(De)Press Release

I ONCE UNDERWENT “media training.” This entailed getting tips from a public relations professional on how to talk and present myself during radio and television interviews.

I had mixed feelings. I’m a journalist. I interview people all the time for stories. Often, media-trained subjects are the worst and most annoying—they spin everything in a positive way. And dilute reality in ways that reflect positively on themselves.

Media training has been around for decades. And positives can be gleaned. In Broadcast News, dull-witted news anchor William Hurt shows investigative reporter Albert Brooks how to sit on the tail of his sports coat to present a streamlined sartorial image. Believe me, you can go on television to report world peace, and people at home will stare at their flat-screens and think, “That guy needs a haircut.”

As I suffered a half-day sentence of media training, I learned a few things. Be succinct. Brush your teeth. And make your own point—whatever the hell the question is.

Which brings us to San Diego City Councilmember Jim Madaffer. After the city received the infamous $20 million Kroll Report—detailing how city officials negligently and maybe illegally broiled, basted and caramelized city finances—Madaffer faxed out a press release. I read it and laughed. Here it is, verbatim:

Statement By
Councilmember Jim Madaffer
Regarding Audit Committee Report

“Today was much anticipated when everyone had the first opportunity to see the Special Audit Committee’s long awaited report and hear their conclusions. I was pleased to hear Chairman Arthur Levitt say what I’ve been saying for over two years: in San Diego what we have is a political crisis, not a fiscal crisis.

“While I disagree with some of the Audit Committee’s findings and conclusions, I whole heartily [sic] agree with their comments in moving the city forward——that remediation is the key for the city to resolve its financial situation.

“The issues outlined by the Audit Committee happened on my watch and I take responsibility for making sure the city is never again in this position. I was pleased the audit committee recognized the city council for having already taken stringent steps to correct the problems of the past.

“I intend to carefully review the 400 page report and will have further comments about the report after I complete my review.”

Jim Madaffer
Councilmember
August 8, 2006

IT’S NOT FALL-DOWN FUNNY, Daily Show material. But here’s a take on the spin between the lines. (Madaffer’s office, as has become practice, did not respond to requests for an interview for this story.)

Madaffer writes that he and Arthur Levitt are on the same page in that “in San Diego what we have is a political crisis, not a fiscal crisis.” The councilmember is correct that he’s been denying the city has a serious problem. But Levitt did not give indication there is no fiscal crisis at hand. Quite the opposite.

Levitt did say the shady political climate of back-room deals and disregard for laws and regulations is part of our problem. Why is Madaffer pleased to hear that? From 1993 to 2000, he was chief of staff to Councilmember Judy McCarty. In 1996, the infamous Manager’s Proposal 1 was passed, beginning the downward spiral of the pension fund deficit. Madaffer has been a councilmember since 2000. He voted for Manager’s Proposal 2 in 2002—a move that exacerbated the fiscal problem initiated by MP1.

The punch line: Madaffer expresses relief—because he continues to deny there’s a fiscal problem. But if there is one, it’s the fault of the politicians. Never mind that he is one, and has been one for the duration of this long, slow train wreck.

The press release says: “While I disagree with some of the audit committee’s findings . . .”

Could Madaffer disagree with the audit committee conclusion that voting for MP2 resulted in an illegally funded pension system?

Does he disagree with the audit committee conclusion that he personally was “negligent” in his duty of overseeing the city’s business?

Might he disagree with the audit committee report that he and other councilmembers were told a separate plan before the council to overcharge San Diegans on their sewer bills was illegal? And does he disagree that he replied, “Let ’em sue us” when asked if the city might be liable for this practice?

This next one is my favorite: “The issues . . . happened on my watch and I take responsibility for making sure the city is never again in this position.”

Okay, so this is a bit of a concession that some sort of problem has taken place. And he’s taking responsibility—not for causing the problem, but for never doing it again.

Can’t you see the Saturday Night Live skit? A bank robber sits in court. He’s found guilty. Before sentencing, the judge asks why he shouldn’t be sent to jail. “Well, your honor,” the robber rationalizes, “the robbery did happen on my watch, and I’d like to take responsibility for making sure the bank is never again in this position.”

Finally: “. . . the audit committee recognized the city council for having already taken stringent steps to correct the problems of the past.”

What steps? The council is moving forward with remediation. But the mayor has suggested issuing pension obligation bonds. Madaffer has also championed this quick-fix idea. Levitt very specifically called this idea a way of pushing today’s problem off onto future generations. Didn’t Madaffer take responsibility for making sure the city is never again in this position?

BILL CLINTON, GEORGE W. BUSH, Randy “Duke” Cunningham—they’re all spinners. It’s no different in San Diego than in Washington, D.C. Every body politic has its problems. San Diego is in a fiscal mess, brought about by political lapses of judgment and alleged criminal activity.

We all share part of the blame—the career politicians, the complacent media and the oblivious public. The media seem to be shuffling back to their post. But how long will the reportage continue if San Diegans indicate they don’t want to read, watch or hear about the boring, complicated pension mess?

While every San Diegan shares the blame for our city’s national lampooning, it’s the politicians who should have pulled the right switches. Do we expect them to throw themselves on their swords and resign? To at least admit they could have done better?

Just an unspun apology would be nice. San Diego has some depressing digging out on the horizon. Meanwhile, some politicians are shoveling in the wrong direction: “The issues . . . happened on my watch and I take responsibility for making sure the city is never again in this position . . .”

I’d like to close with a press release of my own—in the form of lyrics poached from a 1980 hit song by The Police:

Statement of Sad Reality Regarding
Political Leadership in San Diego

Poets, priests and politicians Have words to thank for their positions. Words that scream for your submission And no one’s jamming their transmission. And when their eloquence escapes you Their logic ties you up and rapes you.

De do do do, de da da da Is all I want to say to you. De do do do, de da da da Their innocence will pull me through. De do do do, de da da da Is all I want to say to you. De do do do, de da da da They’re meaningless, and all that’s true.

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