Sam Adams Scandal

[Tom Kitten]

Jeez only three weeks in office and the pressure is mounting from for him to resign...He admits and apologizes for lying...but is that enough? I liked him and voted for him and I think he is one smart politician who has lots of influence and good ideas but the creep factor tends to overcome this in my mind...I think whether or not he satays and a recall effort is successful or not he is damaged beyond repair because he holds no authority from here on out...What do you think?

[classof56]

1. I don't live in Portland, but have been listening to the reports on KPOJ about Sam

I do think that he should resign. Things have gone too far for him to have much credibility from now on, and Portland deserves better than a mayor who tries to do his job under such a cloud. If the mayor of my town were in such a circumstance, I'd be strongly advocating he/she step down.

[Reader Rabbit]

2. I'm torn on the issue.

Such a blatant lie to the citizens of Portland is a serious breach of trust, and a public servant guilty of such has no business in our highest executive office. That said, the fact that the lie arose out of what should have been a private sexual relationship leaves a nasty taste.

Our country is afflicted with an adolescent obsession with other people’s sex lives, to our cost. But for this toxic prurient fascination, this whole situation would never exist. Sadly, Bob Ball knew that in America, a sexually-related accusation has legs, and so he made it. Because it was about sex, rather than, say, cheating on taxes, or fudging city paperwork—both of which have far more germane to the business of governing our city—the media pounced on it. Because it was about sex, Sam panicked and behaved in a phenomenally stupid and dishonest manner.

Poof! Culturally-sparked scandal.

Part of me feels that Sam should resign, because he’s a big, fat liar. But part of me rebels at the thought, because such an action seems to not just condone, but to legitimize our puerile national fetish with private sex lives.

It would be a lot easier for me to call for Sam’s resignation if he had lied about something other than sex. I absolutely hate the idea of giving any semblance of credence to sanctimonious bedroom peepers.

[oregonjen]

3. The alleged hiring of Amy Ruiz to hush her up, has me upset

Sounds like the cover-up will get him. Had he acknowledged a relationship with the young man from the get-go, it would have been a non-issue.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. Resign, Sam.

I could care less who somebody wants to screw, and to Portlanders' credit, the behavior itself is not the central issue. But the lie, the cover-up, the conspiracy to obstruct justice, and the fact that Sam only came out to fess up when he knew Willamette Week was about to open the story . . . please resign, Sam, and save us all a lot of heartache.

[cascadiance]

5. Yes, if he'd taken the Barney Frank approach and acknowledged it when asked about it...

... then I wouldn't have a problem with it either. It is too bad that some parts of the press have to pump up peoples' personal lives in these areas in politics, at the expense of focusing on their work/experience in other far more relevant areas.

And of course, the David Vitters, Larry Craigs, and perhaps even Duke Cunningham (according to some rumors), just continue to deny the importance or relevance of their personal life transgressions, even though they are more vociferously speaking out against the very behaviors they carry on in their own personal lives. I didn't see the mayor trying to legislate against gay interests like these Republicans were prone to doing.

For me it is far worse that a politician is working through legislation and political actions against the very interests of those who he shares personal behavior/lifestyles with, than it is to lie to cover up one's own personal life that one isn't being such a hypocrite covering up.

[condoleeza]

6. He should resign immediately

Apologizing is not enough, he lied, he attacked Bob Ball, coached Breedlove to lie and has possibly made bureau decisions based on who he "owed" because of this. I don't care what he does in his private life, but the fact is that he - personally - is NOT a nice person, he is simply a politician and we don't need an ambitious narcissist as Mayor. Sam's word has never been worth much and on City Council he was consistently a divider whose word meant nothing. This situation will only make people more cynical about politics and Lord knows there's work to be done and this is the last thing we need during a recession.

Sam is a masterful manipulator, he attends as many public events as he can, just long enough for a photo op or a write up in a paper, and then he's out of there. If it wasn't so pathetic it would be funny, but all that registers with the public is that he was there and that doesn't say much for him either. Tom Potter may not have had an agenda that satisfied the majority here, but he was an honorable man who tried to encourage citizen involvement. Sam was hell bent to undercut him from the day he took office and he did a good job of it.

If Sam had done the right thing from the beginning, admitted poor judgment and let the citizens decide, perhaps we may have had other viable candidates for Mayor to choose from. Now it's just a mess that is going to cost taxpayer dollars to fix. He has no credibility left, IMO.

[sandnsea]

7. Leave interns alone

I don't understand why nobody ever cares that people in positions of authority are having sex with subordinates. Big No No. Usually considered a sexual harassment lawsuit, at the least.

[Tom Kitten]

8. I think it would be better if he resigns...

Thinking back on the Clinton impeachment thing I wonder if it was better if he would have just resigned and let Gore take over...maybe Gore would have been elected with a clearer majority and we would have avoided the nightmare of the past eight years...

The thing is Randy Leonard is more than ready to step in and although he is very populist I have no idea how he would govern at this critical time...

[eagertolearn]

9. I'm from out of town but it seems to me that Sam has been putting

his life into this job as mayor. How many people have his time, experience and yearning to do what is best for the city? He made a mistake by not addmitting to his fling. So what! We all make mistakes and do you think that you'll be able to find someone else to be mayor who has never made a mistake? We are all human and humans are not perfect. He been prepared for this job and his whole life has been heading to this. It would be a loss to the city if he stepped down. Give him another chance.

[Parche]

10. i hope he stays

even if he got a Beau job from an 18 year old

more power to him

our sex lives should be private

:hi:

[quakerboy]

11. Was it legal?

Was it? If it was, then its time to move on to the governing part of government. If it wasn't, then of course he should resign, and now.

[hugo_from_TN]

12. Only two people know if it was legal or not.

Both are admitted liars.

[quakerboy]

13. Can anyone prove anything?

Unless there is illegality, this is a non issue to me. I expect the Mayor to do his job.

[Danieljay]

14. I voted for him and he should resign. Making out with a 17 year old in a public bathroom

in the state capital is just messed up. I don't care if it was gay, straight or somewhere in between.

Poor judgement, period.

[stumprancher]

15. If he were a teacher

...or cop or any other public employee, he would have been long gone.