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7 comments (Add your own)

1. Adalto wrote:

Jan25Rudy Thank you Just Out for seeing (and nrroetipg better than in the bigger media outlets) that this was not about the sex. Your call for Sam's resignation heartens me on several levels. It’s not about the sex. It’s only partly about the lies. It’s primarily about Sam’s judgment and how he treats others.It’s about Sam’s attack on Bob Ball for his quiet questions back in 2007. It’s about how Sam’s response was used as a weapon to eliminate a potential political rival. (Sam hasn’t publicly apologized to Ball for thrashing him and his political future.)It’s about Sam’s willingness to ask others to front for him when he knew they were standing up to defend a lie.It’s about Sam’s potentially hiring a reporter to silence her.It’s about Sam’s Machiavellian approach to politics and people, even if his political goals are for good.These are the reasons that Sam is no good for Portland. These are the reasons so many of us feel let down by him. These are the reasons that even though his goals are good, he is not a good role model, not a good leader. These are the reasons he should resign.In the Portland I live in, or want to live in, it’s just as important how you do things, how you treat people, as what you accomplish. Sam just doesn’t see it that way.

Thu, March 29, 2012 @ 2:48 PM

2. Leanne wrote:

Dec23Chase Is anyone sierpusrd? The Chambers of Commerce on every organizational level are one of the most active and conservative bodies in American politics? The fact that this is news to anyone is utterly moronic. Shock and awe at what was plainly sitting in front of you before, but when Just Out decides to rabble the bland middle class of gay suburbia, it becomes an issue. This newspaper needs to start working on issues that matter to more queers and not keep trying to sell us on marriage and the politics of the inattentive.

Sat, March 31, 2012 @ 8:56 PM

3. Infinity wrote:

Well, yes, of course it s exaggeration; I would have to have read every single published book in order to determine it! I freely admit that I am going off my own personal experience, and I would be genuinely interested to hear about some LGBTQ books where parents aren t pantomime villains to be Proven Wrong or flat characters.I think the issue is probably this paragraph: Parents are rarely the focus of YA books, and only infrequently are they allowed to be fully realized characters with emotional depth. They can lend such dimension to books, though, that it’s a shame they don’t get more development. I don t think, despite the use of the word focus, that the post is arguing where are the parents that are main characters in YA? for the simple reason that a YA book about parents is not actually YA. I think it s more arguing that it would be nice to see parents in YA who actually act like real people, and not like plot contrivances. You don t have to make a parent the focus of a story in order to make them interesting, any more than you have to make all your secondary characters less interesting so that everyone cares about your MC by comparison.

Tue, April 10, 2012 @ 12:27 AM

4. Joyelle wrote:

Dec23 I spent several hours yesterday afternoon working to clarify what actually happened here. I am NOT a member of the Clark County Chamber but learned of the emails via Facebook. The offensive email was sent out to all members of the chamber, and it was followed up by a second email, saying it was not meant to go to the general membership, as noted. In addition, a third email was sent out to the general membership, which reads: We have been informed that you may have received emails with inappropriate content (7 to 8 PM on 12/21/2011). These emails are NOT FROM the Chamber and are spam.The chamber only sends out Calendar of events once a month! if you receive anything else, please disregard them as spam. Clark County Chamber of Commerceyour business connectionMany people, including myself, were extremely disturbed (among other things) by the email. An email expressing the concern for the impact this has caused and reassurance that steps have been taken to prevent this from happening again was forwarded to me but because it was done second hand, I feel I am not at liberty to make the contents public sorry. While I cannot, and am not, speaking on behalf of the CCC, personally, I do feel that the contrition is real and action has been taken. The internet is a constantly evolving thing, and unfortunately, there are those out there who, while able to evolve with it just as quickly, are using it for really negative purposes.I hope this helps to clarify what really happened. As a member of the Clark County business community, a contributing member of society, and a human being, I apologize. This was a painful, offensive stunt that does not represent the views of the community.

Sat, April 14, 2012 @ 8:10 PM

5. Marel wrote:

Jan24kennedytee When Adams allowed himself to be videotaped making an adamant denial of any manner of inappropriate sexual misconduct with young Mr. Breedlove in 2005, (whether jailbait OR a legal adult Breedlove was STILL a teenager) Adams lost a tremendous amount of credibility as a politician AND as a man. This is what personally distresses me the most. That a man 25 years older than a high school student, (old enough to be the boy’s father) would dishonestly state on tape, this perpetuates the stereotype of the Gay man who can t be trusted with minor boys I find comical and pathetic. Adams IS that stereotype. I don t care if he did wait till Breedlove was legal, which (wink, wink) most intelligent people highly DOUBT, his conduct with a young teenaged boy was incredibly predatory. This is a man in his middle forties and he is cavorting with a teenager? He ought to have been having a relationship with a man closer to his own age, abilities, background and education, not using a naive star struck young man for cheap sexual thrills, that by his own admission ended after a couple of months . Is this what constitutes a balanced or mature gay relationship? I don t think so. Young Beau has a family, I m sure he has concerned parents. Do you think THEY would approve of their son being involved with a much older man where there is such a huge and obvious power deferential, AND old enough to be their sons father? Adams took advantage of an admiring and naive young man to satisfy his own shallow and selfish sexual needs. He lied about it, privately and then publically to all the good citizens of Portland Oregon and then vilified the good name of another highly respected Portlander Bob Ball who also wished to run for mayor. This man, Mr. Ball then suffered the consequences of having his good reputation tarnished by Adams allusions and accusations. Adams engaged in highly manipulative and calculating conduct when he hired Mercury writer Amy Ruiz simply because she had proven useful to him by not publishing a story that would present him in an unflattering light. When she was hand picked for a position she is clearly unqualified for, over numerous others with years of experience and advanced degrees in sustainability and urban planning, it became clear to many in this town that this was another flamboyant example of Adams deceptive, unethical manipulations as a politician. I agree with Just Out and I support their stance along with several other individuals in Portland that Adams has a moral obligation to step down. This scandal is NOT only about him sleeping with an uneducated and naive teenaged boy who was easy to take advantage of and probably very star struck as well, its about Adams sneaky, manipulative and unconscionable behavior towards Bob Ball and the classic tactic of keeping those who may prove detrimental to you on YOUR side. Clearly I refer to Amy Ruiz; her hiring is such a blatant example of Adams attempt at damage control. For these reasons and many more Adams has a moral obligation to resign. Am I disappointed at this scandal and what it means to Portland, in losing a very talented politician who may have been able to do many good things for my city?Absolutely I am, but the larger picture is how can any of us trust a man who has used deception, backroom manipulation and highly immoral examples of damage control to be in a position of such power any longer? I want to know that my mayor, much like Bud Clark and Vera Katz are truly sincere people who do not allow their personal appetites to interfere with their ability to make the kinds of judgment calls that are needed to create the social change Portland needs. If Adams is willing to do what he HAS done, what would prevent him from doing other things that would seriously damage the people and reputation of our great city? Step DOWN Mr. Adams, you owe it to each one of us.

