Intelligencer

Spitzer's Downfall

THE downfall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer comes just weeks before a major Irish fundraiser was being planned for him.

Spitzer aides had first approached the Irish community after Spitzer had come out in favor of driver's licenses for undocumented, a clear winning issue among many Irish Americans.

The response was very good initially, but then Spitzer was forced to backtrack quickly as public sentiment proved to be very strongly against licenses for the undocumented.

However, in recent weeks the Spitzer aides had again begun reaching out to Irish Americans. Indeed, Spitzer himself had made personal phone calls to leading Irish Americans looking for their support.

A fundraiser was set for the end of March in Manhattan, but it appears quite unlikely that it will take place now.

Certainly major supporters of Spitzer will be rushing to distance themselves from the governor after the sordid revelations about the prostitution case.

Spitzer has attended just a few Irish events since becoming governor. Most notably he was the guest of honor at a US-Ireland Alliance event in New York hosted by Quinlan Private in April 2007.

Quinlan Private founder Derek Quinlan, one of the major players in the Irish building boom welcomed Spitzer and Senator Joe Biden who also attended the event. Also present was Senator George Mitchell.

Spitzer's main Irish aide has been Marty Mack, a hard working lawyer. Mack is currently a deputy state attorney general and has been a constant by Spitzer's side in recent years. He is very popular in Irish circles.

Spitzer Hated By Some

A LEADING Irish figure on Wall Street who was once a target of a Spitzer investigation left no doubt how he was feeling when the Spitzer story broke.

"Couldn't happen to a nicer guy," said the businessman, who understandably wishes to remain anonymous. He spent $750,000 clearing his firm's name, and no charges were ever filed.

He says his firm went through hell trying to fight the unsubstantiated charges. "I think he was the embodiment of a politician who was ready to do anything, hang anyone for the sake of his career," the businessman added.

Another leading Irish businessman who dislikes Spitzer stated, "He was the worst kind of publicity seeking politician I've ever come across. I know so many people he ran out of business who had broken no laws but he just wanted to make his name out of hounding them."

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Nster.com