Your response is “real” and refreshing. Recrimination seems to be the style, yet as you mention we all long for the forgiveness after we have goofed….and we all have. Thanks for the gentle reminder!!

I guess the men and women he put in prison when he, as Attorney General, prosecuted high profile prostitution rings would have liked a little mercy as well. It seems that as someone who has actively pursued the punishment of prostitution, which should really be a private matter anyway, ought to expect to be prosecuted for breaking the same laws.

Well, yes. But ironclad honesty and integrity weren’t the horse I rode into town.

Don’t get me wrong. He went after the people who by and large deserved it, or at least deserved a bit more stress than they were getting for their multimillion dollar paychecks. I thought it was great that Wall Street hated him; it gave them something to think about other than screwing the rest of us out of our investment dime.

And I doubt what he did rises (pun intended) to the level of an impeachable offense. It just barely reaches the level of stupid offense.

But at this point I don’t think he’s capable of being taken seriously any more. To a politician, that is far more damning than any legal entanglement.

I take it your a democrat….kind of obvious.

As one who’s screwed up before, I agree. Few are flawless, and we all try to be better. Spitzer’s catching hell because he acted high and mighty and “better than thou.”

Nice article. You received +3 karma!

I feel compassion for the guy. But I also think he needs to find a different job. We know politicians primarily by what they say. If we allow them to say what we want to hear when they don’t really believe it, then we’re screwed.

You are an idiot!

Why is it that holier than thou high rollers are allowed to “escape” the wrath of the law and some guy at the other end of the spectrum is clamped in irons? The reason we aren’t equal before the law is because high rollers demand and more often receive preferential treatment. Or they threaten to “sing” and take other high rollers – their pals in crime – down with them.

If individual responsibilty means anything, it means accepting the penalty/punishment for the crime when convicted – not copping some GD plea that I deserve special treatment. When are the so-called leaders of this country going to get it? Excuses… excuses… and more excuses! Enough is enough!

Adam and Eve come to mind here. Which one was the scoundrel? Adam apparently had violated God’s trust and faith in him. Does Eve hold any responsibility in their “Fall From Grace”? Was Eve created to be a “Jezebel”?

Did “Satan” have any input into Eve’s creation? “The beat goes on and the beat goes on and on and on”?

The difference is you lost your jacket once, he didn’t loose his jacket once but kept loosing his clothes over a long period. Big difference to keep repeating the bad judgment.

It’s just the “King of the Mountain” effect- if you hold yourself up and claim righteousness as your sword, you are painting a bullseye on your back. Clinton got a pass by using his puppy dog facial expressions and chokey sorrow-and-repentance voice. This guy has no warmth- a truly cold fish. Nobody said it was fair.

This is also the precise reason in the American culture to mistakenly encourage the “diggers”: the “reward” is there, dig harder and deeper. It pays very well to be creative for the sake of smearing and exaggerating if necessary.
Equal opportunity of victim in America is for as long as he or she is probably important enough to be in the public humiliation because American people have the “right” and “need” to know each pair of public underwear.
The ultimate ironic American security is priceless.

Elliot will be fine. The initial hurt and embarrassement is tough, but this will all be forgotten and in about 8-12 years, He’ll probably run for president and win.

No, there is no excuse for him or any other guy that behaves like him. He broke his vows to his wife and the New York voters and everyone else that trusted him. He should know that “what goes around, comes around!” I am tired of these “mea culpa” speeches of these men – where are their brains?

Did he show a “little mercy” to others?

For the author/editor: Shouldn’t the quote at the end of the first paragraph read, “Your [sic] an idiot.”? Or was the quote actually “You’re an idiot.”?

I agree with your comments. I know what it is like to be busted for being unfaithful! In a word-horrible!!!! I wanted to die. I was forgiven by my wife and by God. I still hurt 30 years later.

Couldn’t have said it any better!

Dude, I remember losing my baseball glove and having to tell my father…and then accusing Chuckie of stealing it and then weeks later all of teh sudden I pulled the bed out from the wall and voila there it was…behind the bed…maybe Eliot needs to pull out the bed…ooops maybe not…

Let the first person without sin cast the 1st stone. <> To many have the ME-NOW syndrome, that’s not a fulfilled life, when you grow old you look back and you find voids. Causing us to devert even greatly into other negative habits. Take accountablity for your actions TODAY! Life is short, live your life right.

