What about Eliot Spitzer?

Eliot Spitzer 2006

Like many others I have been following the developments around Eliot Spitzer and his cases. And I too share a fascination with his mission or as some call it crusade. There has been much said about his motives and reasons for picking high profile cases. It was, we hard, driven by aspirations for a higher office - Governor of New York state. In this cynical and materialistic world I actually had the same expression when I first read about Spitzer, without even hearing the skepticism of others. I thought he must be going for something bigger; why else would he pick these big fights. At the same time I could not help but respect what he was doing and secretly hope that there are no ulterior motives. However very soon I realized that it doesn't even matter. Case is a case, and regardless of his next career he would have the impact now. I also saw him being serious at whatever he starts and not merely generate big headlines and forget about the case itself afterward. In any case, my admiration grew even stronger as soon as heard him giving a short speech. It was hard not like him and not appreciate his message. Not only he proved to be on the right side of the issues with a great message, but he seems to do great job communicating it. It was quite interesting to watch his profile on PBS's NOW with Bill Moyers, where he was presented as the champion of progressive issues. The link above is dedicated to his "unspecified" 2006 campaign, although it is widely expected that he will be running for NY governorship (especially after Sen. Schumer announced that he will not be seeking that office). We should all wish him all the luck and hope for his victory. Interestingly enough some started comparing the beginning of his campaign to that if Howard Dean. That might be true, in which case he should pace himself... In any case I believe many would agree that Eliot Spitzer is exactly who can help the Democrats, and is unquestionably great asset for the progressives. And most importantly - he gets it:

With our values and policies, Democrats have been on the right track for a long time. We champion the ideals held most dear by working families, but we simply didn't articulate campaign issues in the context of those ideals. Instead, we let the Republicans employ wedge issues like gay marriage that diverted attention from their failed domestic policies.

We can't repeat these mistakes in 2008. Starting today, our party must focus on all the difficulties that working people face--from financial scams to job security to health insurance, from day care for our kids to nursing homes for our parents, from the price of gas to the increasing cost of college tuition, from the safety and security of our neighborhoods to the health of the environment. We must address these issues not as antiseptic policy points but as elements of a living mosaic that, together, form a society that rewards hard work and integrity. Our policies and plans will gain traction with the public when we frame them as a reflection of the core values we believe in.