I figured that one time at the well would be enough for the Willamette Week, but there they go again with another feature which misses a huge point about this smear scandal involving Sam Adams and Bob Ball. They continue to lean very heavily on the idea that Sam, in his exchanges with a gay youth, was politically naive and should have avoided the youth altogether because of what the public might perceive as impropriety.

I find the idea that an older gay man cannot be in contact with a gay youth without sex coming into the picture offensive. It's offensive and silly and wrong and plays to all the wrong old stereotypes.

Sam, an openly gay politician and one who is seemingly blazing trails for other gay political aspirants in Portland, has his judgment questioned by several commentators in the Willamette Week piece. He should have handed the case off for fear of, look out, the idea that gay men are attracted to other gay men.

I personally find the idea that Sam would consider mentoring gay youth who are interested in politics commendable. He is a role model and I believe that he should embrace that image. With a decent-size chunk of society still demonizing people for just being gay, turning to one of the more-prominent gay politicians in the Pacific Northwest was a natural choice for the youth. Sure, he could have chosen anyone, but why not pick the man whose experience would most likely mirror his own? Why should he not be able to receive the best mentoring possible? Because the public is still worried about two gay men being unable to interact without having sex?

Please.

This is Portland we're talking about, people! If this isn't a liberal oasis in America, then where is? Beyond the obvious Measure 36-proponents and the obvious homophobes, I wouldn't worry that people would judge a older gay man who is a public figure for SIMPLY INTERACTING with a gay youth. They were never alone; the youth's mother was in the loop; and there never was an image of impropriety beyond their simply being together. The only poor judgment shown here is from the Willamette Week, which leans far too heavily on ideas that are silly and offensive. Are they going to scoop Lars Larson next?

At the end of the day, I believe this "scandal" will not damage Sam Adams one bit. Those who would be turned off by all this hubbub probably would not vote for him anyway. And those who would consider voting for him, at least from my chair here, will see that he was a victim of an attempted political hit and call a spade a spade. Bob Ball, on the other hand if we believe Scott Moore and Blogtown PDX, is done.

So, here's the moral to my story. The fact that the Willamette Week is centering its story on Sam Adams' supposed naive interactions is puzzling and troubling and, indeed this is a tempest in the strangest of teapots. Luckily, we're in Portland, and I'd trust our progressive friends throughout this city to not be led on by the ridiculous idea that Sam showed poor judgment in this case.

Disclaimer: I have worked for Commissioner Adams in the past, but I write and speak only for myself.