NO

I've always assumed the people in the know were a pretty decent judge of people so I figured Adams might be the best mayor Portland has seen in a while. But since his virtual election last June I haven't seen much that impresses me. Taxing garbage bags, tolls on bridges and now this. He seems to be somewhat tone deaf in what might fly in Portland. It's like he wants to tax first and figure out what to do with the money later. I don't think this latest deal has much to do with Adams being gay, but does call to mind the Neil Goldschmidt stuff and doesn't get his administration off on the right foot. Anyone know who he gets political advice from?

Was Adams right to fear a distracting scandal?

Yes.

Was he justified in lying to avoid it?

No.

As much as it hurt, he should have come clean. If Breedlove really was 18 at the time, there's no crime. Better to deal with a distracting scandal and get rid of it than to be exposed as a liar. At this point, Adams' credibility is completely shot, and it will be very difficult to get much of anything accomplished as mayor for quite some time.

Pretty sleazy stuff. Recall this SOB.

I am outraged!! When we should be celebrating, we now have to deal with this garbage. Time to resign Sam.

DanOregon:

Taxing garbage bags, tolls on bridges and now this.

Bob T:

He's also in love with the idea of using taxpayer dollars to provide corporate welfare to renovate Civic Stadium (again) and to build a new park for the baseball team, as well as to build a government-owned convention hotel.

Bob Tiernan of Mult Co

DanOregon:

Taxing garbage bags, tolls on bridges and now this.

Bob T:

He's also too in love with the idea of using taxpayer dollars to dish out corporate welfare to a millionaire (son of another millionaire) so he can renovate Civic Stadium (again) as well as build a new park for the baseball team, and to use tax dollars to build a government-owned convention hotel.

Bob Tiernan of Mult Co.

Cody, it won't be just Portland who judges Sam -- he will BE Portland to the rest of the country.

On national news tomorrow morning, this will be the flipside of America's fist black president... How we rose above color.

America's first big-city mayor who's openly gay now admits... How we held our nose.

Regardless of sexual orientation, is it ever appropriate for a much older person in a position of power and impression to be involved with someone who's just come of age? This reminds me of the WA's recent approval of teacher's having sex with 18 year olds. Are there no longer standards of what's considered appropriate for someone in a position of authority?

Hopefully Portland has the sense to recall a politician who did not have the sense to take this in to account given his aspirations and position.

What's perhaps more worrisome is the fact that Portland elected this guy despite his personal bankruptcy. In the face of such a huge financial mess, with so many over-extending themselves so foolishly, the last thing we need is someone who has demonstrated lack of personal financial acumen and restraint to lead us.

We need to step up and start a movement to recall the mayor for this blatant violation of the public's trust.

Email me at [email protected] if you support a recall and if you're willing to help.

While lying is never right, I'm past the point where I'm concerned about politicians who lie about their sex lives. I really just don't care. Maybe I should, but I don't, unless it's something really amusing, like if they were wearing diapers or tapping their feet in a public restroom or something.

This is disappointing to say the least. Adams was dishonest. In carrying out his charade of virtuous moral integrity, only to have it completely repudiated with this ending, I'll bet a lot of voters will feel they've been duped regarding the quality of his character. Bob Ball seemed a little clueless about the way he chose to originally reveal the story, but now doesn't seem to be quite the rat he was made out to be. I wonder if Adams will recover enough of his sense of honor and obligation to offer Ball a public apology.

I'm not understanding the connection to tax policy or a bankruptcy in his 20s. It seems that if one's outrage at this were genuine, it wouldn't be about plastic shopping bags costing extra. Replying to this story with unrelated complaints about Sam makes it seem like this story upsets you because you already don't like him.

The guy is a smug idiot who will say and do whatever it takes to win, this being just one of many examples.

Look at earlier WW interviews with him, where he says he will never make his orientation a campaign issue, but then, when told of complaints about his overbearing personality, he says something along the lines of, well, maybe they have problems with gays.

This guy plays by his own rules, and while that sort of attitude may have been just fine 10 years ago, or even 1 year ago, I think we now need and demand greater accountability and transparency. This thug ain't delivering on that count at all.

Fortunately, this incident will do-in any chance of Adams extending his political career. Or maybe not. (I'm shocked that Tim Geithner is probably going to be appointed, despite blatantly failing to pay taxes, even after being warned, for years and years...)

please. he lied to the media. what politician hasn't? Sam was the best prospective mayor in 20 years. let's judge him on how he performs as mayor.

The thing that concerns me about a politician when he or she gets exposed in covering up something is how they treated the public - lying to them - and how they treated the person who came out with the info in the first place. SOP is to discredit the person, the media reporting, if any, etc.. That tells me that the politician is willing to sacrifice an innocent to gain their ends.

I've been on the receiving end of that type of behavior. I won't tolerate it in a private citizen and I definately don't tolerate it on the part of a public official.

The question you have to ask yourself is this - "So he threw one person under the bus, are you willing to be the next sacrificial lamb?"

While I again maintain that lying is wrong, and that it was bad judgment, I just don't expect politicians to tell me about their sex lives, so if they deny having sex with someone they had sex with, I don't feel particularly wronged, or robbed of information I had an expectation to have. As for Ball pushing a rumor of underage sex that he later said he didn't believe, and one that nobody ever seemed to actually come out and allege (Ball only said he had heard the rumor, not that it was true or that he had any knowledge about it), that also seemed like bad judgment.

I was waiting for it and thank goodness Kari stepped up to the plate. Sorry Kari. Take off your rose colored glasses of love for everyone who has paid for the food on your plate.

There is only one way to look at this. Sam took the responsibility of helping an underage kid find his future and didn't let it stop there. Sam's been a supervisor for a long time and should have known right from wrong. If he had hidden this about a fellow employee, he'd have been fired and subject to a lawsuit. He owes the Portland one more thing with his admission: His resignation. How can we ever trust him again?

Kari, Adams was serving as they guy's mentor. Adams has since hired two reporters who were investigating the story for jobs in his administration. I'm actually kind of surprised by the reaction from those I consider to the left of me being more upset and angry at Adams than I am. Folks on KPOJ are calling for his head.

No, it's not okay that he lied.

Not because he had sex (with a young fellow when he was in a position of personal power, which is an ethical dilemma on its own). Everyone has sex. Almost everyone has sex before they're married.

And we all, at one time or another tell the "little white lie".

The breach of trust occurred because, in looking back, Sam seemed aware that he would be able to play the victim and know that those of us who liked him would agree that he was being victimized, and would rally. Which we did. And Sam played the victim with gusto. I wonder how Bob Ball is feeling right now.

Now I feel foolish for ever having supported him. I believed his victim story without a second thought.

