Eliot Spitzer - an endorsement from hell

On May 14 last year Eliot Spitzer endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, saying she was someone who had "proven herself time and again."

In those days she was seen as the inevitable Democratic nominee and the Governor of New York was yet another good catch for Mrs Clinton.

It hasn't quite turned out like that.

The sexual scandal which today forced Spitzer's resignation is serving as an unfortunate reminder of those surrounding the White House in years past. America, even more Britain, is a puritan culture where sex sins are rarely forgiven and never forgotten.

The comedian, David Letterman, has been getting some predictably cheap laughs with his top ten excuses list for Spitzer. Number one: "I thought Bill Clinton legalised this years ago."

Other commentators are comparing shots of Spitzer's wife (poor woman) standing by her man with those of Bill and Hillary in similar circumstances - presumably one of those moments when she proved herself "time and again".

Nor was he much help to Mrs Clinton when she needed it most, apparently refusing to campaign for her in Ohio last week because he was too busy (doing what, exactly?)

But when the history of this election is written, it may be that the turning point will be identified as the debate on October 31 when Mrs Clinton appeared to give two contradictory answers to a question about whether she supported giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

This revealed the first chink in her armour and allowed opponents including Barack Obama to suggest she did not have a principled stand on key policies.

The author of the driver licenses plan? Eliot Spitzer.

Comments

[marke]

mmmmmmmmmm. along shot at best ...... I don't think Obamma will try to capitalise on this ...

[khadijat E]

Uhm.. no it should not affect Clinton, if people use their brains. I'm sure voters can come to the conclusion that it was HIM and not HER who was involved in the prostitution ring. I don't think Hillary hired any prostitutes... recently anyway

[Daphne Kenward]

Eliot Spizer & Bill Clinton has more in common than most. I am not surprised He Supported Hillary. Sex in the White House so what if it was a few Prostitute, no big deal.

[Chris]

We have an opportunity in Obama and a dead end in Hillary. Her machine will try anything, so be watchful, vocal and engaged.

[MARK KLEIN, M.D.]

My guess is Obama's and McCain's marriages are so emotionally dead both are also extra-marital sexual players.

[Elyse]

All we can do is shake our heads, look away, or look down with disdain as another political leader gets caught "cheating." Consider the innocent victims who pay the price (his wife, children, family, and friends). But the truth is, we ALL pay for it, one way or another, as a nation. We already paid for Clinton's cheating, and I don't want to go there again. I have great confidence in Obama as a trustworthy leader with good judgment, a steady temper, and a responsible family man with integrity and morals. Finally!

[RON BAYLESS]

seems like everyones geting laid except Hillary.

[John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada]

True but Hillary's husband has an odor ranker still than Spitzer, and sh'e lived with that most of her adult life.

[Don]

In political leadership you ARE who you surround yourself with.

[Martin]

Looks like Hillary may have also lost one of her super delegates in Eliot Spitzer as well.

[Jonas Van Vynckt]

I'm an eighteen year old student from Belgium and I try to follow up on UK and USA news reports since I'm studying translation and interpretation.

I've also been following the election campaign of both democratic candidates and the thing I can conclude is that everything is used to get ahead in the polls.
Unfortunately Mr Obama will use this, I believe.

If you look at the whole picture, however, Obama has always kept saying: Change here, Change there and some change in peoples underwear. Basically, what I'm trying to say here is that Obama is always talking about change without ever specifying what thing he would like to change.

I'm not only talking for the people of Europe, but also for the people of America when I say that you have to remember you are election the most powerful man/woman in the world...