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Early Admission
By John W. Kennedy | March 19, 2008
Less than 24 hours after being sworn in as New York governor to replace a governor disgraced in a federal prostitution investigation, the Empire State’s new chief executive has admitted to previously being involved in adultery with “a number of women.”
David A. Paterson’s revelation Tuesday at a news conference seemed eerily reminiscent of outgoing Gov. Eliot Spitzer a week earlier. With an attractive, dazed-looking wife at his side, Paterson announced that he had affairs with several women from 1999-2001
while serving as a state senator. He said that learning his wife Michelle Paige Paterson had been unfaithful caused his original adulterous behavior.
Paterson took the initiative to confess the transgression in an effort to avoid the mess that ended Spitzer’s political career. He knew making a pre-emptive announcement now will prevent a media circus later. Unlike the vague non-explanation originally offered by Spitzer, Paterson used the word infidelity.
However, as politicians are wont to do, Paterson did a lot of spinning. “I haven’t broken any laws,” Paterson said. “I don’t think I’ve violated my oath of office. I saw this as a private matter.”
Of course sexual sin is never a “private matter” because it has the potential to shatter families. And when a politician repeatedly breaks his wedding vows it leads one to wonder if he can be trusted with keeping the public’s interest in mind.
Fortunately, Paterson said he and his wife of 15 years have received counseling and they remain very much in love. As he faces pressures in his new job I hope he remembers pledges of faithfulness are for more than a season.
Topics: adultery |