THE QUESTION

Spitzer and Morality

What does the Eliot Spitzer scandal say about our public and private morality? Should he have resigned?

Posted by Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on March 14, 2008 5:20 AM
FROM THE PANEL

Humiliation, the Flipside of Arrogance

May Spitzer use his humiliation wisely, to make a new start by the grace of God. As for his world-class hypocrisy it was a pitiful effort at pseudo-atonement, as if one could be forgiven by being especially hard on sinners of one’s own kind.

Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on March 16, 2008 9:42 PM

Spitzer Scandal About Crime, Not Sex

Many in the media have accused the Catholic Church of being obsessed with sex, but the media frenzy surrounding the Spitzer scandal makes one wonder who is really obsessed.

Posted by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., on March 16, 2008 8:02 PM

Character and Leadership

The case of Eliot Spitzer reminds us all that the public does have a sense that personal morality is tied to public leadership -- indeed that private morality and public morality cannot be on two completely different tracks.

Posted by R. Albert Mohler Jr., on March 15, 2008 4:16 AM

Morality Cannot Be Divided

Christians do not believe that we can separate public and private morality. A man who will cheat on his wife will cheat on the taxpayers.

Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on March 14, 2008 12:50 PM

Spitzer Symptomatic of Culture's Affliction

If we’re going to pay so much attention to one man’s illicit sexual behavior, let’s look at our society’s encouragement of deviant practices by how women’s bodies are exploited, commodified and objectified in film, music and the marketing industry.

Posted by Hadia Mubarak, on March 14, 2008 8:20 AM

Sex in Glass Bedrooms

Each of us lives within the danger zone of the shadow, and until we learn how to bring its secrets to light and redeem our own suppressed violence and shame, Eliot Spitzer won't be the only one who pays the price.

Posted by Deepak Chopra, on March 14, 2008 8:00 AM

Spitzer's Woes: An Ancient Tale in a Modern World

The question implies that this case might reveal something about the state of the present culture in contrast to that in other times. Optimists and moral progressives have little to cheer: we are not rising to new moral heights.

Posted by Martin Marty, on March 14, 2008 7:33 AM

What Else Was in Spitzer's Hotel Room

Spitzer should have reached out for the Gideon Bible in the hotel room drawer instead of reaching out for prostitutes.

Posted by Cal Thomas, on March 14, 2008 6:06 AM

Spitzer's Compulsive Behavior and Ours

My first observation about the Eliot Spitzer affair is that compulsive sexual activity is a human disease like compulsive gambling or compulsive drinking. It should be treated psychologically, but human beings seem to enjoy making moral judgments.

Posted by John Shelby Spong, on March 13, 2008 7:22 PM

Spitzer Case About Public and Private Trust

If someone deceives their spouse, chances are they won't have much compunction about deceiving the public.

Posted by Nicholas T. Wright, on March 13, 2008 11:13 AM

FEATURED COMMENTS

Dave: Private matters should be exactly that, private. Life under the microscope of public scrutiny is fraught with personal sphere invasion issue...

Hunt: It is my understanding that Mr. Spitzer has done a lot of good for NY. He may be a hypocrite but so are Vitter and Craig. I'm sure there a...

garyd: Mr. Spitzer chose to lie to his wife, cheat on her, and put her health as well as his own at risk. Not only that but he went about it in a f...

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