A New York Times article broke today that Albany Governor Eliot Spitzer has been caught arranging plans to meet with a high-priced prostitute. A wiretap recording had captured his voice confirming plans to have the prostitute travel from New York to DC. The governor announced a public apology for his private affair:
“I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong. I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better. I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”
Spitzer flouted discussion about his future political career and declined to answer questions.
What I found to be particularly ironic is that in this incident, much the same as in similar political scandals, Spitzer had previously condemned prostitution when he served as attorney general in the prosecution of at least two prostitutes and 16 people involved in the prostitution ring.
It seems like politics have gone hand in hand with debauched behavior since the beginning of time. Politicians repress any slightly immoral thought to convey a perfect public image only to let their dark side burst out in private, and it usually bites them in the butt. What I think is most interesting is how politicians often bash the very activities that they commit, as in the case of McGreavy and homosexuality. I think it is probably because, just like the rest of us, politicians hate things that remind them of what they hate most in themselves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?_r=1&ex=13...
I think our politicians should adopt a "Henry the 8th attitude" meaning do your dirt in public this way nothing comes back to bite you in the butt. You can't say someone is a hypocrite if they show you what type of person they already are. Or maybe they should discuss their desires with their partners and see what they are up for. I think the perception that everyone has to be so proper is the thing that is getting our politicians in hot-water. Just be honest and do your dirt and admit what you do and stop apologizing for it. I'm so sick and tired of the "I'm sorry, I didn't live up to the false ideal you made for me when you picked me to be in public office" speech. They enjoyed it, just admit it and move on already.
I completely agree. People aren't perfect, and obviously, neither are politicians. I think if they would stop being so self-repressive and start being honest to themselves and the public, we'd have a group of politicians that we could trust.
These guys are humans with strings attached. Most of the rhetoric is pandering, bills introduced are special interests. Half the time these guys are the furthest thing from their platforms. There are still some shining lights. But if I dug deep enough who knows I could come up with something.
"People aren't perfect, and obviously, neither are politicians."
This was my personal little joke about how politicians aren't actually people, which I don't think anyone got/would get except myself. But yeah, I guess you could say with strings attached...
Ha, I really like the "Henry the 8th" deal mentioned up there ^^^
Seriously, when you see in European History, way back in the way back, scandalous accounts of kings that just blew money away and used tax money to build palaces for their many mistresses, it's a breath of fresh air. Yeah, those absolute monarch-types were corrupted and base, but--ha--human nature definitely hasn't changed since then. Rulers of every age are corrupt, but at least the Henry the 8th's of back then were honest about being corrupt :) That honesty is almost admirable.
I don't think that politicians should have the right to have female escorts. I have heard a lot of stories about certain politicians breaking those rules. I agree, people make mistakes. I just wish that they could start caring less about themselves.