Trust is a fragile thing. In politics, it falls apart at a touch. Sam's turpitude has made it that much harder to reinforce my own rather (obviously) naive belief that sometimes a man or woman aspires to high City office because they really think they can elevate the City, and it's completely ruined my conception of the man.

Not because he had sex, and not because he exploited a certain relationship, but because he got caught, looked at us voters that supported him, and cynically delivered a story that saved his political pelt, instead of doing the right thing.

It doesn't have anything to do with if he's getting any. He lied, knew he was lying, and knew a lot of us would defend him. That's the sort of cynicism that has caused apathy and made people check out of the political process. And now I can't say that I blame them.

If it was legal and consensual that is one thing, but how can we trust Adams when he says he waited until the intern was 18 before sodomozing him?

he didn't trust the local media to drop the story once they determined that everyone involved was single and consenting.

That's a piss-poor excuse for lying to the people. All he needed to say was: "He was 18, not 17. We had a brief May-December thing for a while, and it's over. There's no story here." Most likely there would have been a brief public flap, and it would have gone away.

This speaks to both dishonesty and bad judgment. That's going to be far more damaging to him than "fling with an 18 year old" ever would have been.

he lied to the media. what politician hasn't?

Probably the majority of them. And "he lied to the media" = "he lied to the voters." We don't demand better conduct than that from our public officials, we'll never get it.

If in fact the sex was legal, then I have no problem with him lying to the media about it. His sex life is none of my, yours, or the media's business. To say he broke our trust because he used the story kind of puts the cart before the horse. If the accusation had not been made--an accusation about his private life--then there is no breaking of trust along the lines of using the event to his advantage.

There are other problems I have with Adams. This is not one of them. My problem is with people who invade others' privacy and people who get pissy when a victim of that invasion takes steps to combat that invasion.

Blah-blah-blah, worse than Watergate, blah-blah-blah, impeachment, blah-blah-blah Republicans can do it to the Constitution all they want but Democrats who do it with each other are unfit to serve blah-blah-blah.

The problem isn't Sam Adams. The problem is neopuritans continuing to try to criminalize sex. Understandable in Republicans, but I'm ashamed to see so much of it in my own party.

I have no respect for politicians who lie to their constituents. I care far less about Adams having sex with a younger man than I do about Adams' lies - although if he lied about the relationship, it makes me think that he's lying about the legality of it as well. If he got away with lying about this, what else will he lie about? It makes me feel like he's contemptuous of us. It seems like he's basically a dishonest person, not worthy of our trust. Not someone I want in a leadership position.

Wheter or not his lying is wrong, the issue is this: It is part of his culture. It is who he is. He doesn't know any better because of that culture. And since we have to be accepting of any culture (i.e. 'diversity') there is nothing we can do about it.

Since there is nothing we can do about it, and it is part of his culture (diversity), It's not really lying at all. It's just the way it is in our society. We, unfortunately, have to live with it

No. Sam Adams is a test of liberals' ability to keep their eye on the ball. Anyone keeping score with him- since whenever- cannot be impressed. He suffers from an "IT" mentality. Be very progressive when discussing theory, middle of the road during implementation, and completely unaccountable for the final result/cost/completion date/user satisfaction. In other words, only concentrate on the fun parts of a project.

All politics really is local. I would be delighted with Sam- record included- in every other city I've lived. Portland can and needs to do better.

Speaking of IT, the new functionality that keeps you on-site during comment preview is great!

"and perhaps offer some assurances that this won't become a habit."

In light of his culture, I doubt any such assurances would be worthwhile.

I would like to thank Sam and Beau for doing what was necessary to keep their private affairs from turning a legitimate, issues-based mayoral race into some farce preoccupied with prurient speculation.

Sam has to go. He put the careers and reputations of his supporters at risk in an effort to avoid facing the consequences of his horrible judgement making abilities. Unfortunately, he has shown he does not have the character or judgement to remain as Mayor of Portland.

The problem with saying "It's none of your damn business" is that people take that as a "yes" and then as Adm. Naismith noted, neopuritanism takes over. Ask Bill Bradley about that one regarding religion.

As to it being poor judgement, it's only poor judgement because we accept it as some sort of holy truth that we have a right to know about people's private lives. If you are willing to even deal with such questions, you deserve all the lies and disappointment you get.

So there was no Smear Campaign after all. Will BO retract there story stating Bob Ball was running a smear campaign:

http://www.blueoregon.com/2007/09/sam-adams-targe.html

Don't count on it!

Will Sam re-write his "Open Letter to Portland": http://www.commissionersam.com/node/2801

If there was any Smear Campaign, it was certainly on Sam Adams front. Lying and attempted cover-up, and bashing people who were telling the truth.

Typical progressive politics.

One thing I know from raising two sons is that eighteen year olds, despite their "adult" legal status, are still really children.

A middle age man using his status as a mentor and role model to get an eighteen year old into his bed is sleazy and shows a lack of character.

If this story had broken during the primary Sam would not have walked into the mayor's office.

The fact that Amy Ruiz, a reporter who was covering that story at the time, has been selected for a high paying city job for which she has no educational or employment background is very suspicious.

I can tell you one thing for sure. If a story had come out that I was sleeping with an eighteen year old when I was running for city council I would have been destroyed in the media.

Have we all become so corrupted that we have to ask if it is OK for our Mayor to lie? He took advantage of an intern, one too young and lacking life experience to know best. He violated City rules and regulations. These rules are in place to protect youngsters and subordinates from those in power that would take advantage. He lied and induced others to lie for him. He may have provided favors to those who lied.

This is not about being gay or straight. In fact, Adams is the one who played this card during the initial inquiry, in an attempt to gain support from the gay community. He threw them under the bus, and the gay community above all other community members, should be most incensed.

If nothing else think about the example it sets for the entire work force of the City. If he is not held accountable, then where will the city be when faced with city employee misconduct on every level. How can it be OK for the CEO to do, and not for everyone else.

Adams is done. He has to be, or the city has no chance for success. If he does not realize it then we picked the wrong guy. It makes no one happy, it just has to be.

Hmm, abuse of his position, lying, stonewalling, rewarding those in the know, etc. Sounds like little Sammy sat at Bill Clinton's feet and learned how to be a piece of scum.

Adams knew this was pretty shaky behavior. That's why he had to lie about it. Not quite on a par with Neil the pedophile but doesn't speak highly for Sam's character either. Resign or not, he's all done.

Fester, before you start whinging about "Typical progressive politics," you might want to consider how many progressives are expressing anger and disappointment right here on this site. Keep your stereotypes to yourself.

The answer to your question is NO - the first commenter made it as clear and simple as possible, and the debate should have been over.

If Sam Adams would have told the truth from the very beginning, then Portlanders could have elected a Mayor to an important public office, based on his TRUE character.

