24 hours of reaction to Sam Adams
So, it's been roughly 24 hours or so since the latest chapter in the Sam Adams story broke. Along with checking in on the comments here at BlueOregon, I've been reading the wide-ranging comments from people on Twitter, the group-texting social-network. (Incidentally, I've heard, but can't find a source to verify, that Portland has more Twitter users per-capita than anywhere else.)
I've grabbed around a hundred of them to share with you. There's a bunch of opinion all over the place, along with plenty of snark (and a little vitriol) directed at the Mayor, the press, the police union, and others. (And if you want to read everything, or the latest Twitter comments, do a fresh search here.)
24 hours ago
scotthuber: Breaking: Portland Mayor Sam Adams accused of sexual relationship with 17 year old, in Willamette Week.
leakarts: Oh Sam Adams! C'mon!!!
acuteangle: Sam Adams has let us down. Well, he's a true politician now, so that's out of the way. This other new guy better not lie. http://is.gd/gwkO (expand)
coreydu: Breaking: Portland mayor Sam Adams lied about his relationship with former intern, according to Willy Week: http://tinyurl.com/a7b5my (expand)
wordchick: Sam Adams reaction: deep sorrow.
jeffharrop: On all the news about Sam Adams...wonderful back to the Clinton days where everyone pretends sex is the biggest thing to scandalize us
Bachelorum: Sam Adams had an affair with an 18 year old named "Beau Breedlove" Really? That's a porn name!
23 hours ago
kyleyoungblom: Damn. It. Sam. Adams.
20 hours ago
capnleela: was told earlier we need to do a sex-themed issue. um, politics + sex? who'd be interested in that? cue news: what's this about sam adams?
quilttrip: So Sam Adams has pretty much ruined Inauguration Day, huh?
StevenWalling: Sam Adams is a deft politician. Admitting a sex scandal on the eve of a historic Presidential inauguration? Smart move, if crass.
verso: Can I just say that if Sam Adams had taken up with a newly 18 year old GIRL this whole thing would be winks and elbow nudges. #dblstandard
12 hours ago
Bonobo23: I support Sam Adams. The public had no business prying into his sex life in the first place.
jzmills: Sam Adams had an affair with an intern. Beau Breedlove. What's worse, the affar or his name? Keep Portland weird.
11 hours ago
billmason: Congratulating Portland mayor Sam Adams for finding a way to knock Obama out of the newspaper lead headline. Christ on a crutch.
10 hours ago
SleepyOwlzzz: Come to work prepared to bask in the glow of the inaguration & get hit w/Sam Adams bomb by my boss who is dumb. Is it true? What's going on?
toddmintz: The Sam Adams scandal is breaking on the one day where it's not going to be front page news in PDX...lucky for him.
lancejmayhew: Just realized that he knows far too many people involved in the Sam Adams sex scandal. And doesn't believe Sam at all. Time to resign Sam.
kristinaking: hopes Sam Adams stays Portland Mayor. Why do sex lives have to eff up public service? Doesn't care if he lied about it! It's sex!
9 hours ago
shendison: Any other PDXers just get an email from Mayor Sam Adams apologizing for lying about his homosexual affair, and asking the guy to lie too?
shendison: It sure is a well timed apology by Sam Adams. Sure to fly quietly under the radar with the Presidential inauguration happening as we speak.
Goboz: Crap front page of the Huffington Post "Sam Adams, Portland Mayor, Admits Relationship With Teen Following Year Of Denial"
ltl: damnit, sam adams.
simpledoubt: @nevafeva I'm with you on the Sam Adams deal. What he does in his personal time shouldn't matter. Who had 16 months to investigate that?
hayleyrebecca: Thanks a lot Mayor Sam Adams.
8 hours ago
komouse: and a big fuck you to Sam Adams.
heathra: I really don't care who Sam Adams sleeps with, as long as everyone is of legal age and consenting. Just saying.
heathred: am i missing something re: sam adams? if he lied, it was TO THE PRESS. possibly to avoid outing his young partner. why do people care?
bill_of_lading: I don't care who Sam Adams sleeps with. It certainly doesn't affect his ability to do his job; we elected him for his potential in office.
ajootian: Th Sam Adams "scandal'' is boorish right wing agitprop. Th boy was 18. No story there.
Todfilm: On Sam Adams having sex with 18 year old, is this a bad thing? Since when is consensual sex between two adults a bad thing?
7 hours ago
jacobuskaminus: Officially annoyed at Sam Adams.
otcpdx: Wow. I am pretty damn unhappy with Sam Adams right now.
stechz: Upset at the behavior by Sam Adams: http://is.gd/gxgP (expand). I expect more from a representive of the gay community and Portland. :(
frightening: so sam adams has been mayor for what, a week, and people want him to step down already =/
6 hours ago
adriang23: Is it wrong of me to wish I was Sam Adams intern? http://tinyurl.com/93l3h3 (expand)
bike4myLIFE: Darn it Sam Adams, why did you choose to lie? I don't care about your personal, adult relationships, just don't lie!
tonylux: Wow. It seems that sam adams got himself into some deep shit.
jacobuskaminus: You gotta appreciate Sam Adams' diabolic genius in releasing this news just to coincide with "No Other News But The Inauguration Day".
willradik: Trying to figure out why it was anyone's business who Sam Adams was fucking in the first place.
