I’m not a New Yorker, but Spitzer had impressed me during his time as Attorney General. He seemed to possess a genuine passion for combating corruption among powerful business interests; an uncommon virtue among politicians. I recall reading a profile of Spitzer in the New Yorker not long ago which portrayed him as less effective as governor, but I still thought it likely that he would eventually make his way to the national stage. The actions leading to his swift fall from grace exemplify the kind of mental compartmentalization that is the downfall of so many men in the public eye. How else does someone prosecute prostitution rings while at the same time availing oneself of a prostitute’s services and not lie awake at night feeling like a schmuck? Spitzer’s decision to pay for sex is a private matter that shouldn’t have any bearing on his ability to serve the public. His own blatant hypocrisy provided the fatal blow to his career.
