Spitzer’s Fall, Paterson’s Rise

As Eliot Spitzer steps down as New York governor, he is creating a huge opportunity for David Paterson - the son of a legendary New York politician whoÂ had become New York’s first black secretary of stateÂ who blazed trails back in the ’60s and ’70s.

True, no one likes to see anyway go down as stupidly as Spitzer found frequenting a high-price prostitution ring called the Emperor’s Club.Â Welcome to America , Mr. Spitzer, where sex and politics go hand in hand – as long as you don’t get caught.Â But when you do, you fall quickly. But likeÂ Bill Clinton, Spitzer is likely to rise again.Â Wonder how big his book contract will be? Who will play him in the TV miniseries?

David Paterson, 53,Â is already seen as a bridge builder and straight shooter who will aptly lead the helm of a diverse state.Â As the state’s first-ever Black governor, he will be embraced by default, but oddly enough probably would have had a huge challenge to win the state’s top spot outright.Â Ask former Mayor David Dinkins about the politics of race in New York. Better yet, ask Paterson’s dad, Basil, who is a true Harlem icon – along with Dinkins, Percy Sutton and Cong. Charlie Rangel.

What adds to the irony is that Paterson is a supporter of presidential hopeful Barack Obama; Spitzer was a huge supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton.Â Clearly, he’ll add to the already tense Obama-Clinton ‘relationship’ as the battle for the Democratic nomination goes down to the wire.Â Â

The fact is Paterson’s hands will be full, and presidential politics is likely to have little impact on how well he does in his first 100 days – as New York and America watchesÂ - and critiques -Â his everyÂ move.

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Spitzer’s Fall, Paterson’s Rise

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