What Sam did was sleazy. But just like with Bill Clinton, Sam Adam's personal life does not affect his ability to govern. Sam deserves to get hell from his partner, friends and family, but the public has no business with Sam's personal life. Let's not let a politician's personal life distract us from serious policy like it did in the Clinton administration.

"Sam Adam's personal life does not affect his ability to govern"

Even if his culture says otherwise?

Who did he lie to? Don't kids lie to their parents sometimes, no matter how old they are? He lied to keep things "clean" and I'm not sure how much it should matter. Should he have lied? NO. But, should he resign over this? I don't think so.

1) Sam Adams lied in order to defeat any possible contenders and get elected to a "prestigious" position … liar, liar, pants on fire … no accountability … just “oh by the way … I lied … sorry” … Typical of someone who has never held a position that required accountability or character, etc. No reason to act with integrity now … !

This has to stop somewhere.

Obama has helped us draw a line in the sand.

This is not about sex. This is about lying to the people who trust you.

Sam Adams must go.

Randy Leornard says this is "not our buisness". Get a clue Randy. Maybe you should go with Sam.

If you don't like him, you can vote him out the next time he's up for re-election. For now, you might want to save the viciousness for the Republicans.

It does not matter to me if Sam lied to the media regarding whether he had sex with this young man. A person's sex life is no business of anyone's but those directly involved. If the man was underaged when they did it that's another story but even he says he was over 18.

Honestly I think this country's slavish, almost myopic, focus on the arbitrary number 18 is silly. It means nothing. For some 24 will still be too young, and others are perfectly mature and ready when they are 13.

If a journalist asks you a question about your sex life you have my full permission to lie lie lie. It is none of our business but if you tell the truth you will be unfairly judged by those who have no idea about your life.

Was it okay for him to lie? No.

Should he resign? No, the voters of Portland will decide that in 2012.

The more interesting story in this drama as it has been brought up earlier is:

AMY RUIZ

A Portland Mercury reporter acquiring a job that to her own admission she has "no experience" with is BLATANT and EXPLICIT cronyism at its worst.

Does her getting the job have to do with her personal relationship with Sam Adams?

Does her getting the job have to with her interview during the mayoral contest?

A yes to answer anyone of those two proposed questions conveys an utter lack of integrity on both Sam Adams and Amy Ruiz.

The best thing Amy Ruiz can do is resign now before Bill O'Reilly sends his team of reporters after her.

I don't wish O'Reilly on anyone, but when he comes after you, you better have the fortitude to withstand thousands of hate letters and weeks of sleepless nights.

This is not a discussion about two consenting adult equals. This is about one adult in a position of power and one person who was a subordinate and under the age of consent when these two people began a personal relationship that later lead to sex.

If there was any hint of any king of promise to Breedlove at any point from Adams while Breedlove was underage that they would have sex when Breedlove turned 18, that's still child molestation under the law.

I have no interest whatsoever in discussing whether or not the mayor of my city is or isn't a child molester. NONE.

I want Adams out. Now.

For all of you who think he broke the public trust by lying (or refusing to say, "None of your business"), tell me you'd tell the truth to these questions if asked by the Portland media:

Do you still love your wife?

Have you ever fantasized about another woman in bed? Maybe someone from work? Or a younger girl you saw walking down the street?

Do you like to masturbate?

Have you ever purchased pornography?

Do you have sexual fantasies you're too embarrassed to share?

Do you think Portlanders would elect you if you shared every sexual thought or act you've had or engaged in?

Stacy6 - "you might want to consider how many progressives are expressing anger and disappointment right here.."

If the progressive democrats that elected Sam Adams are successful in getting him to resign, then I will apologize and stand corrected.

But I don't see that happening! A few of you appear angered here, but I highly doubt that will change who is Mayor. The leading BO 'intellectual' Kari Chisholm doesn't seem to have a problem with Sam.

That's why I say "Typical Progressive Politics". Nothing will change. Sam will stay Mayor and Mentor.

Yuck. To K, you have no honor. I guess it's ok for any man or woman to date your 18 year old huh? We need a more moral choice for this position, which slammin' sammy only attained by lying and having others lie. Reminds me of a former mayor, or even slick willie. Why do you dems like these guys?? The the repubs are supposed to be the repository of sexual deviants?? But hey, cant attack Obama cuz it would be racist, and cant attack sam cuz you'd be a homophobe...... You can try and trust the guy, and teach your children to as well. Again, YUCK. Kerry, thanks for this topic, I am sure you hate this kind of crap to come up, as does everyone, but at least you are dealing with it.

It is easy to run a smear campaign even if you are telling the truth.

If this statement isn't clear, Mr. Ball or I can elaborate.

http://www.blueoregon.com/2007/09/sam-adams-targe.html

Still stand by this earlier post Blue Oregon? What about the hire of Amy Ruiz -- just coincidental I assume?

Admit it, Adam's is just another dirty, lying politician.

Eric, did you not notice that all the people in this story who were outraged about this were also gay? David Duke is part of your culture, you ... you ... American. All you Americans are alike.

Will he resign?

Those who've worked with him tell me that he lives in a bubble at city hall.

And that he'll have to be dragged out of there kicking and screaming. It's all he knows these days.

Mike,

Where is your evidence that any of those questions have been asked of a mayoral candidate by Portland Media.

I'll throw that RED HERRING you are bringing up right out the freaking window because that is what your litany of questions is along with being an apology for Sam Adams.

My beef is that with the lie, the cover up and the hiring of a reporter who herself has admitted that she "has no experience" for a 50k+/year City Government job that thousands of others would have loved to have had the opportunity to apply for, but did not have the personal rapport with Sam Adams to get it.

Cronyism and a lack of integrity is what this story is to me and others who look further past the "sex" scandal and into the meat of the matter.

Nice work Kari. All you had to do was leave out most of the story.

Adams betrayed the trust in mentoring and did more than lie about it.

Watch this video from last year that's up on KGW.

The video is Sam Adams not only denying the story but he is actually pretending to be concerned about the stereotype which he himself is a perpetrator and contributor to.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_011909_news_adams_breedlove_relationship.e142c06.html

The money shot,

Adams in the video interview, "This is one of the worst smears you can make against a gay guy. It preys on the homophobic stereotype that gay men cannot be trusted with young people."

What a phony, disgusting hypocrite.

And Randy Leonard? Hey Randy, Adams was lying to YOU and the whole city when he gave that interview.

Nice work Kari. All you had to do was leave out most of the story.

Adams betrayed the trust in mentoring and did more than lie about it.

Watch this video from last year that's up on KGW.

