An Ouch Moment for Clinton

Hillary Clinton really wanted the endorsement of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer for her presidential race.

She got it.

Now, however, she's got another campaign headache.

Spitzer, who earned a national reputation as a crime buster, was busy apologizing Monday after having been linked--via a federal investigation--to a prostitution ring. The governor reportedly reportedly paid $4,300 to spend the night before Valentine's Day with a young lady at Washington's swank Mayflower Hotel.

"I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family... [and] my sense of right and wrong," admitted Spitzer, in a brief statement delivered at his Manhattan office. "I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust to my family."

Ouch.

Ouch for Spitzer.

Ouch for all New York Democrats, including a certain New York senator.

The first question this morning is the hardest one: Will Spitzer, one of Clinton's highest profile backers and the man who was going to lead the New York delegation at this summer's Democratic National Convention, quit politics?

The Governor's not saying. But the calls for a quit are already being voiced. New York State Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco declared that "[Spitzer] has disgraced his office and the entire state of New York. He should resign his office immediately."

If Spitzer quits -- and the betting is that, as details of the scandal come out, he will -- the governorship will go to his able lieutenant governor, David A. Paterson.

Paterson, also a Democrat and also a Democratic National Convention super-delegate, has always been a good deal more enthusiastic about the Clinton campaign than Spitzer.

Despite the fact that Clinton is the senator from New York state, Spitzer did not endorse her until after Clinton was forced to make a high profile visit to ask the Governor for his support. Even when it came, Spitzer -- whose own ambitions to be attorney general, vice president or even president were no secret -- did not campaign all that hard for Clinton.

While Spitzer spent time at the Mayflower, Paterson slogged through Iowa and other key states on Clinton's behalf.

After the endorsement was secured, Spitzer first became a problem for Clinton when she struggled to defend and then distance herself from his proposal to make it easier for immigrants to obtain drivers' licenses.

He is a much bigger problem now.

It's not that Clinton is tied in any way to the governor's troubles.

Rather, he is a distraction--the big player in her adopted home state who is now in big, big trouble.

The Clinton campaign immediately began sponging Spitzer's name from the Senator's campaign website--just as Idaho Senator Larry Craig's name disappeared from the website of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney after Craig's bathroom troubles in Minneapolis.

Clinton's still taking advantage of support from other key backers who've been wrapped up in personal scandals, such as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who has publicly apologized for having a relationship with the wife of a top political aide, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who broke up with his wife after conducting affair with a local television news anchor.)

But the Spitzer scandal is higher profile, and higher stakes stuff,

The Spitzer trip up is a made-for-TV -- and really made-for-The New York Post -- scandal. The media won't let go of this one, and sooner or later Tim Russert and Chris Matthews are going to be obsessed with everything Hillary Clinton has to say about it.

Clinton will be answering breathless questions about all her governor's troubles, about whether he should resign and, of course, about her impressions of what it means when prominent political players -- like governors or, say, presidents in the 1990s -- get wrapped up in sex scandals.

Double ouch!

The one bright side for Clinton is this: If Spitzer quits, Paterson will be the first African-American governor of New York state. He will instantly become Clinton's most prominent African-American backer.

Unfortunately, while Paterson more than deserves that prominence, and will use it well and wisely--his accession to of the governorship, should it come, will follow a torturous period for New York Democrats, including Hillary Clinton.

Comments (53)

1. John Nichols, why would HRC answer any questions about Spitzer? As far as she's concerned, he got thrown under the bus a long time ago after that immigration license debacle. (Guess he shoulda consulted her first, huh?)

   Posted by ACook at 03/10/2008 @ 5:37pm

2. Maybe Spitzer can hire Nifong, disbarred as he is, as his personal adviser....to find holes in the Fed's case! Gotta feel for his 3 daughters....he needs to check w/Bill to see what sweet talks are needed at home!

   Posted by Happy at 03/10/2008 @ 5:55pm

3. Eliot - Please dont RESIGN, Hillary can't afford to lose a precious SUPERDELEGATE

   Posted by latinovoter at 03/10/2008 @ 5:58pm

4. Can we keep Spitzer and kick Hillary out?

   Posted by KSP556 at 03/10/2008 @ 6:11pm

5. Jaysus and begorrah, but this Friday night is the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner at the Waldorf, at which the cardinal usually reigns & the NYS guv appears. Hmmm ... any bets on which one won't make it? And how many seconds, not even minutes, will pass before a speaker makes a joke about his absence?

