Judy Smith, the inspiration for "Scandal," on Rob Ford: "He needs to resign"

With a collection of jaw-dropping scandals having seemingly dominated the recent news cycle, on Monday evening "Piers Morgan Live" welcomed Judy Smith, a woman who makes her living minimizing damage within the media.

As the president and CEO of Smith & Company, a crisis management firm, and the inspiration for the main character in ABC's hit drama "Scandal," Smith is all too familiar with philandering politicians and short-sighted celebrities.

Joining Piers Morgan for a live interview, Smith offered her thoughts on a man who could be described as both, Toronto's embattled mayor, Rob Ford:

"He has been trying to position himself by a YouTube channel, a radio show, a TV show, which is all amazing to me," said Smith. "He needs to resign."

With the real life Olivia Pope seated directly across from him, Morgan asked Smith to identify the more harmful vice: narcotics, sex, or corruption.

"I say drugs. Let me tell you why I say drugs: because the reason why the Mayor here, said that he used cocaine, when he was in a drunken stupor, is because people tend to think that the American public will digest better if you have a drinking problem, than whether you have a problem using crack cocaine," Smith told the host. "It's a deadly combination. I mean, for you guys [CNN, cable news] this case is probably a gift that keeps on giving, that early Christmas present, because it has crack, it has drugs, sex, and all of that."

Watch the clip for more of Morgan's interview with Smith, including her evaluation of the higher standard that public officials are held to, and for the next edition of "Piers Morgan Live," watch CNN every night at 9.
-
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Twitter
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Instagram