Two of the three people who founded Oregon’s top left-leaning political blog, Blue Oregon, are going to bat for Mayor Sam Adams.
Last week, Kari Chisholm, who designs websites for Adams and many of the state’s Democratic elected officials, posted a couple of times in Adams’ favor. Last week, for example, he wrote,
The media had no business asking him a question about sex between two legal consenting adults. It doesn’t matter what he said when he was asked — the question was out of bounds. Once the media determined that it was a legit relationship, then that should be that.
Today, another Blue Oregon co-founder, Charlie Burr, a senior account rep for Edelman, the world’s largest independent public relations firm, told Wwire that on his own time and for no compensation he advised Adams on the video the mayor made over the weekend announcing his return to work.
“I offered my advice to the mayor this Sunday on his statement and video release. This pro-bono work was done on my personal time and not connected to my firm, which does not get involved in candidate work or lobbying,” Burr says via email.
“The mayor’s words were largely his own, but I did offer help editing around the edges. Despite the repair work he needs to do with the city, I still believe the mayor can accomplish great things for Portland.”
Blue Oregon’s third co-founder, Portland State University researcher Jeff Alworth, is less enamored of Adams than are his two colleagues.
Leadership requires something more than political calculation. Sam might have lost (a doubtful hypothesis), but had he come clean, he could have governed without the shadow of scandal. Being a leader means putting the public first; by lying, Sam has diminished his own effectiveness.
Alworth wrote in a Jan. 20 post.
Click here for the latest updates and complete WW coverage of the Adams-Breedlove story.
(Photo above taken by Byron Beck)
- Adams’ Admission Reaction: More Details on The Mayor’s Video Apology Here are s
- Adams’ Admission Reaction: Ted Wheeler is Worried, Tom Potter is Silent Multnomah
- Adams’ Admission Reaction: Basic Rights Oregon Says Mayor Shouldn’t Resign Basic Rig
- Adams Admission Reaction: Mayor Faces Critics at His First City Council Meeting After Breedlove Story Mayor Sam
- Adams’ Admission Reaction: Business Leaders Unenthused As Mayor
_2.jpg&contenttype=jpeg)
If I were Charlie Burr, I wouldn’t admit to any participation with the Max Headroom on valium video.
The audio quality was amateurish, the Mayor was visibly reading his lines with faux passion, he desperately needs a haircut, and he it was produced in the dark of night to avoid the uncomfortable questions that Sam refuses to answer despite his oft quoted willingness to bring transparency and accountability to government. Gov. Blago is putting on a better show than Sam, and he’s a freaking train wreck.
RESIGN NOW!
Holy Crap!! Three people on Blue Oregon had an opinion on something related to a politician?!? WW has officially jumped the shark and started reporting on completely senseless things in order to keep this issue at the forefront. We can all breathe now because we’re officially done.
Will you all leave him alone! I can’t wait until this witchhunt ends and you will all feel so ashamed of yourselves. Sam Adams will make an excellent mayor, which is what y’all thought when you voted for him. I want him as my mayor, because I want Portland to be a great place to live.
1) Since the question was originally about whether or not he slept with a 17 year old, it was a perfectly viable question. He probably wouldn’t have been asked it if it was so clear that it was a legal thing.
2) Portlander – "Which is what y’all thought when you voted for him". Well, I didn’t vote for him because prior to the election and given what he’s done to this city (not a positive contribution in my opinion) I thought he was sleazy and an egomaniac. So all he really did with this whole ’scandal’ is confirm what I already knew.
"The media had no business asking him a question about sex between two legal consenting adults. It doesn’t matter what he said when he was asked — the question was out of bounds. Once the media determined that it was a legit relationship, then that should be that."
And just how was the media to determine it was a legit relationship (something that’s still undetermined by the way) without asking the question? Moreover, the question was not "about two legal consenting adults," it was about having sex with a minor. Sam’s response should have been: "if you have some evidence, produce it. If you’re just curious about my sex life, that’s none of your business." But regardless of his answer, the question was by no means "out of bounds."