   Posted by sloper at 03/10/2008 @ 6:19pm

6. Funny how distractions seem to create a gravitational orbit around Billary...

   Posted by hsuBfools at 03/10/2008 @ 6:37pm

7. Rio-At least,he wasn't in a public bathroom looking for sex like Republicans.

   Posted by i'm nobody at 03/10/2008 @ 6:42pm

8. (I guess Barney Frank gets a pass on this Regressive Demoncrat scandel)Posted by RIO BRAVO 03/10/2008 @ 6:38pm

   Ditto GOP rightwinger Larry Widestance Craig.

   Posted by sloper at 03/10/2008 @ 6:42pm

9. Many millionaires who used to be billionaires are laughing.....

   Posted by bleedingheart at 03/10/2008 @ 6:45pm

10. Make that client 10 - Obama.

    Posted by EULER 03/10/2008 @ 6:50pm

    You're confusing Barack with Bill.

    But there has been a dirty little rumor swirling around Hillary....can you say Huma Abedin?

    Posted by KSP556 at 03/10/2008 @ 7:01pm

11. Posted by EULER 03/10/2008 @ 6:50pm

    Boy, sure SOUNDS like a bit of FRANKGRITS' crapola!

    Posted by Mask at 03/10/2008 @ 7:04pm

12. Spitzer is not the only questionable association of Hillary, you should Google Norman Hsu, Peter Paul, and Andrew Grossman. <---These Clinton associations make Rezko look like a choir boy!

    Posted by Metteyya at 03/10/2008 @ 7:05pm

13. I personally don't think Hillary should have to answer any questions about Spitzer, but then again, Obama had to answer questions about Farrakhan...

    OH, and Rio Bravo, MSNBC clearly identified the governor's party. So did CNN. Oh, but wait, you're talking about the national LIBERAL media...who is that again??

    Posted by nicR at 03/10/2008 @ 7:05pm

14. You should google Huma Abedin.

    Posted by KSP556 at 03/10/2008 @ 7:14pm

15. I find any punditry on this sort of human weakness to be for days of no other worthy news....here, for something a bit more meaty, from Israel National News on the murder of kids & teens:

    PA Daily: Mass Murderer is a Martyr

    by Gil Ronen

    (IsraelNN.com) Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's official daily newspaper has honored the terrorist who gunned down eight high school students at point blank range with the status of shahid, or holy Islamic martyr.

    The March 8th edition of the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida prominently placed a picture of the terrorist on the front page, with the caption, "The Shahid Alaa Abu Dheim." In a page one article on the massacre at the Mercaz HaRav Kook Yeshiva, his crime was again defined as an act of martyrdom......

    Posted by Happy at 03/10/2008 @ 7:23pm

16. Boy, sure SOUNDS like a bit of FRANKGRITS' crapola!

    Posted by MASK 03/10/2008 @ 7:04pm

    If it quacks like a Frank...

    Posted by yutsano at 03/10/2008 @ 7:23pm

17. $4300 to get laid? I could pay four months rent with that. Man, people are crazy. What do they pay the Governor of NY? Must not be chump change.

    Incident not likely to affect Clinton directly. Obama not likely to make it an issue. It will be forgotten very soon unless he is indicted. Maybe by the next news cycle.

    Posted by jackwells at 03/10/2008 @ 7:26pm

18. Wonder what the Lefts' reaction would be if a Jewish fanatic went into a Madrassa and Uzzied a bunch of Arab/Muslim kids?

    Posted by Happy at 03/10/2008 @ 7:26pm

19. Posted by EULER 03/10/2008 @ 6:50pm

    Does that mean client 11 is Hillary? Certainly would explain turning the other cheek on the Lewinsky thing. Maybe Monica was doing them both!

    Posted by Metteyya at 03/10/2008 @ 7:28pm

20. Posted by KSP556 03/10/2008 @ 7:14pm

    I'm no Clinton supporter, but seriously, this kind of garbage is no better than the Obama Madrassa story...I mean, have you seen Huma Abedim?! She could definitely do better than Hillary...what a joke!

    Posted by nicR at 03/10/2008 @ 7:36pm

21. It sounds like Spitzer is going to quit. Who passed him the hemlock? Must be an election year.

    Posted by Next Door at 03/10/2008 @ 7:41pm

22. Posted by KSP556 03/10/2008 @ 7:14pm

    I'm no Clinton supporter, but seriously, this kind of garbage is no better than the Obama Madrassa story...I mean, have you seen Huma Abedim?! She could definitely do better than Hillary...what a joke!

    Posted by NICR 03/10/2008 @ 7:36pm

    She might of the same persuasion as Hillary. After every debate, speech, gathering, you see Abedin next to Clinton. She's almost physically attached to her. There may be something there.

