McGavick (WA GOP candidate for Senate) reveals '93 DUI charge

[Newsjock]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003223871_webmcgavick24.html

By Alicia Mundy
Seattle Times Washington bureau

Republican Senate candidate Mike McGavick issued an unusual confession Thursday, discussing his failed first marriage, mistakes as a father, layoffs he executed at Safeco — and revealing a 1993 drunken-driving charge.

He also acknowledged that, while working as a political operative for then-Sen. Slade Gorton, he ran an ad that inaccurately characterized an opponent's views.

McGavick surprised supporters, Democrats and the media as much by how he divulged his personal history as by the content of the admissions.

He volunteered several comments about his past in an interview with The Associated Press, and then posted a carefully crafted, somewhat emotional letter on his campaign Web site.

All of McGavick's admissions, expect for the DUI charge, have previously been reported.

[Judi Lynn]

1. He sounds like a jerk.

The items he admits, telling a whopper about his opponent, and lying to some employees in his company about their job security point to some deep character problems, not simple "mistakes."



McGavick. McGavick and McCain.

[customerserviceguy]

4. One of my friends

described his voice as "Richard Simmons on helium," and having heard him speaking during his ads, I can see where the characterization is fair.

[tanyev]

2. Maybe somebody else was going to release that info?

Don't know why he'd be so concerned about a 1993 DUI. His constituents had no problems with Bush and Cheney's DUIs.

[skipos]

3. Hopefully it costs him some votes.

But Republicans seem to like their candidates to have drug and/or alcohol problems.

[kurtyboy]

5. Weasel-Words from McGavick's website

"The second terrible mistake, which was difficult to discuss with my teenage son, was that I was cited for DUI when I cut a yellow light too close in 1993. I was driving Gaelynn home from several celebrations honoring our new relationship and should not have gotten behind the wheel. Thankfully, there was no accident, but it still haunts me that I put other people at risk by driving while impaired. All in all, it was and remains a humbling and powerful event in my life."
</snip>
http://www.mikemcgavick.com/blogs_comments.asp?blogid=134

"Cut a yellow light too close" That would be "Ran a red light" in non-weasel, with the addendum, "Because I was sloppy drunk with a BAC of 0.17." as reported in the Seattle Times via AP.

This guy is not owning what is a CRIME now, and was then. Not an infraction, a crime. It is the moral equivalent of getting drunk and firing a loaded gun in the direction of people with eyes closed.

I got a DUI, and I am ashamed. I put my whole community at risk without regard for anyone but my own self. I did this, and there is no sugarcoating my crime. Mike! McGavick did the same thing, but cannot face up to the gravity of his actions.

He is using weasel-words to minimize damage.