Jim Gibbons reaps public embarrassment through private sowing

Sun, May 25, 2008 (2:02 a.m.)

It seems somehow a miscarriage of justice that after all of his myriad malefactions as governor Jim Gibbons should be undone by his treatment of his wife.

But after newspaper editors in the heart of Gibbons country excoriated their man and defended his lady, and after I had conversations last week with Dawn Gibbons and her attorney, I am beginning to wonder whether the governor can survive until his inevitable announcement that he will not be seeking a second term.

I have previously expressed my discomfort with writing about the private lives of politicians, a queasiness that makes those in the blogosphere want to vomit and some other journalists want to topple me from my high horse. But I have become convinced that the first family’s dissolution has now risen not only to a level of patent newsworthiness, but also to a volume that could drown out Gibbons’ robotic shouting of “no new taxes” and make his otherwise-loud supporters stand silent.

For the governor, it seems, all trauma begins in Elko. The rural Nevada city where Gibbons delivered his infamously plagiarized rant against liberals has now delivered a crushing blow. This time the words were not stolen and they made sense.

The Elko Daily Free Press published an editorial Wednesday afternoon that reverberated across the state, accusing the media of abdicating their responsibility by regurgitating the governor’s spin and implying Gibbons had mistreated the first lady and misled the public about the divorce. “Common sense tells us now would be a great time for the governor to show some human decency and be civil to his wife, in public and in private,” the editorial read.

This from a newspaper in a county that voted almost 3-to-1 for Gibbons in the 2006 race. If this is a sign the governor’s support in rural Nevada is crumbling, not because he has been so masterfully incompetent but because he has been a cad, that is ominous news for him.

“I thought the Elko editorial was outstanding and extraordinary not because it sides with my client in a number of respects but because it seemed to me that they were calling for journalists throughout the state to require public officials in general, the governor specifically, to be open and honest about what they are doing in their public and private lives,” said Cal Dunlap, the relentless former Washoe district attorney who represents the first lady.

As for Dawn Gibbons, I won’t reveal details of my conversation with her because much of it was so intensely personal. But she clearly was stunned by the editorial’s publication while simultaneously grateful that the newspaper had printed what so many have whispered.

The chat with the first lady, ironically, occurred at a fundraiser for state Sen. Joe Heck, who some believe wants to reside in the mansion starting in January 2011. Indeed, the very fact that speculation continues about a primary challenge to Gibbons — or the potential for an open seat — shows how the vultures are circling less than a year and a half into the governor’s term. (For the record, Heck said he was focusing on his reelection — yes, that was rote — and that he wasn’t thinking about a race for governor “at this time” — not sure that was intentional.)

There are common threads running through the governor’s public tenure and his private life that help explain why he is a dead man walking. His penchant for secrecy, which began with that clandestine swearing-in ceremony with the phony homeland security pretext, is one. And his tone deafness when it comes to public relations, with examples too numerous to list, is another.

What did “Gang Gibbons,” as the Elko paper sneered, expect the first lady to do when they tried to keep the divorce proceedings secret and portrayed her as some kind of mansion-squatter? Now the gang that couldn’t govern straight is confronted with a pit bull of a lawyer challenging the constitutionality of the statute that allowed the governor to seal the case.

For a while, just as with the infamous Chrissy Mazzeo affair, I wanted to give the governor the benefit of the doubt. He deserved the presumption of innocence then and a zone of privacy now.

But after what the Elko newspaper printed and what Dawn Gibbons and Dunlap seem committed to do, to show the governor is as dishonest in his private life as he is in his public life, he seems entitled to very little. And the Mazzeo case, once viewed as a he said/she said conundrum, now appears to many voters, including Dawn Gibbons, as a warning beacon.

Discussion: 12 comments so far…

By thebs

5/25/08 at 2:44 a.m.

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So why then, Jon, do you still flirt around what the Elko paper published: Gibbons has been having an affair with a married woman.

Unfortunately for Gibbons, his failing in office trump his failings in his personal life... which is what most voters, myself included, actually care about.
By tmosley

5/25/08 at 8:38 a.m.

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Jon,
I applaud your decision to ignore possible arguments about proportionality. The Governor made a conscious decision to allegedly have an affair, file for divorce, move out of the mansion,and then move the Court to keep it all a secret. What the voters should be asking is why now? Couldn't he wait until his term had ended? What more is there to keep from the public, if not the judicial decisions to come. Having been the victim of "secret litigation" involving Judge Mosley for the past fifteen years, I can represent that there is a much bigger issue to address, especially if the record remains sealed.
On another level; most voters were not fooled by the "waitress" saga, they simply forgave him and looked the other way for various reasons. The voters will not forgive this level of disrespect for the one who stood by him. My hope is that the First Lady continues to take the high road and the judicial system applies the laws as it would for any litigant.
By Nevada73

5/25/08 at 8:48 a.m.