    Posted by KSP556 at 03/10/2008 @ 7:46pm

23. Posted by JOMAMMA 03/10/2008 @ 7:55pm

    Like electing a guy who was a Governor of a state where the legislature only met every two years? And the only business experience he had were ...failures?

    but you liked his family name and down-home simple charm???

    Posted by Mask at 03/10/2008 @ 8:00pm

24. Posted by JOMAMMA 03/10/2008 @ 7:55pm

    I knew this was Bush's fault!!

    Posted by Next Door at 03/10/2008 @ 8:39pm

25. Posted by Next Door at 03/10/2008 @ 8:40pm

26. spitzer? I don't even know 'er

    Posted by emile duBois at 03/10/2008 @ 8:47pm

27. This is just another personal attack on Hillary. What are we trying to say here?

    This article seems to imply that she can't turn on guys so they go elsewhere.

    Posted by RAGGEDSTEP at 03/10/2008 @ 8:55pm

28. ZERO all good points - but hard to grasp for anyone overly binary. Chronic asymmetrical 2-way cruelty. From what I've read the general public in Israel is fairly reasonable - according to poll data. Less extreme than many so-called Israel supporters in our country.

    Personally I think this article is weak - a thin effort to rapidly grab & link the top two news stories.

    Posted by winyahn at 03/10/2008 @ 9:28pm

29. You should google Huma Abedin.

    Posted by KSP556 03/10/2008 @ 7:14pm

    better yet, google huma abedin, muslim.

    heheh.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 03/10/2008 @ 9:53pm

30. Wonder what the Lefts' reaction would be if a Jewish fanatic went into a Madrassa and Uzzied a bunch of Arab/Muslim kids?

    Posted by HAPPY 03/10/2008 @ 7:26pm

    that's what bulldozers and F-16's are for.......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 03/10/2008 @ 9:56pm

31. Posted by NICR 03/10/2008 @ 7:36pm

    of course it's low.....

    but when one makes a bed of trash, alas they are often forced to lie in it as well.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 03/10/2008 @ 9:57pm

32. ...Israeli fanatics kill Palestinian men, women, and children all the time....

    Posted by ZERO 03/10/2008 @ 8:59pm

    You purposely ignore the main thrust....the Palestinian Authority's papers putting photo of the `martyr' on the front page and talked up his `exploit' in the write-ups. You think they posted the dead Jewish kids' faces?

    No arguments Fanatics are everywhere.....certainly the Beslan masacre in Russia is the most notorious....but the point is what national newspaper would tout such `heros' and expect international support? It's clear whatever pain the Palestinians have endured, they want some more....while it's clear to me, given Israel's vulnerabilities to short-range homemade rockets, they want a way out. They have Hezbollah on the north, Hamas on the South, and the `moderate' PA in the east. I'd say, Israel has earned a free pass to go kick some serious butts...starting with demolishing that PA paper's HQ!

    Posted by Happy at 03/10/2008 @ 10:06pm

33. Madrassa.........

    Posted by HAPPY 03/10/2008 @ 7:26pm

    hey happy. do you know what a cognate is?

    Midrasha is the hebrew word........

    just so you know.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 03/10/2008 @ 10:18pm

34. FZ,

    No, didn't know what "cognate" is.....outside the context here, I'd thought it's a fruit, a very batty MTSPNCE-like one :)

    A midrasha ( Hebrew : מדרשה , pl. midrashot ) is an institute of Jewish studies for women. It is roughly the equivalent of a yeshiva for men, and is mostly found in the.....

    Posted by Happy at 03/10/2008 @ 11:40pm

35. HAPLOID:

    Etymology

    The word "midrasha" is cognate with the Arabic "madrasah," which also refers to a place of learning.

    if you had only scrolled 2% further.....

    Posted by frosty zoom at 03/11/2008 @ 12:05am

36. I am really fuckin' sick of it - this has to be the most fucked up country in the Western World when it comes to heterosexuality and relationships. Posted by ZERO 03/11/2008 @ 02:16am

    Hear, hear. I'm a NYer who's lived abroad as well, in 4 European countries + Canada. This puerile nonsense wouldn't happen anywhere else I know.

    That said, Spitzer, of all people, was fully aware not only of the consequences, but of the extent of US govt spying on its citizens, and above all the Bush govt's & its corporate backers' keen interest in opposition politicans' behavior. Spitzer's spoiled rich guy antics define hubris.

    If there's any positive outcome to all this scandal, it's the ruboff on Billary.

    Posted by sloper at 03/11/2008 @ 04:29am

37. Posted by JOMAMMA 03/11/2008 @ 12:47am |

    Next time you go to China, see if you can find out what the commies paid for Neil Bushes night companion.

    I'd say, Israel has earned a free pass to go kick some serious butts...starting with demolishing that PA paper's HQ!

