Comments on: Spitzer #2: What it’s like to get in trouble

By: Kay, Medford Oregon

Kay, Medford Oregon — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:21:09 +0000

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.

By: T.D., Brandon Ms

T.D., Brandon Ms — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:38:35 +0000

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.

By: Tim, Boulder, Co.

Tim, Boulder, Co. — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:34:36 +0000

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.

By: Suzy Bing, Redmond, WA

Suzy Bing, Redmond, WA — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:15:14 +0000

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.

By: Rich Campbell, Los Angeles, CA

Rich Campbell, Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:16:44 +0000

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.

By: Matthew Aaron Sumpter, Overland Park, KS

Matthew Aaron Sumpter, Overland Park, KS — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:28:48 +0000

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.”

By: Chris Pierce, Oxnard CA

Chris Pierce, Oxnard CA — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:53:22 +0000

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.

By: Julie, St. George, Utah

Julie, St. George, Utah — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:52:37 +0000

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.

By: Jessica, St. Cloud MN

Jessica, St. Cloud MN — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:48:00 +0000

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.

By: philanthroflash

philanthroflash — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:41:15 +0000

“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.

By: Dawn Goldberg, Gaithersburg, MD

Dawn Goldberg, Gaithersburg, MD — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:12:03 +0000

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.

By: Horace, Tampa FL

Horace, Tampa FL — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:04:24 +0000

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.

By: tony new brunswick, nj

tony new brunswick, nj — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:38:13 +0000

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?”

By: Alan New York NY

Alan New York NY — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:26:34 +0000

One day Eliott Ness, next day Eliott Mess!

By: Bob Philadelphia Pa

Bob Philadelphia Pa — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:09:36 +0000

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.

By: Gregg, Charlottesville VA

Gregg, Charlottesville VA — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:08:45 +0000

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.

By: David, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

David, Ottawa, Ontario Canada — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:55:19 +0000

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.

By: pq, St.Louis MO

pq, St.Louis MO — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:47:48 +0000

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?

By: Dave Leman, Lakewood, Colorado

Dave Leman, Lakewood, Colorado — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:47:24 +0000

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.

By: Jeff, Lehi Utah

Jeff, Lehi Utah — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:47:10 +0000

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.