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Congratulations on an excellent article. It is about time that Dawn got a fair shake. She has and is doing a great job as First Lady. She is the First Lady if and until the divorce is final. The affair is not alleged. Why do you think he is in the "Reno House"--so he can play patti cake with his girl friend. She probably leaves the kids a home or with their dad. "Family Values Jim" struggles with honesty and the truth. The Mazzio case (swept under the rug) and now this terrible treatment of a wife that is the reason he is Governor. As the gentleman above said, the First Lady should take the high road and lets all hope the judicial system treats her with fairness and equity. This case should not be sealed. In my view the reason it is is because the Governor does not want his girl friend and her kids to be dragged through the public mud.
By tmosley

5/25/08 at 10:04 a.m.

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In response to "Nevada 73", I represent "an alleged affair" in fairness to the principle of innocent until proven guilty. While there is every indication that the rumors are true, anyone including the Governor is entitled to their day in a fair and unbiased Court. And like the rest of his constituents the Governor should accept that when embroiled in litigation, whether in defense or voluntarily as in the Governor's case, the court record is open to the public. Surely the Governor understood how our judicial system works prior to filing his complaint. Is it possible that he held a misconception that he was entitled to a different set of rules, as did Judge Mosley. Hopefully "Nevada 73" will still agree with my opinion despite the fact that I am not a gentleman but rather a lady. Terry Mosley
By vegasmisty

5/25/08 at 9:30 p.m.

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I think Gibbons is a total embarassment for Nevada. His short time in office has proved he cannot run a state flat and simple. Gibbons left him with a surplus and we are now in the red and although the economy has taken its digs at our economy this started happening before the economy really started taking its toll.
Besides Gibbons has had one problem after another in recent years. Investigation after investigation and a very shoddy way the Vegas accusation was handled. Many think the old Sheriff was told to not press or investigate the complaint because Gibbons was running for Governor and the republican party wanted him in come hell or high water.

I say he should get out and get someone in there that has knowledge of running this state before he runs it into the poor house.

Its not a secret he is a womanizer and most of us could care less if he divorces. Dawn should have dumped his butt long ago but I truly think she wanted that office more than he did.
By Nevada73

5/26/08 at 8:30 a.m.

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To: T. Mosley. My apologies. I did not know so I should have said "person" vice "Gentlemen". I plead "no lo". I agree with you for the most part, however it is not alleged unless I am blind, which I am not. Have a great day.
By HelenWeils

5/26/08 at 8:44 a.m.

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He should have dumped the liberal biach a long time ago. This coat tail rider is a Rino. Move out, sister, we didn't elect you!
By ZeddyBear

5/26/08 at 8:54 a.m.

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Governor Gibbons should do the honorable thing (if he has ever done anything "honorable") and that is -- resign from office. His total lack of responsibility in his marriage has shown that he is corrupt at the very core. The Mazzio incident happened; he did try to get her in bed. His wife knew that, even if the police and the DA turned blind eyes to the allegations. We owe an apology to Ms. Mazzio. This person has no business continuing in the office of governor.
By mikeg

5/26/08 at 9:36 a.m.

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How did this flaccid old train wreck ever get elected in the first place? Wasn't there a better looking, safer, stronger, more charismatic and actionable Rory Reid type somewhere in the junior Republican ranks?
By moethegrass

5/26/08 at 5:01 p.m.

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At least Republicans are getting caught with their pants down in extramarital affairs with women. See Staten Island congressman. For all too long Republican officer holders ersatz standard beares of family values got caught soliciting in Men's rooms. See Idaho senator. Or going after Congressional pages. See Florida congressman. Extra marital affairs with members of the opposite sex was a burden that all too often fell upon the shoulders of the Democrats. See President of the United States. Unfortuantely the Republicans still have a strangelhold of electing blubbering idiots into office. See Ford. See Quayle. See Bush. See Bush. See Agnew. See Eisnehower.
By avatar

5/26/08 at 10:49 p.m.

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Gibbons defined:
Same old Republican boiler plate message of "no new taxes". Same old Republican shenanigans with women, congressional pages, wide stance bathroom stalls, etc. Same old lies and cover ups (Nixonesque). Same old corruption. Same old disregard for the people you represent. Same old "blame the reporter or newspaper" for everything. Same old "Family and Religious Values" that seem to mean nothing at all? I agree with Moethegrass- blubbering idiots fall from the Republican tree no matter how the wind blows.
By kivew

5/28/08 at 8:42 a.m.

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Gibbons wives issue is an old story. Look back at his 3 wives. All blondes, all look alike, all got dumped by him when he found a new, younger version of the same person. This guy is the ultimate con man, in politics and in his personal life.