Another Sam Adams non-issue

The Tribune‘s web site posted an article today questioning the ethics of four staff members in Commissioner Sam Adams’ office attending a political campaign training. Sam paid their seminar registration fees out of his personal funds, and they used their own vacation time to take the day off work in City Hall.

“Local political consultant Jim Moore said the incident “blurs the line” between government and politics, however.

“This is almost Karl Rovian,” said Moore, referring to Karl Rove, the former top aide to President George Bush who advised on Republican political campaigns while working at the White House.”

Almost Karl Rovian? Cue sinister music in the background….

What nonsense. Staff in City Council members’ offices are at-will employees of the elected politicians, not bureau staff/career civil servants. If there is a line between government and politics (surely few people believe it’s that simple?), Commissioners’ staff would fall on the “politics” side in my reckoning. It’s not like Sam paid for the folks answering the phone at the Pollution Hotline (503-823-7180) in the Bureau of Environmental Services to participate in the training — although even if that had been the case, Americans are allowed to spend their money and non-work time engaging in politics if they choose. Sam’s office staff had the option to attend or not, and if they did they used their own vacation hours rather than taking leave-without-pay or being on the City clock. No City money or time was spent on the training. It seems to me Sam kept the ethical line very clear, and stayed on the right side of it.

Am I missing something here? Why is another non-issue being raised in the corporate media, days after the failed attempt to stain Sam on the intern-mentoring non-scandal, and the weekend before he announces his plans for the 2008 election? Gosh, it seems almost Karl Rovian….