Spitzer's Woes Can't Save Republicans

National Review Online: Despite Prostitution Ring Scandal, N.Y. Dems Won't Pay Political Price

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Raymond J. Keating.

---

Law enforcement called him “Client-9.” The Emperor’s Club VIP prostitution ring knew the man as “George Fox.” But as it turned out, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer - who had busted such criminal elements as state attorney general and crusaded for higher ethics on Wall Street and in Albany - was a return customer of this high-end hooker service. Spitzer apparently liked petite, pretty brunettes…

Reads like a novel, doesn’t it? But this is the political reality that stunned New York and much of the nation on Monday. Two questions come to mind. Actually, many questions come to mind, but let’s just focus on two.

First, what’s the deal of late with Democratic governors and sex scandals in New York and New Jersey? You remember, of course, former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey. In August 2004, he resigned when publicly revealing an adulterous affair with another man, despite being married twice and having two children. Last I heard, McGreevey was thinking about becoming a priest in (where else?) the Episcopal Church.

Nearly four years later, we now have New York’s Spitzer - or, allegedly, Client-9 - pathetically running a tab to purchase sexual favors. He also is married, and has three daughters.

Unfortunately, such occurrences are not unusual given the reality of human nature, with power and politics mixed in as well. These simply are two glaring public examples of arrogance and feelings of invincibility that plague many politicians. Given Spitzer’s crusading zeal and reported declaration of being a “steamroller” (preceded by a crude expletive) in politics, the governor’s fall is downright Shakespearean.

The second question: Shouldn’t the woes of Client-9 bolster the New York Republican party?

After all, this is the second statewide Democrat in New York to be immersed in scandal within a mere 19 months. Comptroller Alan Hevesi used state employees to drive and aid his ill wife. Hevesi bilked the taxpayers for more than $206,000. After getting caught, he repaid the money. He resigned in late December 2006.

New York Democrats seem stuck in an ethical mess. That means paying a political price … right? Not so fast.

Post-McGreevey, the Democrats actually picked up seats in the New Jersey state legislature, and Democrat Jon Corzine won the governorship by a hefty margin.

Even worse, though the Hevesi scandal broke in early September 2006, with his theft then pegged at $83,000, he actually was reelected that November with 57 percent of the vote. Despite the scandal being quite prominent, and fellow Democrat and then-candidate for governor Eliot Spitzer withdrawing his endorsement, more than 2.3 million New Yorkers made sure that Hevesi won reelection with plenty of room to spare.

Is New York just too liberal - too blue - to even consider voting Republican these days? Despite what this might indicate about the ethical moorings of New York Democrats, is the party’s nearly two-to-one edge in voter registration over Republicans scandal proof? Perhaps.

Of course, there could be another culprit in the mix. That is, a completely inept New York Republican party. On many important issues like government spending, various social issues (like abortion), education, and too often taxes, it’s hard to see how Republicans in New York differ all that much from Democrats. That being the case, why vote for the fake Democrats when you can cast your ballot for the real thing?

As a result, the last Republican holdout in New York - a majority in the state senate - is slowly slipping away. Republicans just lost a seat that the party held for well more than a century in a special election in northern New York. If one more seat goes in November, the Democrats would have a state senate majority for the first time in more than four decades.

Beyond policy shortcomings, New York Republicans are not exactly well-positioned to capitalize on Spitzer’s ethical woes either. For example, Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno faces an FBI investigation regarding his business interests. For good measure, state-senate Republican’s relationships with interests like the teachers unions have wreaked damage on taxpayers and the state’s economy, and made Albany an ethical cesspool.

So, is New York lost? A long-shot chance exists. But a conservative uprising must sweep the old guard out of the Republican-party leadership. A New York GOP rooted in sound conservative principles could begin to rebuild the party, and offer an actual alternative to the Democrats. It would be a long, difficult process, requiring patience and principle that are usually in short supply in politics.

But the only alternative seems to be a situation whereby the Democrats gain control of the entire state legislature, and a rich, squishy Republican occasionally manages to win the governor’s office hoping to keep only the most egregious liberal impulses among legislators in check.

In the end, the troubles of Client-9 will not save the Republican party in New York. That can only be accomplished by a conservative revolution. Of course, that raises another question: Just how many conservatives are left in New York?

[anon1236]

Lets not forget that Hevesi siphoned off 25 million bucks to his friend''s company. When is that investigation going to conclude? And why have we forgotten all about it?

[guysdigdirt]

The Republicans made less fuss when their own were caught paying for hookers, male or female one at that. They also made less fuss when their own where caught chasing after little boys. but when a democrat does the same thing, he becomes the Republican poster child for morals. What bushit.
Posted by jjp735i

Call it what you want moron, Spitzer was prosecuting prostitues while he was paying them for their services, it is a bit different than Craig or anyone else.