Show others through the heart, the heart will shine through and teach others to love.

WOW great Blog! Actually something inpirational & insightful for once. Well done

God bless

you are dead on and no matter what we do to him he has his own cross to bear and has to live more than 8 hrs not to minimize your experience. judge least not be judged compassion and forgiveness is not really for the victim but ultimately for the giver. if es would have realized this sooner he would not have been so engaged in catching a crooks. i guess this is the beauty of life and all its divinity. you teach what you need to to BECOME.

This guy never showed any mercy all the time using the power of the state govt to bully individuals and companies, some guilty, some not. He will never really get what is coming to him. What goes around comes around

You’re right. It’s sad how one bad thing over-shadows all the good thing he’s done for New York. People too often forget that we are all human. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s uncerstandable that people in the lime light are the one’s that get exploited the most, but let’s not forget everything he’s done that’s positive. Everyone makes mistakes.

You ignore the fact that Mr. Spitzer has consistently abused his power while an elected official. This was true as the Attorney General and now again as the Govenor. He continues to think he is above the law. Due process was given lip service as the AG and now as Govenor he again continues to display an callous disregard for the law. Character matters. He should be forced to resign.

Wow, I’m not sure that we can have this kind of reasonable thinking in the media. They’re going to shut down your blog and take away your computer if they find out!

The guy has done a lot of good. He screwed up big time, but like you said we all do that sometimes. I think that people like to crucify public officials and celebraties for a number of reasons including jealously. Whatever an individual’s personality, we as a society are often far to quick to forget our own mistakes and sins. We forget the virtues of mercy and forgiveness whether it is Govener Spitzer, or the person that cut us off in traffic this morning. We forget that everyone is human.

Thank you for reminding us that seeing others stumble is really a time for personal reflection, and not for throwing stones.

“Everybody’s got something to hide except for me and my monkey!” We are what we are. We are human beings with wants and needs. Everyone is different. If it makes you happy – fine. If someone is hurt by your actions, that does not make you a bad person, just human. If you can’t work it out – you just have to move on. I feel for his family, but he is just being human. Sex outside of marriage is far from the worst thing anyone can do!

Had Spitzer showed Mercy to those he prosecuted, he wouldn’t be as successful as he is today.

If you can dish it, you have to take it.

“He who is without sin-throw the first stone” is all i will say. Don’t they also say that, “when a police man is breaking the law, he ensures that all other citizens are obeying it”? Who really is qualified to say what is right or wrong? I believe we are all human and we are falible-all of us.

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.
— Henry David Thoreau, “Walden” , 1854

Spitzer is no exception!

Here we have a guy that as a prosecutor went after people with a vengeance; that showed no mercy. What’s fair is that he gets a prosecutor with the same appetite for destroying his opponent. That’d be fair. I might show mercy, but my name’s not Eliot Spitzer!

No!

Bing, the fact that another holier than thou has fallen is no suprise. You must admit that no one had Spitzer in the slease pool and it is downright pleasing to the champion for the people, against the Wall Street crooks, entered in the Marv Albert hall of fame. Hell in fact Dow went up 400 pts. in Eliot’s honor. I feel bad for the poor innocent young lady who apparently is out of a job. I’ll give her a comfort call.

Spitzer deserves better than what the press and public are dishing out. As it turns out paying for sex did not prevent him from protecting the public from the unscrupulous business practices of the 1990s. Why now is he to be pilloried? Because of his sex life? Some may think that is justifiable reason, but lets have the those who have not sinned cast the first stone.

This is a ridiculous write-up.

This person is looking to be forgiven for his own transgressions by suggesting it’s ok to lie and be deceitful. Ha! Isn’t it funny to treat someone badly. No I don’t find it funny and I think people need to stand up for honesty and decency towards others. This man did something illegal, he lied to people, he embarrassed his family to a extreme that no person should have to endure. His daughters are now being forced to grow up very quickly in a way no woman ever wants to grown up. What he did to his family what I find most saddening.

