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The Politics of Gotcha!
By
Dr. Wilson Triviño
“If men were angels, no government would be
necessary,” stated James Madison in Federalist No. 51.
Yes, I agree we need to set an ethical standard for our
public servants and do believe that a majority of public servants
view their work as a calling for the public good.
However, I do have a problem when we place scrutiny on politicians
by using unrealistic moral measuring sticks. Politicians
are mortal and they are going to make moral mistakes. Unfortunately,
they live in an era of the politics of “gotcha”.
In the case of New York Governor Elliot Spitzer, I do commend
him for taking responsibility and facing his family and friends for
his sexual misgivings. However, it is troubling
that he was pushed out in forty eight hours from his public office
for seeking the private companionship of an adult woman in a private
setting. An example of our perverse fascination
with the private lives of public officials was when CNN’s Anderson
Cooper in a serious tone asked a former pimp, “Why do men go to
escorts?” I will give the blunt answer, sex. We
are sexual creatures as Woody Allen rhetorically asks, “Is sex
dirty? Only if it’s done right.” All
of us are a result of this dirty act.
Our history is full of allegedly sexually charged
politicians, Louisiana Governor Huey Long, President John F.
Kennedy, and New York’s own President Franklin Roosevelt.
Best of all one can’t forget President Clinton defending
“what is, is?” in the Monica scandal.
I do consider myself a moral person, but when dealing with
public figures, there should be a distinct difference between their
public and private lives.
In information that has been made public of Spitzergate,
there has not been any evidence of the Governor misusing public
funds, his office, or committing any high crimes and misdemeanors.
Spitzer should have stood up and fought these allegations,
which was more of a private embarrassment than public corruption.
This era of “gotcha” politics will produce a generation of
mediocrity in the public sector. The best and the
brightest forgo public service because they refuse to subject
themselves to the lense of the 24 hour tabloid media, politically
charged government surveillance, and low pay grade. Leaders
make mistakes, and it is the lessons learned from these mistakes
that makes them good leaders.
Governor Spitzer was on the rise of a very successful public
career and I don’t underestimate his ability to redeem himself.
Spitzer always fought for the “little guy” and corruption.
I just call on the reexamination of the way in which our
system destroys the lives of public figures by preying into their
private lives. As the good book states, “he
who is without sin cast the first stone”.
Political Scientist Dr. Wilson
Triviño resides in Marietta,
Georgia and is a
speaker and writer for ABC Vision. A consulting
firm that focuses on leadership, change, and innovation. He may be
reached at abcvision@gmail.com
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