Legal News

Sincere-o-meter: How Do You Rate Spitzer?s Speech?

By Jamie Heller

Political speeches get dissected by historians for years to come. Among the questions — sincere, or not? At the Law Blog, we’ve been mulling Mr. Spitzer’s words this morning for some insight on that question.

Here’s part of what he said, indicating that his decision came from the heart:

“… I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people’s work. Over the course of my public life I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason I am resigning from the office of governor.”

Yet the news that has emerged could offer a less-generous interpretation. Today, the New York Times reported that even Tuesday Mr. Spitzer’s aides were trying to gauge whether he could survive politically.

In one of the last and desperate rounds of the end game, a top Spitzer administration official reached out to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s staff on Tuesday to see if the governor could avoid an impeachment vote. But the prospects were grim.

The juxtaposition struck us — was the impetus for Spitzer’s resignation an inner call to take responsibility for his conduct, as he suggested? Or was it a strategic move meant to avoid impeachment? Or both?

LB Readers: What’s your take on Spitzer’s speech? (linkable from here).

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on March 12, 2008 (boomark / email).