The video is Sam Adams not only denying the story but he is actually pretending to be concerned about the stereotype which he himself is a perpetrator and contributor to.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_011909_news_adams_breedlove_relationship.e142c06.html

The money shot,

Adams in the video interview, "This is one of the worst smears you can make against a gay guy. It preys on the homophobic stereotype that gay men cannot be trusted with young people."

What a phony, disgusting hypocrite.

And Randy Leonard? Hey Randy, Adams was lying to YOU and the whole city when he gave that interview.

"... the public has no business with Sam's personal life."

Okay, fine. Then he should have told the public that and refused to answer.

But now he's basically set the rule that it's okay to lie if you don't think that the public has "business" with something. And who gets to define that line? Why, Sam Adams, of course.

So we're basically trusting this guy to decide what the public does and does not get to hear about... and of course we won't know either way, because we'll hear an answer and just simply not know whether its true or not.

If Sam Adams thought that it was irrelevant to his campaign, he should have said so. But instead, he played the victim and -- let's be frank -- made that the only deciding element in the entire campaign.

Kari's doctrine on the appropriateness of it all is ridiculous: basically, it's OK to lie to the voters if you 1) think the truth will hurt your campaign, and 2) don't expect the media to give you a free pass.

Come on, people, this is Bush-level absurdity.

Why was Sam Adams so eager to have BreedLove stay quiet? If BreedLove was really 18, as Sam maintains, then there should be nothing to be ashamed of - just a case of 2 consenting gay adults.

BreedLove was 17 and Sam was 42 and that makes this a crime. That's why Sam needed to cover this up and keep BreedLove quiet.

Will the progressives remove Sam. I imagine it will be a slap on the (hand?) for Sam, and business as usual.

Haven't you noticed, dems don't resign.....

Either my comment got eaten or I'm going to repeat myself, but Bob Ball, Mark Merkle and John Vezina were all part of the same "culture" as Adams, yet they were the ones in this story who spoke against Adamas. Eric's "his culture" position defies the evidence before him. It is the definition of prejudice.

If Adams holds a press conference this afternoon to "explain" everything -- he's toast.

But what does have to happen is that Leonard and Sizer have to annouce jointly that an investigation has been started to see if there's evidence of criminal behavior --get both somehow so that it doesn't look like a whitewash or like a lynching. Adams should release a written statement to the media saying that he's temporarily suspended his responsibilites as mayor to cooperate fully with the investigation.

No, its not ok. And I think there should be an corruption investigation regarding Amy Ruiz getting a job in his office after being the reporter who brought this to our attention. Not to mention Randy Leonard calling this a baseless smear job, at the same time being promised the Police Commissioner position. Our new AG must look into this.

Are the people who are concerned about Adams being this guy's mentor really more concerned about the age thing? Because Michelle was Barack's mentor, too, when they got together. I'm not sure if the mentoring aspect is the part that some find troubling.

Sam Lied. He needs to step down today! I voted for him, was excited for his energy and vigor around issues i care about, but i hate being lied to!

I no longer trust the mayor.

He lied to me.

He may have committed a crime (inducing another to lie).

He needs to resign at once. We have more important work to do than fuss around with this. Be done with it now.

Resign Sam.

You blew it, and i'm really sorry! m

Two questions for Adams:

When Breedlove was still 17, did Adams persuade him to lie about their relationship -- contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

In that timeframe, did Adams groom Breedlove until he was legal age?

end

Blue Oregon always defends this guy. Let Sam Adams go...he is NOT good for Portland.

Carl, Most reasonable people ARE upset about the relationship. Are you just being legalistic? Call a spade a spade, 42 and 18 dont mix. Get it? If you don't, you need to find out why you dont. NO FREAKING EXCUSES. Gay folks, say goodbye to at least 10 years of progress, and kiss marriage goodbye. And I also cant believe there are those that were fully aware of this relationship. I think a bunch of folk need to go.

Posted by: Carl Fisher | Jan 20, 2009 12:25:24 PM

I'm in the same boat that most of you are in, I'm not upset about the relationship, I'm disturbed that he lied about it, straight to the citizens faces. Wasn't there something in the oath of office he took about honesty? I seem to recall hearing that word spoke at least once during his oath of office.

Oh, hi, there's a page two here. TJ, I think you're unintentionally reinforcing the notion of a minority burden, in which a minority must act more purely than the majority, in a futile effort to avoid the prejudice of the prejudiced. Not only is a minority then burdened by the opinions of the prejudiced, but also by the responsibility to other minorities to protect them from prejudice. So, too, are all minorities then burdened by the actions of each member. You might as well saddle all Jews with the guilt of Bernie Madoff -- a guilt that is no doubt felt by some, but which is nevertheless wholly unwarranted.

This gives us a great chance to define how sex and politics should, and shouldn't, mix.

Does a politician's private sexual life inform his ability to perform his public service? If you believe that character is necessary to the position, then I suppose so.

But why don't we consider other character flaws, as well? Why don't we look into whether Nick Fish organizes his sock drawer correctly, or if Amanda Fritz has ever had late payments on credit cards?

Has Randy Leonard ever picked his nose?

Sex sells. It is sensational, and sensationalized. Considering private (and legal) habits in hiring in the private sector is sometimes illegal, and often irrelevant.

Just because We the People are the hiring manager for our politicians, why do we feel we are able to put our employees to a different standard of scrutiny?

Seriously, if YOUR boss knew your kinks, would you still be working?

Oh--what? You don't want your boss to know your kinks? Go figure. Stay private, and let Sam have a private life and a public life.

I like Sam, and I think he will do a great job as mayor. If he wants to sleep with five adults at a time every saturday, well, thats none of my business.

"Gay folks, say goodbye to at least 10 years of progress, and kiss marriage goodbye."

Carl, see my comment above to TJ. For God's sake, am I supposed to pay for Boy George shackling a prostitute, too? Anyone stupid enough to point to Adams as reason not to let gays get married was never on the bandwagon for equality anyway. There are a million gay and straight people throughout history who have murdered their partners, surely that should keep us all from marrying, too.

The problem for me is that this is not my first encounter of Mayor-Elect Adams lying. In the Multnomah County Democrats endorsement meeting, soon to be Mayor-Elect Adams lied about his opponent Sho Dozono saying he gave to the RNC in the 2004 and 2006 election year (someone could check open secrets but I am pretty sure this accusation is false). With this said, I am having a hard time telling where the lies stop and the truth begins. For the reputation of the Portland's government, he should do the honorable thing and step down.

The details of this are really quite gross. The guy meets a 17 year-old as a "mentor" and then ends up sleeping with him as soon as her turns 18. When somebody tries to expose it in the media he maligns THAT person's character and reputation, making a big grandstand about it.

The part about a reporter getting a job on his campaign is also setting off major alarms.

