Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thoughts on Mayor Sam Adams
Disclaimer - I voted for Mayor Sam Adams in the last election. Did not contribute time or money towards his campaign. I did wear a button with his name on it, which was about the extent of my contributions. I also shook his hand when introduced to him at "Candidates Gone Wild" by a family friend who has been involved in local politics for many many years.You may have heard that Mayor Adams, 42, has admitted to sleeping with an 18-year old intern. Mayor Adams is openly gay. There's lots of questions and accusations being thrown around about the whole thing. I'm not going to summarize it here; the story has hit the national news in addition to being a local scandal.
I wasn't going to write about this but since there's already competing blogs calling for both his recall and for him to stay (hi, Hollie!), and there's metric tonnes of electrons being spilled on Twitter (among other places, I'm sure), OK, fine, I'll say my piece and move on.
I have no problem with the following, which are the facts as I know them as of writing this post:
- Had a brief, two month relationship with a man 24 years his junior that apparently included consensual sex.
- Lied about it when asked by co-workers, rival political candidates, and local reporters.
- Convinced the young man to lie about it, too.
I had heard the rumors about Mayor Adams prior to the election, and it did not sway my vote. Because, again, it did not matter to me. I don't fucking care who a politician sleeps with. I didn't care when President Clinton was accused of sleeping with Monica Lewinsky; it did not matter to me in the least. It made the scolds who talked about it, endlessly and in national venues, look tiny and small.
To all the gasbags saying that it speaks to Mayor Adams' "character" or whatever - fuck you. Stop pointing your fingers. I imagine that many of the critics would gladly sleep with an 18 year old, if given the chance. 18 year olds, either male or female, are hot. Duh. And if accused of doing that, I imagine the fear of being found to be a hypocritical Puritan would make those critics lie, too.
I would very much like to see politicians who are brave enough to stand up and say, "That's not only none of your business, but please feel free to eat shit and die, too" when asked about anything other than policy or professional decisions or the duties and responsibilities of their office.
Having seen "Milk", I understand that the fear of being open about a minority status might lead to a nutjob aiming a gun at you. I really do understand that; I belong to the most hated minority group remaining in America today, the atheists. There's so much material just on this very blog that would prevent lots and lots of people from voting me into any office, small or large. I'm an open atheist. I'm scornful of the basic tenets of Christianity and God-belief in general. I frequent strip clubs, and I actually get private dances from the girls; in fact, I'm a regular customer of a small number of them. I drink to excess. I gamble. I spend my money un-wisely. I have testified against my boss. I have a poor work ethic, even though I'm a union steward.
I have often, though, toyed with the idea of running for office anyway. Not just acknowledging all of that, but making it a part of my campaign. There might be enough booze hounds, atheists, waitresses, bouncers, strippers, philosophy and art majors to get me a simple majority, don't you think? And even if it didn't... it would be a hell of a party.
But I still think I know the issues well enough to debate them on their merits. I'd like to think I can be logical and reasonable in weighing the pluses and pitfalls of different policies. None of what I do as entertainment would really disqualify me to represent my peers. Would it? Seriously? Feel free to weigh in.
Mayor Adams has big plans for Portland - transportation, energy, sustainability. You name it. And it all fits in with my values, and the values of my friends and family. He can lead on those issues as well as anyone else could, and perhaps, now that he's been a bit humbled by his mistake in trying to cover up this relationship, he'll be more willing to work with others to get these things done.
I'm glad he's apologized for his error in judgement. Now, Mayor Sam Adams should stay, should face up to his accusers and tell them it's a personal matter, and should get back to the business of making Portland work for everyone in it.
Comments:
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I agree with the parts that Sam has big plans and can hopefully improve Portland... and that most normal people don't care about his sex life.
However, I believed him when he went out of his way to tell a story that was anything but true... and only done in an attempt to fool people into voting for him. If some reporter asked him something inappropriate he SHOULD have said "none of your biz" but he didn't... and he also didn't just make up something quickly. I would have accepted that. But, no, he went out of his way... wrote an open letter to Portland... repeated this crap about how it was a smear against him. In fact, he "pulled the gay card" which I think does a disservice to gays generally.
I can accept others' ability to forgive him--in fact I forgive him, I just don't think he can do his job and (assuming this doesn't blow over quickly) he's actually hurting Portland. We'll see about that.
The thing I really resent is that since I feel betrayed by his lie that I'm lumped in with the crazy zealots and and considered anti-gay. That's just not the case.
I hope in a year this is turns out to have been just a blip.
However, I believed him when he went out of his way to tell a story that was anything but true... and only done in an attempt to fool people into voting for him. If some reporter asked him something inappropriate he SHOULD have said "none of your biz" but he didn't... and he also didn't just make up something quickly. I would have accepted that. But, no, he went out of his way... wrote an open letter to Portland... repeated this crap about how it was a smear against him. In fact, he "pulled the gay card" which I think does a disservice to gays generally.
I can accept others' ability to forgive him--in fact I forgive him, I just don't think he can do his job and (assuming this doesn't blow over quickly) he's actually hurting Portland. We'll see about that.
The thing I really resent is that since I feel betrayed by his lie that I'm lumped in with the crazy zealots and and considered anti-gay. That's just not the case.
I hope in a year this is turns out to have been just a blip.
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posted by 
:: 1/26/2009 1:25 PM
:: 1/26/2009 1:25 PM
I am disappointed in Sam for not only exercising bad judgement, for making out in a men's room in city hall with a 17 year-old and choosing to have a sexual fling (not romance!) with the young man whether or not it was 10 days after he turned 18 or before. Its not being GAY which everyone knew and its generally not anyone's business if he has multiple lovers and consensually, even though its interesting that in this day and age, he felt no discomfort at keeping the guys he was dating from knowing he was seeing other guys (shocking some I know)...but for lying so indignantly, hypocritically and publically, even ruthlessly attacking a gay man (trashing HIS reputation unfairl) for daring to suggest that Sam might have had such a relationship which would eventually come out..., for Sam's reinforcing of negative stereotypes about gay men (not ALL behaving like he), for hiring someone not qualified for the job of urban planning and sustainability advisor to silence her (who had been working on a story to expose the truth about the relationship!)...using public money for his private payoff (a crime) ..and for putting everything he said he stood for at "risk for his trist" and letting us all down.
How Could he have thought it was worth it? What WAS he thinking? Did he learn nothing from what happened to Goldschmidt? Did he just not care? Did he think he was immune from discovery? Did it not occur to him that SOME people with whom he might work..., people who had voted for him, people who depended on his advocacy ...would be injured? What a self centered self indulgent and out of touch guy! What other miscalculations and weirdness might he be capable of? And how many people will he ruthlessly diss, attack and smear, for his own personal ambition. Such a waste of talent.
How Could he have thought it was worth it? What WAS he thinking? Did he learn nothing from what happened to Goldschmidt? Did he just not care? Did he think he was immune from discovery? Did it not occur to him that SOME people with whom he might work..., people who had voted for him, people who depended on his advocacy ...would be injured? What a self centered self indulgent and out of touch guy! What other miscalculations and weirdness might he be capable of? And how many people will he ruthlessly diss, attack and smear, for his own personal ambition. Such a waste of talent.
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posted by :: 1/30/2009 8:33 PM
:: 1/30/2009 8:33 PM
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