Another tumbles from grace: Governor Paterson admits to “exercising poor judgement”. A bad quality in a Governor
I suppose there was a time when there was some sort of useful distinction between public and private decision making. Assuming that time ever existed, it’s long gone now. The subject of what goes on behind closed doors is a one-part prurient interest and one-part toxic waste when it comes to our public figures. With that said, add another load has now been added to a public psyche that has to be over-limit right about now.
The day after he was sworn in to replace a governor who left office in disgrace because of a prostitution scandal, Gov. David A. Paterson admitted that he had had relationships with women other than his wife, including one who is on the state payroll.
Mr. Paterson made the disclosure at a news conference at the State Capitol, accompanied by his wife, Michelle, who held his hand as they entered the Red Room.
By way of explanation, Governor (for now) Paterson had this to say . . .
“I betrayed a commitment to my wife several years ago,” Mr. Paterson said with his wife at his side. “And I do not feel I’ve betrayed my commitment to the citizens of New York State. I haven’t broken any laws. I don’t think I’ve violated my oath of office. I saw this as a private matter. But both of us committed acts of infidelity.”
He said he and his wife had been on a course toward divorce but had been able “to patch things up” with the help of counseling. “We’re very much in love with each other now,” the governor said. “I was in love with Michelle even when I knew the marriage was in grave danger.”
He added: “The fact is for my own action, I was angry, I was jealous and I exercised poor judgment. One day I realized it and I just decided I would go to counseling.”
I suppose in fairness to Governor Patterson, he didn’t ask for this job. As more and more people in power tumble from grace, you have to wonder if we need to reset what we value in a public figure in the age-of-no-secrets, or do we need to do a better job in our search for an “honest man.”
Tags: DavdPaterson, Governor Paterson, Affair, Betrayal, New York, Decision Making, Decision Quality
