by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Sept. 4, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

                Speculation surrounding some imminent return to politics for disgraced former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer looks premature, considering the former two-term attorney general is only 18 months out from resigning office.  Spitzer was hounded out of office March 12, 2008 for getting busted by the FBI March 10 for paying Emperors Club VIP call-girl 22-year-old Ashley Dupré AKA “Kristen” reportedly $4,300 for services at Washington DC’s Mayflower Hotel.  New York officials, especially Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) and New York State Assembly GOP Minority Leader James Tedisco called for Spitzer’s head, threatening impeachment and prosecution should Eliot not resign his office.  What irked so many people was Eliot’s tough stance on prostitution and organized crime while serving as New York AG.  In hindsight, resigning his office was the wrong thing to do.

            More investigation proved that Spitzer had solicited prostitutes for years, spending as much as $80,000, a clear sign of sexual addiction to call-girls.  If he were found addicted to cocaine, Eliot would have been given rehab, a chance to redeem himself and never left office.  Spitzer’s hasty exit from the governor’s mansion was prompted primarily  by knee-jerk politics, not taking a deep breath and calculating realistic options.  Following his arrest, Eliot should have gone immediately into rehab to deal with what was clearly an untreated vice for which he was entitled to treatment.  Despite Eliot’s mishap, he has higher approval ratings than current New York Gov. David Patterson, whose job approval ratings slumped after appointing Rep. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to replace former senior U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York), currently Secretary of State.

            Two unnamed sources claim Spitzer was eyeing either Hillary’s former senate seat or interim New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, appointed when former Comptroller Alan Hevesi resigned in a corruption probe.  Before Eliot jumps back into the fray, he should consider better rehab, acknowledging he had an unidentified sexual addiction for which he sought treatment.  Giving the public a better handle on the problem can only help matters should the rumors of his eventual return to politics prove correct.  “There are people around him who want to see him [in office] and he sees himself there, too.  He loves to be in the limelight.  But he knows it can’t happen,” said an unnamed source, not realizing that returning to politics requires verifiable damage control steps, including (a) admitting to a problem and (b) receiving whatever  treatment is necessary.

            If Eliot wishes redemption, he should go back to the work that made him worthy of public office in the first place.  There’s plenty of corruption to go after in New York State, especially where Wall Street is concerned.  For the past several months, Spitzer has written an online column for Slate Magazine dealing with Wall Street corruption.  Engaging in more altruistic and humanitarian work only bolsters a tainted reputation, seeking a clear path to redemption.  Before nabbed by the FBI, Spitzer was considered a front-runner, along with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), for the Democratic nomination.  His rhetorical skills rival both Obama and Clinton.  His actual resume of going after corruption as NY AG exceeds anything done by either Obama or Clinton.  Despite adverse publicity, Spitzer has never been convicted of any crime related to the incident.

            When confronted, Spitzer denies that he’s eyeing a run for public office.  “If by politics you mean running for office, again, I’ve a hard time seeing politics as a career.  I wouldn’t want to put my family through the agony,” Spitzer told Vanity Faire Magazine’s July edition.  What Eliot doesn’t get is that he’s capable of getting behind his prostitution scandal as long as he (a) acknowledges what he’s done and (b) demonstrates proof of rehabilitation.  He’s never publicly stated he had a serious sexual addiction problem.  Getting over sexual addiction involves confronting his own demons, going through rehab, getting the support of his doctors and proving he’s ready for mainstream activity, including running for public office.  Spitzer’s only “agony” in public life was brought on by himself.  Damage control, too, has some ‘agony” of acknowledging and correcting mistakes.

            Spitzer's chances of rehabbing his political career depend heavily on his own actions, especially whether he can demonstrate he’s gone through his own “growth process.”  Cream always rises to the top and Eliot should say and do the right things publicly to get his career back on track.  Gillibrand’s senate seat is definitely up for grabs, if he makes the right moves before running.  Eliot should coordinate with NY Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo, who, at this point, looks like a shoe-in for governor.  Spitzer’s indiscretions, while bad, were not unforgivable as long as he explains how sexual addiction got the better of him.  Most voters forgive politicians that show genuine contrition and show they’ve done something, other than show up to Yankee games, to correct their problem.  Between now and when Gllibrand’s seat comes up in 2012, Eliot has plenty of time to recover.

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.