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SPIN CYCLE:This latest Albany shocker might not cost a career

Dan Janison | dan.janison@newsday.com

March 18, 2008

ALBANY

The rumors about Gov. David Paterson's marital troubles have been around for years. He was in the state Legislature where everyone interacts, everyone talks, and word spreads. Names of a female friend, word that he was staying in a separate residence from his wife, Michelle, and other unconfirmed scuttlebutt suddenly turned the spotlight on the private life of the Democrat who had become the top guy.

All of it is their personal business, and what happens between two adults without commission of any crime should, in theory, be nothing but their business. But for Paterson, the Democrat from Harlem, sworn in here as governor yesterday under bizarre circumstances, it's a perfect storm of intrigue.

He has moved into the fishbowl reserved for the top guy. But the twist is that the man from whom he inherited the job, friend and running mate Eliot Spitzer, was out the door just last week because he was paying for hookers, which is illegal.

Under those circumstances, someone asked at Paterson's press conference last week if he'd solicited a prostitute. He paused. "Only lobbyists," he said, a great laugh line.

Now, with private matters in the spotlight, he and his wife Michelle have seen fit to have to tell some of their troubles, and how their relationship had its separation period, and how they sought and benefited from counseling. A friend contacted yesterday seemed stricken that the story was going to break, and had no comment.

Questions will be asked about whether campaign funds were once used to support hotel trysts, as such questions are asked about Spitzer. Even if that occurred, and Paterson denies it did, this is unlikely to topple his accidental governorship. When America becomes a theocracy, we can hypocritically start throwing people out on a routine basis for minor vices.

But there seems to be no movement of money traced by the feds, no participation in an activity that the governor cracked down on, no deceit about public image as you had with the real estate developer's son who just went out the door.

Clearly confident that this is his own problem, Paterson ventured to say during his widely cheered speech that he and his wife have had a different kind of marriage - which got the few hundred people in the room who have heard the rumors to gasp and chuckle and "ooh" a little.

Another Albany regular who like everyone else knew the troubles predicted several days ago that at some point Paterson would need to address the matter.

So add Paterson to the list of names of public officials who have walked this route: Bill Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, FDR, JFK, Thomas Jefferson, etc. Oh, and there was the unsubstantiated slap at John McCain.

As long as he keeps his sense of humor and sense of who he is, and keeps things on the level, Paterson might come through just fine. We don't elect these guys, even indirectly, to be Father of the Year. This is a republic, and they are elected to represent us in an official capacity.

It is only when they abuse public resources and fail in their official obligations that they have crossed the line, and ought to either resign or be replaced at the polls. If that occurs, it will probably come out.

Remember: Ulysses Grant was a drunk but a great general. James Buchanan was a lifelong bachelor, so he never cheated on his wife - and history proved him to be a terrible president. If you don't believe me, look it up