The Fall of a Power Broker

In and out of politics and public life over the last 30 plus years, Neil Goldschmidt will leave his mark on the Portland area and the NW in general. He was a politician but even more a power broker. His recent fall came at a time when Neil, the power broker, was the major driving force in an effort to hand the assets of our once local electric company, PGE, to yet another Texas company. Hopefully Neil's fall will kill that effort.

Steve Duin has a good commentary in the May 23, 2004 Oregonian. His point, I think, is that although Goldschmidt may have had some positive impact on Oregon and the Portland area he remained a power broker looking out for himself while ruining the life of a young woman.

Goldschmidt begged for that much when he dragged Yom Kippur into his calculated, self-serving official statement, suggesting that he spends the days of atonement "searching for personal peace" while listening for the Book of Life to once again slam shut.

If, in fact, a part of Goldschmidt remains cornered in his private hell, allow me to join those who wish him relief from his recklessness, his arrogance and his shame.

But Neil -- and his trusty PR team -- need to understand that public redemption is untenable. He had sex with a 14-year-old girl. Confronted with a damaged young woman, Goldschmidt used her. Such malicious infamy disqualifies you from public trust and the public arena.

This needs to be said because Goldschmidt's mea culpa boasts more stagecraft than sincerity. It was hustled out only when exposure was inevitable. He cast the statutory rape as "an affair," and conveniently misremembered his victim's age, just like the frazzled coach in an old Cheech and Chong routine ("Thirteen? How the heck did I know she was 13? She looked 14 to me.")

I hope you find some peace Neil, but don't ask for forgiveness, the time for that has long passed.