TylerInCMYK: I'm feeling like the Sam Adams thing is gonna go national and Portland is gonna look ugly. It's really too bad.
lyzadanger: This Sam Adams thing is very regrettable. Not super. Bad, actually.
illustr8r: @ericjodom Where can I get my very own Sam Adams action figure/bobblehead?
RobotAdam: I'm not sure what to think about the Sam Adams deal, but I know what I think about people calling for him to resign or be recalled.
Aumie: I am still upset about Sam Adams.
myredtie: Oh Mayor Sam Adams, how can we trust what you say? You even asked someone else to lie in this cover up. "shaking head."
5 hours ago
mrgayportland28: Sam Adams to make speech at 1:30 hmmm better clear the air mr
Jmartens: Mayor Sam Adams should resign
snelson: Sam Adams interrupts inauguration coverage to apologize for lying about a prior sexual relationship. Really? Right now? #pdx
willradik: I hate that people are even suggesting that Sam Adams should resign or be recalled because of this silly nonsense.
wendemm: doesn't really get the Sam Adams thing. Should she be upset? She isn't. She doesn't get why people lie about this kind of thing.
Ramona_W: It's not like Sam Adams is the first person to lie about who he had sex with so give him a freakin' break. These press folks are viscious!
marylougall: This Sam Adams press conference is almost comical
willradik: Heh. Getting mad at the reporters in the Sam Adams press conference. #thesamadamsthing
Ramona_W: @willradik No. Shit. How much of it is legitimate questioning and how much is bitchiness cuz Sam Adams is gay? "Did this tarnish the day?"
bissell: I didn't even know Sam Adams was gay, and I still don't care. Can we get back to fixing government now?
justinkistner: Don't care about the Sam Adams issue.
willradik: @Ramona_W I'm going to put on purple eyeliner and make a "Leave Sam Adams Alone" video. Leave Sam Adams A-LONE! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!
willradik: The Portland Police, who don't want to be subject to the scrutiny of a review board, want Sam Adams to resign for lying. Shame. Hypocrisy.
blinnpdx: Jeez they are really coming down on Sam Adams. Legally consenting people have sex? OH NOES TEH WORLD ENDS.
Ramona_W: Leave Sam Adams alone! Is there no one who has had a relationship with someone it was legal to shtup but that they now regret shtuping?
gocosmonaut: I am stunned Sam Adams took so many questions. I didn't think so yesterday, but his administration might be too damaged to continue.
PDXyogini: is sad at how the Puritanical, out-dated attitude toward sex between consenting adults drives public figures to lie! Watching Sam Adams now
marylougall: Wow the police are mad at Sam Adams - that's for sure
hopkinsrocks: Sam Adams' black rimmed glasses look suspiciously gay.
gocosmonaut: I voted for Sam Adams and wanted him to stay. This press conference has been a fiasco, and has exposed his crisis management skills....
alissa_pdx: Wondering if Sam Adams will resign. I had such high hopes for him. What a let down.
mmmfiber: If Sam Adams resigns I'll stick a fork in my eye.
qpdx: Whoa. Indymedia is being the most intense questioner here at the Sam Adams press conference
amysue: C'mon Portlanders, this is America! Lying about sex is expected from politicians. Give Mayor Sam Adams a break. #sexscandal
4 hours ago
willradik: Commissioner Fritz pretty much just took the mic away from Sam Adams and told the press, in so many words, to fuck off and stop being dicks.
Studyinlight: Sam Adams was just grilled by the Portland press. The Police Union asked him to step down. What craziness!!
casperpdx: rolling my eyes at the art of ignorance of the Portland Public in the reaction to the truth of Sam Adams' fling 2 years ago! Get real people
willradik: @Lelonopo Heh. This whole Sam Adams business is terribly sad and ugly. That press conference was awwwwful.
heidib: Dear local news: Why? Dear Sam Adams, Don't you know where you live? Both of you: Just stop and let it die a newsdeath.
willradik: @yuetsu Steve Job's health impacts his ability to DO HIS JOB. How does Sam Adams banging some young guy affect his job performance?
crunchysue: Boss: Sam Adams ought to be punished (recalled) for his immoral lying. Me: You and I are not in agreement.
verbz: wtf Sam Adams!? Ugh! Why today?
patrikilpatrick: Thinking about the cluster fuck that sam adams is in
chrisorourke: I had sex with an 18 year old...I was 19. Nope not really newsworthy is it? Why is it for Sam Adams? blegh I hate drama.
satyricrash: -- uh, why WOULDN'T Sam Adams be having a fling with a sexy young thing, he is certainly a strapping fellow. I think I like him MORE now.
amycgx: Curious to know what Sam Adams' fans think of the situation and the timing of his confession.
3 hours ago
colinmeloy: All this Sam Adams bullshit is making me cringe. Doesn't the Portland press corp have anything better to do?
schmelectra: The first openly gay mayor of a "top 40 city", portland's own Sam Adams, is involved in a sex scandal. Awesome.
JevonPepper: Shame on you Sam Adams!
dreww: I am really having a hard time caring about the Sam Adams "scandal", not living there aside.
annebocci: Sam Adams, c'mon, I don't care that you had sex with him. Please just try to save your integrity...because we need you. http://www.wweek.com
unquabain: Here's what bugs me about Sam Adams. People think "Homosexual" is a synonym for "Hedonist." Adams failed to show it isn't. Discuss.
