This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
News / City Hall / Media / Portland Oregonian Editorial Calls For Adams To Resign
Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 7:44 AM
From the piece, which you can read in full here:
So now, Portlanders are left with a mayor whose election was built on a lie. Nobody knows how the election might have turned out if Adams' conscience had gotten the best of him in a more timely way. But he preferred not to put it to the test.Nobody — not even the mayor — knows if his sense of right and wrong will fail him again, but he is asking us to give him another chance. In his Tuesday news conference Adams responded to one question this way: "If it's no longer in the city's best interest for me to stay on, I will resign."
He's already said he doesn't plan to quit, but we submit that it is not in the city's interest to have a mayor who cannot vouch for his own character under fire.
He should resign.
Also in this morning's O: Police Chief Rosie Sizer and the District Attorney's Office have agreed to launch some form of investigation into Adams' behavior, although its form is yet to take shape, and Ryan Frank investigates Adams' hiring of former Mercury news editor, Amy Ruiz. 65% of the O's online readers feel Adams' apology yesterday was insufficient and that he should resign. The city charter has a process if Adams should quit.
1
Resign now to save the community, Breedlove and yourself from dredging through this mess any longer. You've lied, hurt others personally and professionally, and lied again to cover things up. It's time to quit for the good of Portland.
2
Well it was Amy Ruiz that was gonna blow the whistle on this right?
So Amy get appointed to some pork barrel job by Sam to shut her up?
SAM'S GOTTA GO!
So Amy get appointed to some pork barrel job by Sam to shut her up?
SAM'S GOTTA GO!
4
I'm not sure how Adams' resignation would be good for Portland.
Explain it to me like I'm five years old.
Go on.
Explain it to me like I'm five years old.
Go on.
5
kiala - he did something really bad and we can't trust him anymore.
I don't think Adams should resign, but he has *no* political capital. What he did was not illegal if Breedlove was over 18, but sleazy to the extreme.
I don't think Adams should resign, but he has *no* political capital. What he did was not illegal if Breedlove was over 18, but sleazy to the extreme.
7
I do not think Adams should resign. He may have no political capital right at this moment but he also has a put forward some very aggresive plans for this City that should be given the opportunity to move forward. If folks are that fired up(and I mean real folks beyond the same 7-10 who comment on every blog) then they can go through the recall process. Give the guy 6 months to see if he can move forward and if not folks can recall.
8
I think it's sleazy because he waited around for Breedlove to turn 18; I dunno.. that's just kinda weird when you're in your 40s.
9
This is insane. The question is not relevant to his qualification for office. It is time that all public officials get a pass on questions about their sex lives. It is none of your damned business.
I hope this blows over and Portland doesn't actually end up looking like the Republican House during the Clinton years.
I hope this blows over and Portland doesn't actually end up looking like the Republican House during the Clinton years.
10
Kiala - and he lied while launching attacks on others accusing him - of doing what he was actually doing. Then he coached the kid to lie too.
He has no credibility to lead a city.
He has no credibility to lead a city.
11
Sleazy=all gay people are pedophiles waiting to bugger your children as soon as it's legal.
I didn't know there were still a bunch of ignorant rednecks in Portland. I thought it was all hipsters and lesbians these days.
I didn't know there were still a bunch of ignorant rednecks in Portland. I thought it was all hipsters and lesbians these days.
13
politicians who don't know when to play something close to the vest are epic failures at their jobs.
just sayin'.
just sayin'.
14
I think that if he told the truth he would not have been elected.
I don't see why his sex life has any reflection on his position as mayor. His sex life does not reflect his qualifications for being mayor. I don't want him to resign or for their to be a recall. I think everyone needs to get over this and concentrate on the more important things that are going on.
Does anyone even know what is going on with Guantanamo Bay Or that yesterday was the inauguration of Obama?
There are far more important things going on then the fact that our mayor boned an 18 year old four years ago.
