Yes that would be Eliott Spitzer, former New York governor, who resigned from office after it was disclosed that he hired prostitutes, regularly. His new assignment is as a guest lecturer at Harvard University’s Center for Ethics. While redemption awaits us all (we hope)  and this culture certainly forgives the fallen pretty quickly, the choice of Spitzer as a “Center for Ethics” guest speaker just eviscerates the heck out of the meaning of ethics and more importantly, ethical leadership.

It’s an ironic and simply stunning choice. Not that much time has passed since it was disclosed that federal agents, alerted to financial transactions in Spitzer’s account that were large enough to trigger review, stumbled across his taste for “escorts”, a euphemism of course for prostitutes. At the 2008 press conference where he resigned the governorship, Spitzer discreetly termed the matter “my personal failings”. More accurately, it’s called “breaking the law.” And it’s worth noting that he did it repeatedly, probably even while holding others accountable to the law as state’s attorney general. Since that time, he has made no further statement or apology and has gradually reemerged into daylight commenting on the sins of the financial industry. Harvard’s response to the question of why him?  Oh, he isn’t talking about personal ethics, just about institutional corruption. That said as if institutions were robotic organizations totally devoid of human beings. I guess we can just fix the organizations by passing more regulations and not worry about the character of those who lead them.   

Again, everyone deserves the opportunity for a second chance. But public office is a public trust and for those whose conduct has disgraced that office, it would be good to at least see some true contrition and evidence that they understand the damage that they have caused. Spitzer lecturing about corruption? What’s next? Pete Rose coaching little leaguers on the fundamentals of the game?