From There to Here

Oh, it’s a horrible pun, and I realize his name is spelled Paterson, but eff you.

David Paterson hasn’t done anything illegal. But after the Governor who is leaving was embroiled in a sex scandal with prostitutes, you probably want that first speech to be something about bringing morality back to the Governor’s office or removing any appearance of wrongdoing from the state’s highest elected office.

Wrong.

Oy, here we go again? The new governor, David Paterson, and his wife admitted to extramarital affairs, hours after to being sworn in. For what they’re worth, these are rumors we heard about hours after it was clear he was going to be governor. The New York Daily News: “In a stunning revelation, both Paterson, 53, and his wife, Michelle, 46, acknowledged in a joint interview they each had intimate relationships with others during a rocky period in their marriage several years ago.”

“In the course of several interviews in the past few days, Paterson said he maintained a relationship for two or three years with ‘a woman other than my wife,’ beginning in 1999. As part of that relationship, Paterson said, he and the other woman sometimes stayed at an upper West Side hotel — the Days Inn at Broadway and W. 94th St. He said members of his Albany legislative staff often used the same hotel when they visit the city.”

One guy leaves, the next guy comes in, and they dig up dirt on him before he’s even sworn in? Come on NYers, you’re not making it easy on yourselves. In Paterson’s defense — yes, defense — he and his wife both had extramarital affairs. It’s clear their marriage wasn’t working, and they wanted to try other things. But they both came back to each other and made it work.

Is it admirable that they worked it out? Absolutely. With half of all marriages ending in divorce, seeing two people dedicated to each other enough to work through the hard times and just not call it quits is something to be applauded. But does it restore honest, integrity, etc. to the Governor’s office? You really couldn’t fall any further, Dave, and I’m giving you a pass this time, but it’s time to raise your game.