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Jan 22, 2009 at 4:00 am
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He lied, he got caught, he made appointments that were part of that lie,
HE NEEDS TO GO...
Vera Katz is hiring...
(unpaid) employees. Politicians shouldn't fuck children who are involved in a program designed tohelp learn how government works (even though fucking them is an example of how government works). I have no idea if this was a good prpogram or not but I guess it's gone. Also wasn't Adams supposed to be in a civil union or married in 2005? This guy is a douche on so many levels. As to the technicality of before/after 18. Do you honestly believe that a 40 year old who fucks 18 year olds cares? The defense comes down to "I lied about everythibg else but take my word about the kid's age." Well, even if the kid was 18 it's scummy and I don't believe it anyway. I'm not even gonna touch your (the mercury's) involvement in this because that seems the most damning. He knew it was wrong (as did your reporter). Also, amy ruiz I hope you had a backup plan. You're just as bad as the reporters who looked the other way When Packwood harrassed women or Goldschmidt had an illicit affair with a minor(deja vu? At least adams' couldn't knock up his high schooler.) Amy ruiz if you know as much about sustainability as you do about journalism then your ouster will be lucky indeed. Throw both of these scumfucks out! Now! Luke Hollywood
Sam Adams admitted to be a mentor to this young man, helping him deal with the issues and problems of being a young gay man in this world, as well as within politics, making this a professional relationship, with the expectations and neccesary limits that MUST come with it.
He ABUSED his position of influence in this young man's life as his mentor by stepping into a sexual relationship with him, which is an amazingly huge ethical issue. There is NO question as to whether Sam claimed to have a mentoring relationship and he himself declaired the relationship in his original response to the accusations.
Within the gay community and outside the gay community there cannot be any tolerance of our men or women in trusted positions of mentorship to step over the bounds of intimacy, it's insanely unprofessional and outstandingly unethical - once you've violated that standard, you surely cannot remain in a position of power and influence, as you've forever breached that position of highly valued trust.
When confronted about this issue, as well as the reality that this mentoring relationship began when the kid was 17, he purposely mislead the voting public in his response to the accusations and twisted the issue against his competition for the post of mayor. It is an absolutely fair question and issue to present to a possible leader in our community - Did you, or did you not, engage in a sexual relationship with a youth (then man) you were actively mentoring? This is a critical question of character and of necessary boundaries in the professional and political world.
His statements to the original accusations should anger any Portlander, as this not only was dishonest and manipulative, but also served to turn the voting public against his competitor and surely altered votes in his (Mr. Adams) favor. This is yet another reason why he should resign his post.
His original letter to the public states this -
"I didn't get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be snuffed out by fear of sleazy misrepresentations or political manipulation. I understand the need for good judgment, and I keep within the bounds of propriety -- as I did in this case.
I'm glad that people consider me as a person they could come to for help, understanding and support. I work at it. And I hope that you do too. Local programs needing mentors have long waiting lists. "
HE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT stepping into a sexual relationship in that situation was bad judgement and outside the bounds of propriety, using his own words to damn his own future, which is the tragedy of this situation, as those who believed in him in his letter and stood by him in that time are now slapped in the face, watching as the gay community is now facing additional public disgrace and how all the steps forward have become many steps back... I'm sorry Sam, but we can forgive, but we must have a leader whom shows character, integrity, and most of all, a leader we can trust, and we cannot now trust you.
Personally I could not care less whom he has or is having sex with. The fact that he lied to all of us and made his opponent look like a liar in the process however does bother me.
TIME TO GO SAM!
J.E.C.
He created a sh*t storm, and now I want him to answer for it. If a recall could possibly be in the works, then he needs to dig his feet in and get busy with the work of the City of Portland RIGHT NOW. I want to see how he is gonna bring jobs, deal with the Police Association, etc. If he wants to be a man, then he not only needs to fess up to what he did, he needs to make sincere apologies, and do his job.
Trust me, I am no Adams supporter, and never have been. I am a Socialist, and Adams represents to me what exactly is wrong with the LGBTQ community: mainstreaming. We want our rights so desperately that we are willing to forsake the very things that make us unique. That includes our gay politicians being just like straight ones: sleazy liars who will do anything to get elected.
