A (Too) Public Tragedy

Over the past week I've watched the scandal over New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer's hiring of an expensive call girl unfold over the media. Various network and cable news outlets have aired the two press conferences of Spitzer, dragging his wife Silda Wall Spitzer with him, first apologizing for his actions (which he did not detail, probably on his lawyer's advice), then announcing his resignation from the office he assumed in January 2007.

Then The New York Times revealed the name of the 22-year-old woman with whom Spitzer was involved -- Ashley Alexandra Dupré, an aspiring singer. Two days later, she was besieged with offers from Penthouse and Hustler magazines to pose nude.

Spitzer has been the butt (Definitely no pun intended) of jokes on the late night talk shows and will be parodied tonight on Saturday Night Live. The tabloid newspapers and television shows have referred to the outgoing governor as "The Love Gov" and detailed the lurid scandal incessantly.

What the media and "entertainers" seem to forget is that this is a tragedy, albeit a too public one. Because of Spitzer's actions, the crusading attorney general known as the "Sheriff of Wall Street" for his pursuit of corporate corruption, his career is ruined, his marriage is in jeopardy, and his three teenage daughters are probably enduring embarrassment and ridicule in a period of their lives when they should be spared such things.

Yes, I realize the freedom of speech is guaranteed under our nation's First Amendment. I've heard the repeated adage "Sex sells." But I ask the media for restraint at this time. Granted, what Spitzer did was thoughtless and destructive to himself, his family, and New York state. However, the media should also consider his wife and daughters. They didn't ask for this. I'm sure Silda Wall Spitzer didn't ask to be trotted out to play the role of the loving and supporting wife and scrutinized by the media for "standing by her man." Although she and her daughters became (somewhat) public figures when Spitzer ran for public office, they didn't visit the "Emperor's Club V.I.P." They trusted a husband a father to do the right thing. They are innocent victims in all this.

Having said that, I will turn off the TV if I see any coverage, any jokes, any parodies involving the outgoing governor and his call girl, who, from what I've heard from news reports, is stressed out by the media wolf pack. Instead, I will pray that the Spitzer family (yes, even the governor) gets through this trying, hellish time. Peace.

Writing Diva