It’s still a little early to be doing a daily roundup, but Tom Potter has given an interview to the Oregonian this morning, of which this is certainly the highlight:
“At times I think it’s important to speak your mind, whether you’re a private citizen or a former mayor. I don’t do this lightly. It’s a very serous situation. It’s not just about Sam’s character but the character of our city. What do we want to be known for? In a lot of respects things have slowed down in terms of the city moving forward. There’s sort of a preoccupation with the scandal that Sam has created. This is about the cover-up and character.”
I’d only ask: Whose fault is the preoccupation? You can read Mark Larabee’s Q&A at the O.
In typical inartful Potter fashion, he’s trying to say what recall proponents have always said: This is not about sex — it’s about lying and covering up.
As for whose fault it is, that is crystal clear: Yours. Plural, that is. It’s the fault of all those who scream HOMOPHOBIA when this has nothing to do with sexual orientation.
You recall guys really need better spokespeople.
I’m still confused as to how Tom Potter helps the recall campaign at all. He’s like that “Get off my lawn you little shits!” guy.
“I’d only ask: Whose fault is the preoccupation?”
Matt, Sam’s conduct is clearly everyone else’s fault.
Here’s the blogtown logic: Sam is a lying slimeball, and that bothers me in a mayor, so that’s MY fault.
Not only is his conduct my fault, but there is something seriously wrong with me for caring about it at all. I am apparently a homophobe and a small-minded religious nut from the suburbs.
Tooooooooooom Potter! You’ve won! Bucket of dicks! Congratulations! Suck it!
Blabby, last I check most (if not ALL) politicians were lying slimeballs. Including a large majority in Portland who aren’t the mayor. So, if lying is truly the reason you’re going after Adams, why aren’t other politicians being recalled?
You claim you have a problem with him lying, but what did he lie about? Having sex with another man? Is that why you want him ousted from office? Because he lied about his homosexual antics that had (and have yet to have) no effect on the City of Portland as a whole?
Did he lie about stealing government money?
Did he lie about anything regarding city government business, or anything that would have had any kind of detrimental effect on city government?
Nope. He lied about having sex with another man.
If you want to run the recall based on Adams being a bad mayor, that’s fine; yet, I would say that he hasn’t had ample time in the seat to prove if he’s a capable mayor or not. But, that has never been the case with the recall. It has always centered around Adams having sex with another man.
So, you’re absolutely right.
The Adams recall is totally and completely not homophobic.
Sam’s eventual recall…and I voted for him…will be because he stopped doing what he was elected to do. He has cowered to the media, the political establishment, and the other council members. He hasn’t shown up for the job since he took it. Sam can’t reverse the damage he has done to his own reputation…and that’s sad. He was a gifted leader, but he has stopped leading.