March 23, 2008
Harlem Homecoming for Gov. Paterson
Gov. Paterson appeared in Harlem yesterday, the place he calls home with his wife and the state senate district (30th) he represented before becoming Lt. Governor under Eliot Spitzer. The Governor was joined by a host of politicians--including former Mayor Ed Koch, City Comptroller William Thompson, Nassau County Exec. Thomas Suozzi, and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion--at Al Sharpton's National Action Network's meeting hall. His reception was very warm. In an effort to quiet an enthusiastic crowd chanting his name, Paterson said from the podium, "Stop, please. This is the sort of thing that makes people like us feel like we're real important."
Having entered office via a scandalous meltdown by Gov. Spitzer regarding his dealings with prostitutes, one would think there would be a honeymoon period for his replacement. Gov. Paterson's first week, however was filled with more tawdriness and tales of extramarital dalliances and the possible misuse of campaign funds. Perhaps that's why Paterson retreated to a hometown audience he knew would be friendly. The theme of the day was getting over talk of personal indiscretions, and getting back to the business of running New York State.
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As tempting as it is to just ignore these "personal indiscretions", it sounds like there was misuse of public money.
I hope that there is an appropriate investigation, although it sounds like both the Democrats and Republicans are anxious to just sweep this under the rug and move forward. No doubt because many of them cheat the system in the same way and don't want these practices to come to light.
What Everyone Needs to Know About Extramarital Affairs...
Recent statistics suggest that 40% of women (and that number is increasing) and 60% of men at one point indulge in extramarital affairs. Put those numbers together and it is estimated that 80% of the marriages will have one spouse at one point or another involved in marital infidelity.
If given that these are accurate, it would seem we as a voting populace have no right to hold our elected officials to a higher standard or condemn them for the very behaviors we engage in relentlessly. Overcoming the human nature of bigamy is a bit like holding your urine. When you gotta go you gotta go. Our seemingly puritanical society treats sex-seeking behavior as a character flaw even as our society stands idol while sex is used to sell EVERYTHING. How perfectly hypocritical.