Jefferson Smith gets Wienered, but not well-Wienered
All of a sudden the O is interested in Jeffer-Sam Smith's driving record. It's curious, in that we dug through a lot of that nearly a year ago. But it's understandable, given that Smith's opponent, Char-Lie Hales, has his political consultant, Mark Wiener, on Smith's case. Planting dirt with the local media, who are all too willing to go along, is a Wiener specialty.
Reporter Beth Slovic's article points out that Smith has been extraordinarily vague and evasive when asked how bad his driving record has been. And Slovic's review of the state motor vehicle records show that his driver's license has been suspended no fewer than four times:
Portland mayoral candidate Jefferson Smith has had his driver's license suspended four times, most recently in 2010.Smith, also a two-term state legislator representing east Portland, acknowledged shortly after jumping into the mayor's race last September that he had a suspended license in March 2004.
But newly obtained records from Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services show that suspension plus three more: two in July 2004 and one in May 2010.
If Slovic had poked around some more, there was more driving dirt to be found. Smith was cited for driving while suspended, blew off court dates for traffic infractions, and at one point had his elderly father appear on his behalf in court -- even though the father's status with the state bar did not allow him to represent clients in court at the time.
Smith's legal problems go far beyond a "bad driving record." Driving while suspended and blowing off court dates while a member of the bar show an extremely unhealthy contempt for the legal process. He's lucky he didn't get himself reprimanded, or worse, from the bar authorities. Slovic still isn't getting the whole story.
| Posted at 8:46 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (10)
Cut him some slack. His mom died when he was a teenager. He deserves a hug and a new job, not scorn.
Posted by Chris | August 17, 2012 9:46 AM
Jeffy is a familiar tale in politics: The reckless screw-up son who ends up going into the family business. You always see the same line to try and sell it: Politics is in his blood.
Meanwhile, any serious look at his personality and it's immediately obvious that he has no business leading anything. He's violent - oh, and not just in sports. He's one of those D-bags in college who would get in fights in taverns. He's Ronnie from Jersey Shore with a Harvard Law degree.
He's irresponsible. He's medicated. He's a blowhard. He talks in large piles of mysterious BS. That alone is a clue. Gifted politicians speak in concise, well-defined sentences of BS. Great leaders like Winston Churchill say things that last forever. Jefferson - despite his brains - doesn't have any of that. This man takes a paragraph just to fart.
Yet, because Daddy bought him a bus, and he got paid to drive around pretending he was nobly promoting democracy, he's amassed a certain amount of power. He did this with the only group still innocent enough not to see through his obvious act - the young. They are the most idealistic among us, and that makes them a target for manipulative weasels like Jeffy to charm. One commenter said it all about Jeffy: "You just get sucked in."
We all remember that jerk in high school who has the dreamy-eyed sweetie telling you how wonderful he is. Her friends can't stand him. Her family hates him. But she thinks he's just so cool. He's a rock star! Meanwhile, you see her at the reunion and she tells you what a rat he turned out to be.
It's part of growing up to realize there are adults out there who are ready to con you with a smooth line.
Plus, this is just so trite. The world has seen dozens of screw-up sons trying to follow in the family business of politics. Do you think if Al Gore or George Bush weren't politically connected they would have been chosen as leaders? Hell no. How about that idiot in North Korea? It's the family business, the way some families all go into the circus.
In a way, Jefferson Smith is a strong advocate for democracy. He's a reminder of why humanity turned away from royal succession and chose leaders based on the content of their characters. He's a reminder why we don't go by royal bloodlines, or politics being "in the blood." I don't know what's floating around in Jeffy's bloodstream, but it isn't politics.
Democracy - at its best - is the search for real leaders among the people. You might hate Bill Clinton, but he was a brilliant politician and an effective leader who was chosen by the American People based on star power.
Not because Daddy bought him a bus.
Posted by Bill McDonald | August 17, 2012 9:50 AM
"Smith's legal problems go far beyond a "bad driving record." Driving while suspended and blowing off court dates while a member of the bar show an extremely unhealthy contempt for the legal process. He's lucky he didn't get himself reprimanded, or worse, from the bar authorities. Slovic still isn't getting the whole story."
So. A classic Portland candidate, he seems to me.
Posted by Sam L. | August 17, 2012 9:53 AM
"the only group still innocent enough not to see through his obvious act" Bill, using the word innocent was probably far too diplomatic.
Posted by David E Gilmore | August 17, 2012 9:58 AM
Anyone who watches "Parks & Rec" and hasn't taken to calling Jefferson Smith "Bobby Newport" needs to get on the trolley.
Posted by Chuck | August 17, 2012 10:22 AM
Bill,
You nailed it on this one! And although Clinton had his faults, at least he didn't try to blame it on ADHD. He was - and remains - a gifted politician.
Posted by Max | August 17, 2012 10:57 AM
Excelent sumation Bill..
Posted by tankfixer | August 17, 2012 11:07 AM
Bill, excellent post, but I find it somewhat troubling that you seem to be familiar with "Ronnie" from "Jersey Shore." ;-)
Posted by realitybasedliberal | August 17, 2012 11:55 AM
I will pledge $50 to the campaign of the first candidate who tells his opponent "come at me, bro" during one of the debates.
Posted by Dave J. | August 17, 2012 1:43 PM
Jefferson Smith may get elected mayor of Portland, but with his driving record he couldn't get hired as a City of Portland employee.
Posted by Keith | August 18, 2012 12:45 PM