Aren't All Men Secret Spitzers?

How many husbands reacted to Eliot Spitzer's downfall by pretending to be appalled, hiding their porn, and praying their own similar indiscretions wouldn't come to light? Philip Weiss emailed 50 married men and visited a few experts to confirm his suspicion, based on personal experience, which he shares in New York magazine: Men are dogs. Like the former governor, they want some "strange," to quote Kris Kristofferson, so let's permit prostitution and allow mistresses the way they do in Europe, he argues.

It's all in the jeans—er, genes—right? Actually no, some experts warned. Although rich, educated US couples (think Bill and Hillary) permit more infidelity these days, male philandering may well be social, not genetic. And if men want to cheat, let them be gutsy enough to tell their wives, one Kinsey researcher said. So Weiss tried it: His wife was upset, but she agreed. It was Weiss who recoiled, with a quick "no, thanks." (More Eliot Spitzer stories.)