Beau-Lita

[January 28th, 2009]

Mayor Sam Adams’ admission last week that he lied in 2007 about having sex with 18-year-old Beau Breedlove has dominated local headlines and provoked strong responses from Portlanders.

But the lies Adams told the public about his 2005 sexual relationship with Breedlove and the fallout from WW’s original story—now including a criminal investigation of Adams’ actions by Oregon Attorney General John Kroger—spawned more than headlines.

Also emerging were new and curious alliances generated by the controversy, unexpected punch lines and a killer detail about Breedlove, who is now 21. (Hint: He’s apparently a fan of Vladimir Nabokov.)

Here’s our insta-summary of the past week:

• Most uncomfortable three-way: Mark Wiener, a Democratic political consultant in Portland, worked for Adams in 2007 when the then-city commissioner successfully deflected rumors he’d had an inappropriate relationship with Breedlove. Wiener was also John Kroger’s political consultant for the AG’s winning 2008 campaign. Kroger is now directing a criminal investigation into Sam Adams’ actions.

• Best follow-up question to the most uncomfortable three-way: How weird will it be when Kroger calls Wiener in for an interview?

• Most mind-boggling choice for a middleman: Charlie Hinkle, a First Amendment lawyer who sometimes represents The Oregonian, told a crowd of reporters at a City Hall press conference in support of Adams on Jan. 23 that reporters have a right to pursue the truth but not always the right to print it. Hinkle then added that even if Adams slept with Breedlove a few months before the legislative intern turned 18, such an action would not constitute a crime that “looms large in the history of mankind.” He did not disclose at the press conference that he is also Breedlove’s attorney. Next day, Breedlove gave an exclusive interview to Hinkle’s other client, The Oregonian.

• Worst spokesman to choose for a mayoral sex scandal: The third person to speak at the pro-Adams press conference Jan. 23 was Zipcar general manager Bill Scott, who identified himself as having worked “in City Hall in the 1970s.” Scott was, in fact, chief of staff to then-Mayor Neil Goldschmidt. He was later manager of Goldschmidt’s campaign for governor.

• First Adams employee to resign: Wade Nkrumah, Adams’ spokesman, on Jan. 26.

• Best evidence Breedlove is the next Kato Kaelin, or just wickedly funny: Breedlove named his recently adopted dog “Lolita,” according to The Oregonian, which ran photos of Breedlove and the Nabokovian pooch as part of its online slide show accompanying its Breedlove interview Jan. 25.

• Best media non sequitur: A caption from The Oregonian’s online slide show accompanying its Jan. 25 interview with Breedlove : “Beau Breedlove and Dog, Lolita. Beau Breedlove discussed his romantic relationship with Mayor Sam Adams at The Oregonian on Saturday.”

• Number of Oregonian staffers attending Adams’ Jan. 20 press conference: At least 11.

• Number of Oregonian staffers who contacted former Breedlove boyfriend Mark Merkle after receiving a Jan. 9 tip with Merkle’s contact information: Zero.

• Best headlines we’ve rejected: “Adams’ Fib” and “Adams and Skeeve.”

• Number of interns WW reporter Nigel Jaquiss has mentored since 2005: At least 17.

• Best marketing moment: Voodoo Doughnut renames its infamous “Cock ’n’ Balls” special the “Breedlove Cock” and promises new, cream-filled “Beaunuts.”

• Second-best marketing moment: Available online at penfifteentees.com, a new $20 T-shirt displays a map of Oregon with a star marking Portland’s location. The slogan? “Where you only have to be 18 to have a Sam Adams!”

• Worst indication marketing matters: In the wake of last week’s news, the Q Center—a community organization for Portland’s GLBT youth—decided to shorten the name of its “Mayor’s Winter Gala” fundraiser scheduled for Jan. 31 at the Nines to the “Winter Gala. ” VIP tickets to the event remain $175.

• Best Blogtown line deleted from The Mercury’s website: Merc reporter Matt Davis, who covered the Jan. 23 pro-Adams rally outside City Hall, wrote that “the racial mix at tonight’s rally approximated [that of] the Republican National Convention.” Editor Wm. Steven Humphrey deleted the line, later explaining, “I didn’t think it was relevant to the event.” The next day Humphrey wrote an opinion piece on Blogtown titled, “Why Adams Should Stay.”

• Best Blogtown observation that was allowed to remain: Dan Savage, editor of The Stranger and openly gay author of the syndicated sex-advice column “Savage Love,” came to Portland to urge residents to support Adams. The Stranger is a sister publication of The Mercury, but The Merc’s Matt Davis noted a curious statement Savage made in 2008: “‘Gay men in their 30s and 40s who will date teenage boys are almost always scum.’ The Mercury did not seek clarification on what’s different, now….”

• Best nod to Portland’s scandalous past: Adams hires Tonya Harding’s lawyer, Bob Weaver, to represent him in the attorney general’s criminal investigation.

• Best reason Adams’ story would make an excellent pornographic movie: Characters include Bob Ball, Mark Wiener and Beau Breedlove.

• Best addition to The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest guidebook?: The second-floor men’s room at Portland City Hall.