Hours after Eliot Spitzer started broadcasting the first negative television commercial in the Democratic primary for comptroller, his opponent, Scott M. Stringer, responded with his own negative spot. Titled “Clear Choice,†it invokes the prostitution scandal that led Mr. Spitzer to resign as governor in 2008.
As far as prostitution goes, the ad is accurate. As governor, Mr. Spitzer was caught patronizing prostitutes, precipitating his resignation. The assertion that he committed financial crimes, however, is misleading. In announcing that they would not charge Mr. Spitzer, federal prosecutors said there was “insufficient evident to bring charges against Mr. Spitzer for any offense relating to the withdrawal of funds for, and his payments to†to the prostitution ring. The Times, The Daily News and The New York Post have all endorsed Mr. Stringer.
If Mr. Stringer stuck to reminding voters that Mr. Spitzer patronized prostitutes â€" something that few have likely forgotten â€" he would be on solid ground. Bringing in financial crimes stretches the truth and the available evidence.
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