But, he is our Mayor. And, instead of staying at home worrying about what others might think of this scandal, he needs to get his ass to work.
Thank you for your story and your time. I look forward to see how this is going to play out.
Sincerely,
Ben Brown Jr.
Board Member, NW Pride
Mr. Oregon State Leather 2007
I would bet you, that the reason this thing was covered up in the first place was that BEAU,
or whatever his name is,
WAS NOT 18,
when uncontrollable lust hit the loins of mayor sam.
Lets focus on the issues of the city, not the sex lives of it's people. Otherwise maybe we should dig into everyone's past. Which reporter will step forward to be judged? If we find you morally lacking, can we sack you?
If he didn't break any laws, then good for him! I'd love to be able to pick up attractive 18 year old girls when I'm in my 40's.
Crap happens, now lets get over it.
"I didn't get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be snuffed out by fear of sleazy is representations or political manipulation.... I understand the need for good judgment, and I work very hard to keep within the bounds of propriety --as I did in this case."
Adams was doing more than denying the allegations - he was blatantly lying and trying to portray a holier than thou image. He was lying to turn it into his advantage. This is a troubling insight into his character.
So, who's the good guy here? And who has the moral standing to throw the first stone?
OK, done.
Now how much of that involved slandering others to win an election?
Potential child sex abuse?
Telling all your friends and family their defense of you was a crock because you lied all along?
A public leadership position that relies on trust, accountability and legality?
"I didn't get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be snuffed out by fear of sleazy misrepresentations or political manipulation. I understand the need for good judgment, and I keep within the bounds of propriety -- as I did in this case.
I'm glad that people consider me as a person they could come to for help, understanding and support. I work at it. And I hope that you do too. Local programs needing mentors have long waiting lists. "
i hope it is understood that the issue has little to do with having sex with an 18 year old, rather more so to do with making his opponent look like a piece of shit for the sake of getting into office.
Thanks Sam, if for nothing else than giving us bloggers good blogging material!
hehehe....
Sam deserves a great big:
ATTA BOY!!
its just sex-legal sex at that
so he lied, that sucks a lot, but he is not corrupt; big difference
let me say this- I still trust Sam Adams
(shitty day to pick though)
And for going public with your apology on the day Obama was being inaugurated: LAME.
those of you who use God and your religion as justification for your hate that your God preached against (i.e. "love thy neighbor"), you are doing your God WRONG.
own your own ignorance.
own your own bigotry.
God is love.
YOU are hate.
and for the rest of the anti-sam adams people who are at least civil enough to make it about his lying rather than his orientation, i would like to ask you to TAKE A BREATH.
bush lied about finding weapons of mass destruction and caused the most expensive and longest war that is causing our economy to crumble and we're all worked up over a lie about having sex with a kid of legal age? come on people!! how can you be so hypocritical? the issues are economy, heath care, and education, to name a few. why don't we put our energy into addressing those, since we don't have any time to lose. sam adams has 16 yrs of service in portland to back him up and he can and will deliver on those goals we voted him on to fulfill in the first place. let's let him do his job instead of getting up in arms on this witch hunt puritancial outcry. we are regressing. we've all lied. we're all human. now let's MOVE ON AND FOCUS!!!
those of you who use God's name and your religion to justify the hate that your God preached against, (i.e. love thy neighbor) you are doing your God WRONG.
own your own ignorance
own your own bigotry
God is love. YOU are hate.
and for the rest of the anti-sam adams people who are at least civil enough to make this about his lying rather than his orientation, i'd like to ask you to TAKE A BREATH
bush lied about finding weapons of mass destruction and caused the longest, most expensive war that is causing our economy to crumble, and we're up in arms over a lie about having sex with a kid of legal age?!
come on!!
we've all lied. we've all made mistakes.
sam adams has 16 yrs of service in portland and can and will deliver on the goals he set forth for our city if we just let him get back to work. we voted for him because we agreed with the changes he wanted to make for us, not his virtous sex life.
let's stop this puritancial outcry and put our energy towards what's important. education, health care, economy, etc. we have no time to waste,i'm sure we can all agree on that.
so FOCUS, PEOPLE!!! let's MOVE ON.