Review the denials. This has nothing to do with Bill Clinton. Lewinsky was 22, not 18. That's a HUGE difference. And Clinton didn't run around to the media denying it, he only did so when forced to answer questions by a Grand Jury. At that point you can argue that it's a "none-of-your business" situation.

In Sam's case this is simply a guy who is making poor choices about his partners, unethical choices considering the relationship, who then blatantly lies and masquerades about it in the media during a campaign. THAT is the part that's going to get him in trouble and should.

I have no feelings either way about him in terms of policy but this guy as to go. Add in the history of Portland mayors in this context and it's really, really uncalled for.

So what is the reason Adams should resign?

• He lied about sex?

• He had sex with an 18-year-old when he was 42?

• He might have done something else?

Jamais, he was a legislative intern in Salem, not Adams' intern.

The biggest issue is not Sam Adam's lying about using City Hall as a dating agency. What about the 18 year old involved? An 18 year old who met Mr. Adams as a 17 year old subordinate. Even Mr. Adams doesn't sat he did anything unethical - but he knew enough to lie through his teeth when he was asked. Mr. Adams didn't choose to serve the city when he took Breedlove as a barely legal lover - instead Mr. Adams chose to honor his libido's needs over the needs of the city - seriously - he couldn't find some nice juice bar??? He just had to have some of that intern love, I guess.

Jeff Alworth is right about Kari Chisholm being wrong.

There was a time when this story was about two consenting adults (the framing Adams' paid "consultant" still prefer, for obvious reasons). And if Adams had addressed the issue honestly and directly, that's where it might have stayed. Maybe voters, given all the information, would have pleasantly surprised him.

Instead he chose the lying-teenager route, enlisting others in his deception -- possibly even hiring a nosy reporter to a well-paying job for which she has no qualifications.

That's when this story became about more than how appropriate was the original relationship. Now it's about Sam Adams' character, or lack thereof. He certainly has shown very little respect for -- or faith in -- the voters who elected him. Usually that kind of sentiment is a return package.

Will you ever be able to trust Sam Adams, the politician, again?

I still can't believe anyone outside the peanut butter-influenced canine world would have sex with Kari Chisholm.

Wow, what a newser! Best I've seen in Portland in decades!

The Mayor lied to us all, breaking my heart, but did well in the heat of the lights.

Best actual question: "Have you conferred with former Mayor Neil Goldschmidt on your sexual perversions and was he any help to you in covering them up?"

No, Lars, the Mayor never thought of that.

If you were in a job interview and were asked if you liked <insert kinky="" sex="" term="" here=""> and while yes, you love to do that, you knew that it had no relevance to the job you were interviewing for, but that your future potential boss was a bit conservative and it could keep you from the getting the job - would you lie to your potential boss and say no you don't?

It's not okay that he lied. It's not okay that he had a relationship with a guy that had just turned 18 (and possibly before). It doesn't show good judgment. I also don't appreciate that he acted indignant in 2007, and said it was a smear campaign, that this puts forward the idea that gay men like young boys. I know a lot of gay men who, when put in positions of power, wouldn't bed an intern. That's called discretion and class. By acting indignant and then admitting he lied, didn't he just underscore this ridiculous argument?

By lying about it, he knew that the general consensus would be negative. He should have thought of all of this before sleeping with Beau Breedlove.

His sexual orientation doesn't matter. It'd be just as skeezy if Beau Breedlove was a woman. However, like it or not, he is a highly visible gay man. He should have acted appropriately.

What do you think Barrack Obama would have said? What about FDR or Theodore Roosevelt? What about Lincoln or Washington? Sam Adams has proven himself a man of no honor and of the lowest nature.

There is no excuse for that type of lying.

Sam Adams is lucky Robert Ball isn't as ruthless as he is. He went out of his way to attack and malign Robert Ball's good name. It was done as a knowing lie of the highest sense. This case has to rise to the level of a defamation suit providing damages to Robert Ball.

There is no justification for Sam Adam's actions. The fact that you ask "Was it okay?" really makes this post an insult to Oregon and makes you an embarrassment to Progressives everywhere.

If Blue Oregon values what makes Oregon great you will distance yourself from that lowly person for all time. There is no excuse for a public official lying let alone in this ruthless and calculated a manner.

Sam’s defense? “Adams says he didn't have sex with Breedlove until after Breedlove turned 18 and so didn't commit any crimes.”

Is anybody a true believer?

The Blue Oregon defense “Guess we'll have to trust him on that one.”

That is total BS. If Adams was a member of the party of Bush rather than an arrogant tax and spend progressive that wants to dictate his control freak agenda to the people of Portland, would Blue Oregon still say “we'll have to trust him”? It is like Kulogoski not telling all he knows or coming clean about the Goldschmidt scandal. It is about a party of criminals creating diversions and protecting their own. Adams has totally lost all his credibility. He lied to the public, asked others to lie for him to cover up the truth and created diversions with back room dirty politics to discredit his political opponents. Adams is the real sleaze ball in this arena. He gives lip service to transparency, but his form of transparency is the hand picked stacked deck of insiders he appoints to back him up in the citizen process. Adams is carrying on the immoral legacy of Goldschmidt. He is a sneaky dishonest person that plays dirty and can NOT be trusted. It is time for him to go. Adams needs to immediately resign as the Mayor (now the court jester) of Portland.

Sam learned a lot from Vera...which makes you wonder what kind of skeletons she has in her 'closet' as well.

Sam’s defense? “Adams says he didn't have sex with Breedlove until after Breedlove turned 18 and so didn't commit any crimes.”

Is anybody a true believer?

The Blue Oregon defense “Guess we'll have to trust him on that one.”

That is total BS. If Adams was a member of the party of Bush rather than an arrogant tax and spend progressive that wants to dictate his control freak agenda to the people of Portland, would Blue Oregon still say “we'll have to trust him”? It is like Kulogoski not telling all he knows or coming clean about the Goldschmidt scandal. It is about a party of criminals creating diversions and protecting their own. Adams has totally lost all his credibility. He lied to the public, asked others to lie for him to cover up the truth and created diversions with back room dirty politics to discredit his political opponents. Adams is the real sleaze ball in this arena. He gives lip service to transparency, but his form of transparency is the hand picked stacked deck of insiders he appoints to back him up in the citizen process. Adams is carrying on the immoral legacy of Goldschmidt. He is a sneaky dishonest person that plays dirty and can NOT be trusted. It is time for him to go. Adams needs to immediately resign as the Mayor (now the court jester) of Portland.

Blue Oregon readers may remember the media feeding frenzy over the Clinton/{Portlander]Monica relationship.

The result is that Gore lost [won!] by a hair that wouldn't have been the case without the media frenzy.

How much extra money did the media make selling papers, ads, blog ads at the time?

The result has been 8 years of trillion dollar wars, borrowing from China, loss of American respect and influence worldwide, outsourcing and financial collapse.

