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January 28, 2009

You can't handle the truth... about Sam Adams!

No matter what your position is on the Mayor Adams/Beau Breedlove controversy, do YOURSELF a favor and read Hart Williams' piece, Mr. Peepers Goes To Portland part iii. It is the single most comprehensive, in-depth examination of the actual relevant FACTS that I've seen anywhere by anybody. And that includes most especially Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nigel Jaquiss who is at the center of all this.

The example of former Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt and his alleged (many years later) sexual escapades with an underage girl is particularly salient here.

Mayor Goldschmidt was a hugely, phenominally successful and popular Mayor. His achievements as Mayor are as undeniable as they are copious. The city and citizens of Portland benefitted immeasurably from his tenure as Mayor. Perhaps more importantly, the city and citizens of Portland continue to this very day to benefit hugely from the singular achievements of Mayor Goldschmidt many years ago.

Neil Goldschmidt isn't a political pariah today because his record as Mayor reveals even a hint of untrustworthiness or incompetence.

In short, there simply is no rational connection or association between alleged PRIVATE sexual behavior and performing the duties and responsibilities of the office of Mayor. Whether an individual Mayor had sex with his own spouse or some teenager is as red a herring as has ever existed.

Run, don't walk, and read Hart's excellent, abso-friggin-lutely on-the-money piece.

Update: A comparable piece taking a slightly different tack but which nevertheless gets my wholehearted recommendation: Breaking: Traditional media sensationalizes sex scandal

Posted by Kevin at January 28, 2009 10:45 AM