Should Sam resign?
it does not go:
"i, sam adams, do solemnly swear to resist sex while holding the office of mayor of the city of portland. if i should have sex, i'll let you know."
why must we know and why do people insist on knowing?
let the people who have never had sex and regretted it or have never lied be the first to ask sam adams to step down.
do you mean our culture is continuing to further accept each other?
how dare us!!!
Chapter 1.03
1.03.020 Trust. The purpose of City government is to serve the public. City officials treat their office as a public trust.
B. City officials promote public respect by avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.
*Explanations and Examples*
1.03.010 Definitions.
1.03.020 Trust. The purpose of City government is to serve the public. City officials treat their office as a public trust. City officials have special powers, along with a special obligation to act only on behalf of the public. {ORS Chapter 244 declares public office a public trust, prohibits certain actions, and provides penalties. An explanatory guide is available from the Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission.}
2. Ensure public respect by avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. [Public service requires a continual effort to overcome cynical attitudes and suspicions about the people in government. For example, conduct which could appear dishonest to a reasonable observer will undermine the public trust even if the conduct is not illegal.]
Who hasn't told a little white lie to protect the privacy of someone they care about. Think about it...most people tell little white lies daily (why they were REALLY late for work, etc)and I don't see how any of this should have been brought up in the first place.
So he has passion. That same psssion will be put towards bettering our city in so many ways. We elected him because of the many good qualities he has, and the knowledge to make Portland a better place.
The lashing he has taken in the media is a high price to pay, he has paid his penance I believe, now let's assume he is a better man for it and let him get to work.
Seriously. Get over yourselves. If you were fighting *tough* competition to get a job that you believe in, that you want more than anything else, but with which you will be judged, mercilessly, on things that have nothing to do with it's qualifications (your sex life, your pets, your family's doings), you will lie out your ass to get that job, at least when it comes to those irrelevant things. Why? Let me reiterate:
1. You're human. Not perfect. Not some stereotype of a perfect 50s nuclear family.
2. The imvestigation has nothing to do with your qualifications for said job.
3. You are (or at least, in Sam's case) part of an oppressed group, and therefore have to abide by even more rules and scrutiny as a result. Oregon, by and large, isn't that progressive. There's a reason the Klan made this place their headquarters in the years of yore.
Not that people will listen. As long as we hold our politicians to an impossible standard, while maintaining a double standard with our own moral integrity, we open ourselves up to politically motivated sabotage (Clinton) and judging candidates based on things that have absolutely nothing to do with their qualifications or ideological soundness. Our politicians also realize this, but having no public recourse, they are forced to lie to make themselves a part of the moral elitism we require in our candidates.
So. One last time. This isn't Mark Foley. This isn't child porn. This isn't event a fucking affair. This is a man we have held to an impossible standard, that I bet none of us could ourselves live up to. To be honest, I feel bad for him. Because of this, we will scapegoat all of our problems on him via our moral arrogance.
Some people are attracted to younger folk. Some people like older folk, or have a thing for power. It was consensual and of age. More ridiculously antiquated moral outrage.
No sex at 17 no crime, its that simple. Really! Beau and Sam knew exactly what they were doing.
Lying about something legal does not make the lie illegal, it makes it none of your business.
In 38 states 16 and 17 would be legal. Just a fact nothing more.
In none of the states is 16 or older a child. Stop calling him a child. The point is he was not a child.
Bad form and stupid behavior does not make one a criminal. It makes you an idiot.
Idiots are all around us, and at times we are all idiots.
Bob Ball was not running for mayor, not declared, so he was not made to drop out over this.
If he thought there was a crime he should have reported it to the police, not spread rumors all over town.
Ball having been a police officer should have known to keep it under wraps so as not to blow a case.
Nothing left to see here...move on...
(of course I know some of you got your panties in a bunch and will never get over it...even if the AG says noting was illegal...oh well)