instead of just looking in a mirror...
This week, San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom admitted to an affair with the wife of a trusted aide and friend. This revalation was disgusting enough. But Newsom decisded to take things to the level that many take them these days.
Gavin, now joins the ranks of Mark Foley, Mel Gibson, Linsay Lohan, Congressman Kennedy, Miss USA, the leader of the evangelicals and a whole host of others who have shamefully shirked any personal responsibility for their actions by blaming the old red herring, alchohol.
Newsom not only said that he would enter rehab for his problem. Did Gavin say he was an alchoholic? no. Did he say he had a bad drinking problem? no. Did he even admit to any "abuse" of alchohol? OF course not.
He merely blamed all his testosterone driven woes on having the occasional cocktail. And even tho he's not an addict or alchoholic, he somehow needs professional help. This is shameful and an insult to everyone with a REAL problem with addiction.
Not only that, the good mayor also stated that he could and would continue to be mayor and run for re-election. Also, no plans have been announced for Gavin to get rid of his wine making operations, the very successful Napa Valley "Plump Jack Winery" which he founded in 2004 along with a wine store and a string of eateries featuring his commodity. I guess getting alcohol "out of his life" as he put it doesn't include getting it out of his growing bank account.
Will he at least be joining a real program? Hardly. He will have a special lil program "made up" just for him by Mimi Silbert, founder and director of Delancy Street. Her organization usually only deals with hardcore addicts, ex cons, prostitutes and the other dregs of the street. Newsom won't have to rub elbows with them, however, as he will have a custom program that will be outpatient. I wonder how big of a "donation" it takes to get them to do that? Whatever it is, i'm sure it won't be disclosed. And the rehab center will cop a "ends justify the means" stance if it does most certainly.
Hopefully the voters will see thru this latest attempt to use alcohol as a scapegoat for bad decisions and bad behavior that hardly seem related. Alcoholism is a terrible disease. Using it for political gain is disgusting in any way, shape or form. I hope they follow the lessons of Illinois when they elected Paul Simon to the Senate instead of returning an amoral molestor who thought he was beyond reproach.
San Francisco may be amongst the most liberal cities in the world, but I hope their defense of liberalism won't allow them to re-elect a scumbag who was nailing a friend's wife while using the friend to get him elected. There are plenty of other liberals who don't screw over their workers and friends that can fill in for him, i'm sure.