Why is it not enough in our society to stand up for what is right, and to be an honest and decent person. Why is it not enough? Why does someone get more of a “thrill” in life by being deceitful. Why is it a more meaningful to feel you are fooling all the others?

I think there should be no forgiveness. He knew exactly what he was doing and should be held accountable.

Did you, or your correspondent friend, mean to write “You’re an idiot”? I’ll show some grace and let it slide this once.

Regardless of the grammar, I think the calls for grace are premature. Are laws and judgment only for the little people? This kind of thing warrants prison time under the very laws Mr. Spitzer enforced.

No. The entire e-mail is “Your an idiot.”

Yeah there is nothing wrong with a little mercy when we fall down. However Mr. Spitzer decided to become a public figure, he needs to be hold accountable and that means he needs to resign. That is all.

Your lost jacket was an honest mistake. Eliot Spitzer’s actions were not a mistake, they were poor judgement by an elected official. I do not feel sorry for him. He did not make a mistake.

Spitzer is a PUBLIC OFFICIAL. An elected public official. What he did is not a private matter. He’s a hypocrite, a deceiver and a loser. You don’t make yourself a name doing what he did, be a governor, and then go pay for prostitutes with our tax dollars. Screw him! His personal and government related life should be over and he deserves it.

Your vs. You’re an idiot – gotta love it!

We all need mercy and forgiveness in life. However, when you break the law (whether it is the law of the land or the Law of God) there are going to be consequences. Mercy cannot rob Justice.

He should be held to the same standard that anyone is subject to. He should be held accountable for the crimes that he has committed. As far as the sin of adultery is concerned (which apparently was not a one time occurance), he’ll have to face his family and his God to resolve that one.

I’ll wager that one of the regrets Mr. Spitzer has in addition to his others is that his deposit for future visits with the escort service he used won’t likly be returned. For a guy who might have spent up to 80,0000 on this hobby, you know he has got to be bummed that those days are over. It’s hard to feel sorry for this guy, but you are right, we all screw up.

We all laugh at the guy who slips on the banana peel. We all do. Maybe a few of us might help him up, but we’ll be choking back laughter all the way. Why can’t we all at least acknowledge that every now and then, human beings can be collectively cruel hearted, venegeful, hateful, spite-filled, hairless monkeys that like to throw their feces at another monkey every now and then?

If this happened in Nevada… it would be a non issue – the sex part…

But it is an issue because of both the hypocrisy of his “platform” and the damage to his wife and family.

The fact of the matter is – he knew better and based on how “smart” everyone says he is – he intended to get caught by being “sloppy” in how he hid it.

D

I think it’s interesting that many don’t believe in grace or forgiveness. They probably never noticed when it was bestowed upon them.
Just because we can forgive doesn’t mean we forget. It also doesn’t mean you don’t get punished. I’m sure the lost jacket wasn’t just laughed off.
I can’t imagine the state of New York forgetting what he did and trusting him to continue to serve after breaking trust. On the other hand, it doesn’t invalidate the deeds he did to earn the respect of New Yorkers.

If this happened in Nevada it would be a non-issue. Give me a break. Everyone of us have made mistakes. Some big. Some small.

One day Eliott Ness, next day Eliott Mess!

Stanley, while we are all guilty of one transgression or another, don’t you think that there are times in life where you just don’t drop the ball? Who was it that said “politics is the last refuge of a scoundrel?”

Yeah, we all want mercy, but if you get caught doing something like cheating, stealing or whatever then you should sack up and take it like a man. Don’t make excuses for your stupidity.

Forgiveness comes out of being sorry and making amends for your transgression, not pissing and moaning.

I don’t think Bing or anyone else is closing his eyes at the wrongdoing, just asking for people to understand that we’re all human and that we all make mistakes.

Should Spitzer be punished? He broke the law. Should we go on and on about how horrible he is? No, the justice system will do that nicely.

We could be slightly compassionate and understand that Spitzer, like us, is human.

“My heart goes out to his wife and family at this time. He must deal with his own problems in his own way, but it is now time for us and all New Yorkers to move forward.” Uttered by the kind and gentle Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. I think Bruno is the guy who got this investigational party started in the first place.

To Fedup in NY – Um, where do you think his brains were? Clearly not in the head on top of his shoulders.

