Gay mayor scandal--and a bit on Leno

[lovelyladysarz]

My city elected an openly gay mayor--which, I guess, is a first pretty much country wide(gotta love Oregon for pioneering such things). Well, unfortuantely, he admitted to having an affair with his barely legal INTERN two years ago. He adamently denied it and then upon further investigation from a local newspaper, admitted to it this past week. Of course, having just been elected, this is doing damage to any potential this city has with him as a leader. I'm sorely disappointed. I guess the story made it to Jay Leno's monologue. Just what he needs--more publicity!:mad

It's disappointing for several reasons, most having to do with city progress and the inevitable standstill and lack of trust that will prevail. Nothing he says now will mean much to the general public as the majority want him to resign. He has yet to make a decision.

I would think being gay and in politics would require a lot more discretion or prohibitions. An eighteen year old intern? Are you kidding me?

[shrimpy]

It's disappointing when respected leaders undermine the faith that the public has put in them. I don;t see an issue with him being gay, am slightly dubious about the affair with an eighteen year old... that's more about taste than legality though as the intern WAS of age, but the lying about it..... well that's not right and is the most damaging part of the whole story in my eyes. How does one trust a person who is caught out openly lying in that way? I think the betrayal of trust is the biggest factor that leads me to agree with calls for his resignation.

Just my opinion:winky
Shrimps

[girlsoprano]

I never understand what a person's sexual activities or whether they care to openly discuss the details of those activities has to do with their day job. Why does anyone care if he had sex with someone younger, or whether he wanted to keep that private? How does it affect his ability to do his job? I don't mean to sound sarcastic or dismissive, I am honestly asking, because I don't understand the connection. It really is bewildering to me that Americans are so focused on who did what with whom. Almost everyone does something with someone, sexually, the world over... we are the only culture that seems obsessed with the sex lives of our politicians, and the rest of the world seems to get the job done just as well without knowing (or caring) about that aspect of their private lives.

As for him being gay, it's unfortunate that this will just fuel some of the negative stereotypes. I don't think he should be held to a higher standard; I think society should have higher standards, and not make two sets of rules, one for straight and one for gay politicians.

[ksara]

I agree with girlsoprano. Plus, since he wasn't married, it wasn't even technically an affair; it was a mutual relationship with two consenting and legal adults. I don't even know why he has to go back and apologize now. If this had been between Adams and a woman, no one would even have blinked. We need to stop worrying about what is going on in peoples' bedrooms, which should be private as long as both are consenting adults, and focus on the things that really matter and effect our world as a whole.

I only wish he hadn't lied about it and then came forth all contrite about it. I think he should have initially said exactly what girlsoprano said, in a nutshell, that it's no body's business.

Kris

[lovelyladysarz]

I don't think it was a matter of the relationship, although his age is being called into question for good reason. Yes, agreed, a person's personal life should not be a matter for the public, however, when you are in a position that requires you to be tactful and honest you need to be cautious in your actions. This is akin to a teacher having a relationship with a student; he was his mentor, there was a power differential, it was inappropriate, AND he lied about it for over a year.

The standards should be no different between gay and straight, but until the general public "catches up" to modern liberalism, caution really should be exercised.

Once trust is betrayed by a person in power--no matter the magnitude of the betrayal, it is hard to take that person seriously or at least see beyond the indiscretion. I don't see him recovering from this.

I just realized I used the term, "affair" and you're right; it was not an affair.

Also, I think the situation would be the same if he had a relationship with a barely legal (or maybe not even legal...TBD) eighteen year old female intern and lied about it.

[Millificent]

we are the only culture that seems obsessed with the sex lives of our politicians, and the rest of the world seems to get the job done just as well without knowing (or caring) about that aspect of their private lives.



Not the only ones. When I spent a college semester in England, a bunch of their politicians went through sex scandals. As I remember it, they were having a sort of family values campaign in Parliament and then all these allegations came out. They seemed even more obsessed with everyone's sex lives than we are.

I agree that the issue with the issue about the intern should be more about the differences in position than anything else. Eighteen is not barely legal - it IS legal.

:dragon Millie

[lovelyladysarz]

I only use the term, barely legal, because he had just turned of age a week before the sexual encounter. Point taken though; eighteen is eighteen. Perhaps I am coming from a less objective POV.

He has no intention of resigning as of today. Time will tell what this has done to his credibility.

I guess my main qualm is that there was potential, a lot of potential, for gay politicians alike to follow in suite to his lead. His role as a gay mayor is unprecedented, but now, it's likely that the relationship with the intern and the lies will cloud any future of another gay man running for office (in this state) without heavy scrutiny and doubts.

[Kensington]

How old is the mayor?

[ksara]

I believe he was forty-two at the time of the relationship. The boy, now twenty-one, states it was consensual and that he never felt like a victim.

Kris

[girlsoprano]

When I was in graduate school, a bunch of grad students were rumored to have slept with the chair of the writing dept. That's why I never even considered getting my PhD. I was totally disgusted and freaked out by the man, and the futon in his office, and the rumors about the futon. The women who slept with him weren't bullied, ashamed, victimized... I think it was poor judgment and immaturity on both sides, but it wasn't a crime. Some young people might be enamored by a person in power and take advantage of them just as much as the powerful person takes advantage of the young person. I don't know if he was a victim or not, but him saying he doesn't feel as though he was is probably more accurate than our speculations.