A SPITZER IS A SPITZER IS A SPITZER
All who are interested in teasing out the motivations of the cast of characters central to the Spitzer affair should instantaneously rent the movie Roshomon.
Roshomon is the seemingly simple story of a Japanese bride groom seen guiding a horse with his new bride upon it walking through high grass presumably going to their honeymoon destination. Suddenly a bad man jumps up, ties the bridegroom up, and rapes the wife. Additionally there is a man having a picnic my himself who watches this horrible scene unfold.
The movie proceeds to show four differents versions of the same story. And implied is a fifth interpretation - that of the movie goer.
So what is the real reality in the Spitzer story?
I contend that what appears to be an open and shut story at first glance is actually an exceedingly complex plot.
It is easy pickings to condemn the almost ex governor for his indiscretions, hubris, hypocrisy, and apparent betrayal of his wife and children and voters of New York.
It is also easy to judge his wife as the 'poor victim' of her selfish, immature, husband.
Furthermore - the low class 'oldest profession in the world' becomes once again the object of derision particularly for presumably exploiting naive and victimized women who have sunk to the lowest of low.
And the media shines for having exposed this whole sordid mess.
The above is the first view. But dig only a little bit and more complicated perspectives stir a head scratching response.
Among these additional perspectives are the following observations.
If, as reported, Spitzer has been doing this for at least 6 years, and perhaps up to ten, you don't really believe that his wife doesn't know what has been happening. I think it a bit presumptuous to make definitive judgements about complex issues we know virtually nothing about. This strikes me as similar to be experts on dream interpretations before we have asked the dreamer about his or her associations.
I am of the belief that people pick their own level of mental health. It is perhaps luck (good or bad) that two strangers meet. It is no luck that they agree to go out. And it is certainly no mystery that they continue to go out, become intimate, get engaged, marry and exprerience the inevtiable vicissitudes that long terms intimate relationships inevitably turn into.
We also know that behavior is multiply determined.
We also know that separating - both conscious and unconscious - once involved is a thorny and trick issue at best.
Additionally how do you know these people do not have an arrangement?
How do you know that his eife does not have her own extra curricular activities?
If this was in Europe it would be a non issue.
Also in this particular case his wife, a Harvard Law school graduate and an ex corporate lawyer, is reported to have wanted him to try to weather the storm. In this light she apparently knew exactly what she was doing and why she was doing it.
STORIES LIKE THIS BEST VIEWED AS AN ADDITIONAL RORSCHACH CARD
Still another way to read this 'scandal' is that all was going fine enough for all concerned for 6 to 10 years which seems to me to be a remarkable fact in and of itself. This means to me that there probably has been as 'arrangement' between himself and his wife. I would also imagine the one condition placed on him was don't get caught or you will victimize the children. And if this is right then it worked ok until now. Usher in complicating factors.
Besides his apparent 'reaction formation' not unlike many preachers who have given into the very 'sins' they preach against and fallen in doing so - Spitzer, is too many people a very obnoxious and intolerant personality. Many hated his guts actively hoping that he would get his.
Then there are the obnoxious opposition whose feet he stepped on. Can it truly be a coincidence that with only one more - just one more - democrat needed to turn power over to the democrats in New York State goverment - the governor's 6 to ten year jig is exposed?
MY CONCLUSION:
I am not condoning any of this - but as usual in this Roshomon slice of real complex life - to sort it out is, I believe, no simple matter.
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Comments: 15
Also not condoning what has transpired. You don't run as a "reformer" and a "law and order" kind of politician while you are yourself a long-time law breaker. Eventually it will catch up with you, probably when you least expect (or WANT) it to.
Ellen - there is an interesting mechanism of defense called reaction formation which might possibly be happening here. Life, as you know is difficult for most human beings. We try to be solid citizens but as Freud and others have so prusuasively pointed out there is inevitable conflict between our basic impulses (mainly sex and aggression) referred to as the Id. and the cultural morals at any one time (super ego).
When the impulses threaten to overwhelm what we think is right it presents a conflict to the self who wishes to be able to have ones cake and eat it.
One way to split experience is through a mental trick called cognitive dissonance. This is a process whereby a person can uphold a very hight principle let's say fedelity on the one hand; and have an affair on the other and somehow rationalize that the two seemingly mutually exclusive principles can coexist without experiencing psychological conflict. Perhaps the best conclusion to all of this is that it is very difficult to be a consistently together person.
I think his problem is that he is a really bubbly guy.
DB 10