Eliot Spitzer: Life As Slate Columnist "Sucks"

UPDATE 5:30 PM

Spitzer's wife, Silda, helps edit his columns for Slate, according to a tipster for New York magazine's Daily Intel blog:

Newly christened Slate columnist Eliot Spitzer is really warming up to his new role as a media professional. Last night, while he was "mingling extensively" at the Website's holiday party, an Intel tipster overheard him actually discussing his process: "I feel like I'm better at expressing my self through writing than speaking," he said. "I usually take about an hour to write [a column] and then send it to my wife to edit." He has not yet adopted the slovenly dress code popular among his peers, however. "I guess I'm the only one here wearing a suit," another eavesdropper heard him remarking.

John Gapper of the Financial Times caught up with former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer Monday night -- at a former massage parlor.

If Eliot Spitzer were to choose a venue at which to make his re-entry into society, he would presumably not have selected a former massage parlour in Chinatown on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

But Mr. Spitzer, who resigned as governor of New York state after getting caught up in a call girl scandal this spring, did not get the choice. Happy Ending, the former parlour in question, is now a sleek bar and it is where Slate, the online magazine was holding its seasonal drinks party.

Mr. Spitzer this month started to write a column for Slate as part of his comeback - he wrote last week about the Detroit bail-out - and so he showed up at the Slate party to be sociable.

...

I went over afterwards to ask him how he was enjoying life as a columnist. "It sucks," he said with a grin. "I used to be governor of New York".

In his first Slate column, Spitzer tackled the financial crisis:

Last month, as the financial crisis and the government rescue plan dominated headlines, almost everyone overlooked a news item that could have enormous long-term impact: GE Capital announced the acquisition of five mid-size airplanes--with an option to buy 20 more--produced by CACC, a new, Chinese-government-sponsored airline manufacturer.

Why is that so significant? Two reasons: First, just as small steps signaled the Asian entry into our now essentially bankrupt auto sector 50 years ago, so the GE acquisition signals Asia's entry into one of our few remaining dominant manufacturing sectors. Boeing is still the world's leading commercial aviation company. CACC's emergence--and its particular advantage selling to Asian markets--means that Boeing now faces the rigors of an entirely new competitive playing field and that our commercial airplane sector is likely to suffer enormously over the coming decades.

Comments

[TheHuffington]

I've always felt bad for him, since day one of Clientgate. If I had my say and was in position to, I'd change the consequences of politicians engaging in adultery and affairs, since it's a reputation issue; not an executive. A pay-cut perhaps; I'd have to think about it. Not to take away from David Patterson's governorship because his is solid, but New York lost an effective governor destined for greatness.

[Bariis]

The heading was funny to read. Poor guy (or maybe not); going from a high-powered profession to a lowly columnist. HUGE difference a year makes. If only he kept his fly zipped.

[XCITIZEN]

I kinda like Ol' Elliot Spitzer...the guy's got spunk...

[eatmypress]

i think slate should fire him. he apparently still hasn't been brought low enough to change.

[MrsPeel]

Sounds to me like Spitzer was making a wry, pained comment about his change in fortunes (yes, I know he created them) in direct response to a question.

HP's headline hyped the word "sucks" in a reductionist statement, "Eliot Spitzer: Life as Slate Columnist 'Sucks.' "

[kaicheesecake]

Eliot Spitzer is dumbotronics, end of.

Risked his marriage and his career for boobies, and Slate is his booby prize.

[dori]

Spitzer went after the Wall Street cheaters like no one has before. He was taken down by the Bush Administration because those money people are R cronies.

I can't believe the Puritanical blowhards on this thread! Spitzer went to a prostitute. Is he the first one to do that? Is that more dastardly than say, cutting health care for children? Or throwing people out of work just before Christmas? Or say, starting two unnecessary wars?

Check your value system please! Spitzer is far better than most people, period, not to say most people in politics!

[ObjectiveRealist]

Rubbish.

[
CACC's emergence--and its particular advantage selling to Asian markets--means that Boeing now faces the rigors of an entirely new competitive playing field and that our commercial airplane sector is likely to suffer enormously over the coming decades.
]

This means that Boeing's employees will face layoffs. Boeing's investors will just shift their capital around.

[decrepittex]

So his job sucks. BFD! If he hadn't let his little head do the thinking for his big head he would
still have that job as governor of New York.

