THE DISGRACE OF STUMPTOWN! Don't miss the final sentence in this story.

PORTLAND, Ore. - During President Barack Obama’s visit to Portland Wednesday night, he was greeted by Oregon’s top Democratic leaders except for one: the mayor of Portland, Sam Adams.

And during introductions at the rally for Oregon’s Democratic candidate for governor, John Kitzhaber, Obama listed off the names of Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley; U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and David Wu; Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown and Oregon’s Attorney General John Kroger. But he made no mention of the mayor of Oregon’s largest city.

Mayors usually receive formal invitations to meet the president – at least on the tarmac.

Seattle’s mayor, Mike McGinn, spent Thursday morning with Obama at a backyard chat while the president was in the city. And during recent rallies in Philadelphia, Madison and Boston, mayors were mentioned or, at least, were there.

Was Portland’s mayor ever invited?

While waiting for the mayor’s office and the White House to respond to the question, a reporter noticed the president’s arrival listed on the mayor’s online schedule.  It said: “ATTEND: Airport/Tarmac Greeting with President Barack Obama.”

Adams’ communications director eventually sent an e-mail in which he said the mayor was there and “… as Police Commissioner, Mayor Adams took the opportunity of this presidential visit to learn what’s asked and expected of the Police Bureau in a visit of this prominence.”

The mayor, he went on to say, was in the motorcade for a ride-along with the police chief.

According to the White House, it said it “reached out to the mayor’s office to take part.”

As for the reason the mayor wasn’t at the rally, his spokesperson said it was a campaign event and city staff weren’t involved and were not allowed to coordinate it for the mayor.

According to Kitzhaber’s campaign, the people it wanted to be part of the program were the people onstage.

(Press pool photographers saw him on the sidelines at the Presidents arrival....lingering around

Comments

[pdxcad]

Pretty much a no-brainer. I'm sure the White House staff told him to stay completely away. No politician wants to get near Adams, let alone share a stage or a photo with him. He's toxic. If the White House wasn't already aware of that, I'm sure Kitz filled them in.

[J.C]

why was he even there. What a joke he has made this city.

[tombrooks]

Were they other City Council members on the stage??

If so, that would really be an obvious insult
to Stumptowns mayor...

[iain mclennon]

If this town HAD a Mayor, I'm certain he would have been invited. As it is we have a liar currently filling that position.

[Chuckierabinowitz]

Democrats are all pure scum. They have ruined our country and they want to keep destroying it until there are no more people who can stand up to the unions and the scumbag democrat politicians they hire. DEMOCRATS ARE SCUM. I HATE YOU SCUMBAGS

[Don from Salem]

Why wasn't Peter DeFazio even mentioned?

[JoelinPDX]

Not mentioning DeFazio I can understand, his district is clear down in SW Oregon. But where's the mention of Schrader. Wu was there but nothing about Schrader. Maybe it's an acknowledgement that Schrader is in trouble in the Fifth District.

As for Sam the Sham's absence...the involvement of Seattle's mayor is much more telling. The fact that Seattle's mayor hung out with The Obamantion says mayors are welcome. So, obviously The Obamantion had been warned that Sammy Boy is toxic...even when your reputation is already in the crapper.

[SatansFlamingHairplugs]

Chuckie, Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

[trash man]

i'm going to take away half my kid's trick or treat candy - then give it to the kids too lazy to get their own. teach 'em early about the freeloading freddie and welfare mama socialists running our government.

[Belstaff Chaquetas Venta]

So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)