I will say Craig should have stepped down and anyone else with their finger caught in the cookie jar too. Party does not matter, if they did it make them pay. But the democrats do not feel that way it seems. Just let the offender make up his own definition of a word that is different than the one in the dictionary and let it go at that.

[guysdigdirt]

Nothing can save the FASCIST! They are done, just stick a fork in them and move them over! Sieg Heil Bush
Posted by MCVet

You are a short man aren''t you, probably bald, pot-belly and hairy nuckles too, right.

You were never in the service either or you would not be such a richard cranium either.

[guysdigdirt]

Wave jail sentences in front of the ladies involved in exchange for a client list. I wanna see the names of the other politicians, CEO''''s, judges and preachers.
Posted by photogeezer

You like to chase tha ambulance dont you.

[photogeezer]

Wave jail sentences in front of the ladies involved in exchange for a client list. I wanna see the names of the other politicians, CEO''s, judges and preachers.

[rushlimpdrug]

At this point, I don''t think there is much to save repubs.
I personally feel that all those in office should be voted out.
The demo and repub parties have become an 800 pound gorilla eating Americans.

[janiet3]

Now it''s being said the Spitzer (a huge Hillary supporter, BTW) has spent some $80,000 - that''s eighty thousand and 00/100--------dollars, on these "girls". He couldn''t even remember what the last one he saw looked like. A loser?? I guess one might conclude that.

Now, that said, say it over several times so you might just be able to get used to it (somewhat anyway), Barack Obama, President of the United States of America. Has a nice ring to it !!

[jwind11]

Wow! Now in the mind of this pathetic little fascist the REASON people are going to go out and vote for Democrats and not allow this one case of wrong doing to influence them is???? Because its common for Democrats to be like this. The Fascist who have brought us the mess of all time''''s? Well they don''''t normally get caught with Prostitutes?? ROFLMAO I guess you have to have a conditioned Nazi''''s mind to understand thinking like that!! Sieg Heil Bush Now folks I''''ve seen DIRT smarter than this swastika hugger!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by MCVet at 06:26 AM : Mar 12, 2008

You need some major league help mcvet

[jjp735i]

The Republicans made less fuss when their own were caught paying for hookers, male or female one at that. They also made less fuss when their own where caught chasing after little boys. but when a democrat does the same thing, he becomes the Republican poster child for morals. What bushit.

[nytaxpayer]

"Stand by your man" Lets be honest here. None of these women are married for love. They stand publicly humiliated all for the power that comes with being married to a politician. From Clinton to Spitzer. I don''t know any women who would stand in private and tolerate what these guys do let alone in front of the world. $5500.00 per romp and the people of NY go with no medical coverage, increased taxes and bridge fare increases. Good Job Gov.

[mcvet]

That''''s because this is just ''''par for the course'''' for democrats. It''''s a big deal when a republican does it because more is expected of them.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Infidel_Us at 04:19 PM : Mar 11, 2008
+ report abuse

Wow! Now in the mind of this pathetic little fascist the REASON people are going to go out and vote for Democrats and not allow this one case of wrong doing to influence them is???? Because its common for Democrats to be like this. The Fascist who have brought us the mess of all time''s? Well they don''t normally get caught with Prostitutes?? ROFLMAO I guess you have to have a conditioned Nazi''s mind to understand thinking like that!! Sieg Heil Bush Now folks I''ve seen DIRT smarter than this swastika hugger!!

[mcvet]

Nothing can save the FASCIST! They are done, just stick a fork in them and move them over! Sieg Heil Bush

[joelbuckley2]

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, a Hillary Clinton supporter and super-delegate, is just the latest victim of the VAST RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY! Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky and Paula Jones and Gennifer Flowers taught us that breaking a few laws to cover up *** should not be grounds for impeachment. Hillary Clinton has set the proper example for all good Democratic women to follow-they should stand by our man Eliot!

[susanhelit]

Difference between Spitzer and Clinton is that Clinton didn''t pay for ***. He didn''t commit a crime, hire a prostitute, do a little money laundering. That''s why Spitzer needs to be out.

[hogwarts08]

Seriously sorry about that. Um if I was Mrs. Spitzer I''d kill him. I''d be too embarassed to be standing next to him.

[hogwarts08]

Hey Spitzer is Obama''s buddy

[jjjada]

What is the big deal? I bet if the Fed''s got the whole client list Spitzer WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY POLITICIAN to be listed on THAT LIST. They didn''t do anything to Clinyon when he strayed? Why Spitzer?

[bobaubrey]

Why is Spitzer any different than Bill Clinton? Did Clinton resign his position? Nothing happened to Bill when he lied to the Grand Jury. Why should Spitzer have to pay? I am 68 years old and as far as I am concerned, this whole country is going to hell. Bob Aubrey

[hhkeller]

If Mrs Spitzer was more "loving" than Mr Spitzer wouldn''t stray.

[joyous88]

David Vitter;
Larry craig,
jefff gannon;
ted haggard;

and the list goes On!