The Flaws of Leaders

I'm a leader, and I'm flawed. Not Bill-Clinton flawed, not Elliot-Spitzer flawed, but flawed nonetheless. Everyone under the sun is. People are flawed.

But both Spitzer and Clinton are incredibly intelligent. Is their flaw temporary insanity? No. Momentary stupidity? No. I don't think it's momentary. They rationalized, I'm guessing. They live in rare air, and believe they have the power to hide their choices. And to make choices that are wrong for everyone, including themselves and their victims. When I say victim, I'm including the prostitute, despite the choices she made to get herself there.

So tonight I wondered how the candidates would react. I think Bill Clinton should disappear for a few days. And Hillary should strongly rebuke Spitzer and urge him to resign. Bil lwas a hypocrite in his marriage, and that had nothing to do with the public trust. Spitzer, though, prosecuted prostitution operations, and is a professional hypocrite who got elected on the basis of his aggressive prosecutions of all kinds. Spitzer should resign.

Obama needs to call for Spitzer's resignation. He needs to politicize it now, to say he rejects and denounces this kind of violation of the public trust, because if he says nothing, it will come back in the general election--"Democrats say nothing about moral lapse of leading Governor". Sad, but both candidates need to step forward.

Of the three candidates, McCain had the best, most respectful soundbite:

John McCain: “I was just watching, as all of you have, this information about the governor of New York. I don’t know what to make of it.’’ Later, he said that it was something that “nobody ever expected” and added, “our prayers go out to his family.’’