Eliot Spitzer's recent demise surprised very few people. Such is the sad state of American politics. We can easily add him to a growing list of American politicians who have been felled or near felled when caught in sexual scandal: Larry Craig, David Vitter, Jim McGreevy and of course, the great stain-maker himself: Bill Clinton.
I will not attempt to philosophize about what makes so many politicians cheat on their wives because, at the root of it, I believe they are people just like ourselves (except in Bill Clinton's case. Who wouldn't cheat on Hillary?) They are just as apt to sin and fall short of our moral models as you or I. The only difference is that they are in prominent political offices, so their scandals make the front page of The New York Times. If the guy down the street cheated on his wife, no one would know about it unless his wife took some unfortunate revenge. Fortunately for most male politicians, they have incredibly loyal wives.
So what causes some cheating politicians to fall when the veil is lifted and others to seemingly become more popular? Certainly legality has much to do with it. Spitzer's hiring of prostitutes and transporting of women across state lines for sexual purposes was a clear violation of the law and warranted his punishment (being forced from office) if not more. Likewise, McGreevy's shady financial dealings with his homosexual fling (remember, he was married with multiple children) was a clear ethical and legal violation. It appears, then, that what people really hate are politicians breaking the law.
What about Bill Clinton? While his lying to Congress was clearly illegal and he was impeached for doing so, there was nothing inherently illegal about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, and few apart from the religious right really cared about the actual trysts. What people cared about was his lying to Congress and, more importantly, to the American people about his actions. So why did he survive the Congressional onslaught and judgment of the American people? Because no one expected much better of him.
2008 Woodie Awards
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