Scorn was my first reaction to the scandalous exploits of our ex-governor Eliot Spitzer. Closely following my own feelings of disrespect and disappointment came the hope for a new governor, a new public official that wasn't cheating on his wife and lying to his family.

After a brief apology and resignation speech, Spitzer stepped down. David Paterson, New York State's current governor used his first press conference to confess about his own extra marital affairs.

As stated in the New York Times, there is a definite distinction; one governor broke the law offering only a short apology and the other answers all the questions he was asked. As more information surfaces and the coverage becomes more intense, the public attempts to make some judgments of it all.

There are no lines drawn between the private life and public life of a politician. Wherever there is public interest, whether the story is about a baseball player or a politician, nothing remains private. When a person takes on a public role, especially that of a government leader, where their private life is concerned I want to be concerned with it as well. We rely on the judgment of our government officials. Spitzer's judgment was wrong to be involved in prostitution. Many people care about what entertainment stars are doing in their private lives, but if it is a politician, then I think it is important because I hope that their judgments are sensible. Their judgments can affect our lives in policy making.

Governor Patterson wanted to get ahead of any rumors that may surface, believing that the truth would set him free. He set the record straight, coming clean to the public about he and his wife's acts of adultery.

There is public interest in public figures and I think Patterson's reaction was appropriate. Why not let the skeletons out of the closet? Having nothing to hide is a good thing. It was his choice to talk about his personal affairs, when really all he needed to answer to was his wife.

In a country where people have great interest in knowing about public people's personal lives, the realization is if a person is involved in politics they are responsible for good judgments. If actions in their personal lives show bad judgment, the public they serve should know.