It's Time To Move On

Governor Eliot Spitzer officially announced his resignation yesterday morning, effective at noon on Monday. More information is coming out about his use of the prostitution ring; supposedly 8 times in 8 months. It is a sudden, sad end to a promising political career, and a news director's dream. But it's time to move on.

While this whole debacle has been very entertaining, let us not forget the human aspects of this situation. Gov. Spitzer obviously has some personal problems to deal with, and his family has been shaken. His wife and three children have been thrown neck-deep into a world of hurt, which none of them asked for. His friends are also in a state of shock. Yesterday morning I caught The Today Show's interview of Jim Cramer, a business journalist for CNBC. The segment was primarily about this country's failing economy (remember that? How about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?), but as he is a close, personal friend of Eliot Spitzer, the conversation obviously went to that topic. Mr. Cramer was visibly distressed while talking about the stumble and fall of such a close friend, and it brought to the forefront for me the human impact of this situation -- the emotions behind the stoic faces of Gov. and Mrs. Spitzer.

As I write this, news organizations around the world -- as well as a fellow Poughkeepsie Journal blogger -- are broadcasting the identity of Spitzer's rendevous, complete with pictures. Reporters have been camped out in front of this unfortunate 22-year-old's apartment building all night long, salavating for a picture or a comment, nothing more than glorified paparazzi. It disgusts me, and it is not the business of the New York, or American, public. This girl's personal life is becoming this country's entertainment. Her life has gone from zero to 100 in 0.5 seconds, and the stress and strain that will be put upon her and her family over the coming days, weeks, and months will be intense. Recovering from the storm will be no easy task either.

And the American public never misses a moment to feel morally superior to someone -- especially someone in power.

Monday is March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. Gov. Spitzer, have a drink. If I see you out, I'll buy you a round. And Ms. Dupre, if I see you out I'll buy you two, because you never asked for this situation.

It's time to move on.