Politicians Go Wild In N.Y.'s Capitol

Spitzer Saga Is Part Of A Long History Of Mixing Sex And Politics In Albany And Beyond

(AP)  Of all the wisecracks heard in the marble halls of New York's Capitol after Gov. Eliot Spitzer's downfall in a call-girl scandal, one jest enlightened as much as it stung: Spitzer's got to be the only guy in Albany who PAYS for sex.

It is an open secret that there is a lot of fooling around going on at the statehouse. And at other statehouses, too.

In fact, Gov. David Paterson, in an extraordinary news conference on Tuesday, his first full day on the job after taking over from Spitzer, acknowledged he had had extramarital affairs with a number of women while he was a state senator.

At night, legislators, young staffers, younger interns, lobbyists and reporters mix at two or three bars just blocks from the Capitol. And there are numerous receptions, campaign stops and caucuses where lawmakers, straight and gay alike, often have many opportunities for a hookup.

Up until just a few years ago, lawmakers would go "window shopping" for interns at the start of every legislative session. In a practice that went on for decades, the interns would be corralled in a Capitol newsstand, and legislators would take their pick.

The hanky-panky even has its own lexicon: There's the "Bear Mountain Compact," which says that what goes on north of the state park just outside New York City stays there. Lobbyists, staffers and reporters who seek to enhance their influence by bedding powerful lawmakers are known as "big game hunters." And the men who sleep with the women lawmakers are "boy toys."

"Unfortunately, many of the people who seek public office are flawed people to begin with and the environment in Albany just tends to bring that out," said Paul Clyne, former district attorney in Albany.

Clyne issued a scathing report in 2004 on the internship program at the Capitol, famously saying he would never let his daughter become an intern. The report led to reforms in the program, including an end to fraternization between lawmakers and interns outside the office.

"There was a lot of hitting on us and boundaries being crossed," said one young woman lobbyist who was part of that scene for years.

In truth, the phenomenon is not new, and it's not confined to Albany. By all accounts, the same thing goes on at other state capitals, particularly where the statehouse is far from the main population centers and lawmakers stay overnight several times a week. Men and women outside politics are prone to some of the same behavior when they go on business trips.

"One of the things about Washington and every state capital is for some people it's like going to a convention," said state Assemblyman John McEneny, an Albany Democrat and former Albany County historian. "What happens is you get individuals who would not behave the same way if they had the disapproval of friends and neighbors keeping an eye on them."

In Colorado, state Rep. Michael Garcia resigned this year after a female lobbyist accused him of sexual misconduct at a bar. He said he engaged in "consensual" but "inappropriate" conduct. And Washington state Rep. Richard Curtis resigned this year after he was accused of stopping at an adult bookstore, picking up a man and bringing him to his hotel room for sex. Curtis refused to pay, and claimed the man and his associates tried to blackmail him by threatening to expose the married lawmaker. In 2005, Arkansas state Rep. Dwayne Dobbins resigned and pleaded guilty to harassment after he was accused of fondling a 17-year-old girl at his home.

Accusations of sex and politics have taken down congressmen and senators, and nearly brought down President Clinton in 1998. A sex scandal was the undoing of New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2004 and derailed Colorado Sen. Gary Hart's 1988 presidential campaign.

"It really is not anything new," said Tom Fiedler, who covered Hart's downfall as a reporter with The Miami Herald and is now a visiting lecturer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University "I would have no reason to believe any public officer is any less susceptible to temptations of the flesh than any one who is not in public office."

But the New York state capital - a place of larger-than-life personalities like Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt and big ideas like the Erie Canal - seems to have an outsized history of sexual conduct and misconduct.

Last week, Spitzer's career collapsed just days after the 48-year-old married man was identified by federal authorities as Client 9 of a high-priced prostitution ring.

Other Albany cases include Michael Boxley, the chief lawyer for the speaker of the Assembly, who was led out of the Capitol in handcuffs in 2003 and later pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct after a legislative aide accused him of rape. In 2004, a 19-year-old intern said state Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, a member of a legendary Harlem political family, gave her alcohol and took her to his motel room for sex. Powell, 42 at the time, said the sex was consensual; no charges were filed.

And in 1992, New York Chief Judge Sol Wachtler, a potential Republican candidate for governor, was charged with harassing a socialite and GOP fundraiser after she ended their affair. He admitted posing as a private detective to stalk the woman and mailing her menacing letters, including a threat to kidnap her teenage daughter. Wachtler served 13 months in prison.

Stories of mistresses followed Govs. Thomas Dewey, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland.