2 hours ago
peachcherub: For those who think Sam Adams should step down for having sex with an intern, I have 3 words for you: William Jefferson Clinton.
peachcherub: @willradik That was more intended in support of Sam Adams. Bill Clinton lied to a grand jury and still remained president, though impeached.
Savage575: I think, as a nation, we need more Milk and less Sam Adams
bliccy: I'm sorry, who *wouldn't* sleep with Sam Adams? With those glasses and that hair, he redefines MILF. Interns are only so strong, guys.
simpledoubt: I think people are up in arms about Sam Adams because he's gay. Had it been a woman no one would be concerned and that's upsetting.
1 hour ago
addybojangles: Damnit Sam Adams, way to reinforce stereotypes. Ugh.
Ramona_W: I was explaining my understanding of Sam Adams situation and the person I was talking to giggled, said, "Portland's mayor is gay?" #notcool
sicklittlejag: @bliccy oh god. Sam Adams is a silver fox. I would tap that so hard. /going to hell!
schutzsmith: @LogoMotives i knew you would! ;) Sam Adams and Beau Breedlove. I'm telling ya, it sounds like a gay soap opera sponsored by a beer company
_luk3: People should leave Mayor Sam Adams alone
Ramona_W: @willradik But the press went so easy on Clinton is what I'm saying. Supposedly the press is very liberal but they were savaging Sam Adams.
caitlinkeely: I still love Sam Adams jsyk.
justinkistner: @lisarokusek I agree, this Sam Adams thing feels more like anti-gay than a real problem.
Within the last hour
lrotter: Gah!!! I am so tiered of hearing about the Sam Adams drama...WHO EFFING CARES
willradik: Sam Adams should retaliate against the PPA by making the police wear pink uniforms. He can do that, right? That'd be sweet. Pink cars, too.
wheeldog: Because I was paying more attention to the inauguration,I thought all the Sam Adams' tweets were about the BEER. LOL :P now I know better.
|
January 20, 2009 |
Kari Chisholm | Comments (124 so far)
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Comments
Posted by: AdmiralNaismith | Jan 20, 2009 9:39:39 PM
Give 'em Hell, Sam!
If sex is so disgusting, how come there are so many of us?
Posted by: Mike D | Jan 20, 2009 10:11:24 PM
please...it's not the relationship..it is the abuse of power. He used his role as commissioner to woo an impressionable 17 year old. When confronted with it, he tried to spin it into some kind of Big Brother/Mentor act when it was really just a grooming this boy into bed.
Then he used his power to get a Portland Mercury reporter who worked on the original article a crushy city job ($55K/yr--paid by taxpayers) in the Sustainability department that she isn't qualified for.
He lies about it when he's running for mayor because to do otherwise, kills his chances. What else will he lie about? That we really need a convention center hotel at taxpayer expense? He has got to go!
Posted by: Steven Walling | Jan 20, 2009 10:14:54 PM
Actually, Portland is 14th on the list of twittering cities.
Thanks for this, it's an interesting tack. You might also create a tag cloud with Wordle from tweets just to get another perspective.
Posted by: James X. | Jan 20, 2009 11:35:16 PM
14th on the list of Twittering cities worldwide may make it #1 per capita. Portland is #1 per capita in a lot of media consumption, actually.
And I like this way of sampling opinion. It's not as scientific as a poll, but it also provides more nuance.
And a lot of people seem to think Sam planned this timing, rather than WW timing the publication date for tomorrow morning.
Posted by: Jamais Vu | Jan 20, 2009 11:37:44 PM
My favorite response so far is the humor:
Q: "How do you make a Portland boiler maker?"
A: "A 17-year-old Scot and a Sam Adams chaser."
There it is--Sam's behavior has made him a laughing stock, a lame-duck practically before he's taken office. For those who don't think lying to the public or grooming minors for a three-week tryst matters, ask yourself which high school is going to invite Adams to speak at graduation; which homeless youth program is going to solicit his assistance; and who in the hell is going to let their kid work in his office?
Think about Tom Potter's week working out of Jefferson High School--you think the parents are going to even want the new mayor on campus? Don't kid yourself; Adams is severely compromised in his ability to advocate for the city at this point on any issue, but especially education. (And I doubt we've heard the half of it yet.)
I also find the defense of Adams by those here who pilloried Mike Erickson and Derrick Foxworth extremely disingenuous.
Posted by: Jack Bog | Jan 21, 2009 12:03:22 AM
Nice spin, Kari, if a bit transparent. Wiener will be pleased.
Posted by: Daniel Spiro | Jan 21, 2009 12:54:51 AM
I get so tired of reading about out of control politicians and those who condone their recklessness.
For the "it's only sex" crowd, here's a sobering thought which is about as much of a "fact" as we know of in American politics:
If Bill Clinton had kept his Willie to himself, George W. Bush would never have been elected President (I, for one, don't believe he was truly elected ... but he did "win" as a technical matter). That's right, Al Gore would have used Bill to campaign for him, and the last eight years would have never happened.
Now for something that is a bit less of a fact, but only a bit: if John Edwards had won the nomination like a lot of progressives wanted and then was exposed for his affair during the general election, we may have just inaugurated John McCain and his unthinkable V.P.
The moral of the story is: stop defending this kind of conduct. These politicians need to know that this kind of behavior won't cut it. It's like a QB going out and getting drunk the morning of the Super Bowl. Yes, most of have gotten drunk at one point or another, but for a QB to do that on Super Bowl Sunday would be indefensible, given the circumstances.
