Don't Buy It: Inevitable Comparisons Between Spitzer and Obama

You know they're going to come, and lots of people are going to talk about it. The current governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, who ran on change, good ethics, and taking back Albany from the state GOP, is reportedly tied to a prostitution ring. It's early yet, and Gov. Spitzer has not yet explained his connection (though allegedly, we could refer to him as "Client 9"), but the image of an idealistic Democratic leader running on change and cleaning up after the incumbent is something the floundering Republican party will eat up like their favorite dessert then regurgitate right into New York attack ads.

Don't buy it.

Besides this most recent gigantic screw-up, Gov. Spitzer (for whom I, in full disclosure, cast a vote) has had all kinds of fun problems since taking office. (Though I felt that driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants was a good idea. Governor Bill Richardson explains.) To put it bluntly, he has not delivered on his promises of change.

Meanwhile, Sen. Barack Obama continues to spread the gospel of hope (and change). But Spitzer and Obama are very different politicians. Unlike Spitzer, who really stuck himself out there as a "f***ing steamroller," Obama is a much humbler figure who does not make such claims. He, unlike his Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton (coincidentally, of New York), will not even presume he is the candidate until he is actually the candidate. Bottom line: Obama and Spitzer are very different people.

But here are excerpts from Spitzer himself when he ran for governor (from TNR, via GregsOpinion.com):

One of the keys to solving the problems of New York is to make state government more responsive and accountable. Right now, New York government is all about partisanship and gridlock. We're not doing the things we need to do to generate good paying jobs, safe neighborhoods and excellent schools. The system is broken. The state is facing a crisis.

I want to fix what's broken. It's what I do best. I bring people together whether they like it or not and we tackle complex problems -- not with band-aid solutions, but with major reform and real change. We did it in the financial industry and other sectors and we can do it in government. I'll bring new energy and resolve to the task of transforming state government and turning around the state economy.

And Obama (from BarackObama.com):

I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours. (BarackObama.com homepage)

If I am the nominee of this party, I will not allow us to be distracted by the same politics that seeks to divide us with false charges and meaningless labels. In this campaign, we will not stand for the politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon. (San Antonion, TX, March 4, 2008)

These are the Americans who need real change -- the kind of change that's about more than switching the party in the White House. They need a change in our politics -- a leader who can end the division in Washington so we can stop talking about our challenges and start solving them; who doesn't defend lobbyists as part of the system, but sees them as part of the problem; who will carry your voices and your hopes into the White House every single day for the next four years. And that is the kind of President I want to be. (Janesville, WI, February 13, 2008)

You could easily say that this is simply what politicians say when they are campaigning against an incumbent with whom they disagree -- "I want to change what's there, so put me there instead." But even Obama said in the Janesville speech: "I realize that politicians come before you every election saying that they'll change all this. They lay out big plans and hold events with workers just like this one, because it's popular to do and it's easy to make promises in the heat of a campaign."

After all, Sen. John McCain said after winning the Republican primary in New Hampshire: "[W]e're going to send the same message we did [in 2000]: change is coming."

The point is, it's pointless to compare Spitzer and Obama by comparing their campaigns. They're politicians. They all have the same message: "The other choice sucks. Pick me instead. I'm totally awesome. You won't regret it." In Spitzer's case, we do. But if we assumed that all our politicians are going to ultimately let us down, why should we bother voting?

Comments

[Crowhaul]

Weirdly, the only one making any sort of comparison between Spitzer and Obama is the author. Aside from this, I haven't seen anyone drawing any sort of parallel between these two.

[harriscrl3]

Looks to me like he is Hilary's problem more than Obama and you can always argue that he was just a wolf in sheep's clothing now if he had endorsed Obama it would be a tool that they could use against him but since he didnt endorse Obama clearly Hilary's political views were more appealing to him.

carol

[davidly]

Just how many comparisons did you make that I'm not supposed to buy?

[sef2121]

OMG! The only one comparing Obama and Spitzer is you! All the others are seeing how they can drag HRC down because she and Spitzer are from the same state! You people make me kinda of nauseated-this has nothing to do with the primaries-it is an internal NY State and personal matter. Stop using Spitzer, and what I can only describe as a real shame (considering that fact that he did hold promise after wacky Pataki) for ALL democrats. It is amazing to me how Obama supporters will try and find anything to tear HRC down and prop him up. I guess he is too much of a wining, complaining amateur to do it himself.

