Spitzer’s Arrogance Related to Media Complicity?
Last night, while at a mixer in Hollywood, I ran into a friendly Democratic acquaintance. The last time I had seen him, he was singing the praises of his man for ‘08, John Edwards. While we don’t agree on politics, last night we did wonder the same thing, why would a man as smart as Eliot Spitzer be so stupid as to get caught up in the same kind of prostitution ring that he had twice prosecuted?
Why we wondered, do smart people do stupid things? And Eliot Spitzer is not the first smart person to do a stupid thing.
While I’m no fan of his politics nor his tactics as a prosecutor, I do admire his political skill. He went from losing the 1994 race for New York State Attorney General to winning the 2006 race for Governor, with the largest percentage of the vote any gubernatorial candidate had received in New York.
Just over a year ago, people were talking about him as a future contender for the White House. Now, based on mistakes of his own making, he’s little more than a has-been. And the butt of jokes on late-night television.
It seemed that only his arrogance could account for his foolishness. He thought he was too smart to get caught.
Perhaps, it was more than that. After “publishing” my last post and lunching with a friend (the very reader who helped inspire that post by linking Gallagher’s article), I returned here to check the blogs where I followed Glenn Reynolds’ link to Kimberly Strassel’s piece, “Spitzer’s Media Enablers.”
The piece merits a wide audience, so make sure to read the whole thing. As Glenn notes, Strassel found that instead of “keeping tabs on public officials” (as should be their job), the press “acted as an adjunct of Spitzer power, rather than a skeptic of it.” And then I caught this: “The press was foursquare behind Mr. Spitzer in all these cases” (against high profile corporate targets). Foursquare behind his overzealous prosecution of big companies? Was it that his agenda reflected his own? They had similar worldviews.
Did this Democrat think he could get away with his indiscretions because the MSM liked what he was doing? He wouldn’t be the first Democrat with such an attitude.
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So today Eliot Spitzer, Democrat Governor of NY resigns after spending too much on whores. Using state security details to protect him the way Bill Clinton did during his trists. Democrat G Ferrarro quits the Clinton campaign amid accusations she is a racist. Can we get a comment from Ms. Pellosi about the ethical standards of Democrats? It’s been a while since she opined about that. The MSM is involved because they don’t do any reporting any investigating on their buds. Why wouldn’t the disgraced Democrat Governor feel he was going to be protected by the media. Bill Clinton is their most loved figure. Remember "it is only sex". After the fact the media mostly proclaimed…. what a tragedy for his wife and daughters..what a shame. Not what a jerk that showed no self control. I’m very surprised in the Democrat party, that they just didn’t let it go. And this would have catapulted Spitzer to the top of his party for the next Presidential run. I guess now that he has resigned he can just go on a speaking tour and make millions. Kinda like Bill.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — March 12, 2008 @ 7:47 pm - March 12, 2008
I’m sure having the media on his side made Spitzer feel safe that he could get away with this. It also may have been the simple hubris of a very powerful man.
At the same time he was prosecuting prostitution rings, he was using the services of another. With his ugly tactics and mean spirited attacks on people who committed no crime, he must of felt like some kind of demi god.
Comment by Leah — March 12, 2008 @ 8:11 pm - March 12, 2008
Anyone know the Clintons were involved in a sweatshop in Brazil? Their workers cold and hungry. Don’t hold your breath waiting for the MSM to cover this….
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/42039.html?isap=1&nav=5022
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — March 12, 2008 @ 8:21 pm - March 12, 2008
I just read Strassel’s piece, Dan, and was about to send a link to you. But hey, I used to be a day behind on the news. Now I’m only half a day behind.
The thing is, Spitzer offered up what liberals love: destroying people and attacking "big business". How could the liberal media not become his sycophants? Not to mention the possibility of motivation by fear.
One thing that I noticed was the similarities between the "prosecutions" of D.A. Spitzer, D.A. Ronnie Earle and D.A. Mike Nifong. A whole lot of bluster and zero evidence. They, like apparently every other liberal, love to destroy as many people in their way as possible and truth be damned.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 12, 2008 @ 9:06 pm - March 12, 2008
I have avoided the Spitzer types my entire life. His weasel eyes go right to his soul. He consumes people for his own use. I have little sympathy for his Hamptons wife. She is a Type A power junkie too. There are places where everyone on the team is the star quarterback and nobody runs the ball. In that kind of sharkpool, it is the Spitzers of the world who claw their way to be the last man standing and he loves standing on the backs of the vanquished. I don’t think arrogance is a proper word for these amoral control addicts. We are all arrogant from time to time. The Spitzer types are leagues beyond arrogant. They are incapable of humility. Perhaps, one day, I will reveal how I really feel about the slime bag. By the way, what did he do with a hooker for FOUR hours? Unless he covered her with mirrors so he could admire himself, I would bet he wasted three hours and fifty three and a half minutes.
Comment by heliotrope — March 12, 2008 @ 9:48 pm - March 12, 2008
I don’t think Spitzer *thought* at all. That was his problem.
It’s really simple. We all have 2 brains… a rational one (the neocortex or ‘new’ brain), and an animal one (the different parts we have in common with gorillas, dogs, lizards, etc.). Maturity, morality, ‘impulse control’ and ‘delayed gratification’ are all different names for one key trait: the willingness to use one’s human brain and just set aside the barking of one’s animal brain, no matter how loud or compelling it may seem.