Posted by: James X. | Jan 21, 2009 1:48:18 AM
Gore should have campaigned with Clinton anyway, because he had high favorability ratings. And being fodder for jokes has never disqualified all the presidents we've ever had, so I don't see why a lame one apparently made up on a blog is a career-ender for Sam. As for everyone being worried Sam's going to rape all their babies, I think that's an overactive imagination.
Posted by: Bartender | Jan 21, 2009 3:28:44 AM
Can't speak for the Twitter comments, but I just spent the past couple hours reading probably 500+ comments on local blogs, and I'd venture to guess that it's running about 80% against Sam - not the 50-50 split these "representative" comments of yours show, Kari. Just sayin.
As literally hundreds of people have stated before me, it's not about the sex. He should not have lied, or induced others to lie for him. The ends do not ever justify the means.
Perhaps his campaign would have suffered if he told the truth or simply refused to answer (for the very justifiable reason that it isn't our business if everything was indeed legal), but I don't feel that it is up to Adams - or anyone in such a position - to decide that I'm not capable of weighing the facts and deciding for myself what's relevant and true. I'm an intelligent adult and would appreciate being treated as one. We've had eight long years of people in power lying to us "for our own good" and telling us the ends justifies the means. It never does.
Posted by: Rev Joseph Santos-Lyons | Jan 21, 2009 5:15:42 AM
I appreciate reading / hearing that Mayor Adams acknowledges the poor judgment and power issues as an older adult dating a significantly younger man. Given the roles of supervisor/mentor and intern/youth, it is highly problematic from an ethical leadership standpoint.
My gut feeling is still ARG, both at our Mayor, and at those who assume it is simply a non-issue as well as our Portland Police whose Spokesman called for his immediate resignation. Politics isn't my strong suit though.
At this point, it is going to take time to rebuild trust. Mayor Adams has the potential I believe, at least with me. He still appears highly fit for the issues and needs of our city, though I supported Sho Dozono in the primary.
My last point is a thank you to Willamette Week and all the efforts to do serious civic journalism. It takes significant time and money, and is often highly unpopular. It is a waste of both when we have to expose cover-ups and deception by our publicly elected officials.
Posted by: Kurt Chapman | Jan 21, 2009 5:50:56 AM
Kari, change the name to someone you revile, like say Bill Sizemore and an 18 year old republican lwgislative intern. Still no problem?
I am not trying to be snarky. the fact remains that this was an abuse of power by a political insider. Adams then lied about it when it came up. The people of Portland now get to deal with it.
Posted by: david | Jan 21, 2009 6:36:17 AM
The issue is here credibility. Sam Adams purposely lied to us for his own personal gain, and urged others to lie on his behalf. He has no credibility now.
For the good of Portland he should resign immediately.
Posted by: Zarathustra | Jan 21, 2009 7:01:34 AM
The Reagan baby boom has come home to roost. Those born then are now influencing opinion and, to that generation, dissembling is the cost of doing business.
Posted by: david | Jan 21, 2009 6:36:17 AM
The issue is here credibility. Sam Adams purposely lied to us for his own personal gain, and urged others to lie on his behalf. He has no credibility now.
For the good of Portland he should resign immediately.
That's the legal definition of fraud; portraying a situation contrary to fact for purpose of consideration. Like it or not, the business of America is business, and the preferred method of carrying on that business is fraud.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Jan 21, 2009 7:13:44 AM
I'll extend and revise my remarks from the other thread, since it was well after chalupa-time over there.
....
I see these questions as kind of like a warrantless search. Anything you get after that is "fruit of the poisoned tree."
The media had no business asking him a question about sex between two legal consenting adults. It doesn't matter what he said when he was asked -- the question was out of bounds. Once the media determined that it was a legit relationship, then that should be that.
(It sucks to be a reporter who spends months on a story only to learn that there's no story there - tough to put it all in a file, instead of publishing. But that's the right thing to do.)
People lie about sex. Get over it.
Think back to whatever your most embarrassing sexual incident was - (didn't call her after? one-night-stand you'd rather forget? etc.) - and ask yourself what you would say if a reporter suddenly asked you about it. Would you confirm all the details? Would you say "none of your damn business" (knowing full well that's an admission)? Would you deny it?
The only question should be - was it legal? Anything else is a question for his minister, his therapist, his mother, his best friend. But not the public. We're hiring him to be a policymaker and administrator; not a saint, not a role model, not father-of-the-year.
If Sam had asked me (and he didn't), whether he should be dating an 18-year-old, I'd have said, "Dude, really? That's gonna get real boring, real fast. You want to fall in love? Find someone with similar life experiences." But whether I think he should have been dating someone is a FAR different question than whether I think it belongs in the public debate over his qualifications as mayor.
[Oh, and to all those who are ranting about how this is just me defending a former client, you're wrong. I have LONG believed that consensual sex between adults is nobody's business but theirs. Everyone, including political leaders, deserves a zone of privacy.]
Posted by: Eric Parker | Jan 21, 2009 7:34:01 AM
"People lie about sex. Get over it"
Why? Just because we have liberal idealism, it does not entitle us to become Godless in our actions.
It may be consensual, it may be between 'adults' (legally I may add), but the age difference is what's disgusting. Breedlove's age would make him seem like Sam's own child, being that Sam is 42. Common sense would dictate that you would leave someone alone and not persue someone that is at an age that would make them your son or daughter (or in Breedlove's case, your Parent).
But, as we have seen many times over in our current society, a person's Cultural side overrides logical common sense and has been legally upheld as such in some instances. So, I guess, there is nothing we can do about it but be disgusted over it and live with the Godless consequenses.
Posted by: Anonim | Jan 21, 2009 7:38:38 AM
Kind time of days!
Help the Russian student not to starve to death, send to whom how many it is not a pity money on WM purse Z766143102689.
Thankful in advance...
Posted by: Ted | Jan 21, 2009 7:39:29 AM
Did you read the WW article? Did you read about how Breedlove has had some very emotional problems, how he felt that Sam could destroy his future? And why wouldn't he? He destroyed one of his opponent's reputations just to save his own skin and coached an 18 year old kid to lie for him. Or does Breedlove need to end up like Neil Goldschmit's teenage love doll before the harm is recognized?
What about the liability Adams could have exposed the City to? What about a mayor being compromised by threats of blackmail? What about the lies? Adams wasn't caught off guard, he systematically lied in interviews, lied in press releases, and coached his barely-not-rape-victim to lie for him.
I guess in one respect I will agree. Breedlove was the bigger man. He apologized to the candidate Adams smeared and ultimately came forward to tell the truth. The irony is, this 18 year old kid was honest and the real adult in this story. He is a much better reflection on the gay community than Adams, who just reinforces every negative stereotype there is (which is the point three of my gay friends were making yesterday).
Posted by: Jiang | Jan 21, 2009 7:53:51 AM
Kari, maybe if you could write a short skit to illustrate, because I'm just not getting any kind of viable mental image here. The comments about age/sex aren't moralistic (excepting EP's- saying "Godless"; weakens any argument, duh...), it's an inability to imagine the scenario.
Please describe/act out for us having a progressive political discussion with the guy, something about the big picture. Kind of like "My Dinner with Andre". Then cut to his having a conversation with Beau Breedlove. What did they talk about? Are we supposed to imagine that it's purely physical? I had a date once that said, "I'm not interested in you, I just like your cock", and was never sure if that made it better or not. Sure, people act like animals. They don't usually stop and have progressive discussions while doing it. What's the basis? If it's only physical is that a good reason to risk your political future? After Shrub, I'm more interested in a politicos risk taking index than views, pretty much. That, imho, was the final straw that killed McCain. He was a risk taker in his campaign at the very moment he was trying to portray himself as different from Shrub.
Psychology holds that there is a huge correlation between need for power and sexual conquests. I've said a million times that the primate "great man" complex, and peoples' unwillingness to question their biological assumptions holds the politics a prisoner of the assumptions required to sustain that thinking. This is a classic example. If you accept that situation, Sam Adams is "always a good choice". If you don't accept that, he's disgusting.
If the latter, you can only conclude that he is there for power, not for results. I asked when he became a member of the City Council why everyone was immediately talking about his running for Mayor. I was very bothered by his running with it instead of first establishing his record. At the time I asked of BO, "how can that ever work? Is he a saint?", and was called a troll. When you dismiss questions like that out of hand, these are the results you get.
Posted by: Abby NORML | Jan 21, 2009 7:59:08 AM
No, this isn't about character. He puts on his heaviest boots and gives Multnomah County Democrats a huge kick in the zatch on inauguration day to cover up a blatant lie.
Announcing that you bold faced lied about your diddling 18 year olds on the day your party is talking about change and Camelot is every bit the douchebaggery that describe the political machinations of Saxy Chambliss.
Everyone talking about party bias, you don't have to exaggerate. Just compare Randy Leonard to Sam, at this point. Proves talk ain't cheap. It can be very costly if you buy it.
Get in line, all you criticizing Sam. You all need to say you're sorry to Randy.
Posted by: Eric Parker | Jan 21, 2009 8:06:04 AM
"You all need to say you're sorry to Randy"
Only if it involves Duct Tape and/or IKEA signs
Posted by: Stacy6 | Jan 21, 2009 8:15:16 AM
Cherry picking: the act of pointing at individual cases or data that seem to confirm a particular position, while ignoring a significant portion of related cases or data that may contradict that position.
Kari, you're not making Oregon Democrats and progressives look very good. This incident is embarrassing enough without you trying to make it look like there's more support for Adams than there actually is.
Posted by: Jason | Jan 21, 2009 8:22:21 AM
"Give 'em Hell, Sam!
If sex is so disgusting, how come there are so many of us?"
Admiral,
Last time I checked two men can't have babies.
Oh, and this isn't about sex. It's about lying to the people who elect you. It's about whether or not voters can continue to trust someone; and it's also about the fact that Adams says the relationship started after Beau turned 18. I'm not saying it didn't, but why should we trust Sam on that one?
I wonder how you'd be reacting if a Republican was in office?
Posted by: JohnK | Jan 21, 2009 8:30:58 AM
The Mayor used the original charges to his political advantage and took pleasure in trashing Mr. Ball's reputation. Hopefully, he'll exhibit a little more character this time around, expend the same resources, and issue an apology to Mr. Ball proportionate to his original falsehoods..
Posted by: North Coast Demo | Jan 21, 2009 8:34:51 AM
How the hell does anyone know hes not lying now about when the affair started - not like he's got a track record for truthiness. He should resign.
Posted by: Jim H | Jan 21, 2009 8:38:39 AM
I'm with Eric on this one. He may have been "legal" but a 40+ year old and an 18 year old is sick. And no, I would not have been winking if the 18 year old was a girl.
