People were a bit perplexed earlier this summer when both President Obama and Sen. John McCain were discussing reality show star and cultural anomaly Snooki. Newsman Thomas Roberts, however, wasn’t at all surprised. In fact, he anticipated it.
“Politics has always been a form of theater in itself,” he said. “Everyone’s realizing that social media matters, pop culture matters, and being informed on all fronts matters. It’s a perfect and natural progression: if we care about Snooki as a country, logically politicians should, too.” Roberts understands the ins-and-outs of politics and pop culture’s intersections, because he’s been caught in the crossfire.
The 37-year old journalist made national headlines back in 2005, when he admitted publicly that he had been molested by his trusted priest while growing up in Towson, Maryland. Then at CNN, Roberts helped put a familiar face to the Catholic church’s growing scandals, thus crossing the line from news man to news story. Five years later, during an interview at the Rock Center Cafe beneath NBC’s New York offices, Roberts remarked, “That was going to be an albatross around my neck for my entire life, so why not just take a moment, stand still for a minute and get rid of it.”
Though some, especially LGBT activists, have lambasted the Church and its beliefs as a whole, Roberts refuses to turn his back on the religion he’s always known and loved. “Giving up spirituality completely was never an option. That would have given what happened to me way too much power and control over my life to take away something that was so important to me.” He does, however, understand why people may be confused by his decision, telling me, “People might be confused by that, but I want to stress that it’s not so much about being a practicing Catholic as it is being a person who was raised Catholic and has a spirituality with which they feel connected.”
Roberts again became a news story two years later, after coming out of the closet, a rare move for an industry where objectivity remains of the utmost importance, and which conservatives often associated with a “liberal agenda.” The announcement birthed a flurry of attention that would make some journalists uncomfortable. Roberts took it all with a grain of salt. “If viewers know me professionally, why not know me personally?” he explained. “I mean, to a point we all have our private lives, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my personal life, so why not share it with everybody?” Some, however, suggest that Roberts compromised his journalistic integrity.
That was exactly what some suggested after Roberts interjected his personal experience into an interview about Ken Mehlman’s coming out last month. “I think for probably most heterosexual Americans this isn’t going to come as a big deal, but I think for millions of gay and lesbian Americans—me included—find this to be kind of a shocking admission,” he told his guest, gay Republican activist Chris Barron. A few conservatives took Roberts’ comments as “evidence” that he’s biased for gay rights. They’ve said the same thing about Vaughn Walker, the allegedly gay judge who overturned California’s Proposition 8. Roberts disagrees.
“For all the people watching that interview, it added a point of interest coming from a person that understand why some people would want to know why this person chose to come out. I was curious.” Nor does Roberts buy into the conservative “gay judge” argument, which claims Walker would intentionally tip the scales of justice for gay rights. “Someone’s personal life doesn’t take away from that fact that, as a professional, they can table their personal lives when making decisions.”
Roberts doesn’t think that gay rights should even be made into a political issue. “When it comes to where we are in this country with certain issues, like civil rights for gays and lesbians, the media can continue to open up the dialogue,” he asserts. “It’s not really a red or blue issue; it’s an issue of humanity and justice. It shouldn’t be so politicized. It’s just about human beings.”
Roberts understand that the “media” often gets labeled as “liberal.” He wants people to know, however, that he and his colleagues are, for the most part, just as invested in current affairs as the average American. “I’m talking about these stories—job creation, what it’s like to try to sell a house and not find buyers,” he says.
“I’ve lived through this stuff, and this resonates with me. I feel the same thing that all other Americans do when it comes to not feeling secure at all times.” He goes on, “There are still enough of us out there who consider ourselves to be journalists, as opposed to pundits that stir things up. I’m just a regular guy who’s telling people the facts.”
While not everyone agrees on which course our nation should take, Roberts insists that the best thing any American can do is also the easiest: vote. “The best thing that we can do as a country is vote. It’s an important power and responsibility.”
Most importantly, voting keeps the States united: “Voting is the one thing that really unifies us as a country. There are certain dates that all adults are expected to go out and cast their votes as a country. That’s a really beautiful and powerful thing.” Spoken like a true American.
Ken Mehlman, the former Republican party chairman and aide to George Bush, has revealed he is gay.
As a senior Republican figure with a high public profile, Mr Mehlman's admission of his homosexuality is a bold move at a time when the Republican party are asserting their opposition to the potential legalisation of same-sex marriage and the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
As reported by Richard Adams in the Guardian, when Mr Mehlman was asked by the Atlantic magazine to explain how he reconciled his sexuality with the Republican party's "gay-baiting tactics", he replied: "I can't change the fact that I wasn't in this place personally when I was in politics, and I genuinely regret that. It was very hard, personally."
It was during the period 2005-2006 when Mr Mehlman was chairman of the national Republican party that strategists used state referendums banning gay marriage in order to galvanise their voters.
Mr Mehlman reportedly told the Atlantic that his move was an important one in order for him to be able to openly support the legalising of marriage for LGBT Americans.
He added: "It's taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life . . . I've told my family, friends, former colleagues, and current colleagues, and they've been wonderful and supportive . . . It's something I wish I had done years ago."