I don't see why his sex life has any reflection on his position as mayor. His sex life does not reflect his qualifications for being mayor. I don't want him to resign or for their to be a recall. I think everyone needs to get over this and concentrate on the more important things that are going on.
Does anyone even know what is going on with Guantanamo Bay Or that yesterday was the inauguration of Obama?
There are far more important things going on then the fact that our mayor boned an 18 year old four years ago.
15
Looking back I still would have had a choice between Sam and Sho Dozono. I still would have voted for Sam.
16
To all you hypocritical Portlanders with your "No one died when Clinton lied" bumper stickers: Why don't you give Adams a real chance? He is the mayor that Portland needs, and his lying about this during the election doesn't change that. I'm not saying he was right to lie, but in an election that was already charged with sexual issues, he would have had more balls than anyone in politics to admit it then, but would you have been good enough then to look past a mistake to elect him despite it, knowing that he was well qualified otherwise? I doubt it. I sincerely hope he does not resign. I still very much support and believe in his ability to run the city.
17
Yeah, like that he totally lied to the people.
Also, re: sex (since people still seem to think that this is mostly about "the fact that our mayor boned an 18 year old four years ago.") - are we pretty much over the idea that their relationship was one of mentor/mentee? That position was clearly a cover-up, right, to make the relationship look a little cleaner?
Also, re: sex (since people still seem to think that this is mostly about "the fact that our mayor boned an 18 year old four years ago.") - are we pretty much over the idea that their relationship was one of mentor/mentee? That position was clearly a cover-up, right, to make the relationship look a little cleaner?
19
Older persons dating younger persons, is not illegal nor is it immoral.
Unless the person felt coerced or harassed into doing so, this is just not an issue.
And Clinton was MARRIED. Sam was not.
Unless the person felt coerced or harassed into doing so, this is just not an issue.
And Clinton was MARRIED. Sam was not.
20
Right, so let's shut up already about whether him having sex with a young person is wrong. okay?!
I still think there are ethical considerations to consider, were the relationship positioned as mentor/mentee. fuck the age difference, please.
I still think there are ethical considerations to consider, were the relationship positioned as mentor/mentee. fuck the age difference, please.
21
@ROM
"The "intern" in question was an employee of a Republican from Keizer in Salem. He was *not* an intern for the city of Portland, City Hall or Sam Adams. He was an adult male of legal age that did the nasty with a councilman from PDX."
Text stolen from Garrett @ Blogtown.
"The "intern" in question was an employee of a Republican from Keizer in Salem. He was *not* an intern for the city of Portland, City Hall or Sam Adams. He was an adult male of legal age that did the nasty with a councilman from PDX."
Text stolen from Garrett @ Blogtown.
24
In ancient Greek times it was typical for older politicians to take on younger men for mentoring. Involved in this mentoring of course was sex. That you are suggesting that this act was inherently sleazy can be disputed quite easily. But asides from that, Sam Adams has the qualifications to be a good major regardless of engaging in something that the society upon which our own society is based thought to be quite normal, not to mention the tendency of younger gay men to be with older gay men. A gay friend of mine once told me of a relationship he had with a significantly older man when he was 18 and talked about how fun and rewarding it was. Soo, whats the problem here? Its not legal, Adams has a right to a private sex life. God, Adams is one of the best things to happen to Portland. Lets not fuck it up over this.
25
I don't care that he lied. No one should have been asking him questions about his sex life in the first place.
Sam Adams is my mayor and I hope it stays that way.
Sam Adams is my mayor and I hope it stays that way.
26
Eeee, yeah of course sex was involved in those relationships. Duh. But now that we're not talking about the matter at hand... are you suggesting that mentoring programs in this country of ours (a country that - need it be noted? - is made up of a society based on ancient Greece), such as Big Brother Big Sisters, should, were the client of legal age, include a hands on sex feature? Or would such a feature maybe veer too close to a violation of trust/ethics/something that is contrary to the nature of the relationship? Personally, I think it would. But aside from the fact that I worked for years as a mental health worker with severely emotionally disturbed kids, and that my mom is a therapist with the same group, and that my dad is a Big, I still wonder how much truth there is to your claim that this matter can be easily disputed. Like, is my example completely irrelevant because it doesn't involve politicians?
