Portland Mayor Won't Resign Over Lying About Sex With 18-yr Old

[Huckleman2000]

Strangely, I think I feel differently about this because it's a gay man. I think that guys who know they're gay nowadays can often be experienced sexual partners by the time they're 18. If this were an 18 year old woman, I would consider it more predatory somehow.
Even so, I think it's just creepy to sleep with someone you couldn't at least have a drink with.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The mayor of Portland, Ore., said Sunday he would not resign despite calls for him to do so after he admitted he lied and asked a teenager to lie about their sexual relationship.

"Tomorrow, I go back (to) work as your mayor. I know I have let you down and made mistakes. I ask your forgiveness," Mayor Sam Adams said in a statement. "I believe I have a lot to offer the city I love during this time of important challenges."

Adams, who was just sworn in on Jan. 1, publicly apologized this past week for lying early in his campaign about the relationship with an 18-year-old man in 2005.

The scandal has resulted in an investigation by the Oregon attorney general and has divided the city and its gay and lesbian community. The police union and four Portland newspapers have called for his resignation, but Adams has found strong support to remain, including a Friday rally on his behalf at City Hall that drew more than 400 people.

In his statement, Adams said he would "work harder than I ever have in my life" to help see the city through the tough economic times.

Two of the leading business associations in Portland had taken a wait-and-see stance.

Steve Holwerda, Chairman of the Portland Business Alliance, said in a statement the board had differing views on whether Adams should resign but they agreed it was a critical time for the city and some of its major development projects.

"Whether or not he stays in office should be based on whether he can lead our city effectively and with the integrity that all our citizens deserve," Holwerda said.

But the board of the Portland Area Business Association went further and said Adams should remain in office, but added, "pending the outcome of official investigation."

The teenager, Beau Breedlove, was a legislative intern when he met the mayor at age 17. He and the mayor both say their sexual relationship started after his 18th birthday, in June 2005.

Breedlove, now 21, told The Oregonian on Saturday that the relationship was consensual.

"I do not see any relationship that I ever had with Sam as me being taken advantage of," Breedlove told the newspaper. "I do not feel like I was ever a victim."

When Adams confirmed the relationship this past week, he said it was inappropriate because of the age difference; Adams is now 45.

He also said he lied early in his mayoral campaign and asked Breedlove to lie as well because rumors at the time falsely suggested the relationship involved a minor.

 

[Safe_Bet]

I disagree Huck. I bet that if a 45 yr. old guy had a CONSENTUAL and LEGAL relationship with an 18 yr. old girl, damn near every guy in Portland (and I bet the majority of the women) Would give him a knowing wink and think huzza, huzza. It would never had become a national news story.

It's just bullshit that it is looked at differently because the two of them are gay. If it's illegal, it's illegal. If it's wrong, it's wrong. Sexual orientation should NEVER have been brought into it!

The dude screwed up by lying. I can almost see WHY, if his opponents were floating "smear rumors" about gay underage sex. But it still doesn't excuse the lying but the "slam him cuz he's gay" crap isn't excusable, either.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Is this story for real? Look at these names. Sam Adams is right out of the Revolution. And Beau Breedlove? It sound so fake...

__

However, if it is a real news story, I see nothing wrong with the guy getting some tail from an 18 year old. Yes, the age difference is a bit much, but both parties are legal.

And the only reason he isn't allowed to share a drink with him is because the alcohol laws in this country are so bizarre they should be repealed and started over again.

 

[snar]

Is this story for real? Look at these names. Sam Adams is right out of the Revolution. And Beau Breedlove? It sound so fake...

It's real! I have a bunch of friends who live up there and they're cracking up over it. Isn't that a riot??

(and, yeah, I don't get what's so wrong with sleeping w/ an 18 year old either ---especially considering that there was another Oregonian politician back in the day who had sex with a 14 year old)

 

[matriarch]

The age difference is irrelevant.......until you are fully conversant with the maturity of the parties involved.

I know some 18 year olds that are going on 40 in maturity, and some 45 year olds that make me think they are 18!!

As for myself, I'm running very fast up to 60, and my wife is almost 33. A 27 year difference. When she was 18, I was 45. So what? Does that make me a pervert? So be it. Nothing feels more natural to either of us than to be together.

That said, if they did have sex when Beau was under 18.....silly, silly man. If they waited, as they said, until he was 18, and then it was consensual, I see no problem.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Clinton was nearly impeached over having sex with a woman a wee bit older. Any hypocrite worth his salt will explain to you that it's because he LIEEEED about it, not because he did it.

yeah, right.

Politicians having sex is wrong, haven't we all figured that one out by now? And they'd better not lie about it, either!

 

[Liar]

Politicians having sex is wrong, haven't we all figured that one out by now? And they'd better not lie about it, either!

Normally, I'd agree. Politicians having sex IS wrong, because there's a risk they'll breed more politicians.

This however, was gay sex. So rock n roll.

 

[DesertPirate]

Normally, I'd agree. Politicians having sex IS wrong, because there's a risk they'll breed more politicians.

This however, was gay sex. So rock n roll.

*snerk*

They claim the kid was over 18 so I don't see the problem.
I he wasn't the the Mayor should be labled as a predator just like anyone else would, by the legal system.

 

[Huckleman2000]

*snerk*

They claim the kid was over 18 so I don't see the problem.
I he wasn't the the Mayor should be labled as a predator just like anyone else would, by the legal system.