I find the response to all of this somewhat amazing. Newsworthy, you betcha. Deserving of the fullest extent of the law that he represented? You betcha. People throwing happy hour parties and saying it made their year? Kinda sad. I’m in the financial industry and know the pain inflicted. Even still. I’ve seen to many males in power positions that ego gets the better of. This is not surprising.

The more interesting question is – what is the wife thinking standing beside him? Option #1. She knew it all along and she’s got a deal going with him. Option #2 – 3 words – BIG divorce settlement. Option #3 – she doesn’t know any better of not standing up for herself, her family and being a role model to her children. Or option #4, She’s trying to live by her religion and do the right thing for her family and be a role model. That is where the story lies.

Eliot is just one itsy, bitsy teeny tiny drop in the bucket of men’s finer thinking moments when it comes not to using the correct head.

Jaded? Maybe. But seen it happen too too too many times with no consequences and that is what Eliot thought would happen too.

And PS, the market went up 400 pts because of 200B going into the banking system, not because of Eliot’s pecker shenanigans. Please.

Sorry all you soft hearts out there but when a person’s employment is that of an elected public servant, serving in a very public venue said person better make sure they are living a life above reproach.

I personally do not feel any kind of sympathy for the guy just for the fact that he is extraordinarily UGLY. He deserved to be caught and held accountable.

Forgivness is divine. there sure are alot of you very un-christian christians out there. maybe he messed up and i wont say how big or small it is, how can i its not for me to decide. but what i will say is are you going to be a lesser man then him by dishing out your judgement. stand up be the bigger person and forgive.

Hmmm… you lost a jacket. That is called an accident. He hired a whore…not an accident. Mercy should be given for accidents. When I do something knowingly wrong, I should be punished. Then maybe next time I won’t do it! And maybe all of the other people out there watching how this plays out won’t do it either.

Give him mercy and people say… “wow, I can get away with it.”

It’s the Shakespearian classic “virtuous man as buffoon” character all over again. Ironically, after all the legal ramifications run their course, Spitzer will be a more “likable” guy to those who previously despised him.

The only moral of the story I can divine seems to be: politicians and would-be-role-models, wait until the statute of limitations has run out before getting busted.

Hi Stanely, We meet again! I once responded to one of your articles in Fortune as your wife, Suzy Bing! I remember that your article portrayed you as the egotistical, insensitive yet successful CEO husband. I had one of those myself. Dear poor Mr. Spitzer reminded me of your old article. But worse yet, it reminded me of how I felt being married to you!!! I remember you wanting your wife to feel your pain and bring you your slippers at night after a long day of WHORING AROUND AT THE OFFICE!!!!! Some things never change. I didn’t feel sorry for you then and I certainly don’t feel sorry for poor dear Eliot now. Who I do feel sorry for is his wife and particularly his children. After my husband WHORED AROUND AT THE OFFICE AND MARRIED ‘IT’ my then six year old daughter started a life of therapy, humiliation and sadness. SHAME ON ELIOT. The decent thing for him to do is ask his wife to stay home and take it like a man. Poor woman.

We all make mistakes at one time or another, some times small some times not.

Hypocracy IS a terrible behavior and it IS challenging to show much mercy to someone who so often rode the jagged edge between prosecuting and persecuting others.

Still, with that said, probably best to be mindful of just how large a stone you may want to throw at Mr. Spitzer, lest one day you/I are the catchers and not the pitchers. Spitzer is a jerk for sure but we can all be fairly certain that (metaphorically) his scalp has already been claimed by his family. A touch of mercy by us for him won’t kill us.

Wow Suzy! Way to go! Stand up and speak the truth about the affects that situations like this have on our children. Men who give in to temptation over and over again without the fear consequence..when will they ever learn? Cheating is painful no matter if it’s with a prostitute or the secretary. It destroys families and breaks the hearts of children.

I do remember when I was young and screwed up..it was agony! But… I wasn’t an adult at the time with the maturity that Mr. Spitzer should have, nor did I preach about higher morals and ethics that he insisted on and then made the exception for himself. The one thing I do know is this..You cannot talk yourself out of what your behavior led you into. Feel bad, but save the sympathy for his family.