Americans hate a hypocrite, especially a rich and powerful one who holds himself up as a public symbol of morality. Former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer rose to prominence exposing and prosecuting corrupt corporate pigs and call girl rings. That’s why his total fall from power took less than 24 hours after we learned that he was a regular customer of New York’s most elite call girl ring. Media people are talking a lot these days among themselves about why some public apologies work and others don’t, why some people are forgiven and others not. It comes down to a few basic elements that also apply to us in our business and personal relationships: