Obamaland bypasses Portland

Tens of thousands greeted Obama on the campaign trail. But today, with news that Mayor Sam Adams will not resign, it's clear that honest government isn't a value here in Puddle City. Adams is encouraged by support from progressive supporters who don't care that he lied about seducing a teenager.

But this isn't about just any lie. The publisher of the gay newspaper in town, who has called for resignation, has it exactly right. This is the difference between manslaughter and murder. Adams' lie was a first degree lie, calculating and selfish, protecting his political future. When questioned about the rumor two years ago, he reacted with outrage and claimed he was the victim of gay stereotypes and a smear campaign. Man, the gods love irony! Now, with the truth revealed, he has become a poster boy for rightwingers who see all adult gay males as predators.

It's the planned lie, the manipulation of the teenager, the manipulation of the press, especially the adoring gay press, that is the outrage -- and a personal outrage to the publisher of Just Out. But highly visible gays in town like director Gus Van Sant swoop to Adams' defense, and apparently such encouragement will keep Adams around to defend his honor. But it's far too late. The crime has been done -- the calculated manipulation to protect a political career. You can't undo that. His continued service will split the city even more than it's split now. Surely he will be recalled in July. I suspect there's a good chance he will be voted out of office. And then the progressives, of which I am one, have lost far more than we lose if Adams had the good sense to step down. But misguided old-school "the ends justify the means" progressives, tragically in this new age of Obama, want Adams around at any cost. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

But, if you're a political cynic, entertaining, I'm sure. What makes Obama so incredibly, so wonderfully, radical in his first few days in office is that he works as a unifier, not a divider. He is not, repeat NOT, driven by ideology, as so many here are on both sides of the political obsession scale. Obamaland looks wonderful so far -- but it also looks like Obamaland has bypassed Portland.