Paterson's Turn in the Soap Opera-ish Spotlight

Governor David Paterson hoped his and his wife's admission that they had extramarital affairs meant that everyone could move on. Other politicians certainly want to move on and constituents generally don't think it's a big deal (Hookergate fatigue?), but now that the tabloids have license to run with it, it means details (and long cover headlines) galore!

One of the women Paterson had an affair with worked for under Governor Spitzer, when Spitzer was an Attorney General. Lila Kirton continued to work Spitzer when he became governor and is now community affairs director for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, a $150,000/year job. She is the woman Paterson romanced at the Days Inn on the Upper West Side. Paterson has repeatedly denied using any campaign funds for any of his affairs.

The Post speaks with Olympic gold medalist Diane Dixon, who got a job with the city's education department, thanks to Paterson, and told the Post she had tapes of Paterson's voice mails from this year, including one from this week. Except it doesn't seem (maybe?) that they had any sort of affair; when asked about her intimation she was close to Paterson, Dixon said, "Don't you go there. Don't go there. He and I were just friends. It's all a joke. Just a joke."

Other odds and ends: The NY Times has an editorial, begging that politicians get to work. The Daily News' Juan Gonzalez, whose interview with Paterson and and wife Michelle essentially broke the affair story publicly, admires Paterson's frankness, but the Observer's Choire Sicha wonders why the Patersons met with Gonzalez and then gave the press conference. Newsday looks at the culture of infidelity Albany nurtures. And the News' Amy DiLuna appreciates Paterson's honesty, but hates the revenge sex aspect of his confession.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 19, 2008 1:42 PM

Comments [rss]

Streamwise

"Gov. Paterson told me he hasn't been seeing anyone."

Now that had me rolling on the floor.

The Edge

It's because unlike most men, he can get around a woman just by touch alone.

freddyhere

Pretty impressive, but I still can't get over the way this guy speaks - which makes his conquests all the more impressive....

babyhitler

why? it's cause they run on a platform of trust and yet they can't even do that for their significant other. Nobody runs a campaign for becoming president saying "yeah I had sex with someone other than my wife! So what?"

slappy

Why should I give a shit who these guys are schtuppig and why?

Toby von Meistersinger

By New Jersey standards this is like a couple of unpaid parking tickets.

just saying

Our elected state officials seem to have a lot of free time. Don't they have enough work to do or are they just not focused on their jobs?

And--NY state government has the unfortunate reputation of being one of the most dysfunctional in the country.

Goomba

This mamaluke gotta really be blind if all he can get are facia-brutas. He shoulda ponied up the cash for the puttanas from the Emperor's Club.

r_friend

Why don't they focus on what's really important—like whether or not his former pastor made some wacky radical remarks an' stuff.

rtd2101

"this proves once again that politicians are the scummiest douchebags in history."

No it proves that the editors at the Post and Daily News are the scummiest douchebags in history.

Republicans, Democrats, Patterson supporters and detractors have ALL said they don't care about this, they want to move on and deal with the budget and other isses...but the Post and News just sink to the absolute lowest common denominator and plaster this bullshit on the front page in order to sell papers.

It's their right, free speech and all, but it's pretty sad.

zodak

revenge sex > makeup sex

Polite New Yorker

The fact that Paterson fornicated with non-prostitutes in a moderately-priced hotel shows he has the fiscal responsibility needed to handle New York State's budget.

berniegoetz

It's pathetic that fewer people aren't giving this guy props for being honest from the get go. This is a personal problem from his and his wife's past; he didn't have to tell anyone shit.