In 1961, a photo appeared in the press of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller helping his wife down the roof of the governor's mansion as firefighters battled a fire. Happy Rockefeller was in robe and nightgown while the governor was smiling, dapper in a suit and rakish scarf. He had reportedly been out for a night on the town before he rushed back for a photo.

Some cases quietly lead to resignations and job transfers before they ever reach the Legislative Ethics Committee, which is criticized by good-government groups as too passive.

A Republican former lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said lawmakers have become more discreet about their dalliances, because of such factors as more competitive campaigns, cell phone cameras, and political blogs that can instantly and widely circulate accusations.

"You take your life in your hands if you do this now," he said.

[brianbwb-2009]

When it all boils down, the main motivation to seek power and riches is s*ex. It is such a subliminal instinct that we fail to recognize this truth, and because of that, our lives, and the lives of our loved ones are bought sold in the "corridors of power", in order to obtain more money and power, which equates to more chances of having erotic episodes with more attractive people.

It is so deep within the human psyche that even relatively (or in some cases completely) erogenously impotent people are addicted to seeking power, not realizing, or even denying, out of embarrassment or hypocrisy, the main motivation.

[scottyusa]

So New York politicians like to frolic with each other. What has Hillary been doing then?

[irliberal]

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ADULTERY/FORNICATION?

Posted by qazi63 at 09:31 PM

Do you know that we really couldn''t possibly care less? LOL!

[creeper00]

Blecchhh! Just blecchhh...

Disgusting creatures.

[wardoglrs]

The sad truth

http://www.heyokamagazine.com/HEYOKA.12.%20MoneyMasters.htm

[darnedsocks]

I THINK THIS CALLS FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION: THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOMINATED FOR OFFICE, SHOULD BE THOSE WHO ARE NOT SEEKING IT; AND THAT THEIR NOMINATION IS BASED ON THEIR LIFE-LONG WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, THEIR HUMILITY, AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY.

[random_radar]

Lobbyists and donors won''t support a candidate unless they can be seduced or bribed. An honest candidate cannot be controlled, and no one wants to invest money in them.

You can argue all you want that your favorite party or candidate is honest and above board. Occasionally it is true, but usually only a fool thinks people going into politics for anything but money, power, and s e x.

[fstop100]

These people feel they are "Above the Law" The voters need to put them in their place. Unemployed!!

[buzzmack]

In response to those who want someone to "do the job" instead of fooling around, who do you think that is?

If some of our former Presidents were fooling around on the side it seems to me that others think the door is open for them.

Also, the John F. Kennedy School of Government is a joke as Johnny boy was also one of those fooling around.

A non-corrupt politician who does not fool around cannot be found or if they are they will be ineffective.

[prinzowhales]

Americans! See what you get for your hard-earned tax dollars? Nothing but play time for these bandits... Time to put an end to it...time to elect people who will bring government back to the localities.

Albany did nothing about the murder of thousands of Americans on 9-11...no investigation...no grand jury...no demand for an inquiry...Albany is as corrupt and venal as Washington...

[dowjones20k]

He pissed off NY''''ers by wanting to issues illegal aliens drivers licenses and that was his real down fall -

Posted by zoe2006 at 10:40 AM : Mar 21, 2008


I beg to differ ... his real downfall was BREAKING THE LAW in transporting prositutes across state lines as well as possible money laundering .. it still has not been confirmed if this was taxpayer or politcal or personal funds.

I doubt the bank who disclosed his suspicious finacial transactions had "illegal alien drivers licenses" in mind ..

Spitzer is a typical pol .. thinks he is above the same law he and all the others make and take an oath enforce.. and with technology it is becoming more difficult to hide these infidelites and crooked behavior ...

I hope everyone is paying attention and vote OUT all of these pols with some new folks who are not corrupted by their positions ..

TERM LIMITS NOW !!!

[questionnews]

If the "Politicians Gone Wild" videos are anything like "Girls Gone Wild" videos be prepared to ralph.

[thgdriver]

Seems like the only politician in New York who is not having wild sexx is Hillary Clinton!

Posted by gunownerdan at 10:03 AM

Come on gunowner, I watch Jay Leno too.

[gunownerdan]

Will Hillary have enough sense to hire only male interns if the Clintons get back into the whitehouse?
Bill will have a lot more free time on his hands if he is first laddy!

[easeup-2009]

Young interns????

I''d like to take this opportunity to announce my candidacy for the New York State Senate.

[gunownerdan]

Seems like the only politician in New York who is not having wild sexx is Hillary Clinton!