READER'S EDITORIAL: FILNER AND HIS OPPOSITION

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

By E.A. Barrera

July 16, 2013 (San Diego) – On the continued fight over forcing the Mayor to resign - It is not too smart to call a press conference, like the one Briggs, Frye and Gonzales called yesterday in an attempt to use the media to force San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to resign, then attack the media for asking legitimate questions.

I believe Bob Filner should resign for the good of San Diego, but if he survives this thing, it will be due to his opposition playing such heavy handed politics - from the left and the right - that the public decides this is all just another power grab and there is no difference between Bob and his adversaries.

There is only one way Filner will leave and that is when the women who were harassed step forward, state their case themselves, and put a face to the victims. Then and only then will the voters understand the magnitude of his behavior. I despise bullying and cruelty, and Filner's treatment of people who worked for him or needed something from him over the years has been just that. But I also despise political manipulations and insincerity - using a tragedy like this mess for political gain.

From right-wing opportunism to left-wing self-righteousness, the real losers in this battle are the voters of San Diego, who once more must deal with an entire political class so immature and self-involved, they have forgotten the mission of all public servants - to be the voice and arm of governance for the voters who trust them to do their jobs.

This continued public spectacle only reinforces the cynicism voters have towards politics and politicians. That is not healthy skepticism, but instead a cancer on the American form of governance. And it needs to stop.

The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.