How how much has the media lost since? Not worth it, let's learn.

Media and bloggers, what are you going to get which benefits your quality of life and future by poking your nose into the sex life of the mayor? We are not living in the age of Victoria. As they would say" "get a life."

Dear Sam,

Please resign today.

Thank you,

Portland Citizen

"If nothing else think about the example it sets for the entire work force of the City. If he is not held accountable, then where will the city be when faced with city employee misconduct on every level. How can it be OK for the CEO to do, and not for everyone else."

I think this is the crux of the matter. Others have cited what happened to Derek Foxworth and wondered about a double standard.

Gee, in the government agency where I work, we get explicit training about things like sexual harassment, which is grounds for discipline or firing. And you can be absolutely sure that this sort of training is given to everyone at City Hall, too.

Let's have no distracing comments about consenting adults blah blah blah. Adams having a fling with Breedlove was an abuse of power in a hierarchical relationship.

Oh, and by the way, there's the TEENY, TINY, SMALL MATTER of Bob Ball--who,as it turns out, was not only right, but did the RIGHT THING: who actually understood the problem of sex between unequal partners--having his name dragged through the dirt for alleged political dirty tricks. Ball was savaged in the press by Blue Oregon's own contributor, Randy Leonard, who basically swore to destroy Ball politically.

Sam Adams is hoping this will blow over so he can get on with the business of being a toady to real estate interests. And if the info on Bogdanski's blog (from city ordinances) is correct, Adams cannot face a recall for a minimum of six months...plenty of time for this to vanish down the memory hole.

Well, the whole matter reeks and lying is never a safe harbor for a politician.

However, the headline in the Oregonian today was as offensive as anything Adams has done: "Mayor Adams lies about sex".

Unless the intern was a minor, which we will be hard-pressed to prove, this is no one's business what two people do privately. I am not happy with the lapse in judgment, but as with Bill Clinton, the media and the rabid haters need to BUTT OUT.

I had to drop this off here. It's just too good.

http://wweek.com/popup/comment.php?story=19654

Lisa writes on Jan 20th, 2009 3:41pm Comment 188 | Respond As a queer woman with a child, Sam Adams' behaviors make me sick. People like you set the rest of us in the queer community back another 20 years for your sexual gratification. And idiots like you, Mr. Adams, make me consider never letting my child out of my sight.

As a trained professional working in human services, this whole situation makes me angry. He groomed a minor for a sexual relationship that may or may not have happened after the minor turned 18. Again, he groomed a minor for a sexual relationship. This is what predatory sex offenders do, people. Then comes the gifts, then comes the "please don't tell on me" guilt tripping that leaves the victim feeling like this is his fault. This is playing out exactly as it does every single time this occurs.

If you don't want the public's eye on your business, Mr. Adams, then politics was a poor career choice for you. Liar. Manipulator. Egotist. Please resign and do us all a favor.

Most likely there would have been a brief public flap, and it would have gone away.

What planet are you living on? The traditional media is drowning in impending irrelevancy. They will do damn near anything to push product. It would not have gone away; it would have been milked until it was completely dried up.

I'm not condoning what Sam did, but the notion that admitting anything would have put an end to the media circus is rather naive.

Does anyone really think that Adams would have won the election if there had been a truly viable candidate running against him that Adams would have won.

Does anyone remember the water fiasco, the OHSU tram mess? In a sane, competitive political environment, Mr. Adams would have been shown the door.

This is just the icing on the cake.

I am - and have been all my adult life - a progressive Democrat. But, having lived here 10 years now, I think Portland needs a serious change of perspective. Not necessarily one I would agree with, but different. For at least one term. Shaking up needs to happen.

I want to thank all my fellow progressives who are speaking against this.

Lies are lies, and this was a VERY big lie. One which essentially gave him the mayor's office.

I want to see Sam Adams resignation NOW, and quickly.

Wrong is wrong. Lies are lies. How can we ever trust this man to handle the administration of this city?

Rick York

Again, this is the same a Bill Clinton. It's not about the sex. As long as it was legal. The one thing I ask out of a politician is for them to be honest. He lied, so he must go. Well plus the fact that he is a freako homo who likes little boys. This country is going to hell.

Ball was shopping around a rumor of underage sex to the press off-the-record in advance of a political campaign. After it was published that he was doing this, he said he didn't believe the rumor. He admitted didn't have any personal knowledge about anything. No one then or since has come forward to allege there was an underage relationship. Had Ball or anyone believed there was, the appropriate thing to do would be to report what they did or didn't know to proper authorities who could handle the matter. While Adams shouldn't have lied, that doesn't make Ball a saint, either.

What about this is sexual harassment? Beau wasn't Sam's intern, and Sam didn't have any professional dealings with him.

Adams is a sleazy politician who only cares about himself. He's a self-absorbed braggart, ambitious to a fault, with no sense of fiscal propriety, let alone (we now learn) personal propriety. He should resign today.

Mr. Adams should not have lied to the public. He could have simply stated "my personal life is not your business". WOuld the media haved dropped it completely or as quickly as they did when he lied about the situation? Probably not. But here's the question I have--if he's willing to lie about this because he doesn't trust the public to discern what is and is not important enough to base our decisions and are votes upon, who's to say what he will lie about in the future? He has set up a mental game with himself, whereby if he feels the public cannot be trusted with information, he feels justified in lying to the public. So what happens when there is an issue in City Hall--a budget issue or an ethical one---that should by all rights be told to the people? Will Mr. Adams tell the people, trusting that they can judge what the facts are and how to handle them? Or will he decide that it is more politically expedient to simply lie about the issue and hope that it either resolves itself or doesn't come up again?

Yes, his sex life is personal and no one's business....so why didn't he say so instead of lying? You lie to hide something or trick someone. If you'll lie about something that the majority truly believes has nothing to do with your position/job/office, why wouldn't you lie about the things that really affect people's lives, the things they are MORE likely to get upset over?

Bottom line for me----being Mayor or running for any political position isn't easy, but you do the public and yourself a great disservice when you lie to the public. Say "no comment" and ride out the storm (you need practice anyway given the job you're running for). But when you lie, you destroy trust---and that is not easily rebuilt.

Then again, I'm not a Portland resident, so I technically have no dog in this hunt. But it is disappointing----I have lost some respect for Mr. Adams today.

As a gay man, if I met Sam when I was 18 I would have thrown myself at him... He was human, he took the bait.

Tomorrow I'll wake up, Obama will still be the President and Sam will still be the Mayor. He'll do a good job for Portland, but will have a hard time going any farther politically. He burned a lot of good will. As a gay politician, he's had to prove himself, just like women and people of color have to prove themselves. He let down the community because he's human and not perfect.
Am I upset? No. Disappointed? Yes.
Give the guy the chance to be Mayor, if he sucks, don't re-elect him.