He also told the Atlantic that he had been working with the American Foundation for Equal Rights, who back the legal challenge to California's Proposition 8 which bans gay marriage in the state, by encouraging Republicans to donate funds.
The Mayor of Portland, Oregon has said he "still has a very positive contribution to make" despite admitting he lied about his relationship with a teenager.
Sam Adams admitted last week that he had sex with Beau Breedlove during the summer of 2005, but only after he had turned 18.
Mr Adams, who was elected last year and took office on January 1st, had denied their relationship was sexual for at least 18 months.
Mr Breedlove was 17 and working as a state legislative intern when he met then-City Commissioner Adams.
Mr Adams publicly admitted on Tuesday that his previous assertions that he was merely "mentoring" Beau Breedlove for a career in politics had no foundation and were simply a front for their sexual relationship.
He apologised to Portland's voters.
The Oregon Attorney General is to investigate if Mr Adams is telling the truth - if he had sex with Mr Breedlove when he was 17 he has broken state law, which stipulates no-one under 18 can give consent to sexual acts.
The Mayor seems to have deciced to stay, and apologised again in a video posted on his website last night.
"Tomorrow, I go back to work as your mayor. I know I have made big mistakes. I know I have let you down. And I ask for your forgiveness.
"I believe I still have a very positive contribution to make — to put to work the 20 years of public service to the good of Portland. And as I do this, I pledge to you: I will work harder than I have ever worked before to make sure Portland meets our challenges.
"These are some of the toughest times we've ever faced. The worst recession in 60 years, one of the highest national unemployment rates, some of the toughest business landscape we've ever seen.
"Now, rightfully, I know Portlanders are not going to rely on my words, and will look to my ability to deliver results to them in the coming months.
"And as we do this work together, with the lessons that I've learned in hand, I will work each and every day to restore your trust and faith in me as a public servant.
"I want to thank everyone who has sent me letters and texts and emails of support. I want to thank everyone who has sent me questions and who have, rightfully, sent me criticisms.
"I look forward to working with all of you to make sure that Portland moves forward."
Last week a local gay magazine joined the Portland Business Journal, The Oregonian and the Portland Tribune in calling for Mayor Adams to resign.
"By his own admission, by committing the act of lying to the citizens of Portland, Adams has failed to show the principled character that this publication feels is a basic requirement for an elected official, " the Just Out editorial board said.
"Just Out acknowledges that over his two decades as a public servant Adams has risen to become one of Oregon's most revered openly gay leaders.
"The bond of trust and confidence has been broken. Adams has previously stated his hope that gay and lesbian youth might one day look to him as a role model and example.
"His own actions have now rendered this implausible.
The first gay person elected as Mayor of Portland should resign, a local LGBT publication has said.
Just Out has taken a similar stance to local Oregon newspapers and called on Sam Adams to leave office less than a month after he was sworn in.
On Tuesday he publicly apologised for lying for the past 18 months about the natue of his relationship with a teenager.
He admitted that his previous assertions that he was merely "mentoring" Beau Breedlove for a career in politics had no foundation and were simply a front for their sexual relationship.
Mr Breedlove was 17 and working as a state legislative intern when he met then-City Commissioner Adams, who was elected Mayor last year and took office on January 1st.
Mayor Adams said they had sex several times during the summer of 2005, by only after Mr Breedlove turned 18.
In 2007, while considering his candidacy, Mr Adams accused another mayoral hopeful of spreading fase rumours about his relationship with Mr Breedlove and explained the "mentoring" nature of their relationship.
The Oregon Attorney General is to investigate if Mr Adams is telling the truth - if he had sex with Mr Breedlove when he was 17 he has broken state law, which stipulates no-one under 18 can give consent to sexual acts.
A local gay magazine has joined the Portland Business Journal, The Oregonian and the Portland Tribune in calling for Mayor Adams to resign.
"By his own admission, by committing the act of lying to the citizens of Portland, Adams has failed to show the principled character that this publication feels is a basic requirement for an elected official, " the Just Out editorial board said.
"Just Out acknowledges that over his two decades as a public servant Adams has risen to become one of Oregon's most revered openly gay leaders.
"This publication has long admired Adams' vision, his intelligence and his tenacity.
"Ultimately we have concluded that these qualities cannot overcome the weakness revealed in Adams' recent admission.
"Adams' apology of yesterday, including specific reference to the gay community, while sincere, is not enough.
"The bond of trust and confidence has been broken. Adams has previously stated his hope that gay and lesbian youth might one day look to him as a role model and example.
"His own actions have now rendered this implausible.
"Adams must resign his seat as Portland's Mayor."
The Oregonian reports that the Mayor is losing support.
"I've been involved in Oregon politics for a long time, and I obviously understand people's anger and frustration," he told the paper yesterday.
"Portland isn't San Francisco, it's not Los Angeles, it's not the federal level. We have a standard for our politicians, and I violated that standard.
"I need to take some time to figure out what's best for Portlanders, but I'm not going to drag it out. There's too much work to do."
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People were a bit perplexed earlier this summer when both President Obama and Sen. John McCain were discussing reality show star and cultural anomaly Snooki. Newsman Thomas Roberts, however, wasn’t at all surprised. In fact, he anticipated it.