[YellerDawg]

Too true.

[rudyinbama]

Relax, Jamie - there's no comparison.
Spitzer had a huge record of achievement.

[Sketchartist]

The thing not to " buy" is this stupid non-comparison that Jamie Frevele is so obviously trying to plant.

You're not fooling anyone, honey.

[PacificGatePost]

Obama... humility? Don't think so. It's not there, nor in Hillary, that we can tell. So whether or not there are parallels with Spitzer, the question is....

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/03/ethics-where-art-thou.html

Are there ethics to be found? Anywhere?

[kravitz]

Barack did not try to make life for others one way then live a different one for himself. Spitzer is all ambition and ego - like Clinton. He refulsed to listen to his advisors - like McCain and the lobbyist problem.

[Thad]

While I'm sure the Republicans are going to make plenty of hay of this, I really don't think divorcee McCain is going to go after Obama on family values. Especially given the likelihood that people will start remembering names like "Haggard", "Foley", and "Craig".

[kravitz]

Add the fact that McCain cheated on his wife with a woman cheating on her husband.

[XYZ]

I think there will be more comparisons against Mr Clinton than Obama.

[Justtellthetruth]

Are you just trying to deflect away from the OBVIOUS connection between spitzers gaffe and the possiblity of reliving more shame, scandal and humiliation if the first couple from Arkansas are ever allowed anywhere near the white house again? Let Spitzer AND the Clintons all humiliate and disappoint each other on their own time and leave the american public out of it.

GO OBAMA!!!!

[Timezoned]

Uhm, so are you trying to plant this idea??

Because I can't imagine anyone actually making the connection you bring up. Bring up by saying that, you know, no one should make it.

Actually Spitzer is a superdelegate for Hillary Clinton.

Not that there's any connection there either,

[boinx]

...as far as you know.

[vanessa04]

Are you people for real?

Karl Rove is TiVoing every minute.

[meese]

I was wondering the same thing. Jamie Frevele seems to be intent on planting that nasty idea without any basis. I see absolutely no connection between the New York Gov. and the presidential race AT ALL.

And if I was forced to find a connection, the only one is the one you point out - that Spitzer is a Clinton supporter and superdelegate.

This sounds like George Lakoff's famous book: "Don't think of an elephant". (Lakoff's point being, of course, that it's impossible not to think of an elephant once the idea is brought up.)

[coolrepublica]

This morning when I woke up to the news of Spitzer, my first thought was Obama is going to get journalist digging into him deeper than ever. I am actually surprised that I'm not alone in my opinion.

[LyricalLexicon]

Clinton's tactics aren't justified but I can see why she is doing it. When you have been dreaming about achieving something for years and you get so close to achieving that dream, it isn't easy to just give up and walk away when there is still a chance no matter how small. There is no next time for Hillary, this is her one and only chance to become President and she isn't going to just walk away from that. Unfortunately for her she ran the same year as Obama. Eventually reality will set in and she will realize her ultimate goal will never be fulfilled and for her that will be a depressing day indeed. I almost feel sorry for her, I can imagine it's not easy to deal with knowing that you failed to achieve your life's ambition.

[PKSSK]

This is a reminder of the Clinton scandals that drove the party and country into the gound. Ironically, Gov. Spitzer is a superdelegate and supporter of Clinton, which causes one to wonder how she will handle this situation. Very sad for the Spitzer family and the fact that a comedian, the author who is a Clinton supporter, would use this story to try and paint an advantage for her candidate in the manner that she has chosen. Clinton supporters are willing to do anything destructive to try get an adavantage for their candidate, even if it means using a man and his family who are suffering a family tragedy in the public eye.

[bgal]

Now this is where age definitely is an advantage. JFK was by far more of a womanizer and sex addict than Bill Clinton. But back in the day there were boundaries people understood and respected even in politics. There was no public hissing when Marilyn Monroe sang happy birthday. Obama supporters keen on disrespecting the Clintons are pandering to the worst impulses. Reading the Huffington blog, one can easily see how many people have few boundaries or are capable of respectful discourse. Honestly! show some judgment.