one. But that changed, right around 1998. Recall that even George Stephanopolous mentioned impeachment when word of the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke.

Since then, we've seen several politicians try a variation of the Bill Clinton "I'll just have to win, then" strategy, most notably Gary Condit*, Larry Craig and David Vitter. Our public life is not enhanced by politicians who take the "you'll have to force me out of office" strategy; essentially these men are advertising their own lack of honor and sense of what is appropriate behavior on the part of an elected leader. So often these men claim that they are "taking responsibility" for their actions. Sorry, attending counseling and a prayer meeting or two doesn't cut it.

Democratic voters - and voters in general - may feel a desire to cut whatever ties remain to that slimy brand of politics, that brazen strategy to bet that a misbehaving politician's lack of shame will outlast the public's outrage.

[Recall Condit initially lied to police about his affair with Chandra Levy, an omission which may have hindered the investigation. Her murder remains unsolved.]

And a lighter thought... no one who spends $4300 on a call girl should be managing public budgets. 

03/11 04:52 PMShare