A Profile of an Ex-Governor in Exile

' "How Could I?" The Confessions of Eliot Spitzer': Readers were, by turns, surprised and dismayed that our April 27 cover story provided the disgraced ex-governor of New York a platform on which to come clean. "Why resurrect a man who earned his obscurity?" one asked. Most were disgusted by his infidelity; others were outraged by his hypocrisy. One wrote, "As attorney general and later governor, he prosecuted fellow citizens for behavior he felt privileged to enjoy himself." But a lone woman was kinder. "If Mrs. Spitzer can forgive him, so can America."

The Reemergence of Eliot Spitzer
Who cares why Eliot Spitzer did it (" 'How Could I?' The Confessions of Eliot Spitzer," April 27)? The fact is he did. I'm trying to fathom dedicating eight pages to Spitzer's self-absorbed contemplation of his death, burial and resurrection. He betrayed his family and the people who elected him, and he wasted our valuable resources trying to hide it. And now he wants to weasel his way back into a position of power and prestige. If a public servant can't subjugate his desires, he should come clean, get help and go away. I believe in grace and forgiveness, but also the necessity of consequences as a deterrent. Millions honor their commitments each day. Put them on your cover.
Rebecca Haynes Mot
Jacksonville, Fla.

When he fought fraud on Wall Street, Eliot Spitzer became my long-shot candidate for president. Then I saw his New York governorship as the launchpad that would take this hard-nosed corruption fighter to the Oval Office. His toughness, honesty and integrity would save America. Then came his fall. I turned to Barack Obama for those attributes. We could still use Spitzer's steely determination. President Obama would be wise to bring him out of exile and put him to work.
John Komen
Grapeview, Wash.

As a father of two girls, a lawyer and a New York resident, I was disappointed to see a lengthy cover story devoted to our former governor. Surely there are more deserving people worthy of attention. Eliot Spitzer was dishonest with his wife, his daughters, the people who elected him to New York's highest office and, ultimately, himself. He should save his confessions for his therapist. But it is obvious he is going public because he so craves the attention. With luck, we won't be fooled again.
Fred Siegel
Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

When we demand lifelong punishment from a prominent figure who has betrayed our trust, we punish ourselves. We deprive society of the contributions of a great mind and talent despite personal flaws. Think JFK and Bill Clinton.
N. L. Hutman
Oneonta, N.Y.

Spitzer did not just cheat on his wife, he broke the law—laws that he himself had instituted against johns as a prosecutor and lawmaker. Now Spitzer finds it "odd" that he could be held accountable by federal prosecutors. Clearly, here is the deep arrogance of a very privileged man.
Rachel Andes
Philadelphia, Pa.

You Call That Torture?
What cruel and unbelievable torture we inflicted on terrorism suspects ("The Lawyer and the Caterpillar," April 27)! Insects in their cells, cramped quarters, being sprayed with cold water, even the ignominiousness of being finger-slapped. On the other hand, our Marines, Rangers, SEALs and combat soldiers would consider that kind of treatment a welcome respite from their everyday ordeals—and that's only during training.
Ted Zaydel
Waterford, Mich.

Correction
A caption in the May 4 edition of Conventional Wisdom Watch misidentified the Supreme Court justice in the photograph. It was John Paul Stevens, not David Souter. NEWSWEEK regrets the error.