Great catch, Nigel. Just think what those two hypocrites would have had to say about a scandal affecting a Republican politician in Portland, assuming such a creature existed. Can you imagine the howls of outrage if righty bloggers "offered their services" in support?
You are continuing to kick ass and take names on this story. Keep it up, and don’t listen to the haters and their pathetic spin.
I fail to understand why Adams supporters feel that he is exempt from the CoP Code of Ethics.
And as to the "you voted for him" deflection, had there been no pre-election slander, and predictable default to the "gay card" we may have had more than one choice.
Dozono may have gained enough support to force a general election, thereby given the time needed to gain name recognition and address the real issues facing Portland.
The negative distraction worked in Adams favor, quite possibly by design.
Mr Chisholm has labored long for Mr Adams. Last fall, for example, during weekly visits to KPOJ, he always promoted Mr Adams for mayor yet never disclosed that he was working for Mr Adams’s campaign.
It is significant that he speaks only to Mr Adams’s sexual transgressions and not to the Nixonian cover-up. He never attempts to explain the invented job for Ms Ruiz nor the spurious attacks upon Mr Ball and Mr Vezina.
Mr Alworth has identified the incompleteness of political calculation as the reason for Mr Adams’s inescapable ineffectiveness. This matter is all about power in private and public. It is much less a sexual scandal than it is a revelation that there is much less to Mr Adams’s public performances than Mr Chisholm, among far too many others who should have looked more closely, imagined. Or perhaps he is as cynical as his client.
Kari Chisholm is paid by Sam Adams and then writes a self righteous bit endorsing Sam Adams and condemning those who don’t while disclosing nothing. I once respected Kari but no longer. This State is so incestuous and corrupt.
Thanks for your continued coverage Nigel. You have exposed how corrupt and incestuous State politics are.
Some Questions,
What do those Mr. Chisholm and Burr do for a living? Do you think that it may be because it is in the best interest of their bank account to support Sam Adams?
Also, the video is a sham. It is a one-way piece of crap communication that has no credibility since it prevented the media from asking direct questions to "Mr. I want to be so honest with everyone".
Now, Adams is only answering questions about "City Business" so that he has a reason not to answer questions about how he lied, to get the job, where he is in the position to answer questions about "City Business".
How can anyone justify Sam’s choice not to have reported an attempted rape? He has stated that Beau called him in "hysterics", saying that V. tried to rape him, yet Sam chose not to go forward with a report, while City Commissioner. Rape is often a repeat crime. How does he justify not reporting an attempted rape, and possibly allowing the act to attempted again? He had certain information, yet chose not to empower anyone with the information.
How does that make the people of Portland feel secure?
Nigel, the photo of Mr Adams apparently prepped for a cycling experience is misleading, since WW has strongly suggested that he doesn’t really spend much time on a bike. Last April, for example, WW told us that he drives his white pickup at night (http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=114370); last week, during the "leave of absence" (any word yet whether taxpayers will be reimbursed?), WW showed us the empty space where his Prius is normally parked during the day. Could it be that Mr Adams’s espousal of two-wheeled transportation is just another calculated political gesture by a professional pander?
Gardiner M. is right. Adams has claimed to be a "cyclist" repeatedly, but the truth is, he owns two cars (or did) and rarely rides a bike, except for photo ops.
But he’s also well known for being a calculating, Machiavellian, narcissistic "it’s all about me" kind of guy, isn’t he?
It’s hard to imagine anyone associated with the "world’s largest PR firm’ admitting to any sort of connection to either the quality or content of the Mayor’s video.
Seriously!
Re: the one-minute bathroom kiss: Get a stopwatch, put a lip-lock on your daughter’s 17 year old best friend (preferably in your bathroom with the door closed), start the stopwatch, keep kissing for 60 seconds, then tell me her dad would not kick your ass, call the cops, and you’d be in jail. These defenders of Adams are either as sick as he is or are getting financial gain (or both) from knowing him. What a total lack of perspective.
