Lis Smith: Pro and Con

Lis Smith is a public relations wonkess who was the media mouthpiece for Eliot Spitzer's flop of a comeback campaign for New York City Comptroller, and the communications director for Bill de Blasio's successful bid for New York City Commissar Mayor.  Lis is part of de Blasio's transition team, and is (as of very recently, at least) on the short list for his media mouthpiece when he takes the reins from Mike Bloomberg.

But Lis now has involved herself romantically with Spitzer, and that is generating some controversy.  Alexis Grenell of the New York Daily News is saying that Lis's personal poor choices are her personal business, while Andrea Peyser of the New York Post opines that de Blasio should not lose one minute in booting her out the door.

I am no fan of de Blasio, nor of Spitzer, nor of Bloomberg (though I fear that I might long for him after a few months of de Blasio in Gracie Mansion).  I truly am neutral regarding Lis Smith, if only because I have not been following her career and know next to nothing about her above and beyond her reported use of her own body to cover Eliot Spitzer's mattress (or, rather, her own mattress to accommodate Mr. Spitzer).  As much as I disapprove of her choice of dance partners, that is not a matter into which I care to insinuate myself.

Alexis Grenell's editorial piece in the NY Daily News is playing the gender card, with the usual observations of a gender-based double standard.  This, to be sure, is a valid observation.  Nevertheless, it is all a red herring because there is a key difference besides gender (and age and wealth) between Lis Smith and Eliot Spitzer.

Back when Spitzer was the Attorney General of New York, he made a big deal about prosecuting prostitution.  How ironic (and hypocritical) that he himself got caught with his pants down in the Mayflower Hotel in Washington with a call girl whom he brought in from New York (a logistical feat which necessitated the crossing of 5 state boundary lines).

But Lis Smith, to the best of my knowledge, has not been given to delivering morality lectures to the public.  So, while I do begrudge Eliot Spitzer's indulgence in immoral behavior, I have no such issues with Lis Smith.

It is quite interesting, if only in the timing, that Eliot & Silda Spitzer have just today announced what has long been a foregone conclusion — that their marriage has come to an end.

Whether or not de Blasio jettisons Lis Smith remains to be seen.  But, given de Blasio's oft stated social and economic agenda, Lis Smith should be the least of the public's concerns about him.

Christmas is not my holiday, but if it is yours, then I hope that you have a merry one.

Big Dipper: Update #7

Now that soon-to-be ex-Governor Eliot Spitzer has pushed everyone else off the front pages of the New York newspapers (in the case of Newsday, the front 8 pages), the developments of the big double-dipping story are hidden away in the back sections.

Now, it seems that New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has ratcheted things up a bit by requesting all Long Island special districts (school, fire, water, etc.) under his cognizance to name all persons who have been or may have been misclassified, per the IRS standards, as employees instead of independent contractors.

The story thread will be riding the back of the bus for the next week or two until Spitzer is finally sent to his room, which means that everyone connected with the double-dipping affair can do what they need to do (including lawyers who need to make deals for their clients) without the distraction of too much public attention.

Once the Spitzer story tones down, there likely will be some further developments to report.

The Other Job Opening in Albany

In keeping with usual practice, I shall forgo the "me, too" postings regarding the Spitzer affair, though please be assured that I (a) am gratified to see an arrogant and power-mad control freak get his come-uppance; (b) sympathize with the prime victims of the crime, namely the wife and 3 daughters; and (c) am getting plenty of smiles in with the Eliot Spitzer jokes and limericks which have already begun to make their way around space and cyberspace.


One ironic aspect of the Spitzer story which isn't receiving much attention, however, is the appearance of the following classified employment ad on page 41 of the New York Law Journal of Monday, 11 March 2008, the very day the Spitzer story broke in the news:



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Assistant Counsel to the Governor

The New York State Governor's Office seeks candidates for the position of Assistant Counsel to the Governor, in Albany, NY. The Governor's Counsel's Office provides legal advice to the Governor and Executive Chamber staff, drafts and negotiates bills, aids in the implementation of policy agency initiatives, oversees significant litigation, and provides advice on bills presented for approval. Candidates must be admitted to practice law in NY; possess superior writing, interpersonal and negotiating skills; work well within a small group; and be willing to dedicate long hours to complex matters. Other governmental experience and a minimum of 5 years of legal practice is preferred. E-mail resumes by March 14, 2008 to: acjob@chamber.state.ny.us. EOE

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"provides legal advice to the Governor."

I think that Mr. Spitzer will now need plenty of that!

And what are the odds that Silda will engage (or already has engaged) Raoul Lionel Felder?