Sat, April 21, 2012 @ 11:52 PM

6. Justis wrote:

Jan24GAP Kennedytee, you make it sound like Mr. Breedlove was 13 when you say a young teenager . 18 is considered an adult in this country. Additionaly it is not be shown that Mr. Breedlove was underage when the relationship took place. The last I looked we live in America where people are innocent until proven guilty. You make a lot of assumptions about Mr. Breedlove. Why do you think he is uneducated? I would think in order to obtain an internship (not with Mayor Adams, by the way) an individual would need to show they had done well withing the education system. How do you know that Mr. Breedlove was naive? Do you personally know his life history to know this to be fact? Whose to say that Mr. Breedlove did not agressively persue Mayor Adams? There are many people that are star-struck as you say (of a city councilman? Not a very high star) that aggressively persue the person they are infatuated with. Their called stalkers. In regards to Mayor Adams satisfying his own sexually needs, keep in mind that the sexual peak in men is 18 years old. I would venture to say that 18 year old men are not concerened whether or not their parents would approve of who they were having sex with.Additionally, a large age difference does not make a relationship immoral. It is possible to have 20 or more years difference in age and have the relationship be happy, healthy, and working. We cannot always choose who we fall far, and sometimes relationships don t work out. I m sure from your remarks that you have either never been in a sexual or romantic relationship with another person, or that you ve been in the same relationship your whole life.I am not claiming to personally know Mr. Breedlove and cannot vouch for his character one way or another. What I do want to point out is it is easy to jump to all kinds of conclusions without knowing the facts. Why can t we let the law and government work in the way it is intended. Let there be an investigation. Let the actual facts be gathered, and let conclusions be reached once the facts have been fully considered.You seem very concerned with Mr. Bell s good name being tarnished. I have not heard Mr. Bell s name dragged through the mud. What I do hear is a lot of assumptions and conclusions being reached about Mayor Adams without consideration that not only his name but his life is being destroyed, or at least attempted to be destroyed. Innocent until proven guilty.Yes, Mayor Adams lied about his relationship with Mr. Breedlove. People such as yourself act as if you have never lied in your life, and that you have never been caught in a lie. Everyone has lied at some point in their life and been caught. Nobody died when Adams lied.Let government work. Let the facts be gathered.

Wed, April 25, 2012 @ 12:58 AM

7. Fantine wrote:

Jan26stephenomist Leadership ?!There are two facets to Executive Leadership,Governing RulingBy governing it s meant the ability to read, write, interpret and administer the rule of law to the benefit of the governed. Basically, managerial skills. Sam got things done. In government, that s quite impressive.By ruling, it s meant the symbolic leadership of the governed. Sam was elected to represent the face of Portland. Laying a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier, speaking to the governed at times of crisis or celebration. Capturing the zeitgeist, or spirit of the governed in words and actions, representing our better angels. This is what is meant by ruling in this context. Sam Adams has lost the ability to serve as our titular leader. He s a fine back-room dealer. He obviously knows how to use power this last part is most distressing. He s probably the most powereful Mayor Portland s had in the last 25 years. Eight years serving as Vera s henchman, keeping tabs on friends and foes, maps of where the bodies are buried, and especially learning how to use taxpayer $ to grease the wheels of power. He scared me because he s so smart, capable and competent at the use of power.Power currupts Adams had it in spades. So this is what WE NOW KNOW (because he admitted it) he used poor judgement (had sex with a teenaged boy) then lied repeatedly to get elected Mayor. Now we re supposed to accept/endorse his return to City Hall as the Leader of our Beloved City. What is with you people? Are your own narrow self interests more important than right wrong? Sam has reinforced the negative stereotype he decried his political opponent of invoking. In your tolerenance of his abhorrent behavior you are reinforcing all of the horrible stereotypes the GLBT community has attempted to overcome. You are setting yourselves back if you back Adams. Just Out earned my respect for its common sense call for Adams resignation. PABA s call for Adams stay in power puts your organization so far from the mainstream it will likely take decades for your community to regain credibility. I applaud Just Out. PABA you deserve to hear the jokes that will arise over the next few years at Adams and your communities expense. You are the joke.

Sun, April 29, 2012 @ 12:07 AM

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