tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post8589323237503858368..comments2024-03-22T16:02:08.213-05:00Comments on The Wheel: Mayoral Race to the BottomMark Stegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-49206860842425182552013-04-23T15:30:28.958-05:002013-04-23T15:30:28.958-05:00The Richardson Coalition "senior edition"...The Richardson Coalition "senior edition" voting guide of last week "re-evaluates" their 2011 endorsement of Mr. Omar, using a combination of what I would call opinions and statements of fact. I would expect a "race to the bottom" based on opinions, but I am a bit concerned by their statements of fact citing evidence that existed prior to their 2011 endorsement of Mr. Omar. At a minimum, we might question why these carefully selected facts have just now "come to light" and were not discovered (or is it revealed?) 2 years ago. <br /><br />Mr. Omar has made no secret of the fact that he is a divorcee, pays child support for his children, and suffered a personal bankruptcy 13 years ago. I would not expect it to be necessary for him to go into the excruciating details unearthed and displayed by his opponent over the last week. This is indeed turning into a race to the bottom. It appear that Mr. Omar was not prepared for such a race.<br /><br />I am always looking for the possibility that, in a conflict, both sides of the story might be true, or, based on a simple mistake and/or misunderstanding.<br /><br />Regarding "arrears on child support": The document on the Richardson Coalition's website is missing a page. Mr. Omar maintains that the document is in error, that the arrearage amount was in fact the balance owed on the divorce settlement (not the same as child support) and that the obligation was paid on time. <br /><br />The document related to wage garnishment is required by employers to do payroll deduction for child support, and does not prove delinquency. So when Mr. Omar denies that he was ever late with child support payments.<br /><br />The document listing debts in the 2000 bankruptcy does not necessarily indicate that all such debts were eliminated by the bankruptcy. So when Mr. Omar maintains that he is still paying off the student loans.<br /><br />If Mr. Omar's assertions are correct, then it's possible this is all a big misunderstanding confounded by a court's clerical error.<br /><br />I've come to expect a "race to the bottom" in the political arena, where opinions are involved and voter's decide who they align with. We're all entitled to our own opinions, and politics can be an ugly "sausage making" process. <br /><br />But I don't expect to see factual assertions about personal issues like divorce, child support and bankruptcy thrown into the mix. I can't see how these issues are relevant today, having been ignored 2 years ago. No one is asserting any laws were broken. So this appears to be an attack on character.<br /><br />Worse yet is the possibility that there is an error or misunderstanding somewhere. If we are in a "race to the bottom with facts about one's personal life, more research is called for.<br /><br />I have learned from this process what it means to "lead from behind" - a phrase that brings new meaning to the term "negative campaign."<br /><br />Paul Peck<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789719554729668560noreply@blogger.com