Sam Adams is getting a "legal" pass, so far, on this one. Take a look at what’s happened to an LA coach at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
It seems there is a very ‘telling’ triple standard at work in these things: 1, for elected homosexuals supported by a swarm of hostile, militant, homosexuals; 2, when the older homosexual’s "victim" is a boy-toy; 3, vis a vis when the pedophile is an older man having sex with a young girl.
My personal opinion in why this exists reaches very disturbing conclusions.
First, "normal," fully functional human beings understand the utter vileness of pedophilia and will demand the offending pedophile be drawn and quartered no matter his or her pedigree.
On the other hand, it seems that with the accepted range of unnatural sexual acts in the homosexual playbook, pedophilia may seem tame.
Isn’t there a national organization (NAMBLA?) that is advocating "No boy-child’s behind, left behind?" And don’t these people actually go out into public howling for the "legal" right to do these horrific things to little boys?
In Portland, Oregon, the howling mob of perversion is intent on shoving their perversions in your face until you accept it as "normal" and as an acceptable act of "love."
If that sociopath Sam Adams resigned, his loving supporters, who made him their "poster boy," would do an Edward II on him then set him on fire! In the name of equality and love, of course.
Truth be known, Sam Adams is probably more terrified of his psychotic "supporters" than he will ever be of the "normal" people who show up at city hall with posters calling for him to resign.
I’m quite certain Sam Adams is well aware of the story of the "end" to Edward II of England.
For the record: Yes, I built Sam’s campaign website in 2008. When I commented on BlueOregon, I disclosed that. (As regular readers know, I disclose all the time – almost to the point of absurdity.) That is, btw, how people know who I’ve worked with.
I am not now currently working for Sam in any capacity. Other than a single "hang in there" text message from me to him, I haven’t talked with him at all.
I’m actually quite proud of the BlueOregon community. Plenty of our regular contributors and commenters have felt perfectly comfortable taking all sorts of positions on this issue.
"I’m actually quite proud of the BlueOregon community. Plenty of our regular contributors and commenters have felt perfectly comfortable taking all sorts of positions on this issue."
That doesn’t surprise me.
How many positions, on average, do your "regular contributors and commenters" take? Are these what you might call "principled positions" – or would you understand that question?
Do many of these "positions" involve "bending over" – figuatively, of course – and how "comfortable" is that, I wonder?
Blue Oregon is an incestuous cesspool that only publishes the musings from the same 10 participants in the same old Democratic establishment echo chamber.
Kari’s "disclaimers" do nothing to save his posts from increasing narrow-mindedness and his Blog from sameness and irrelevance.
Charlie Burr is an incompetent hack who only comes out of his hole to post when someone is cutting him a check for it –and his clients must be pretty gullible.
Jeff Alworth is the resident Alan Colmes, meekly chiming in with occasional sense and apologizing profusely for it.
Blue Oregon’s day has long passed.
Adams should not be encouraged to "hang in there." He needs to resign. Now.
I disclose all the time – almost to the point of absurdity
Don’t be absurd, Kari. You regularly forget to disclose your paid relationships (on blogs and on the radio). You’ve been called out repeatedly for making the bogus claim of full disclosure.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Jan 22, 2008 11:34:50 PM
[...] As you well know, I post my disclosure on every blog post I write – and on every comment that I post on anyone else’s blog. Seriously…. [...]
Posted by: Jack Bog | Oct 18, 2007 2:17:36 PM
Kari, you forgot the part about "I make my living making Democrats look good on the internet, but I speak only for myself when I apologize for the governor’s role in the biggest political scandal in state history, involving the person he owes his career to and one of the most heinous crimes imaginable."
———————————————-
Worse yet was when you were caught posting anonymously to Blue0 and you took measures to further hide post authorship without even telling your co-editors.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/03/blue_oregon_a_little_black_and.html#797180
Damn Jack, I thought a certain "got your back" city commish WAS the only one with bogus posts on BLUEMANURE.
KARI..Really strange spelling.
Hey, your post is mis-leading, you worked for him, and didn’t here 1000 percent say your behind him.
Our POLITICS don’t match to well, but if this was a Repub Kari,(really weird spelling)I’d be not supporting him ,but shoving him out.
That’s the difference KARI.
You, along with a dwindling group, support him.
