Gotta say that while yes, a lie is a lie, until politicians get used to saying "that's none of your damn business you prevert voyeur", it's really the next best thing to that simple truth in this kind of case.
It's reflective of a lack of consciousness about our society's fascination with sex. It's the chocolate the dieters aren't supposed to eat, yet we're all eating it! Nothing like a sex scandal to sell papers, make names for yourself and bury someone else in the mud.
A lie is a lie, but your personal sexual life is your personal sexual life and I don't think sex with a younger man matters a fig in regards to his fitness for mayor.
A lie is a lie, but intent matters most. Two lies, the smear and then his lie don't make it right.
As I've been discussing with razorclaw above, it is only potential abuse of the power of commissioner's office which matters. And the only way to ascertain that is through an investigation. In the mean time, Sam needs support from those who want him to stay our mayor. I've sent him emails through the city's website. As long as he knows he really didn't do anything wrong, he should just keep working.
I think it has more to do with the fact that he was an intern...HIS intern. In many corporate situations I've been in you have to TELL HR when you start a relationship with someone on your staff, your team, the company, because the company is liable if there is a sexual harassment suit. The State is ten times more loaded with HR rules and regulations. Ethically he totally f-ed up. If Beau had left his position when it was clear there was an opportunity for something to happen, or if he had transferred to a different department within the State... then this wouldn't be AS heated, I don't think. If you peel away the layers about the age difference and concentrate on the fact he had a sexual relationship with a staff member..then told him to lie about it, is a pretty big deal. HE SHOULD HAVE KNOW BETTER. Don't shit where you eat, don't fuck where you work. Or at least have the forethought to deal with it maturely and make proper arrangements to protect YOU BOTH.
He should be reprimanded...but I don't think he should lose his job.
I'm not sure what the city's rules are for these things, and I've worked for plenty of corporations which don't have any such rules. :/ I'm also someone who just doesn't get involved with coworkers. I also refuse to talk about religion or politics with coworkers, also for the sake of workplace harmony.
He -should- have known better. Reprimanded if there is a policy banning relationships (again, don't know the city's policy on such things). Sometimes we become weak for the young hotties.
If Sam knows he didn't do ANYTHING illegal, then he needs to come back to work. We'll support him. If he knows he did something illegal and an investigation would show it, then he should resign and save us the investigation.
I had lunch with Jeremy today (he was mayor Tom Potter's liason with the Portand Police Bureau) and asked him about it. His take was less about the moral implications of sleeping with a hot, willing, young intern, but with the mayor's ability to govern. What it really comes down to is can Sam Adams still lead the city? I don't know the answer to that question, nor did he, but in the middle of this national crisis we do need an effective leader in city hall.
So for the sake of the city I hope we can either come together and agree that private sex has nothing to do with public office (remember those dreadful years of peace and prosperity under Clinton?), or he steps down and lets someone else do the job. It's this in-between state that hurts.
If Sam knows he did NOTHING illegal in his affair with the intern, then he should NOT resign. I think he'd be an effective leader regardless of this hoopla. I support his staying in office and I feel most Portlander's would too.
For the sake of the city he should get back to work.
No one else on her Flist, even those who don't know her outside of LJ, took what she said negatively. Not to belabor the point, but your reading comprehension is off in this instance. You're adding a dramatic reading to what Bronwyn said which simply is NOT present. I've quoted her for you to re-read, since you've removed yourself from her LJ. She even GAVE PROPS to GB saying to look out for the April issue. I'm not someone who buys the magazine regularly but would buy it specifically for Bronwyn's article
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As I've been discussing with razorclaw above, it is only potential abuse of the power of commissioner's office which matters. And the only way to ascertain that is through an investigation. In the mean time, Sam needs support from those who want him to stay our mayor. I've sent him emails through the city's website. As long as he knows he really didn't do anything wrong, he should just keep working.
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He should be reprimanded...but I don't think he should lose his job.
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He -should- have known better. Reprimanded if there is a policy banning relationships (again, don't know the city's policy on such things). Sometimes we become weak for the young hotties.
If Sam knows he didn't do ANYTHING illegal, then he needs to come back to work. We'll support him. If he knows he did something illegal and an investigation would show it, then he should resign and save us the investigation.
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So for the sake of the city I hope we can either come together and agree that private sex has nothing to do with public office (remember those dreadful years of peace and prosperity under Clinton?), or he steps down and lets someone else do the job. It's this in-between state that hurts.
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For the sake of the city he should get back to work.
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But with a best friend like you alienating readers and possible writers, who needs enemies.
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