The Schadenfreude of Spitzer

spitzer.jpg

For you non- German speakers out there, Schadenfreude (sha-den-froy-duh) means to take pleasure in the pain of others. There’s been quite a lot of schadenfreude going about this week.

From the BBC to Reuters, the LA Times to the Washington Post, each media outlet has their own particular barb to throw at the Anti-Corruption Superhero turned Pervy-Scumbag Eliot Spitzer.

After I wrote my first article in which I too indulged in the name-calling and mud-slinging, I began to wonder: Why? Why are we all so happy to “Get” this guy?

He’s the guy you love to hate and hate to love

During his political career, first as NY Attorney General (1999-2006) and then as Govenor (2007- March 14, 2008), Spitzer became well known as the guy who said it like he saw it… and then some.

Despite this however, in a state known for its’ heavily corrupt political machines and in the post-Enron environment, many saw Spitzer as a real life crime-fighting hero. Read More »