It’s early for this kind of media-friendly scandal to break, which makes it unlikely to actually affect the outcome of the election (that is, it’s a self-inflicted wound, no partisan assistance required). Adam Giambrone gets to try to finesse his way out of an “inappropriate relationship with a young woman.”
Giambrone, who currently lives with long-time partner Sarah McQuarrie, admitted to the relationship with university student Kristen Lucas after she forwarded a series of text messages to the Toronto Star. Lucas said she had been in a relationship with Giambrone for about a year.
Andrew Coyne has been sending lots of twitter updates on the matter:
I can’t decide whether this Adam Giambrone business is funnier than it is creepy, or creepier than it is funny.
As always, the issue isn’t the sex — that’s the funny part — it’s the multiple, multiple lies.
Was he lying when he told his teenage paramour the “live-in partner” at his mayoral launch was just “someone political… for the campaign”?
Or is he lying to us when he publicly apologizes to the “partner,” as if she were anything more than a flag of convenience?
Did he lie to her too? Or did he tell her I need you to pretend to be my lover, but don’t worry I’ll be shtupping a teenager the whole time?
[. . .]
And best of all: the “threatening email” he showed the Star, purportedly from her, in which she misspells her own name.
So the question for Toronto voters is not, do you want a serial liar for mayor, but do you want an incompetent one?
As for me, I’m sticking with my initial reaction: What a maroon.
This can only help him. It’s either a masterstroke of misdirection or a serendipitous coincidence.
It’s changed the focus from “look at what a crappy job he’s doing running municipal infrastructure” to “look at what a crappy job he’s doing running two relationships”. It sucks a lot of oxygen out of the room that he would otherwise have to use to explain the perennial stupidity of the TTC. Anything that takes the attention off the TTC–especially now that the staff are getting ornery and combative in public–is a good, no, GREAT thing for him.
Comment by Chris Taylor — February 9, 2010 @ 14:09
Well, there is that. I think the current brouhaha about the TTC won’t die down quickly. One of the things I appreciate about my current schedule is that I don’t have to travel by TTC at all. I either drive into town or take the GO train and walk from Union Station.
The recent reports on TTC employees sleeping on the job or taking long, unscheduled coffee breaks, aren’t actually new at all. I’m thinking the only reason they’re getting any media attention is because of the video evidence. When I had to use the TTC more frequently, it was very common for drivers to just pull over and take as long as they wanted to get coffee, donuts, BJs, or whatever. Explanation? You want to walk, buster? So go back to your seat and shut up.
Comment by Nicholas — February 9, 2010 @ 14:19
Damn, but I want to work at the TTC. Sleeping on the job AND free 19-year-olds! Nom nom nom!
Comment by Lickmuffin — February 9, 2010 @ 14:25
And, in the case of the chairman, sleeping on the job with 19-year-olds.
Comment by Nicholas — February 9, 2010 @ 14:39