The Spitzer Files: How the New York Times and the Press Serviced Client No. 9 [Exclusive]

Gawker - 4th Nov 2009

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Eliot Spitzer: The New York Times broke the story of Eliot Spitzer 's hooker habit last year, launching a PR shitstorm of epic proportions. But according to e-mail traffic we've obtained, the Times showed Spitzer's flacks extraordinary deference as the scandal unfolded. On March 10, 2008, few people on the planet had more difficult jobs than Christine Anderson and Errol Cockfield . They were the communications director and press secretary, respectively, for New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, and at roughly 1:07... Read full story at Gawker

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Eliot Spitzer Steps Out, Consults Brain [Snap Judgment]
[New York, September 25. Image via INF]

There's Love for the Sun; Spitzer Calls Paper 'Spectacular'
The New York Sun published a story today that quoted ex-politicians and a few semi-retired journalists saying that it would be a terrible thing if the newspaper closed later this month. In his first public interview since resigning, Eliot Spitzer says, "The Sun has been a spectacular addition to the city's political discourse and is one of the finest papers in terms of editing, writing, and analysis that one can find anywhere." (The Sun was one of the few outlets sympathetic towards Mr. Spitze

Paterson and the National (Fake) News Spotlight
Governor David Paterson is set to appear on the Colbert Report tomorrow, according to his official schedule. Paterson's predecessor Eliot Spitzer appeared on the show, and tried to out-funny the faux-conservative anchor, leading to a profoundly unamusing segment. In practical terms, it should be a chance for Paterson to grab some of the national exposure he sort of missed out on at the Democratic convention last week, at which a) Chuck Schumer forgot to introduce him at a breakfast in front of the New York

Okay So I’m a Little Obsessed with This Whole Thing About Sarah Palin’s Pregnant Teen Daughter
There are very few things that can get me genuinely interested in anything political. In fact, I had previously believed that there was nothing that could get me genuinely interested in anything political. This year, however, has proven me wrong. There are two things, at last count, that can get me genuinely interested in politics: hookers and teen pregnancies. Since the Eliot Spitzer scandal has died down, I am now thoroughly obsessed with Sarah Palin’s 16-year-old daughter, Bristol, and the child

AP wonders: In hindsight, wasn't it hypocritical of Letterman to mock politicians for infidelity?: PHOTO
Why … yes . Yes, I suppose it was. Eliot Spitzer, John Edwards and Larry Craig came in for their share of abuse, as did the governor of South Carolina. “Gov. Mark Sanford didn’t really enjoy this year’s Fourth of July. He left his favorite firecracker in Argentina,” Letterman wisecracked… Not that Letterman falls into quite the same category of unfaithful officials who hypocritically spouted Family Values. After all, comedy

Former Governors Cuomo, Pataki and Spitzer Hope the NY Sun is Saved
The NY Sun, which announced its future was uncertain last week, has been racking up support from prominent people. Not only do Mario Cuomo and George Pataki sing the Sun's praises (Pataki says it's "the best paper in New York" while Cuomo said, "I like understanding from the op-eds and editorials the conservative view of things"), Eliot Spitzer gives his first public comments since his scandal: "The Sun has been a spectacular addition to the city's political discourse and is one of the finest papers in te

Eliot Spitzer - Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime
Several years ago, state attorneys general and others involved in consumer protection began to notice a marked increase in a range of predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders. Some were misrepresenting the terms of loans, making loans without regard to consumers' ability to repay, making l...

Elsewhere: Palin's Email, Silver's Warning, Blaming Spitzer
Sheldon Silver said of the Wall Street crisis, "It will affect our ability as a state to fund essential infrastructure projects, schools, and our higher education system.” He also expressed willingness to call the Assembly back to Albany. In "certain circles," according to Liz, Eliot Spitzer is being blamed for Wall Street's woes. Jim Wyne, who lost the Staten Island Republican Congressional primary with about 40 percent of the vote, is going to run as a write-in. Con Ed and anothe

Well, When Your Use of Yahoo Mail is Widely Publicized...
After her decision to use personal e-mail accounts, instead of official Alaska state e-mail for state business (perhaps to circumvent subpoenas!), has been widely publicized, of course computer hackers would break into one of Governor Sarah Palin's Yahoo mail accounts with screenshots posted on WikiLeaks (also on Gawker). And of course the McCain-Palin campaign issued a statement, calling the matter a "shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law." The FBI and Secret Service are curr

It's About Time!!!
New York governor David Paterson said today that he plans to re-introduce legislation making same-sex marriage legal in the state. Two years ago, then-governor Eliot Spitzer introduced similar legislation, but it stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. The Democrats now control the NY Senate. Make it happen!!!!!!!! 2009 is shaping up to be an amazing year for equality!!!! [Image [...]

