San Diego has established its sanctity, not that the city ever lost its special capacities.
Filthy Bob Filner, the too-much touchy-feely mayor of a city with more substance and integrity than most, has been
convicted of felony imprisonment and battery.
He resigned in disgrace after eighteen women stepped up and accused him of harassment, battery, and just plain ickiness. Even feminist attorney Gloria Allred could muster nothing but contempt for this man.
Filner resigned from office, on the condition that the city would pay for the legal costs stemming from the allegations against him. The special election to replace Filner will cost San Diegans already, but will at least grant them an opportunity to elect an executive who respects the law and all his staff, including the women who serve San Diego.
The residents of San Diego should not pay for this mendacious mayor's heinous, inappropriate acts.
Of course, a far greater outcry should denounce the entire Democratic Party, including California's two US Senators, the states' Congressional Delegation, and the supermajority in Sacramento (along with Governor Jerry Brown).
Eighteen women were harassed by Filner, and Democratic operatives said nothing.
They never offered to investigate the man. They never held him accountable, until the last minute. No one should assume that Democratic leaders automatically stand by their man, even when he (or she?) is guilty. Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean expressed express integrity on the corrupt charges against Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson, who was caught with ten thousands dollars worth of bribes in his office cooler in Washington. If found guilty, he succinctly assented that Jefferson should resign. Period.
But where was Howard Dean when Filner was feeling up every female in San Diego?
The Democratic Party's California Delegation and Leadership should pay all the legal bills accrued because of this bully. Men and women in Southern California, specifically in San Diego, should be able to trust their leaders enough.
Filthy Filner is not San Diego's fault. His actions were reprehensible, and the very notion that the residents of the city, or even the state, should pay for his perversions: that's just wrong!