"Posted by: Dan Petegorsky | Jan 20, 2009 10:16:02 AM

What a pathetic counterpoint to the dignity of this morning's historic events."

What is so dignified or historic about what seems to be a continuation of our invasion of Afghanistan and our continued support for Israeli terrorism? Christ, the world would be a far more dignified place if politicians spent more time banging interns and less time supporting terrorism.

Nobody I know gives a rat's ass about whether he had sex with the guy. Everybody I know is pissed that he lied about it. Can you say "Bill Clinton"?

Clinton went on to have pretty high approval ratings.

I don't recall there being any provocation, aside from a political attack that happened what, a year or two ago?, for Sam Adams to reveal this now.

From what I've seen, Sam Adams brought this up a few days ago. Not some media investigation, not some lawsuit...it was Sam Adams bringing attention to Sam Adams, which is what Sam Adams does best. "Me, me, me. All about Sam Adams." And what better time than to do it during a major Presidential inauguration...was his goal to create a rival news story about Sam Adams? I can't see how Sam Adams would have expected it to be "swept under the rug" by disclosing it...

Maybe Sam Adams was thinking that the people of Portland would rally behind Sam Adams, because the only thing that is important in Portland is Sam Adams. Clearly it isn't happening.

Sam Adams didn't want his sexual orientation to be an issue; then why does Sam Adams keep bringing it up? Sam Adams is making it an issue, and now Sam Adams brings this whole scandal up. Sam Adams can't stand the idea of being out of the spotlight, even if it's negative (because Sam Adams will find a way to make it positive). Except, this little problem isn't so simple. Just apologizing for "one little mistake" doesn't right a wrong.

I don't really care if Breedlove was 17 or 18. A forty something prepping a teenager for sex is just wrong.

If this story had broken when it should have Adams would not be mayor.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/01/its_about_character.html

No, lying was not okay, but we have tolerated far worse lies than this one with far graver consequences. We are occupying Iraq based on a case for war that was an intricate web of lies. Let's have perspective.

Yes, lying affects his ability to govern if it completely destroys the trust of the community. Whether that happens will depend on his response. If he comes clean and that means including his motives of pride and ambition and asks forgiveness, mature adult people should be able to forgive and look past this and see what comes. Yes, there will be the immature people who stomp their feet and say liar liar pants on fire, but since most of them are defending the biggest liar in US history at the same time, they have no integrity to back up their purely partisan opinions.

If his response is to cast blame on opponents, to claim persecution, etc. Well, then he cannot regain the public trust and will be unable to lead the council.

The only person who made the judgment that Adam's personal life might make it difficult for him to govern is Sam Adams himself.

I preferred other candidates to Adams, but he won the day. That he is in trouble because of lying about sex offends me. If the sex was legal, then it was no business of anyone to ask about it. Since we don't allow Sam Adams to marry, we can't be screaming about adultery, so we should not be asking him about sex at all. If any of you were asked by some journalist about your sex life and you were having an affair, how many of you would tell the truth? Of course, you comfort yourself with claims that you would never have an affair, but the statistics suggest half of you would be lying.

If Sam was a Republican, his head would be on a platter. There would be cries of outrage demanding he resign. Why the double standard my friends? Sam broke the public trust and should step down.

Adams has to go. Ball was sleazy as he timed his information in hopes it would take Adams out early. This was not to help the kid Adams was after, this was to help Mr. Ball only.

Hopefully Adams will go quietly into a dirty bookstore and Ball will never get into politics in this town.

These two pillars of the gay community have hurt all of us with their gay cat fight.

But Ball makes his own money, I don't want to pay Sam's salary.

I just wish there were some Derrick Foxworth like texts from Adams cell phone or email. I am sure the WWeek is working on that.

The Oregonian misses another big one.

Yeah, Dom, you're correct upthread -- Adams is hot. But he got caught . . . not just doing the cabana boy, which would have been bad enough, considering the age issue, but then smugly -- even pompously -- lying about it over and over and, presumably, sleeping fine at night all the way to the mayorship.

Dear Sam:

Why have you not resigned yet?

You've got to rip off that band-aid. It only hurts more if you do it slowly. Are you a masochist? Please do not bring Portland and its citizens of various multifarious orientations even more pain by delaying the inevitable.

Sincerely,

Portland Citizen

Why are Dom and others like Randy Leonard discounting or ignoring completely the inappropriateness of the relationship?

The predatorial betrayal of the mentoring trust between Adams, in a position of authority, and the young man he was supposed to be assisting.

That cannot be removed from this story any more than the lying can.

Adams didn't merely have a legal relationship. He had a completely inappropriate relationship and lied about it to manipulate voters into electing him.

He's done.

The Portland Police Officers Association is demanding His resignation and by week's end many others will join them.

Randy Leonard's refusal to grasp the inappropriateness of the relationship and severity of Adams lying puts him on shaky ground with many people as well.

I agree with Kari and jaznpdx. Let's judge him on the job he does as mayor. Sure, he probably shouldn't have lied. But why was this question EVER asked? His private life is none of our business. It is understandable that he would lie when bigots define a consensual relationship between two adults as sodomy (Mrs. Todd). I appreciate the research and hard work that the Willamette Week puts into its articles, but next time pick a topic that is more substantive.

I like Sam Adams. There is a lot of potential for him to be an effective and progressive Mayor. His personal life is his business. If there are legitimate grievances with his tenure as mayor in four years you can vote for someone else. If not, let's open up our hearts and minds and let him do his job as mayor. We need jobs and transportation. Not the details of his personal life.

I agree with Kari and jaznpdx. Let's judge him on the job he does as mayor. Sure, he probably shouldn't have lied. But why was this question EVER asked? His private life is none of our business. It is understandable that he would lie when bigots define a consensual relationship between two adults as sodomy (Mrs. Todd). I appreciate the research and hard work that the Willamette Week puts into its articles, but next time pick a topic that is more substantive.

I like Sam Adams. There is a lot of potential for him to be an effective and progressive Mayor. His personal life is his business. If there are legitimate grievances with his tenure as mayor in four years you can vote for someone else. If not, let's open up our hearts and minds and let him do his job as mayor. We need jobs and transportation. Not the details of his personal life.

Mike, you're accusing me and others of something that you're imagining we might do, but didn't. Ironic. I'm actually not the type to get hotheaded with resignation demands. I never even did with Bush, and he actually broke the law as part of his job.

How many think it is OK for a 42 year old man go to a birthday party for a 17 year old.

