The story has a familiar ring to it. A brash crusading attorney with a shiny reputation and an in-your-face attitude enters the public arena. Rises through the ranks to high office. Sets the standard for behavior by a public official. Is brought down in a sex scandal fueled by stupidity, arrogance, or both.
Such are the parallel career paths of former Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison and New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer today was named in a prostitution ring scandal of major proportions. According to reports of the story, Spitzer appears to have, on more than one occasion, arranged for services from a high end call girl service operating nationally. “Client 9”, as he is allegedly known, appears to have been a repeat customer.
Although the Spitzer scandal details are far juicier than those of our local subject, the similarities are interesting. Both men started as local prosecutors and rose through the ranks with their ‘take no prisoners’ approach. Spitzer made a name for himself as Attorney General, and used that office to springboard into the governors' mansion. Although Morrison was fresh into his term as Attorney General, he was considered an insiders choice to succeed Kathleen Sebelius. As a result of the allegations of his behavior Morrison resigned in disgrace. It is obvious that Spitzer will ultimately follow a similar path.
Morrison was not outwardly accused of doing anything illegal. He admitted to having a long term extramarital affair with a staff member who stayed on in the prosecutors office after he moved on to Topeka. Questions have been raised as to the extent he may have tried to use that relationship to learn about investigations and activities being undertaken by his successor, Phill Kline, but no evidence has ever been produced publicly to indicate such efforts were undertaken or were successful.
Spitzer, however, was exposed as a result of a law enforcement investigation. He has not been indicted at this point, but the investigation may not be complete. The girl in question supposedly traveled from New York City to Washington D.C., which if true brings federal laws into play.
Regardless of the laws which may have been fractured in each case, the two parallel matters seem to indicate we are at risk of developing a crisis of confidence in our elected officials the likes of which we haven’t seen since the 1970’s. British historian Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Are we vesting too much power in officials today? What must we as a people do to take back our representative government and assure that the keepers of our trust provide moral and civil leadership?
-JNN