Poll: Paterson’s numbers keep slipping
ALBANY - A new poll shows New York Gov. David A. Paterson's popularity continuing to hit new depths as he enters hissecond year in office.The Siena College poll finds the Democrat viewed favorably by 29 percent of New York voters and unfavorably by 58 percent. That's worse than last month's ratings, his lowest since taking over after Eliot Spitzer resigned.For Obama, mayor and governor: a win-win-win situationSpitzer: 'I failed in a very important way'Follow AIG money, not bonuses - Spitzer

Spitzer: Out of Public Office, But Still Feisty
The NY Times checked in on former governor Eliot Spitzer six months after his resignation from office. Though remorseful about what he's put his family through, he's still got some spark. Apparently an August Times article, featuring his successor David Paterson's critical thoughts on Spitzer's reign, prompted him to call a Paterson aide and demand a public apology, allegedly "issu[ing] threats, veiled and unveiled." Spitzer is working for his father's real estate business; when recently asked him how he

As The Stock Market Tumbles, Call Girls Reap The Rewards
Six months after a sex scandal ousted Eliot Spitzer from office, the New York governor turned “lov gov” is working in real estate, still with his wife Silda, and wondering how it all went so wrong. Meanwhile, call girls are back in the spotlight—and working harder than ever as Wall Street takes another tumble.  According to Columbia researcher and call girl expert Sudhir Venkatesh, working girls may benefit from the nation’s latest financial troubles. Venkates

#1 Hooker Talks About Client 9's Hooker
Natalie McLennan, the high-class escort once profiled in New York magazine as the "$2,000 an-Hour Woman," has a new book coming out about her escapades (The Price: My Rise and Fall As Natalia, New York's #1 Escort), and the Post has excerpts mentioning a notable figure: Ashley Dupre, also known as Kristen, the hooker that former Governor Eliot Spitzer had a fling with. McLennan and Dupre both worked for Jason "King of All Pimps" Itzler; McLennan recalled their work together, "Ashley and I were amazing toge

Post Questions Spitzer's "Gremlins" Excuse
The Post (of course) has fun with former governor Eliot Spitzer's Today appearance : Regarding Spitzer's explanation about his hooker flings, "I have tried to address these gremlins, confront them," the Post says Spitzer made it sound "as if he were battling the furious furballs from the '80s horror flick." So the tabloid offers helpful visual aids explaining "This is a gremlin" and "This is a hooker," plus a graph comparing gremlins and hookers. The NY Times also mentions Spitzer's...

Was the AIG Bailout a Conspiracy?
Eliot Spitzer wants to know if the bailout of AIG was an inside deal among Goldman Sachs, the Treasury, and the Fed. Edward Jay Epstein, who has been unraveling conspiracy theories since the Warren Commission, examines the evidence. The colossal bailout of AIG is now so mired in the muck of conspiracy theories that even Eliot Spitzer, who had to resign as governor of New York after laundering secret payments to a call-girl service through an offshore account, is back on his moral high...

Marion Barry and Eliot Spitzer
The resignation of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer only serves to remind us that there are two systems of justice in the United States, one black and one white. A decades old black and white grainy video tells the true tale of the tape.

Former Bloomberg Guy Hires Former Spitzer Guy
Eliot Brown reports that Michael Bloomberg's former deputy mayor, Dan Doctoroff, has hired Eliot Spitzer's former state director of operations for a big job over at Bloomberg L.P. 0 comments PrintEmail Related    ArticlesBloomberg and Spitzer on Westward ExpansionJP Morgan Moves, Doctoroff Doesn'tSheldon Silver and the State Senate MajorityJeffries on Bloomberg's 'Development Gone Wild'Poll: New Yorkers Think Highly of Paterson Your name: * E-mail: *

Sightings: PHOTO
Coco Rocha speeding down East 42nd Street -- no helmet, wet hair -- on a Razor scooter . . . Eliot Spitzer lunching at Sidecar, the restaurant above P.J. Clarke's that was re cently featured on an

A-Rod Linked to Eliot Spitzer's Pimp
The high-priced former madam who used to provide prostitutes for former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer provided the same services for New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and dated him, the New York Daily News reported yesterday. Kristin Davis, who spent three months in jail and is currently on five years' probation after pleading guilty to promoting prostitution, spoke to Newsday about the Rod. "All I can say is there is a connection ," said Kristin, a.k.a. Kristen Davis, and a.k.a....

Have a Very Spitzer Halloween
Ricky's, the beauty emporium that also stocks tons of Halloween Costumes, is offering Client #9 and Emperors Club VIP costumes, a salute to the Spitzergate scandal. The men's costume is $40 while the women's is $30. Of course, the budget way to go about costumes would be: For Eliot Spitzer, wear a suit and tie and scrunch your mouth into a line (bonus points for male pattern baldness and black socks). Maybe carry a toy steamroller and get really pissy about everything. Unsafe sex not included. For Ash





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