Dear Amy Ruiz:

You should resign, too. You seem like a nice person, and too bad your new boss dragged you into this by giving you a job for which you are, as you admit, clearly less than qualified. Perhaps you could set an example for him by immediately offering your resignation. I'm sure the Mercury will take you back so long as you promise to not compromise your journalistic standards by accepting employment from the subjects of your investigative reporting.

Sincerely,

Portland Citizen

Kari: Seriously, folks. Adams and Breedlove were both single and consenting adults.

Like cheap porn...! "Barely Legal." "Finally 18."

1) Sam lied repeatedly when he had to in order to keep his election hopes alive, even saying his interest was to "help" the object of his lust.

2) Sam says he didn't have improper relations until he was 18, but that's only Sam's word, which is worth shit.

3) If Sam did wait until he was 18, it says a lot about what Sam thinks about the "letter of the law" versus "the spirit of the law" when it comes to getting what he wants at other people's expense (especially people who are at a disadvantage in terms of political power).

4) Sam (like Neil Goldschmit) didn't think very much about his responsibility as a man 25 years older in that situation and how it would affect his victim.

5) Sam weighed his own sexual motivation above the potential liability to the City of Portland and how it could compromise himself to blackmail charges and fair governance.

6) Sam must think it's okay to read "Barely Legal" male porn, since he upped the ante on that by a long way.

turning italics off...

Still waiting for anyone to note that Adams and Leonard attacked Bob Ball (BTW, another gay man), and turned him politically radioactive, for raising the red flag about Adams' using his position of authority for personal gratification.

Portlander aren't going to care because he's a democrat. But the rest of Oregon will. If he was a Republican he'd be chastise as much as Larry Craig was here on this site.

Not only will Sam Adams BE Portland but he and Goldschmidt will be Oregon.

Packwood was accused of sexual abuse and assault by 10 women, mostly his staffers and lobbyists. This was consentual.

And to another comment, it was an 18th birthday with his parents.

Its stupid to suggest the lie is bad, but the act is acceptably private behavior. Of course the act is bad, otherwise there'd be no need to lie.

IN fadct, the lie is an admission that the act was bad, he knew it was bad and would prevent him from winning.

And I'd argue its not prudish to frown on a powerful 42 year old person entering into an intimate relationship with a 17 or 18 year old in these circumstances. Its exploitive and wrong, and reflects the character of Mr. Adams.

And the fact it came out now, a few weeks after his election, so he doesn't have to run for four more years, and the week of the biggest innaugural since Washington? Not a coincidence.

In these video clips, Mayor Adams answers questions from The Oregonian Editorial Board. Part 1, Admits that claims that he was primarily "mentoring" the boy were not entirely true.

Part 2, How he handled denials about the relationship being sexual in nature.

" Dave Lister:

One thing I know from raising two sons is that eighteen year olds, despite their "adult" legal status, are still really children."

wait, so you voted for george bush twice knowing (at least the second time) that it would mean sending thousands of children to die in a war based on a lie?

There was no reason to lie unless he had sex with a minor.

He's either not as bright and politically savy as the media portrays him, or he should lawyer up fast. When this kid (or the courts)is finished with him he'll be lucky to have a home.

Adams is through.

He best resign NOW! PERIOD! Shelf him and all his cronies!

If an 18 year old is too young to make decisions about having sex then he's too young to join the army as well. Certainly we should support our soldiers having some fun and enjoying themselves before we send them off to die. Yes, that's glib, but I am so sick to death of the nannies who fret about this when it's convenient.

As to the claims that it would be different if Adams were Republican, let's not forget Republican Senator David 'DiaperMan" Vitter.

The Portland Tribune, The Oregonian and Just Out have all called for Adams resignation, in that order. Thank you, Just Out. You've restored my faith in the gay community. Obama has declared that "transparency and the rule of law" will be the hallmarks of his administration. Adams certainly has not been transparent and it will come out he has not followed the rule of law - either by having sex with a 17 year old anad/or by giving Amy Ruiz a city job to shut her up. Where's the Portland Mercury on this? Too busy writing those prostitution ads?

baha,ha,ha,,tehee, You just had to see this one coming,,No? He stood on his soapbox and pointed an accusing finger at Mr.Ball, and now he expects us to believe him when he says Mr. breedlove was 18 and that he waited until then? If you buy that, you would vote for him all over again,,,tehee, bahaa, you kill me Sammy, you really do

43 year old man having sex with an 17 year old boy. i dont know whats sicker him or the people that condon it!!

I would suggest that everyone saying Adams should have said "it's none of your business" try living in the real world for a moment.

"It's none of your business" is not a magic formula that gets the press off your back, resolves the issues, and placates the public; in fact, those words often just encourage the media to dig even deeper, and the public to become even more suspicious.

All this story is is an excuse for people to give voice to their latent homophobia and ageism while hiding behind the absolutely ludicrous claim that "it's not the sex, it's the lies".

YES! It was more than ok to lie, it was necessary. Considering the truly pathetic and perverse attitude Americans have toward even consensual sex Sam Adams did the right thing. His consensual sex life is nobody's business, he can lie about it all he wants. To all the " moral" people of " liberal" Portland:I know this may come as a shock to you: 18 year olds have sex! Do yourselves a favor. Chill, take a vacation in France or The Netherlands and take a " healthy attitude towards sex" workshop while you're at it.
BTW I don't know Sam Adams from Adam, never met the man. I do however recognize a lynchmob.

I'm disgusted a grown man asked a teenager to lie for him. How can I be expected to trust that kind of a person?!

Posted by: K | Jan 20, 2009 10:18:54 AM

Who did he lie to? Don't kids lie to their parents sometimes, no matter how old they are?

Oh, leave your gen-X, I lie every time I open my mouth attitude out of this!

1. If Adams and Breedlove didn't have sex prior to Breedlove's 18th birthday (and I'm certainly not willing to take Adams at his word), Adams was clearly grooming him for sex.
2. Adams abused his position of authority. This isn't about his private life but about an abuse of power with a minor. Laws governing such matters aren't 'private laws' and if illegality occurred, such behavior is a public issue, particularly re. a public official.
3. Adams not only lied about the relationship, but got Breedlove to lie for him (as well as with him).
4. Adams is apologizing not because he's sorry that he abused his position of influence but because he may lose his job. He claims his lack of honesty during the campaign was necessary in order to secure his victory and that alone should cost him his job.
5. If Adams were straight and he had groomed a 17 year-old girl for sex while her mentor, he would have been forced from office. The gay angle and the desire to be seen as open-minded to gay people and that this involves a boy rather than a girl ensures Adams will likely remain in office. The city council has said as much with their support of Adams.

Sex between consenting adults is subject to accountability to committed partners only. Not readers of WW, voters, employers or Jerry Springer-stimulated spectators. Ask a stupid question? Hang in there, Sam!

Why did anyone care to begin with? So what?