I'm not calling for his resignation like some, but as my wife said - Sam Adams just went down a notch in our eyes.
It may be his personal life, but it does speak to his character.
Posted by: Bill McDonald | Jan 21, 2009 8:39:00 AM
Kari,
You're doing exactly what the Bush administration just got done doing for 8 years: Framing the issue in a way where you have the best chance of winning while ignoring the more damaging parts of the problem. Why talk about whether the Iraq War was a good idea - just say the surge is working.
Your focus is on sex between adults
as nobody's business and I suspect most of us agree with that.
Now address the other issues such as the possibility that a reporter was paid 55 grand with a city job to get her off the scent here.
Finally, I have a question about the underage angle: Sam said he lied because he was being accused of underage sex by a potential opponent in the Mayor's race. Now, I assume Beau Breedlove would know this was a horribly untrue accusation to make. If someone accused a friend of mine of criminal activity, I certainly would be mad about it if I knew it wasn't true.
Yet, Beau apologized to Bob Ball for the smear campaign against him. Shouldn't he have at least said, "Okay you were right that there was a legal relationship later, but I'm furious at you for suggesting we had underage sex. Don't you realize the kind of trouble that puts Sam in?"
But he didn't. He apologized almost as if the accusations were true.
Posted by: Mtrace | Jan 21, 2009 8:39:26 AM
Kari,
He Lied, and there is a possibility that his administrations is corrupt. I don't think we should "get over it."
Posted by: Can Someone Start Another Website Please? | Jan 21, 2009 8:47:26 AM
There is an obvious problem with the fact that this website is run by someone who takes money from political candidates. It completely ruins the credibility of the site. A new Democratic website should be established. This site has become the Fox News of the left.
Posted by: Garrett | Jan 21, 2009 8:47:59 AM
Why? Just because we have liberal idealism, it does not entitle us to become Godless in our actions.
Oh man, now we've got the God patrol out.
The difference between Sam and a Republican is that Sam is an openly gay mayor. A Republican that is openly gay would have never got past a primary. The Republican probably would have also attempted or passed plenty of anti-gay legislation because they hated themselves.
So please, let me help you off your high horses and pulpits. No 40 year old straight guy has ever thought about getting it on with an 18 year old woman or ever gone through with it. I mean...the internet is full of lies and those barely legal sites are totally not fantasies of 40 year old guys.
Posted by: Admiral Naismith | Jan 21, 2009 8:56:27 AM
*sigh* with followers like this, how do Democrats ever, ever win and stay in office?
If Bill Clinton had kept his Willie to himself, George W. Bush would never have been elected President (I, for one, don't believe he was truly elected ... but he did "win" as a technical matter). That's right, Al Gore would have used Bill to campaign for him, and the last eight years would have never happened.
In other words, if Al Gore had not succumbed to NCD (Neopuritan Chickenshit Disorder) and had let the popular President run with him, it would have been Gore and not Scrappy Doo who would have left the White House by helicopter yesterday, and people would have been cheering for different reasons.
The moral is that we need to concentrate on attacking Republicans for raping the Constitutions of the United States and Oregon, not getting all lily livered over our own politicians who enjoy active sex lives.
Clinton fucked. JFK fucked. RFK fucked. MLK fucked. The Northwest's great Supreme Court Justice, William O. douglas, got himself a new 20 year old wife, every 20 years. Who had the pristine sex lives, slept in twin beds, even? Bush, Helms, Nixon.
We need to embrace our Democratic heroes, not throw them under the bus for fucking. When I was growing up, I was taught that liberals were the ones who favor exploring and enjoying a healthy sex life without guilt, and it was Conservative Republicans who would bring back sin-tribunals if they could get away with it.
Portland han have a strong, progressive government led by a strong, progressive mayor who happens to have an active sex life, or liberals can spend the next four years pouting and whining and being bogged down. The choice is YOURS, not Sam Adams's. Leave it to the upright, uptight, homophobic Republicans to whine and puke about it and take the heat for doing so...if they even dare.
Posted by: Admiral Naismith | Jan 21, 2009 8:59:08 AM
Why? Just because we have liberal idealism, it does not entitle us to become Godless in our actions.
My Goddess accepts the happy union of intertwining, sweaty, lusty bodies shouting Her name in passion as a sacrament. If your God considers pleasure to be sinful, I'm sorry.
Posted by: Jim H | Jan 21, 2009 9:01:32 AM
A new Democratic website should be established. This site has become the Fox News of the left.
I agree. How is it that Blue Oregon is the only democratic website on the internet? Kari, how did you get a monopoly on that? I hope the Obama Administration looks into this obvious anti-trust violation.
Posted by: Steve Maurer | Jan 21, 2009 9:03:31 AM
My original view of this entire episode was entirely negative. However, I have to admit that talking to some of my gay friends, my perceptions about this have changed.
I was surprised to discover that not a single gay man I've talked to has been anything less than 100% supportive of Mayor Adams. My perceptions are colored by having a daughter who is 17 who I would not want dating a 40 year old man, but in the gay community, in which there are no worries about pregnancy, and power issues are less of an issue, they really don't think it's anyone's business at all. Period.
The lying also doesn't seem to bother them, because it's purely about sex, and all gays are familiar with feeling forced to conceal their true desires.