So his lies early in the campaign don't bother you?

 

[WRJames]

When I was working, if I had ever attempted a sexual relationship with an intern, male or female, I would have been fired on the spot. That went for pretty much any employee who was in a subordinate position, but particularly for interns.

If the same rules applied here, and it's hard to believe they didn't, then what he did may have been legal, but it probably breached the code of conduct he was expected to follow.

 

[DeeZire]

If the same rules applied here, and it's hard to believe they didn't, then what he did may have been legal, but it probably breached the code of conduct he was expected to follow.

There's a code of conduct for politicians? You're kidding, right?

 

[ishtat]

If one politician fucks another at least they are refraining from their usual tendency to fuck the electorate.

 

[Liar]

So his lies early in the campaign don't bother you?

Not in the least. Who he fucks is nobody's business. So about that, I think anyone have the right to lie as much as they bloody want to. Lie til your tongue rots for all I care.

If he lies about things that are relevant to his ability to do his job as a mayor, or his policies as a holder of public office, that would bother me.

 

[impressive]

Not in the least. Who he fucks is nobody's business. So about that, I think anyone have the right to lie as much as they bloody want to. Lie til your tongue rots for all I care.

If he lies about things that are relevant to his ability to do his job as a mayor, or his policies as a holder of public office, that would bother me.

Ah, butt if he is willing to lie to keep secrets in the closet, then he fears revelation enough to be blackmailed -- and that directly DOES impact his ability to do his job as a public servant.

As for his behavior, if the young man was not a minor -- OR a subordinate -- then I see absolutely nothing ethically wrong with it.

 

[Guest]

Ah, butt if he is willing to lie to keep secrets in the closet, then he fears revelation enough to be blackmailed -- and that directly DOES impact his ability to do his job as a public servant.

As for his behavior, if the young man was not a minor -- OR a subordinate -- then I see absolutely nothing ethically wrong with it.

I think Imp has the right of it.

Normally, I'd agree. Politicians having sex IS wrong, because there's a risk they'll breed more politicians.

This however, was gay sex. So rock n roll.

Though Liar gets special points.

 

[DesertPirate]

So his lies early in the campaign don't bother you?

He's a politician, if his lips are moving he is lying.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Clinton was nearly impeached over having sex with a woman a wee bit older. Any hypocrite worth his salt will explain to you that it's because he LIEEEED about it, not because he did it.

yeah, right.

Politicians having sex is wrong, haven't we all figured that one out by now? And they'd better not lie about it, either!

Actually, he was impeached because he lied about it UNDER OATH, which is perjury, a serious crime, especially for a lawyer, which Clinton was. Otherwise, there would have been a scandal, and a lot of pols would have griped, but there would have been no grounds for impeachment. Personally, I don't think it was grounds anyhow, even though it was a felony.

 

[cloudy]

Actually, he was impeached because he lied about it UNDER OATH, which is perjury, a serious crime, especially for a lawyer, which Clinton was. Otherwise, there would have been a scandal, and a lot of pols would have griped, but there would have been no grounds for impeachment. Personally, I don't think it was grounds anyhow, even though it was a felony.

Newsflash: Clinton wasn't impeached.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Newsflash: Clinton wasn't impeached.

He was impeached by The House, but he was acquitted by the Senate.

 

[cloudy]

He was impeached by The House, but he was acquitted by the Senate.

The House voted for his impeachment, the Senate didn't (there is a difference), so...he wasn't impeached. It's really not that hard to understand, Box.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The House voted for his impeachment, the Senate didn't (there is a difference), so...he wasn't impeached. It's really not that hard to understand, Box.

According to wikipedia, in this case Box is right. Impeachment is the indictment but a politician can be impeached without conviction. That's what happened in both Clinton's and Nixon's cases. Of course, since Nixon was looking conviction in the eye, he resigned first but the fact remains that while impeached, he was never convicted.

 

[WRJames]

Not in the least. Who he fucks is nobody's business. .

Oh -- not so in the US. We've become very squeamish here about teachers fucking their students, bosses fucking their secretaries, doctors fucking their patients, pastors fucking their parishoners, etc. If you are in a position of trust and authority over someone, you are not supposed to abuse that power to seduce them.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Oh -- not so in the US. We've become very squeamish here about teachers fucking their students, bosses fucking their secretaries, doctors fucking their patients, pastors fucking their parishoners, etc. If you are in a position of trust and authority over someone, you are not supposed to abuse that power to seduce them.

Ahem, when it is between two consenting adults then it IS nobody's business.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Ahem, when it is between two consenting adults then it IS nobody's business.

An excellent principle commonly ignored by colleges where attempts are continually being made to outlaw dating between faculty and students, even students who are legal adults. One could wish that what you believe were considered true but the same kind of nosy-parkerism that the Right uses against gays and lesbians, the Left uses against heterosexuals of different ages . . . unless the older one is a woman, of course.

Public universities might frown on such contact but can't do anything about it.

 

[Boxlicker101]

According to wikipedia, in this case Box is right. Impeachment is the indictment but a politician can be impeached without conviction. That's what happened in both Clinton's and Nixon's cases. Of course, since Nixon was looking conviction in the eye, he resigned first but the fact remains that while impeached, he was never convicted.

Nixon was not impeached, although he probably would have been if he hadn't resigned. I dout if the Senate would have voted for conviction, but it would have been close. It takes 2/3, and there may have been enough Reps. to avoid that big a margin. We'll never know, of course.