Originally posted on Huffington Post, 3/11/08
We do not yet know how the Spitzer story will end. But we do know already that this is not just another politician caught in a sex scandal.
Governor Spitzer came to office with a promise to hold Albany, Wall Street and New Yorkers in general to a higher standard. In an age of mistrust of institutions, Eliot was to be a role model. He promised to bring honor back to government and to hold politicians and corporate executives accountable for their actions. Even cynical New Yorkers wanted to believe, electing him with more than 70% of the vote in 2006.
We can’t fault Eliot for being human. And what he does with his $4,000 can be his own business.
We can, however, ask him to make a choice. He can hold himself to the standards he has set for others and resign. Or he can lower those standards in a way that will leave him in office and further erode the trust the public has in our government.