Again, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, I wonder if Mayor Adams can effectively run the city now that he has lost so much political capital over - yet again - the inability of a Democrat to keep his pants zipped. And for those of us who are trying to push the Equal Rights movement forward, I can't see this as anything but another step back.
But I will say that, while I disagree, I believe that it is possible to honorably hold the belief that Mayor Adams is being pilloried over this -- and that we should judge him only by his public service.
Posted by: Howard | Jan 21, 2009 9:03:55 AM
Oregonian====Resign
Tribune====Resign
WW===Resign
Portland Police Association===Resign
80% of the public===Resign
Kari===get over it
Posted by: negev79 | Jan 21, 2009 9:06:59 AM
I see these questions as kind of like a warrantless search. Anything you get after that is "fruit of the poisoned tree."
The media had no business asking him a question about sex between two legal consenting adults. It doesn't matter what he said when he was asked -- the question was out of bounds. Once the media determined that it was a legit relationship, then that should be that.
Kari - the problem with this statement is that the original allegation was that the relationship began when Breedlove was 17. Asking about this was not out of bounds. At that point, what should have happened was Adams saying "yes, we had a relationship, not that it's any of your business, because he was not a minor at the time." It would have blown up into a mini scandal, but I think he would have weathered it. Instead, he lied because he was scared of losing the election. And he strong armed Breedlove into lying too. Incredibly disappointing. Now he has to spend time trying to regain some credibility instead of being able to do his job.
Posted by: Dave G | Jan 21, 2009 9:07:53 AM
What is most surprising is that, no matter how many times this kind of conduct happens -- Clinton, Mark Foley, Larry Craig, John Edwards -- people don't seem to learn the obvious lesson. It's not the sex, it's the lie that hurts. The coverup is worse than the behavior. It sounds like there may be multiple lies here, and it is sad. Sam could have been a good mayor.
From a selfish standpoint, I hate to have Inauguration Day ruined by a reminder that no matter how much we are striving to transcend past blunders, politicians are all too human. Dave G.
Posted by: darrelplant | Jan 21, 2009 9:10:52 AM
The problem is, as each day goes by, another of Adams' lies gets exposed. He may hang on -- Rod Blagojevich is still governor of Illinois and the FBI's got him on tape discussing quid pro quo for Obama's Senate seat, after all -- but his credibility's been destroyed before his term's even gotten under way.
Not to mention, as a look at Adams' style of dealing with criticism, this is a pretty ugly example. If he's willing to blatantly lie and attempt to assassinate the characters of others with potentially embarrassing news that's -- for the most part -- true, what's he likely to do when it's something serious involving the city and multiple millions of dollars? It's virtually Nixonian.
Posted by: imwithsam | Jan 21, 2009 9:10:54 AM
Sam, please don't leave us with these jerks. This will pass and we need you where you are.
Posted by: Dan Petegorsky | Jan 21, 2009 9:11:54 AM
Once the media determined that it was a legit relationship, then that should be that.
Adams himself now describes the relationship as "inappropriate," Kari, so your use of "legit" here is troubling.
Posted by: backbeat | Jan 21, 2009 9:19:13 AM
Kari, I have a 17 year old son and no way in hell is he mature enough to decide whether and how to fend off the sexual advances of a 41 year old Mrs. Robinson who he interns for. No fucking way. Sam was wrong to take advantage of someone who worked for him, period. He was wrong to lie about it and he was wrong to hire an unqualified person for a major department in an attempt to hide this. Any HR director will tell you not to take sexual advantage of someone who works for you, period. Particularly when it was an intern young enough to be his son. What an ass.
Posted by: Eric Parker | Jan 21, 2009 9:22:11 AM
"Once the media determined that it was a legit relationship, then that should be that."
When there is an age difference like that of Adams and Breedlove, it is NEVER legit - in the eyes of constituents, logical people, and God. It makes no sense to have carnal dealings with those who would be logically considered to be your Parent, or your child.
Sam's culture overrode his common sense, and now he's paying for it big time. I hope that, when it comes time for Sam to reconcile his life on earth with his maker, he can explain himself to the point where he won't be summoned to spend his eternity to the neather regions of his true spirit.
Posted by: marv | Jan 21, 2009 9:28:29 AM
A few facts first. Bob Ball is a friend of Lars Larson.
The accuser in the Adams case is a friend of Lars Larson
Larson's attacks on a former mayor have not subsided. This site has reported on the case of an individual who
was ten days past his eighteenth birthday when he had a
consensual sexual experience with his girlfriend who was
under eighteen. He was charged with a measure 11 crime and sentenced to nearly seven years in jail. It is truly
sad that Carl Wolfson has now joined Lars Larson in the
hunt to jail Sam Adams. Will WW provide the documentation
to establish the time line confirming the illegality?
Posted by: workingmom | Jan 21, 2009 9:30:06 AM
What disturbs me is the nearly total lack of concern for the young man involved. I am the parent of two young adults age 18 and 22. Let me tell you, 18 years old is VERY, VERY YOUNG. They may think they're sophisticated, hip, independent but they are still KIDS. Their world view is limited to a combination of high school angst, popular media images and whatever role models their families provided.
