Here's how the Republican closet cases do their damage, no
different than our "cheerleader" gay president and the
gay cabal in charge of the White House, or for that
matter, the activities of low-lifes like "Death" and
James Riske aka "Risky Jim" and many others...

 "Spokane Mayor Jim West, who championed an anti-gay agenda
  during his tenure as one of the most powerful Republicans in
  the Legislature, yesterday admitted to using the trappings
  of his current office to entice what he thought was a young
  adult man"

Fortunately, this week, this gay-bashing closet case
scumbag was voted OUT of office!

susie
-----

Friday, May 6, 2005

Gay sex scandal rocks Spokane Mayor denies he abused boys in
1970s or misused his office

By CHRIS McGANN AND KATHY MULADY SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
REPORTERS

Spokane Mayor Jim West, who championed an anti-gay agenda
during his tenure as one of the most powerful Republicans in
the Legislature, yesterday admitted to using the trappings
of his current office to entice what he thought was a young
adult man but denied allegations that he molested two young
boys more than 20 years ago.

West confirmed to The Spokesman-Review of Spokane that he
offered gifts, favors and a City Hall internship during
Internet chats with a man he believed was 18. The online pen
pal was actually a forensic computer expert working for the
newspaper. After the story hit the newsstands yesterday,
West sent city staffers a remorseful e-mail.

"I want to sincerely apologize to you personally for the
shame I have brought to the Mayor's office and the city,"
West wrote. "I stumbled and let you down."

The accusations of child molestation stem from The
Spokesman-Review's three-year investigation and interviews
with two felons who said West fondled them and forced them
to perform sexual acts on him when they were Boy Scouts.

The accounts have not been confirmed or dismissed by law
enforcement officials, and no investigations are planned.

Nonetheless, West's tacit acknowledgement of gay sex sent
political shock waves across the state.

In more than 20 years in the Legislature, West had initiated
legislation to outlaw sexual contact between consenting
teenagers; supported a bill that would have barred gays and
lesbians from working for schools, day care centers and some
state agencies; voted to define marriage as a union between
a man and a woman; and, as Senate majority leader, allowed a
bill that would ban discrimination against gays and lesbians
to die in committee without a hearing.

As Spokane mayor, West threatened to veto a measure
extending benefits to domestic partners of city employees.

"It's a pretty egregious case of hypocrisy," Washington
State University political scientist Lance LeLoup told The
Associated Press.

Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, said from what he's read,
"it's a pretty sad situation for Jim ... It will be very
difficult for him, if these allegations are true."

Honeyford, a Republican leader in Olympia, said he and his
party oppose issues such as gay marriage because, he said,
homosexuality is immoral.

He said West "must have kept his personal life separate from
his political life." If West is gay, Honeyford said, he
would be at odds with GOP values.

"For the Republican mainstream I would say, yes, probably it
would be incompatible."

The Spokesman-Review story included detailed accounts and
photographs of two men who allege West molested them when
they were in the Boy Scouts.

Both men have criminal records related to drug problems.

Asked about the claims, West told the newspaper: "I didn't
abuse them. I don't know these people. I didn't abuse
anybody, and I didn't have sex with anybody under 18 -- ever
-- woman or man."

In a statement yesterday, West elaborated.

"Allegations about my private life were twofold. I
categorically deny allegations about incidents that
supposedly occurred 24 years ago as alleged by two convicted
felons and about which I have no knowledge," West said. "The
newspaper also reported that I have visited a gay chat line
on the Internet and had relations with adult men. I don't
deny that."

During a brief news conference yesterday, West said he was a
law-abiding citizen.

West did not return calls from the Post-Intelligencer for
comment yesterday.

West resigned from his post on the board of directors for
the Inland Northwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America
yesterday morning.

He didn't give a reason, but he knew that anytime someone in
a similar position is accused of abuse, the Boy Scouts
remove the person from the position until the accusations
are resolved, said scout executive Tim McCandless.

West, 54, said he intended to serve out the 1,150 days left
in his mayoral term.

West's days in power are numbered even if he doesn't resign,
said LeLoup, the Washington State University political
scientist.

"He was probably one of the most influential Eastern
Washington politicians," LeLoup said. "I believe his
political career is over. Plenty of politicians overcome
scandals, but I don't see how it's possible in this case."

Some employees at Spokane City Hall were shocked by the
accusations, others were trying to understand the
implications. City Council members were inundated with phone
calls.

