Is It Safe To Come Out Now...?
If I lived in New York, I'd be walking on eggshells right now, terrified that my new governor might just confess to something else.
When Elliot Spitzer went down in very pricey hooker-ignited flames 2 weeks ago, I don't mind saying it was nice to see this conservatively dressed African-American man ascend to the top job in the state.
The fact that David Patterson is legally blind made your want to root for the guy all more.
Then, came the bombshell. Patterson aknowledged publicly that not only had he once cheated on his wife, but they had cheated on each other.
Now there's something you don't hear every day. Oh, I'm sure it happens. You just don't hear about it, at least not on the evening news beginning with the words "The Governor says...". And this was especially sensitive considering the nature of outgoing governor Elliot Spitzer's freaky sexual missteps. I called my good buddy who lives in New York for some perspective, and he said New Yorkers greeted the news with a sense of ...Well, who doesn't have marital problems? I can see that. I felt the same way.
But then days later, in response to a reporter's question, Patterson admits he has tried marijuana and cocaine.
Now I'm thinking--Ya gotta be kiddin' me! I'm mean, by itself this is no more than Barack Obama has admitted to. But now its starting to add up. I'm wondering why the next question wasn't, "Okay governor, is there anything else we should know? Trips to Brazil? Baby mama drama? Hair Club For Men membership? Anything?"
Because I have to tell you, Governor Patterson, we don't know you all that well yet, but now we have way too much information.
You're a bit like that first date who looks really nice but just has to tell you about how she stalked her last boyfriend and is now in therapy; How her credit cards are all maxed out; and how she's really trying to deal with all this by being celibate until marriage.
Honesty is wonderful, healing thing. But I've finally learned at this late stage in life there is just some stuff I don't have to know. At least not today.
posted by Derek McGinty @ 12:47 PM
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I respect his honesty. I saw this tactic in the movie "8 Mile" that it looks like Gov. Patterson is trying. Eminem had to mic-battle a guy who Em knew would degrade him for being a White kid living in a trailer park, so Em degraded himself and trumped his opponent by stating as many "TMI" facts as possible. When it was all said and done, the opponent didn't have any material left to lyrically degrade Eminem, thus no material to properly mic-battle.
Now, while it worked for an underground Hip-Hop battle in a movie, in this day and age of political nonsense, anyone who doesn't want him in office has several new and exciting topics to use to get him out of office come election time.
I thought this was going to be about Kilpatrick. As I was reading I was waiting to see the name pop up. (last week's news though)
But yeah... Patterson and admitting to experimenting with drugs after we already learned about a few other things? I see that, it seems a bit much.
I can take a few skeletons in peoples closets, as long as they are ancient history. We (most of us) have all done things that would seem foolish to others. So long as you've made the mistakes and they are over and done?
It's while a person's in office that matters more to me.
Sanctimonious Spizter really got to me.
At first I was shocked and appalled when I heard the news and I wanted the Governor to shut his mouth. But, with so little details about his past drug use and extramarital affair(s), I was more surprised that the media was even focused on Gov. Paterson past problems at all. However, talking about Governor Paterson does take the focus off of the rising gas and food prices and the economy. So thank you Governor for that. I think the Governor’s position of telling the truth now and dealing with the pain is better than hiding and having the truth forced out later, only to have more facts and details revealed. I believe honesty is the best policy (unless the people receiving the honesty can’t handle the truth) and good character is important. I also believe our choices are slim to none when choosing a candidate/politician/leader with good character and honesty. Therefore, we are forced to pick the best from the worst, which makes Governor Paterson alright with me.
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