People who can’t do that generally behave badly, then find themselves with a lot of explaining to do. They employ their human brain to generate plausible explanations, i.e., rationalizations. In them, the human is the captive and servant of the animal.
Bill Clinton’s "Why did I do it? Because I could" is a classic example. That isn’t why he did it! He did it because he lacks maturity, morality or impulse control. But, it doesn’t sound good to admit that. In fact, it sounds terrible. If the wrongdoer ever admits it’s really that simple, the game is over. So instead, wrongdoers posit deep issues in themselves - their alleged arrogance, their broken childhood, or whatever - in hopes that the rest of us will swallow the baloney. And all too often, we as a society have done just that.
For more information on these topics, see http://www.rational.org (not a site I have any connection with; just one I’ve found useful).
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 12, 2008 @ 10:00 pm - March 12, 2008
Sorry, typo 3rd para… "People who *won’t* do that, that is, who refuse to, generally behave badly, then find themselves…"
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 12, 2008 @ 10:06 pm - March 12, 2008
#3 - Gene, don’t worry. If worse comes to worst, the Clintons won’t be stuck. They’ll just say capitalism made them do it. (Turning it into a morality fable for greater government control over everything.)
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 12, 2008 @ 11:55 pm - March 12, 2008
How about this theory regarding Eliot Spitzer: Some politicans (and members of the clergy) zealously attack moral corruption in order to exorcise their own inner demons. Think Reverend Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter.
Comment by Christopher (El Chinito en Chino) — March 13, 2008 @ 12:30 am - March 13, 2008
I voted for Spitzer. And now I’m happy to see him resign. He’s been a disaster as governor for reasons you have already pointed out. Goodbye and good riddance.
Now when can we expect David Vitter’s resignation?
Comment by Houndentenor — March 13, 2008 @ 6:36 am - March 13, 2008
Houndentenor, did anyone ever think you would vote for a Republican? Does anyone think you will not vote for the next Democrat, no matter who it may be?
Comment by heliotrope — March 13, 2008 @ 10:12 am - March 13, 2008
If I were to hazzard a guess? Plain ol’ East Coast, New Jersey/New York Democrat party corruption. They get away with so much back there, its completely plausable to me that they could begin to believe they can get away with anything.
Comment by American Elephant — March 13, 2008 @ 11:49 am - March 13, 2008
The more that comes out about Spitzer, the deeper the stench.
First, only his wife and daughters should care that he went to prostitutes. It’s not about that. It’s about Spitzer’s money-laundering. Spitzer made the payments using financial techniques that he prosecuted others for, techniques that in fact are a felony carrying up to 20 years’ jail time.
Second, if you read the same editorial, Spitzer may have committed massive campaign finance violations and many other ethics violations.
Third, as others have pointed out, Spitzer "was doing business with a criminal organization at the same time he was prosecuting their competition", and (further down) "was in charge of law enforcement for the State of New York… judicial appointments, prosecutors, marshals, pardons and paroles, etc… [and] put himself in a position of being subject to blackmail…"
This is all well beyond "arrogant". And it is well as beyond stupid. It strongly suggests that Spitzer is, and always has been, an agent for criminal enterprises.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 14, 2008 @ 9:29 am - March 14, 2008
First, only his wife and daughters should care that he went to prostitutes.
Here’s the thing: Pussy is everywhere and, by and large, is free. If you have some chuckle-head who says "Nah. I’d rather drop $5K an hour for it", why he should be discouraged from having sex at all.
Survival of the fittest, dude.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 15, 2008 @ 2:24 am - March 15, 2008
1. I’m just in hysterics. I’m not sure about Spitzer, but perhaps you’re unaware of the fact the President of the United States receives round the clock, 24 hour, 7 day a week, every day of the year security? This happens regardless of whether the president is having an affair, paying for a prostitute, illegally taping conversations, breaking federal laws to sell weapons to our enemies, colluding with oil companies to gouge the American people, reading a book upside down, etc, etc.
And by the way, I noticed that it was the ever-evil, MSM, New York Times that broke this story. PS - They advertise on gaypatriot by the way.
Comment by Kevin — March 15, 2008 @ 5:24 pm - March 15, 2008
This happens regardless of whether the president is having an affair, paying for a prostitute, illegally taping conversations, breaking federal laws to sell weapons to our enemies, colluding with oil companies to gouge the American people, reading a book upside down, etc, etc.
You must have missed the story where his security details were wondering how he ditched them.
Further, I wonder if you stow the gear necessary to name the presidents who actually did what you claim. As far as breaking laws to sell weapons to our enemies, surely you were describing lord BJ? Or do you want to take a Mulligan on that claim?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 16, 2008 @ 5:19 am - March 16, 2008
And by the way, I noticed that it was the ever-evil, MSM, New York Times that broke this story. PS - They advertise on gaypatriot by the way.
Even a broken clock is right at least twice a day. It’s the other 22 hours one should be concerned with.
P.S. Macy’s also advertises women’s sizes 14w-24w on GayPatriot. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that neither Bruce nor Dan buy such stuff. Furthermore, The Nation advertises on MSDNC and CNN. By your logic, we must conclude then that the liberal saw that the MSM is controlled by Republicans must therefore be bullshit. Right?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 16, 2008 @ 5:50 am - March 16, 2008