NY GOP Upping the Ante on Spitzer
In a brilliant move, NY Republicans are demanding that Eliot Spitzer resign or face impeachment charges. Here’s the details on this development:
State Assemblyman James Tedisco (R-Schenectady) told CBS 2 HD that he spoke with Lt. Governor Paterson Monday evening and that the two discussed Paterson taking on a new role of leadership, leading Tedisco to believe that action was “forthcoming.”
Tedisco said if Spitzer does not resign according to a deadline that’s been imposed, state Republican leadership will call for impeachment proceedings to begin.
Spitzer, though, was clearly examining his legal options Monday night; a spokesman said the governor had retained the Manhattan law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, one of the nation’s most prominent.
The last thing Democrats want to do is defend a corrupt politician heading into elction season. The last thing that Howard Dean wants to be dealing with is the RNC campaigning on the Democrats’ culture of corruption. Redstate’s California Yankee is now saying that Spitzer will attempt to “pull a Clinton” and stay in office:
Washington Post correspondent, Libby Copeland, reminds us that we have seen it all before:
First, we watch the news conference. There’s Spitzer, with his wife by his side. He says, “I want to briefly address a private matter.” Then he expresses remorse (albeit vaguely) and promises to “dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”
Then, we call Mark Geragos, the high-profile criminal defense attorney, who, as it happens, has not actually seen the news conference. He proceeds to describe the news conference that he has not seen.
“You’ve got to have the dutiful wife and you have to have the ‘it’s a private matter,’ ” Geragos says. “And remorse for the past and plans for the future.”
[. . .]
“If you don’t have the spouse with you, the signal sent is one of abject debauchery and guilt,” says Eric Dezenhall, a crisis management consultant. “When the wife or the family is with you, that suggests, well, somebody close to this person loves them and thinks they’re worthwhile.”
The early signs suggest that, unlike former New Jersey Governor McGreevy, Spitzer will pull a Clinton and fight to remain in office.
I’m waiting for Obama to use this against Hillary if she brings up the Rezko-Obama connection. I don’t think that he’d bring the subject up but he might use it to deflect Hillary’s attacks.
If Republicans run as the political party that wants to eliminate corruption , aka earmarks, that will defeat the jihadists, that will push true ethics reform and that also highlights the Democrats’ culture of corruption (with poster children like John Murtha, Eliot Spitzer and Al ‘I won’t pay my workers comp insurance’ Franken, this shouldn’t be that difficult to do.), the Republicans can win back independents that didn’t like the GOP’s corruption.
This part of the article speaks volumes about the screwed up mindset in this country:
Despite the expectations of a resignation, some experts say Spitzer should take the time to weigh his options before stepping down.
“This is one of the most intelligent, brightest elected officials in the region. You don’t change governors of New York lightly, and I think it would be a mistake to act precipitously,” political consultant Joseph Mercurio told CBS 2 HD.
“I think first things first, he has to resolve his relationship with his wife. He has to look to his rabbi and make personal decisions first,” Mercurio said. “It’s really initially up to him before the rest of us react.”
While I agree that Gov. Spitzer needs to “resolve his relationship with his wife”, he can’t do that while running the state and preparing for trial. (Yes, he will be prosecuted. All that’s left is for him to get indicted on federal charges.)
As for Spitzer being “one of the most intelligent, brightest elected officials in the region”, I’ll simply question whether Gov. Spitzer is bright when he gets caught on tape soliciting a high-priced prostitute.
John Podhoretz has more on Mr. Spitzer here. It seems that Mr. Spitzer is more devious than bright.
Technorati Tags: Scandals, Eliot Spitzer, Corruption, Prostitution, Wiretaps, Impeachment, Resignation
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog