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May
14
I don’t use the word “embattled” lightly. I wrote about it a great deal last fall in Wide Open and on WLST in relation to a religious argument that Christians in the United States are an “embattled minority” (someone else’s description, not mine).
You want to see embattled? Marc Dann is embattled. What happened all day yesterday? That’s embattled.
Few Ohio papers have avoided monolithic characterizations of the happenings at the Ohio Attorney General’s office over the last two weeks. Few if any have drawn attention to the blatant sexism and the issue of sexual harassment and employment discrimination that has led first, to many of the actions upon which we first focused, and second to the ensuing creation and maintenance of the hostile work environment. Rumors about which I know nothing other than what I read on the screen imply that there’s a wealth of other damning behavior beyond what’s already been presented and even accepted as true by Marc Dann.
Although this morning’s Canton Repository editorial doesn’t say anything about the sexism, its tenor captures the scurrying of signals that Marc Dann’s neural pathways must be trying to manage right now. With great emphasis on how the desperation is a result of his own actions.
Many sincerely sad things happen in this world, things we can’t explain. Marc Dann’s behavior really isn’t one of them. Not even his refusal to step down, say he’ll step down if he gets a concession that would stop his anxiety over already done deeds, and then, again, not step down.
I differ with some bloggers about the glad dance because there’s nothing glad about this. Dann did what he did (and we don’t really even know what that is yet). As voters, as Ohioan residents, we do what we do. The Internet has made it easier to voice our reactions and collect them, so that the touchstone for the court of public opinion is a little bigger than just the people in charge in Columbus.
But do not for a minute believe that this isn’t and hasn’t been a lose-lose situation. What’s compounding that feeling is the failure of Marc Dann to let Ohio move on, specifically, to let Democrats move on. It feels as though he wants to exact retribution for his misdeeds on the voters who supported him in the first place – as if to punish us for having believed in him and therefore leading him to this point. I imagine he also feels a lot of anger, and fear. And I imagine that there are some in Columbus who aren’t treating this situation with the detachment necessary so as not to infect it with all kinds of other emotions that aren’t in the best interests of Ohioans.
In the end, thought, it comes back to Marc, not the voters who supported him and who have lost trust in him. How could we not want to see him succeed? I know I have.
The scurrying signals evidence an immaturity on Marc’s part about decision-making, the consequences of his decisions and the impact they have on those beyond himself and his family. And Marc has admitted as much in regard to perhaps not being as prepared as he needed to be to take over the role as Ohio’s lead lawyer.
What to do, what to do.
Marc has to resign. If we think it’s all about him right now, just wait until he is finally no longer in office and really must make it all about him and getting healthy. This is all a distraction from the excruciating and painful work that faces him in his personal life. But the choices he’s made since Friday, April 25 when the Espy report was released have compounded the difficulty of that personal work with the intractable, but reasonable and understandable desire of many Ohio voters and the Ohio legislature to continue to investigate what the hell was going on in the AG’s office.
Marc has described himself as rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. But he needs to go to a different kind of office to get the work done that he needs to do. As soon as possible, for everyone’s sake.
Please.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:34 am May 14th, 2008 in Gender, Government, Marc Dann, Media, Ohio, Politics, Scandal, Voting, Wide Open, Women
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12 Responses to “Scurrying signals & Canton Rep’s thoughtful editorial on embattled Ohio AG Marc Dann”
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[...] Miller Zimon of Cleveland Ohio who writes ‘Writes Like She Talks’ wrote about “Scurrying Signals Canton Rethoughtful Editorial on Embattled Ohio AG Marc Dann” “Although this morning’s Canton Repository editorial doesn’t say anything about the [...]
Shalom Jill,
Hey, God allowed us to celebrate the destruction of the Egyptians in the Reed Sea. I can’t elevate myself to the level of the angels who God told to knock off the singing already.
Those who want to do Snoopy Happy Dances over Dann, ought to be be free to do so. We’re only mortals.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Jeff – thanks for the giggle in the imagery there but I won’t be dancing with the golden calf.
We are all free to do it – but we’re also free to not do it. It just doesn’t feel right to me.
Shalom Jill,
Now the whole dancing with the Golden Calf thing is another issue.
B’Shalom,
Jeff
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LOL – again – thanks for the smiles. I’ve been up since 5am – eldest child of mine is on the annual journey to Washington, DC. The itinerary was very heavy on military stuff at first glance – anyone else ever realize that?
Shalom Jill,
Interesting, what’s the balance between political and military monuments?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Jill, thanks for the thoughtful post. I agree with you that it is a lose-lose situation. I also agree with that staying in the fray protects him from paying the consequences of his actions – it is all about avoidance.
You ask such questions! Right now I’m dealing with this child telling me not to be seen but just to be dropped off and drive away! What’s with that!? Growing UP!?
Hi Judy – jinx – I just left you a comment on a different thread.
Yeah – I’m guilty too – few people are NOT guilty of using work to distract from looking at other problems we need to tackle. They say that avoidance is born of trying to not feel pain. That’s reasonable, and acceptable when the pain isn’t self-inflicted. But when it is, well – whether you are public or private, you have to face it, most times, even if it isn’t self-inflicted.
Shalom Jill,
He’s going to be a freshman next year. Be thankful he didn’t do this two years ago (which is, I think, when most parents become embarrassments.)
B’shalom,
Jeff
Thanks for small favors, huh?
No no no no no I will NOT let it happen! No one is getting older in my house! No one, I say.