Truth will set Gov free

[eyeongovt]

Truth will set the gov free
Public testimony first, then back to business

He's happy to talk about his love for NASCAR, he'll tell you what horse he
bet on at Saratoga and he gets excited about national health policies. The
one thing Eliot Spitzer will not talk about, however, is the dirty tricks
plot that has ruined his reputation and hobbled his administration. Until
he clears the air, nothing else matters.

For nearly a month, Spitzer has been a busy bee around the state, but has
said nothing new about the dirty tricks plot run out of his office. Any
reporter who brings up the topic gets the bum's rush, as illustrated by a
Manhattan exchange two weeks ago. Asked about the scandal, Spitzer said he was "simply not saying anything more on that stuff," adding: "I've spoken
and answered every question and been totally forthright, so now we're
going back to governing the state."

Two problems there. First, the governor hasn't answered every question or
provided any evidence to back up his incredible assertion that he had no
knowledge of the plot to use the state police for a political smear job.
Second, he has not been honest on the questions he has answered. For
example, he said he had "cooperated fully" with investigators, but, in
truth, Spitzer's office barred two top aides from being questioned by the
attorney general and withheld relevant e-mails.

That one of those aides is now back on the public payroll after a
month-long suspension adds to the outrage, with Republicans charging that
taxpayer dollars are being used as hush money. Absent a complete
explanation from the governor, I agree.

It is an extraordinary situation, unprecedented in modern times. The
governor of New York is under an enormous cloud of suspicion, with most
voters telling pollsters they believe he is not telling the truth. He is
the butt of ridicule and his top team has been forced to hire criminal
defense lawyers, yet he will not take any actions to prove he did nothing
wrong.

He doesn't even complain about the accusations. The old Eliot Spitzer who
berated reporters who dared suggest he was less than infallible has been
replaced by an elusive cipher who won't rise to defend his own integrity.

Instead, he asks rich friends to talk to The New York Times on his behalf,
and he's asked other Democrats to write Op-Eds attacking the Republicans
as though he's the victim. But all the money in the world can't restore
the trust he has forfeited. Without that trust, he cannot govern, yet he
does nothing to earn it back.

There is only one clear path forward. In Syracuse on July 31, Spitzer,
asked by the Daily News ifhe'd volunteer sworn testimony to the state
Ethics Commission, responded, "I'm happy to, I'm going to, look forward to
it; if they call me, I'd love to. If they don't, I'dlove to send them my
statements because this is going to be clarified."

We're still waiting. Although the ethics panel has started an
investigation and issued subpoenas, Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson
told me yesterday the governor has not been called to testify and doesn't
have a lawyer. But there is nothing that requires him to wait for an
invitation.

The governor should volunteer his testimony now and waive any
confidentiality issues. There is no law that prevents Spitzer from making
public his testimony and any evidence he provides. He should also demand
his aides do the same thing.

That's the only way Spitzer can get back to being governor. Until then,
he's just the Albany dodger.

[Allgirl4BD]

Like your post. There aren't enough people willing to step forward with truth. Many step forward with convictions but not enough with truth.