Give Me Back the Old Fashioned Hypocrite
Recent events taking place in New York State remind me of the following incident. A first grade teacher, known for being fastidious for cleanliness, examined the dirty hand of a student. “Tom”, she said, “if you find me a dirtier hand than the one you have shown me I will give you an extra recess”. Quick thinking Tom picked up his other hand which was a lot dirtier than the one the teacher had seen.
This month New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned from his political position. He said “Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less for myself.” Spitzer was caught in a prostitution sting and was trying to put a spin on is undignified and very troublesome act. His payment of tens of thousands of dollars makes me wonder what kind of man he is. Equally perplexing is his wife Silda’s blank look standing beside her man. She is a smart lawyer and a good mother, but seems to have a problem in living with a man who leads a double life. On one side a champion for justice, a Mr. clean, and on the other side a low life party boy abusing his power and richness. I wonder how he explained all those expenses to his wife.
Even more perplexing is Governor David Paterson, the new Governor of New York state’s admission to adultery with multiple women while serving in the State Senate. “I betrayed a commitment to my wife several years ago,” Paterson said at his first news conference as governor. “I do not feel I betrayed my commitment to the citizens of New York State. I haven’t broken any laws. I don’t think I have violated my oath of office.”
What kind of dirtier hand can there be in politics than this? The Senate Majority Leader, Joseph Bruno said, “As long as it doesn’t interfere with how he’s governing, it’s nobody’s business.”
If that’s the case why then should Eliot Spitzer’s resignation be accepted? After all it is no one’s business how he lives. How incongruent can you get? The Senate Majority Leader’s remarks are totally unacceptable and despicable.
As sad as this sounds I pray for the old time hypocrite who was at least ashamed before God and would never admit to the people his dark side. It is high time that society should expect leadership that sets the tone and example for society. If not now, when?