A G K Y R A

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, as is now well known, has been visiting prostitutes. It wasn’t just a one-time mistake — in the federal wiretap investigation that brought all this to light, Spitzer talks about being behind in his payments to the prostitutes and wants to catch up and pay ahead, to have a credit on his account!

I am dismayed, but not surprised, at how many people I am hearing in man-on-the-street polls who say that it’s his private life and has nothing to do with his governing, so the media should just leave him alone. I guess when you have that kind of person voting, you get that kind of governor.

When he was inaugurated — just last year! — Spitzer took an oath to uphold the constitution of the State of New York (watch the short video below). That very constitution specifies his gubernatorial duties, chief of which is to “take care that the laws are faithfully executed” (article 4, section 3).

How can he be responsible to execute and enforce the laws when he, himself, personally, privately, knowingly, willfully, with full intent and a plan, breaks them?

We elect legislators to write and enact laws. What are we saying about the power of the executive if he can single-handedly thwart the will of our entire legislature with impunity?

How can he govern our state and enforce our laws when he goes to the District of Columbia, where Congress, no less, is the governor, and breaks their laws?

Our leaders should be our best people. If the rest of us let ourselves become like these “who cares?” types, they are bound to be our worst. If our leaders are to hold us accountable, we have to hold them accountable. If we don’t, then upholding the law becomes simply optional, a matter of personal preference according to our own convenience.

Governor Spitzer must resign. If he doesn’t, he must be impeached.

If you haven’t been to the website for Tim Keller’s new book, why don’t you take a look? Make sure your computer audio is turned up so you can hear.