Remember that scene from the Wizard of Oz when the Wizard is exposed to be a fraud by Dorothy’s little dog Toto?
That’s sort of what happened to Eliot Spitzer, the once-thought-to-be Superman of consumer and shareholder rights. This Gov. of New York made a career as an Attorney General out of going after the bad guys, fighting injustice where ever it was and upholding the rights of all the little guys out there.
Well, it turns out this guy with the big white hat actually had some dirty secrets under his sombrero. While he was fighting crime, and even exposing prostitution rings, he may have been all the while pinning to be a customer.
From MSNBC:
NEW YORK - Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s political career teetered on the brink of collapse Monday after the corruption-fighting politician once known as “Mr. Clean” was accused of paying for sex with a high-priced call girl.
The scandal drew immediate calls for the Democrat to step down. At a news conference before about 100 reporters, a glassy-eyed Spitzer, his wife at his side, apologized to his family and the people of New York.
But he gave no details of what he was sorry for, did not discuss his political future and ignored shouted questions about whether he would resign.
How do you craft a career that really isn’t what it appears to be?
This isn’t uncommon. I have spoken with many working folks who spend their lives doing jobs they hate or jobs that have nothing to do with the people they really are inside.
Usually, it’s someone who is working at a job in Corporate America but they dream about heading a non profit, or doing something that helps society.
Typically you don’t get this type of twist — a worker who spends his life holding himself up as above the under belly of society but he turns out to be trapped in the under belly himself.
We hear about crooked CEOs or greedy hedge fund operators, but when they go bad it doesn’t seem like they have very far to fall. They weren’t in it to help the world anyway. It typically is all about profit, so when they turn out to be cooking the books few are surprised.
Spitzer, however, played the I’m-holier-than-though game. His fall from grace is a bit more shocking.
This whole episode makes me wonder how our work lives jive with our personal lives. Can we still do great things on the job but be slimy off the clock?
So what, if the end result was that Spitzer accomplished something in his working life. Right?
Or does his personal behavior cast doubt on his “Mr. Clean” persona?
Is it time for the Wizard to leave the kingdom?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
“So what, if the end result was that Spitzer accomplished something in his working life. Right? Or does his personal behavior cast doubt on his “Mr. Clean” persona?”
What if a teacher couldn’t read? but he could teach math wonderfully?
what if a mayer of a town filed for personal banckruptcy?
what if a pastor of a mega church was a drug addict?
I think it is the same kind thing.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
So, the teacher, the mayor, and the pastor should resign?
March 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am
While I agree that it would be best for Mr. Spitzer to step down, I cannot help but remember the Old Testament account of King David. He had an affair with another man’s wife and then arranged to have the man killed (by putting him on the front lines of a battle). King David kept the throne.
The only reason he kept the throne seems to be that, when confronted by his deeds, he admitted his actions and acknowledged they were wrong (before men and God).
When the story first broke, it sounded like a single indescretion–something that could be considered parallel to the account of King David (it only happened once). Now that the evidence suggests that this was an ongoing pattern over a series of months or years, I believe his resignation is warranted.
A non-reading math teacher (if possible)? Step down.
A drug-addicted pastor (regardless of the size of the church)? Step down (or be removed). [This delves into the realm of Christian teaching, but the Christian Scriptures are clear that there are very specific character and behavior qualifications for leaders.]
A city mayor who files bankruptcy? I believe it would depend on the circumstances. What if the bankruptcy was caused by unpaid medical bills that arose from an unexpected (or uncovered) illness or injury? Surely there would be no question of imprpriety there. Were the bankruptcy deemed to be due to financial management issues, then, yes, I would concur that such a person should step down from such a public office (or a pastorate).
March 12th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Where is the drive-by media demands that Clinton return all the money raised by Spitzer? Where are the investigative reports into his links to Clinton’s campaign? Where are the questions about what Clinton knew and when she knew it?
Oh, right. They’re Democrats.
So, instead, we get questions to NY reporters aobut how this makes them feel to learn of these indiscretions. Hey guys, the story is not about you.
BTW. Same questions apply to Ferraro. Plus, one more.
Will everyone who believes that Ferraro acted on her own, instead of being a Clinton surrogate to raise the race issue, please hold up your hand?
Didn’t think there would be any hands up.
Tiger
March 13th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Do you believe Ted Kennedy would still be a Senator if the Chappaquiddick incident occured today? We are living in a 24 hour, no holds barred, runaway train type of society today. In fact Spitzer will be old news tomorrow. Do you have any idea how today’s 18 year old feels about the eight years Bill Clinton was President? You know, the Monica years. Race to this 47 year old Republican is the least of my worries. I am more concerned with isuues raised by an obvious fraud in my book. Yes the Clintons will distance themselves from Spitzer. If anything they should actually attempt to ‘reach out’, That would be the ‘moral’ thing to do. I am not a stone thrower. In the ten years since I strayed from my wonderful wife because I was an idiot, I can tell you, the incident does come back to haunt me. True, it is not on the internet. I would ‘reach out’ if I knew the man personally. It is impossible to ignore, and we are all guilty of looking at the ‘train wreck’. If I gave up, I would be dead. And that is even more immoral.