[Bubba Gump]

Yep. You said it all!

[Leslib]

Yeah, funny how that hypocrisy can bite you in the backside. Tough...you made your bed....

[NeilFiertel]

Spitzer went down for more than that he was a customer of a call girl. He spent part of his career chasing down and convicting prostitutes, treating them as if they were the worst thing that ever happened to American Society. He in other words was a really self righteous hypocrite who with one hand, nailed people and with the other, well, you can fill in the use of his other hand. The whole idea that prostitution is a crime is bizarre in my books. I do not think it any different than 90% of the crummy jobs most people have in their lives. Let's face it, if you did not get paid, many would not go to their jobs for the fun of it. Working in Walmart is likely a nastier place to work than in your own rent a bed. Well, maybe it is a draw. Being busted for doing it because of the Puritan nonsense that permeates Western Civilisation is not a lot different from that which controls Iranian Society and for which we find time to chastise but rarely look within at our own foibles in this regard. I in other words could care less about Mr. Spitzer's proclivities. That is between him and his wife but his hypocrisy, now that is a different story. He is not a nice man for that alone.

[Star2000dancer]

You should have fought to stay govenor. I watched you work for years, and you made good things happen. I even talk to you when you were Attorney General. I had a pile of stuff we agreed on.

How about Doing your good work where you are now, byou still have the respect of a LOT of people, & your ability was never disputed. I am shocked Patterson signed to tax the Indians. More internal termoil.

But our connnection was healthcare. They had just been trying to hospice my Mother. Actually euthanize her by drugging her, & taking away her food & water & let her rot to death. She could hear everything that was going on. Plus I use to hide under her hospital beds to keep her safe. But they were determined to kill her. The last worrds I heard out of my Mom was "Make, Make, Make them stop!!" Then they made me leave the room. Tom Dascle did the same thing to Terri Shiavo a few months later. He has no clue about saving lives, or curing, he's only interested in how many people he can get rid of.

You can still be the hero I know you are. I know most politicians have a sex scandal or two in their closet. They went after you because you were starting to make New York strong again. Well, the pen in mightier than the sword. And truth is still more important than spin. Keep them honest..

[karinova]

@NeilFiertel:
Interesting points!
Personally, I think Spitzer went down so hard more because of the hypocrisy itself, and not so much because it was pro'sti'tution. We relish taking down the mighty. ("The harder they fall" and all that.)

As for pro'sti'tution, my feeling is, it's not a good thing. There are a lot of potential downsides to it (for everyone involved, for neighborhoods, and for society). But treating it the way we do is stupid, inconsistent, and ultimately pointless. You can never eliminate the oldest profession. It would be much better to work on discouraging it, and making it safe if one insists.

As it stands, two things have never made sense to me:
1) How is doing this work different from working in p0rn (i.e.: getting paid to perform s'ex'ual acts)?
2) Why don't we leave the pro'sti'tutes alone and arrest/prosecute the johns ONLY? (They're the ones who cause all the trouble.)

[mmgbizgirl]

At least you have a job! Get over it!!!

So tired of these whining white collar idiots.

[mathme]

I think he was saying that the change sucks. Who would disagree that falling from governor of NY to online columnist sucks?

[sanych]

Remember Jerry Springer? He also had a fling with a prostitute while in office.

One can only envy Spitzer - he has a very good wife.

[earthmann]

He had sex with a consenting adult. Get over yourselves, you self-righteous Puritans.

[mathme]

Yeah, he shouldn't have had to resign for that. Look at Rod Blahbalhvitch holding onto his job.

[XCITIZEN]

Hear hear! I'm with earthmann - get over it, and get over yourselves.

[hawkny]

We, in the United States, are so naive when it comes to public exposure of a celebrity's sex life, be it in or outside the banns of matrimony. For all we know, the ex-governor's spouse, may have known about and condoned his actions. It happens in marriages, especially, one's of long duration.
Yes, Spitzer got caught with a prostitute but that doesn't go far enough in telling his story. For one, why was the FBI tapping him, in the first place? For another, if he did commit a crime, why didn't the Justice Department move forward with an endictment? Mission accomplished? All things considered, one has to wonder, especially now, after the public has learned so much about the sleaziness on Wall Street that Mr. Spitzer tried to expose. Is there more to be learned here? I suspect so.