PROGRESSIVE LYING..is that part of your gig?
As a disinterested person in this dispute, let me say that I read BlueOregon regularly and I think Kari consistently discloses his conflicts, sometimes almost to the point absurdity. There are occasional slip-ups, sure, but I hardly think anyone is ever misled. This is a bogus charge.
Is there anything sleazy in Portland that Kari Chisholm is not involved in? He would not recognize ethics if he stumbled over some. As others have noted, Chisholm tries to evade the issue, and the criminality, by ignoring that Beau Breedlove was 17 when Adams began the seduction.
However, Chisholm’s involvement does explain the racist tone to Adams’ defense.
One can only be embarrassed for anyone who would take credit for that awful video. Adams looks like a con man caught on hidden camera. Come to think of it, the first part of that is true.
A pox on the third Blue Oregon partner for going along with the other two. If you lie down with dogs…
Jack, denial doesn’t suit you well and neither does the lack of logic in your comment. Kari can’t be considered who "consistently discloses" while at the same time experiencing "occasional slip-ups." He is by definition INCONSISTENT in his disclosure of conflicts of interest.
He’s "forgotten" on DKos, LoadedO and repeatedly on KPOJ. But this really isn’t the point. Kari is/was on the payroll of my Governor, my Mayor, my 2 Senators, my US House Rep, etc.) In as much as he does use BlueOregon to shill for his clients, it’s important not to conflate his use and abuse at BO with his other two cofounders. Kari is the Chief Cook and Salad Spinner there. Alworth and Burr are quite frankly sometimes out of the loop.
http://wweek.com/popup/comment.php?story=11619#c72929
Hans still on your jihad against all things BlueOregon and Kari Chisholm I see. Get help Hans.
Lestat, are you like stalking me?
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2009/01/pollster_parses_oregons_libera.html#2565312
On the other hand, LOL.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__JMkDS58xRk/SYPAi7ItCkI/AAAAAAAACzc/-V8R39qD4Xc/s1600-h/der+thinker.jpg
Two things. 1) Charlie Burr is not a founder of BlueOregon; the third founder is Jesse Cornett. Charlie is currently an editor. I can actually understand how a person could confuse the two–they’re both very likeable, personable guys.
2) While I was critical of Sam’s decision to conceal the relationship, I always argued that he should stay as mayor.
In fact, the whole series of events was bizarre. At first I assumed the whole thing would merit a yawn from the public, so when Kari’s post came out, it seemed good to point out where Sam had made mistakes. My impression that the whole thing would immediately blow over was wildly wrong. As the calls for his head grew ever more shrill and numerous, I posted this comment:
"Further facts: the reason Sam sailed to an easy primary win was because he’s spent 20 years preparing to be mayor. Portlanders trust his experience, which is unaffected by the situation. In fact, he may actually be a better leader because he’ll now have close scrutiny and a commitment to accountability as he tries to redeem himself as a public servant, if not a role model.
"We just passed through a period where we had an admirable human being as a mayor. Admirable human beings aren’t always great mayors, though. Sam has the chance to be a great mayor, and his resignation will force us to buy a pig in a poke–a slate of candidates we’ll have just 3 months to consider, none of who will likely be as prepared or as experienced as Sam."
The situation isn’t one that can be reduced to a binary choice. Or shouldn’t be, in any case.
So, as of today, Blue Oregon have totally lost it. I started a website to collect signatures, blueoregonrecallsam.com, to protest the hack-as-usual mentality that Sam’s supporters all seem to have. On a completely unrelated link, I made a normal post, with my name as blueoregonrecallsam.com. If they think that violates their policy, fine. Delete it. Make a comment on it. Please comment if you delete it.
But no. That class act had to change the name to that of a company I worked for a year ago (their best guess, I guess), then delete all the posts that said, “hey, the name changed”. If you view their 39th Avenue post today, you will see the first entry is pupheadsoftware.com, not blueoregonrecallsam.com, and the real owners’ protests, the second post, is missing.
Someone is VERY threatened. Although I don’t see how making sure you get taken to court is a way of handling it! But don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself.