Good Lieutenant

Tuesday, 03.18.08

Chris Hondros/Getty Images

David Paterson, the new governor of New York, has acknowledged taking part in a number of extramarital affairs.

During a memorable 1976 Playboy interview, then-presidential candidate Jimmy Carter confessed to having "looked on a lot of women with lust." For Carter, a born-again Christian, merely looking on a woman with lust constituted adultery. But he also added that he was unwilling to condemn homewrecking philanderers, as it would be un-Christlike to, in Carter's colorful words, "consider yourself better than someone else because one guy screws a whole bunch of women while the other guy is loyal to his wife."

So it's safe to say that David Paterson, Eliot Spitzer's successor, can count on Jimmy Carter's continued support. Yes, Paterson tells us, he has screwed a whole bunch of women. (Paterson's wife also pursued a little sexual healing on the side during a particularly rocky time in their marriage.) But at least he's upfront about it. And after Spitzer's tawdry adventures as Client 9, New Yorkers can at least be grateful that no money changed hands.

More than that, New Yorkers can be grateful that Paterson seems instinctively honest, a marked contrast to Spitzer, who lied about just about everything as a matter of course. Perhaps we didn't need to know that Paterson's assignations took place at a Days Inn on Manhattan's West Side. He told us all the same. What will Paterson tell us next: that he cheats at Tetris? That his favorite musical group is Toto? That he once stole a candy bar from a small child? I can't say, but I'm very eager to find out.

Unfortunately, this compulsive truth-telling is all but incompatible with winning high office in a free and open election. Which is why free and fair elections aren't always all they're cracked up to be. Notice how popular America's unelected governors have been in recent years. Connecticut's Jodi Rell replaced the disgraced John Rowland in 2004, and now her name is floated as a vice presidential candidate. Jim McGreevey's short-lived successor as governor of New Jersey, Richard Codey, could easily have won reelection. The same goes for Pennsylvania's Mark Schweiker, who took office after Tom Ridge stepped down to join the Bush cabinet. None started out as terribly ambitious people. All were praised for refreshing honesty. Is that a coincidence?

— Reihan Salam

Who is he?

Michael Hill introduces readers to New York's new governor.

Honeymoon over

The New York Post is already criticizing Paterson for legislation he sponsored in 2006.

A quick wit

In his first public appearance, David Paterson told reporters that lobbyists are the only whores he's dealt with, New York Magazine reports.

The anti-Spitzer?

Alex Altman says Paterson is his predecessor's "diametric opposite."

Will he live forever?

Life Extension Magazine profiled Paterson back in 2006, when few had heard of the then state senator -- he apparently runs marathons and takes dietary supplements.

Filed Under: election, New York

(2)

Shut the hell about Toto, man.

I blessed the rains down in Africa, too.

Posted by W | March 18, 2008 10:58 PM

Lee Kuan Yew = best link ever. Democracy's for losers. What part of the word "benevolent" do the haters not understand?

Posted by Peter | March 19, 2008 1:38 AM

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)

By using this Service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although The Current does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.

-->