JEFFERSON CITY - With a series of Missouri Democrats already in legal trouble, it should come as no surprise that the Missouri Democrat Party just last year was publicly praising disgraced Democrat New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer as a bastion of virtue and leadership.

A July 24, 2007, Missouri Democrat Party media release praised Spitzer for his “real leadership” and implied that his behavior was a model for governors across the nation — statements that now seem ridiculous in light of today’s revelations that Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month.

“It is ridiculous in light of these disturbing events that Missouri Democrats would have portrayed Eliot Spitzer a bastion of virtue and leadership, but it also should come as no surprise in light of the low standards set by state Democrats who have been embroiled in a series of scandals in recent months,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Democrats including Jay Nixon should immediately condemn Spitzer’s disturbing behavior and re-consider their own self-righteous condemnations of others.”

The Missouri Democrat scandals include Nixon’s illegal use of state vehicles and his staff for political purposes, charges against Rep. Brad Robinson for leaving the scene of an accident, Sen. Chuck Graham’s guilty plea to drunken driving, former Rep. John Bowman’s guilty plea to federal bribery charges and charges against Sens. Jeff Smith and Joe Aull for illegally entering a casino.