The day before the inauguration, news came that Sam Adams, Mayor Elect of Portland, engaged in a sexual relationship with a young man named Beau Breedlove, who was all of 17. What a headline to wake up to with the Inaugural paper. There are now calls from the Oregonian and the Tribune for Sam Adams to resign.
Here is my letter to Sam Adams:
Dear Sam Adams:
Really?
There are people saying that you should resign (The Oregonian and the Tribune) because of the stupid set of lies you put out about your relationship with Mr. B.
I don't think you should resign. You have worked for 10 years to get to this point. You have served the City of Portland with energy, enthuisam and creativity. You lived in a working class neighborhood; you addressed the concerns of working class and middle class residents.
But really, Sam? There wasn't someone, anyone, in the City of Portland and environs wasn't at least 21 and over? Or closer to your age (43?) Did you not observe what happened with Neil Goldschmidt, and how his lack of control basicly destroyed any federal aspirations, and cut down the statewide good he could have for Oregonians? Did you not see that the working clas Portlanders who love you and supported you - white, black and Asian- would easily and completely brushed off the relationship- had you just told the damn truth.
Because, really that is what this is really what it about. It's about transparency and manipulation and judgment, not about who you date ( because, you know what, people voted for you, not your orientation!) If it is true that you did not fool about until Mr. B was 18, then no worries. But now, by lying, people are truly worried that you may prosecuted by Randy for statutory rape. And boy, is that needed in the Gay/Lesbian community of Oregon, who already got their butt kicked after the repeal of marriage rights! Wonderful!
Damn and blast. Damn!
I think you can do wonderful things for Portland. I will fight the hypocritical calls for your resignation,but they are by your political enemies who want to use Portland as a developers piggy bank. I love you and remember the good things you have done for N/NE PDX.
But by god, you just shot yourself in the foot with this.
Damn!