Underage intern? Check.
Lunches? Check.
Out of office liaisons? Check.
Gay love? Check.
Text messages? Check.
Inappropriate? If you’re former Congressman Mark Foley the answer is ‘yes.’ If you’re St. Sam, not so much.
I like Sam Adams very much. Don’t like his politics, but he knows that.
But I think it’s extraordinary that the Zero, the so called newspaper of record, goes out of its way Tuesday (here) to block for Sam Adams while the City Commissioner mulls over his possible bid for mayor. Well, at least it didn’t bury the story like it did for Goldschmidt and Kulongoski here.
The story goes that well connected Pearl District developer (and Portland reserve officer) Bob Ball, had heard that Sam had a ‘relationship’ with a 17 year old legislative intern whom he’d met while on a lobbying trip to Salem.
It was among the most potentially damaging accusations that could be leveled against a gay politician, particularly one as high profile and ambitious as Adams. And it was coming from another gay man who also was thinking about running for the city’s top job.
The problem: The story Ball told about Adams and a 17-year-old legislative intern isn’t true, according to both Adams and the young man. Adams acknowledges trying to be a mentor, including exchanging numerous phone calls and text messages with the young man over several months in summer 2005.
Isn’t true? Is that the benefit of the doubt that would be given to another politician of a more conservative bent? Should we trust the Zero to get the story straight? What political dog does the Zero have in this fight that it would stake its reputation on that of a politician? In its previous story, the Zero has made it clear that Adams is its choice for mayor. That it bagged on Ball; blaming him for rumor mongering is odd.
The Zero is clearly attempting to defuse a political cluster bomb AND do a double job: salvage its candidate and savage his accuser.
Here’s what Willamette Week has to say about it. And here’s Sam’s response to Portlanders today.
Dear Portlander,
As you have probably seen in the media, I have been the target of a nasty
smear by a would-be political opponent. I will not dignify the substance of
this smear by repeating it – if you read the accounts you will see there is
no foundation to it. The reason is simple: it is untrue.This kind of ugly politicking may be commonplace in other cities and at the
national level, but Portland and Oregon largely has been blessedly free of
it. It saddens me that it has been introduced here, and I have faith that
Portlanders’ rejection of it will mean that this incident is an anomaly.About this attempted smear, here is what I want to say.
I have in the past, and I will in the future, respond to people who reach
out to me for help and advice. This is especially true when it comes to
young people.Growing up in Newport and Eugene, Oregon I remember when I was a teenager
and I had nobody who I felt I could talk to at a time I desperately needed
someone to give me advice and perspective about coming to terms with being
gay. I came through it. Not everyone does.Gay youth suicide rates, homelessness and depression are still too high.
And, adequate services have been lacking: Reasons why I co-founded
Portland’s Q Center, served on the Boards of Cascade AIDS Project, Basic
Right Oregon and lobbied the state legislature in support of statewide
non-discrimination laws.I didn’t get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be
snuffed out by fear of sleazy misrepresentations or political manipulation.
I understand the need for good judgment, and I work very hard to keep within
the bounds of propriety — as I did in this case.I’m glad that people consider me as a person they could come to for help,
understanding and support. I work at it. And I hope that you do too.
Local programs needing mentors have long waiting lists.About my political future: this attempted smear will not deter me from
serving Portland in the best way I know how. Soon I will be with sharing
with you my future political plans.With warm regards,
Sam
