The question has been repeatedly asked, and most probably by resigned New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer himself, why he was forced to resign, while men like Bill Clinton and Louisiana Sen. David Vitter were able to weather the storm. Afterall, each had similar sexual indiscretions.
The answer lies in the reservoir of good will a politician has built up, or in Spitzer's case, the lack thereof.
Bill Clinton, until erupting in Hillary;s campaign, was the aw shucks, good ol' boy from Arkansas. He always had the impish "boys will be boys" grin, and was well-known for his sexual pecadillos while Governor of Arkansas, what Hillary has always called Bimbo Eruptions. (You have to assume that Bill's quadruple heart backpass surgery has affected his libido. Why else hasn't there been strange comings and goings recorded by the press, from the mansion in Chapaqua, N.Y.?)
Similarly, Sen. Vitter was well-liked in Louisiana, a state with a much more tolerant, relaxed view of sexual dalliances, taught by a long line of Louisiana politicians, such as former Gov. Huey Long.
But Eliot Spitzer was entirely a different matter. As attorney general of New York, he was pushy, arrogant and entrapped Wall Street tycoons largely to build his political resume. He never hesitated to force the action, and push the envelope. Consequently, fellow pols respected him, feared him or merely tolerated him. This kind of a friendless, power-built position deserts fast, when the least little thing goes wrong. And Spitzer's transgressions were far from a little thing.
Too many people were thrilled to see Spitzer get what was coming to him. There was almost joyous dancing in the streets on Wall Street and the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, as the news of Spitzer's plight spread.
The ex-Governor learned the truth of the old saw "live by the sword, and you die by the sword."
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