arrogance, denial, and coverup
Seminole Heights permalink | categories: citizens, city, county, media, politics, tampaby Seminole Heights @ 3:57 pm
We have had a rash of stories in which local or national figures get themselves in trouble. Two recent local examples have been Tax Collector Doug Belden unwantedly pawing on a woman and City Council (now County Commissioner) Kevin White buying $6100 worth of suits from campaign funds and trying to hide it as a consultant fees.
Most often the response to these types of incidents is an arrogant denial. Sometimes there is an attempt at a cover-up. Then the issue becomes a big blown up affair.
Had Doug Belden, early in the process of his mini-scandal said, “Hey, I am sincerely sorry, I was a jerk, and I apologize for touching you“ there may not have been a police report or any media stories. And even if there had been a report, there is much less of a story.
History is replete with examples where arrogance and coverup does not work. Why don’t people learn? Or do they do it because it does work a lot and only occasionally does someone get caught?
Tags: citizens, city, county, media, politics, tampa
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November 16th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Before long the response from these guys will be “Yeah I did it, what are you gonna do!”
November 17th, 2006 at 12:13 am
you have a point that fessing up is the fastest way to make a public controversy go away. yet, its human nature not to want to do that. i think you may also be onto something that people often get away with things by simply denying. that works too…the trick is in knowing which way to go….its not an easy call…