By contrast Sam Adams is a middle-aged, educated man with a great deal of local celebrity. He has extensive professional, social and (presumably) sexual experience. In
my view his relationship with this young man was narcistic at best, and likely predatory. And then, AND THEN, he tells the kid to lie about what happened!!! What's the message to this boy? That what they did was wrong? That he/they should be ashamed of their relationship? How did this relationship and subsequent lie help this boy find self acceptance as a gay man in a (still) homophobic world? We all know it won't. The kid did nothing wrong, nothing that any young, impressionable teenager might do when flattered and seduced by a man whose face regularly appears on the evening news. This was, and still is, all about Sam. He's damn lucky he didn't mess with MY kid because he'd be dealing with me, face to face, one on one, and it wouldn't be pretty.
As for whether or not he should resign, I think it's up to him. It appears he broke no law, breached no official rule, so he can certainly weather the storm if he chooses. He might want to steer clear of high schools for quite awhile because, believe me, there are many parents who won't hesitate to publicly call him out on his outrageous behavior for many years to come.
Posted by: James X. | Jan 21, 2009 9:33:20 AM
People sure do like dramatizing new facts to make this worse. Beau was happy to have had sex, and announced it on the freaking street corner -- he wasn't worried Sam would destroy him, he was worried he could destroy Sam. For having sex. As an adult. And 80% of the public hasn't said a thing about this. The people who choose to comment on blogs are the people who are most upset about it, not a randomly chosen sample. "I don't care" isn't something that sends one running to the blogs the way "I am outraged" does.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Jan 21, 2009 9:37:38 AM
Now address the other issues such as the possibility that a reporter was paid 55 grand with a city job to get her off the scent here.
If that's true, it's a disaster - and Sam should resign and be prosecuted. But so far, there's zero evidence of that.
Kari, I have a 17 year old son and no way in hell is he mature enough to decide whether and how to fend off the sexual advances of a 41 year old Mrs. Robinson who he interns for.
#1. Beau was 18. #2. Beau was NOT his intern. Beau was interning for right-wing wacko Kim Thatcher in Salem.
Let me tell you, 18 years old is VERY, VERY YOUNG. They may think they're sophisticated, hip, independent but they are still KIDS.
If you don't think that age 18 is the right age for legal consent, then fine. Fight to change the law. But right now, that's the law because our society has determined that that's when people can decide for themselves.
As I said above, if Sam had asked me for relationship advice, I'd have advised him against dating the guy. But that's a VERY DIFFERENT thing than our standard for political leaders.
Posted by: Jamais Vu | Jan 21, 2009 9:38:00 AM
Glad to see the DA is going to investigate this. Even without sex, Adams has now admitted that this was a sexual relationship from the start, and that he began pursuing the kid when he was still 17. The charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor may apply if Sam coached the kid to lie about the relationship. If they don't apply legally, it seems Adams escapes only on a technicality. What a creep.
And for those here who keep blaming the victim, shame on you. I'm not pleased to have my mayor as the new spokesman for NAMBLA; and I hope the DA follows the investigation where it leads without being intimidated by Adams' famous temper, bullying or vindictiveness.
Posted by: Idler | Jan 21, 2009 9:45:06 AM
What is most surprising is that, no matter how many times this kind of conduct happens -- Clinton, Mark Foley, Larry Craig, John Edwards -- people don't seem to learn the obvious lesson. It's not the sex, it's the lie that hurts.
True up to a point, but other circumstances matter too. It's one thing to have a lover on the side, another to have one when your wife is sick, as in the case of Newt Gingrich or John Edwards. Yet another matter when you're acting like a predator to the young and impressionable, especially when they are minors.
Opinions differ about these matters (and God was unavailable for comment), but enough people think that sexual conduct is an expression of character that politicians should restrain their appetites.
I Adams does resign, he should avoid becoming a Catholic priest. He might be OK if he decides to be a scoutmaster.
Posted by: Jeff | Jan 21, 2009 9:49:36 AM
Anywhere Adams goes, representing Portland & Oregon, they will know this before he even lands.
In the first 24 hours, his admission was carried by more than 200 seperate news sources, including USA Today, CNN and MarketWatch. Around the world in Canada, India, China, Taiwan and Europe.
There's plenty of fuel -- a recall effort, an investigation -- to keep this going.
When does job effectiveness creep into this?
Posted by: Roy McAvoy | Jan 21, 2009 9:55:13 AM
A recall is one option, but if I were Mayor and wanted to keep my job I might offer up the following to the public:
1.A self imposed fine of up to one third of my salary for the first two years of office, with the monies dedicated to civics class projects at Portland Public Schools.
2.I would ask for a volunteer Blue Ribbon committee to be formed to review my performance quarterly, and to make sure I was meeting all performance objectives set forth by the city to include issues of integrity. A quarterly performance review of fiscal policy might be a good idea absent the allegations in any case.
3.I would encourage a complete and thorough police investigation to put to rest any suspicion that the young man was 17 yrs of age when the sexual acts occurred. I would strongly encourage Mr. Breedlove to come forward to the police and be forthright with any information regarding any romantic activity with me BEFORE his 18th birthday. I would personally meet detectives with and my attorney present to discuss the relationship with Breedlove prior to his 18th birthday.
4.I would encourage an independent investigation by the city council or an appointed committee into any allegations of impropriety. Specifically, any persons related to these allegations that were hired, alleged to have been favored, or alleged to have been given any benefit for their silence.
If all of the above was completed without further issue I would be more inclined to support the Mayor.
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Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Jan 20, 2009 9:27:20 PM
Full disclosure: My firm built Sam's campaign website, but I speak only for myself. I was not privy to any of the non-public details of this story.