    Posted by HAPPY 03/10/2008 @ 10:06pm

    or, they could start learning to get along, after fucking 60 years!! Same for all sides.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/11/2008 @ 07:51am

38. Wonder what the Lefts' reaction would be if a Jewish fanatic went into a Madrassa and Uzzied a bunch of Arab/Muslim kids?

    Posted by HAPPY 03/10/2008 @ 7:26pm

    It would be the only time they would justify going nuclear...

    Posted by JOMAMMA 03/10/2008 @ 7:56pm

    What idiots.

    Posted by crabwalk at 03/11/2008 @ 07:52am

39. Just another Harvard law grad with a "squeaky clean above dirty politics" kind of guy!

    Posted by KJW at 03/11/2008 @ 08:46am

40. Well obvioulsy you really believe this hurts Clinton. That is not the impact from this story. Believe me the Clinton people do not like Spitzer, it is a widely known fact and he really wasn't all that outspoken for Hillary Clinton either, so I am not sure where you pull that from.

    However if you want to bring up the Clinton past and their supporters, Obama's should be front and center as well:

    Ted Kennedy Gary Hart

    Ouch.

    Posted by man4hillary at 03/11/2008 @ 09:19am

41. Posted by MAN4HILLARY 03/11/2008 @ 09:19am

    FRANK is that you?....heheh

    Posted by Mask at 03/11/2008 @ 09:30am

42. I feel sorry for his wife Silda. On the positive side though, she is now qualified to be governor, under democratic party rules.

    Posted by MarkTime at 03/11/2008 @ 09:38am

43. Posted by MARKTIME 03/11/2008 @ 09:38am

    No,no...she has to be elected mayor of Lake Placid for two years....THEN she gets to run for Governor!

    Posted by Mask at 03/11/2008 @ 10:03am

44. Is this a trend, HRC surrounding herself by men who cheat? Wonder which of her cabinet appointees would/will have done/will do the same thing? I guess she has to keep Bill occupied somehow and I am sure interns is not a good choice.

    Posted by lvdragonlady at 03/11/2008 @ 11:29am

45. Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 03/11/2008 @ 10:57am

    Posted by JOMAMMA 03/11/2008 @ 11:13am

    Given the tacit approval I'm hearing in these posts...do I take it, you gentlemen, have little concern over prostitution being a "societal norm"?

    Posted by Mask at 03/11/2008 @ 11:53am

46. The SEX SCANDAL IS BACK

    WHY THE PAPPARAZZI HANG OUT IN

    HOLLYWOOD IS A MYSTERY TO ME

    GO OBAMA

    Posted by Scott4Obama at 03/11/2008 @ 12:07pm

47. JUST IN SLATE REPORTS HILLLARY PLAGERIZED ESSAY POTION OF COMANDER AND CHIEF TEST

    Posted by Scott4Obama at 03/11/2008 @ 1:02pm

48. Well, Hillary's greatest problems so far seem to be men. I don't know how you can attribute an ouch to Hillary for being from the same state as a guy with a call girl. Are there any ouchies for Obama for his affiliations with Farrakan or his favorite slum lord thug?

    Posted by sherylster at 03/11/2008 @ 2:58pm

49. Posted by KSP556 03/10/2008 @ 7:14pm

    You should google Huma Abedin.

    Wow, she's hot. Let's hope Hillary doesn't get her pregnant.

    Posted by pontificus at 03/11/2008 @ 6:13pm

50. Political Women: A study in contrasts. [tinyurl.com]

    Posted by pontificus at 03/11/2008 @ 6:17pm

51. Hey MASK, you figured out what Cheney's stock options have to do with anything yet? You know, the ones he doesn't own, the ones you know he's going to get rich off of? Yuk Yuk.

    Posted by pontificus at 03/11/2008 @ 6:19pm

52. Spitzer's indiscretions are not HRC fault. It is unrelated. Men have affairs & they still do great at their job.

    BTW I found some fantastic articles…A MUST read for EVERYONE "The Hussein Dynamic" at http://savagepolitics.com/?p=171 and "Follow the Money" at http://savagepolitics.com/?p=165

    The writing is BRILLIANT and goes beyond what the MSM feeds us. It was about time!!!!! Their sections for "Humor" and "Political Analysis" are FANTASTIC!!!!

    http://savagepolitics.com

    Posted by elsylee at 03/11/2008 @ 6:34pm

53. Different culture...BTW..no income taxes there and the places has the highest growth rate in the world..

    Posted by JOMAMMA 03/11/2008 @ 11:13am | ignore this person

    it sounds as though you would do well to relocate there.

    Posted by emile duBois at 03/11/2008 @ 7:04pm