At any rate, I agree that he seems like he'd make a good mayor.
At any rate, I agree that he seems like he'd make a good mayor.
27
I remember during the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal, some Italian politician pointed out that it can't be considered a lie if the questioner has no right to ask the question in the first place. He said this to explain why most Europeans were so surprised at our response to the scandal and the ridiculous farce that the impeachment proceedings turned into. An individual's legal, consensual sex life is no one else's business, regardless of who they are. Fetishes, role play, sex with adults half their age: we don't have a right to know, not even when we're talking about a politician.
No one had the right to know whether or not Adams had sex with this person in the first place. Ergo, according to the Italian's logic, it can't be considered a lie because no one had a right to ask the question in the first place.
Interesting concept. We really are still a nation of Puritanical hypocrites.
No one had the right to know whether or not Adams had sex with this person in the first place. Ergo, according to the Italian's logic, it can't be considered a lie because no one had a right to ask the question in the first place.
Interesting concept. We really are still a nation of Puritanical hypocrites.
28
He didn't do anything illegal. Why don't all of you give your boss an itemized list of every legal sexual encounter you've ever had. That way you won't be lying to him.
29
wait a minute: breedlove was never adams intern, but an intern in salem, where they met at a dinner
wait a minute: the sex was consensual and breedlove was of age
wait a minute: most of the shit sliggers that the wweek interviewed were ex lovers of either adams or breedlove.
wtf people: let our city officials do their jobs, investigate, then make a decision
Adams has a 20 year history of doing great things for Portland and the Gay community, it is sad to see everyone make such quick decisions!
wait a minute: the sex was consensual and breedlove was of age
wait a minute: most of the shit sliggers that the wweek interviewed were ex lovers of either adams or breedlove.
wtf people: let our city officials do their jobs, investigate, then make a decision
Adams has a 20 year history of doing great things for Portland and the Gay community, it is sad to see everyone make such quick decisions!
Most Commented on Blogtown, PDX
-
Mandatory French Fries on Sandwiches: CONDEMN OR ALLOW? by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey
-
Win Valentine's Dinner for Two at Central by Alison Hallett
-
Let's Play the Game of
LoveThrones by Erik Henriksen -
In Which Bobby Roberts Attempts to Ruin the One Thing That Made Me Happy Today by Erik Henriksen
-
Should Portland Ban Cops From Using Horses and Pepper Spray to Bust Up Protests? by Denis C. Theriault
-
New Paris Laws Give Bikes Okay to Run Red Lights; Ooh-La-La! by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey
-
"I Have Chickens Too!" by Alison Hallett
-
Tonight! KATU Wants Everyone to Be Afraid of Marauding Crazy People! by Denis C. Theriault
-
CAT BREADING UPDATE: Which Mercury Employee Succumbed to the Pressure? by Bobby Roberts
-
THE ROCK IN 2012 by Erik Henriksen
Our Friends
- UrbanHonking
- Culture Shock
- Portland Roundball Society
- Steph Cassano
- Cort and Fatboy
- Street Roots
- Powell's Books Blog
- Portland Transport
- Portland Afoot
- Bike Portland
- Eater: PDX
- Portland Food and Drink
- Mr. Movie
- Sunday Softball
- BlueOregon
- Sightline Institute
- Ultra: Arts Portland
- Bitch Magazine
- Blazer's Edge
- Reading Local: Portland
- Portland Food Carts
- Stumptown Vegans
Our Enemies
The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.
Bands Page
Housing
Jobs
Musicians
For Sale
Wheels
Services
Health
The Arts
Friends 'N' Neighbors
Bulletin Board
Personals
Adult
About Portland Mercury
RSSGoing to Seattle?
Comments (29) RSS