"At this point, they are all allegations. Until they become
provable with facts, I am treating them just as
allegations," said Spokane Councilman Al French. "If the
allegations are true, I don't condone it."

He said a number of callers told him they believe that an
elected official's private life should be private.

Councilman Bob Apple said he had heard the rumors about West
since the 1970s, but the details yesterday "fell on all of
us like a ton of bricks."

"I am very cautious about believing them. None have ever
held up. His responses today do disturb me. He admits going
on the Internet chat rooms and admits having physical
relationships with other guys."

Apple is among those bothered by the timing of the story.

"These allegations have been around for 30 years. Why are
they coming up now? It really gives me concern that there
are some puppet strings being pulled, that there were some
people who knew about this and used that clout."

Apple said it is interesting that the allegations surfaced
just as the council is considering a domestic partners
ordinance in the city.

Apple also mentioned the settlement the city reached last
week in connection with the River Park Square parking
garage, wrapping up a controversy that has divided the city
for nearly a decade. The garage serves a downtown mall. The
mall owners also have an ownership interest in the company
that publishes The Spokesman-Review.

As the Spokane council members said, West's sexuality had
been the subject of rumors across the state for years but
hadn't been publicized until yesterday's newspaper stories.

Concerning his sexual orientation, West told the Spokane
paper, "I wouldn't characterize me as 'gay,' " but didn't
distance himself from the term "bisexual."

During a Feb. 26 online conversation published in the
Spokesman-Review, West wrote to someone posing as a
teenager.

"Remember, Im very closeted. No one knows I like guys.
Except the few guys Ive been with and highly trusted," West
wrote.

"Its just that the openly gay guys are a little over the top
for me. I dont really like the in-your-face attitude some
guys have. And the massive political agenda either. I say
live and let live. Most gay guys turn me off, too."

The Spokesman-Review said the person posing as the teenager
initially indicated he was 17 when the online conversations
began and later told West he turned 18 in March.

During his time in the Legislature, West gained a reputation
as an effective, fierce parliamentary strategist.

He was also controversial. In 1998, he left a threatening
message for a lobbyist after becoming enraged by a newspaper
ad a building industry group took out.

In response, he left a message on the answering machine of a
leader in that group that said, "You son of a bitch, you
better get me, 'cause if you don't, you're dead."

West said he was only being metaphorical, threatening that
the group would not receive the support and access it had
always enjoyed with West if it didn't lay off.

West was charged with two misdemeanors, received a $250 fine
and was put on probation. He also had to donate $500 to
charity, pay court costs and apologize.

State Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance said the current
scandal would not harm the GOP.

Despite West's own aspirations to run for governor, Vance
said that he had not been discussed as a possible contender
in 2004 and would not be for the 2008 election.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

The Spokesman-Review newspaper published a report yesterday
detailing accusations that Spokane Mayor Jim West had
molested two boys decades ago and had more recently used his
position to try to attract young men on a gay Web site.
Here's what people were saying about the allegations:

"This is not a story about sexual orientation. This is a
story about alleged sexual abuse of children and misuse of
power and authority."

-- Steven Smith, editor of The Spokesman-Review, in a note
to readers in yesterday's newspaper

"That's clearly a misuse of power. The best thing Jim West
could do for Spokane and for himself is resign."

-- Lance LeLoup, Washington State University political
science professor

"This is between Jim West and the people of Spokane. ...
What happens to individuals doesn't reflect the party as a
whole."

-- Chris Vance, state Republican Party chairman

"The public's trust is eroded when what elected officials
advocate is different from how they conduct their own life."

-- State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane

"The allegations are disturbing, and that's putting it
lightly. I can't say I ever saw anything personally to
conclude that any of it was true."

-- Sen. Brad Benson, R-Spokane

"It's unfortunate, but I'm glad it's finally out."

-- Kevan Gardner of the Pride Foundation, which supports
gays and lesbians

"He was a very strong state senator and a very powerful
state senator. ... If indeed he is gay, it's kind of
anomalous that he would be so aggressively antagonistic to
(gay) civil rights legislation."

-- Phil Talmadge, former Democratic state legislator who
served with West in the Senate

"Some people have had some hints about it and some people
are very shocked. ... Jim West is a cutthroat politician. He
likes power over people -- and over young people."

-- Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, who clashed with West in the
Senate

"I don't comment on members' personal lives."

-- Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, one of four openly gay
Washington state legislators

P-I reporter Angela Galloway and The Associated Press
contributed to this report.