Eliot “Mess” Spitzer!

There’s a time worn saying in politics that “the office corrupts the man (person).” Is this what happened to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, known as the “cape crusader” (Time Magazine had named him “Crusader of the Year” during his two terms as New York attorney general) and “Eliot Ness” for his battle against corruption, including prostitution rings, and for his valiant efforts to clean up Gotham City? How, we might ask, could he be so stupid? Or so hypocritical? Or so arrogant?! Did he actually believe that he was above the law and therefore could do whatever he “desired,” even if it meant being dishonest to his family, constituents, and even to himself? Whatever happened to “Honest Abe” Lincoln? For those of you who might not be up on your American history, I’m referring to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (who, by the way, was a Republican).

Whatever eventually happens to “Client 9,” both legally and politically, it appears that this is a situation in which the “will to pleasure” and “will to power” have trumped the “will to meaning.” For reasons that may not surface for some time, if ever, Mr. Spitzer’s authentic commitment to meaningful values and goals (i.e., the will to meaning) was sacrificed on multiple levels--personal, family, professional, and political. Somewhere along his path, Spitzer lost his way; moving the needle on his moral compass from meaning to power and pleasure. And, unfortunately, as usually is the case in such matters, there will be collateral damage as a result of his personal choices.

Of course, especially during this milestone year in American politics, Governor Spitzer’s actions should not be cause to shy away from--and further distrust--those who take their responsibilities to “manage the public’s business” seriously, either as elected/appointed officials or as civil servants. If anything, Spitzer has, once again, raised the bar when it comes to public sector ethics (even though I’m sure that he hadn’t planned to do so in this particular way!). Collectively, let’s learn and grow from the Eliot “Mess.” Let’s hold our public officials responsible and accountable for “walking their talk” by demonstrating that we, the electorate, won’t take it any more! And let’s thank Eliot Spitzer for demonstrating why it is so important to raise the bar of expectations for those who seek elected office in order to serve as guards of the public’s trust and interest!