My god. If I have to write another early morning blog post about a politician's sex life, I'm just going to have to stay in all day and shower. Now New York's new governor, David Paterson, has admitted to an extramarital affair that ended in 2001. His wife, Michelle, also says she cheated.
Talk about putting a damper on what should have been a happy occasion! It was less than 24 hours ago that I choked up reading Patterson's inaugural speech, truly inspired by all the challenges he has overcome as a person with a severe disability. The Daily News, which broke the affair story, seems to be implying in a side bar that it's possible Paterson used state money to pay for trysts with his former lover at the Quality Inn on West 94th Street in Manhattan. So far, there's no proof of that. It seems that Paterson used the motel for multiple occasions, from housing his Albany staff on visits to the city, to meeting with his girlfriend, to rekindling his marriage with Michelle once they entered couple's therapy after the affair.
I know, I know. Way too much information. Can we get back to governing now? Indeed, the political fall out from this revelation shouldn't be huge -- unless it comes out that Paterson did use state funds to pay for improper hotel stays. As far as we know, Paterson didn't break the law or engage in anything particularly shocking. Let's hope that's the case, because next in line for the New York governor's mansion is Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, who is just about the most unlikely person in the State of New York to reform Albany.
--Dana Goldstein
