What I Think About The Governor...And It's Not What You Think I Think....

Let me get right to the point.

I don’t think Eliot Spitzer should resign as governor of New York.

Oh, I imagine he’ll be toast by the end of the month, if not the end of the week.

And, of course, the knee jerk reaction that everyone has is that the guy should be pilloried for his transgression.

Here’s a thought.
So what?

And please don’t disappoint me jumping to the conclusion that by saying he shouldn’t resign that I endorse what he did.

It’s just that I think there’s a broader point that needs to be made.

And while it’s perfectly natural for people to get their knickers in a twist because it turns out that ol’ Mr. Crime Buster got caught with his knickers around his ankles, I think we would be missing a remarkable opportunity to prove something to people, especially young people, by simply lighting the torches and lynch mobbing our way to the Governor’s mansion.

Because here’s the deal.

He obviously broke the law by consorting with a prostitute. (For those of you who spend more time in front of HBO than CNN, that means he shagged a hooker, mate).

He obviously proved that he’s not the do gooder that he presented himself to be while he was trying to “clean up” New York during his tenure as State Attorney General.

He obviously broke his marriage vows by consorting with a prostitute. (see earlier definition).

And he most certainly proved that, in addition to ears a little too big for his head and a comb over in the proud tradition of the old style Guiliani, he has two very prominent feet of clay.
But, here’s the thing.

He told the truth.

When he got caught he didn’t lie, deceive, obfuscate, fib, disguise, sham, scam, tell tales or falsehoods.

He stood up in front of the world, with his very brave wife by his side, and admitted what he did, took full responsibility for what he did and apologized to his family, his constituents and the rest of the watching world.

And he did all of that right out of the box.

Not, as often happens in these situations, after several days of spin control and “temperature gauging” designed to see if something, anything else could be done to deal with the problem.
Anything besides the truth.

Okay, so the guy doesn’t deserve any medals.

But, I think his stepping up and saying “my bad” from the first moment is a remarkable event and the best, most effective example any parent on the planet has had for years to use in teaching their children how to do the right thing.

Especially right after they’ve done the wrong thing.

Like I said at the top, the guy has the proverbial slim and none chances of getting to the other side of the political firestorm with his parking place not reassigned.

And his reputation as a crusader for a more moral culture probably needs to come off the resume’.

But while he proved himself to be weak, hypocritical, flawed, even stupid, he also proved that he was something else.

Human.

But more, and most, importantly, he proved that the best of our humanity can still surface when we make mistakes and doesn’t have to automatically take us to that most common of conditions these days.

Damage control.

Those who don’t ever see the big picture are going to clamor for the guy to go until the guy goes.
But, as usual, they’ll conveniently forget some a pretty famous riff.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Seems to me it’s a waste of time to even pick up the rock.

When the potential target has already hit himself in the head with one.

Not to mention the hell to pay at home.