The Gospel of Mudslinging

Next week, citizens will have the opportunity to vote in new members of the Anchorage Assembly, and thus alter the course of our city's future for the next three years. After the events of the Ordinance 64 hearings, and related controversies it's anyone's guess who will be re-elected and who will be given the boot in favor of a new representative. However, when the stakes are as high as they are in this election, including a possible investigation into whether or not Mayor Sullivan committed fiscal and ethical misconduct, it's important we elect individuals who possess a sense of honor and personal integrity. We don't need someone who is going to turn a blind eye to illegal conduct in favor of advancing their own political careers or social standing within this community. That said, I have been scrutinizing the behavior of Andy Clary who is running for Seat F on the Assembly, and whether or not he is qualified to make decisions for the 200,000+ souls living in our little city by the sea.

Andy, son of Anchorage Baptist Temple minister Glenn Clary, has built his campaign on the premise that he is not a spokesman for the politically-connected church, and is independent of the misconduct that has made it's leader Pastor Jerry Prevo famous or infamous depending on whom you ask. Normally, I'm not inclined to blame the son for the sins of the father, but Glenn was the same person who praised for Prevo for gaining victory over the "homosexual disease", and made a number of disparaging remarks towards the LGBTQ community. Last I checked, I can't call in gay, you can't catch it like the flu, and as for their sex practices I'm pretty sure there are some heterosexual members of their church who have engaged in fellatio, cunnilingus, and anal sex with their significant others. If Prevo and Clary think otherwise they are choosing to accept that reality out of faith, and not statistical evidence to the contrary.


Still, I decided to give Andy the benefit of the doubt, until learning that he has started to undermine his opponent Dick Traini using caricatures depicting him as a false king. Then, I discovered he believes alcoholism is a sin, just like homosexuality, and it went downhill from there. Many of you might get the impression from this post that I don't like Andy, that I too am undermining him, but rather I feel empathy for him because I too used to be very much like him. Believe it or not, I was a flaming ultra-conservative until an encounter I had with God revealed my attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs were not Christ-like. 

I think Andy needs to have a similar experience.

Right now, his behaviors really are not indicative of good character, or a strong moral compass. Currently, he is supporting Dan Sullivan who has committed a series of grievous acts, including ones that might be illegal, and could put his political career in jeopardy. However, he is unwilling to even consider whether or not Sullivan is capable of the acts he's been accused of, and chooses to ignore indications to the contrary. One cannot simply follow a person blindly, without determining whether or not they are worthy of your loyalty and devotion. Also, when campaigning for political office the point is to demonstrate your qualifications for the position based on your education, and life experiences. This shows constituents whether or not you can deal with the issues they have bought before you, and deal with them in an impartial and democratic fashion. You need to earn their trust, because only then will they follow you, and only then will they defend you to those who would tear you down.


Throwing mud at your opponent, mocking them in pedestrian cartoons, and attempting to aggrandize yourself at their expense indicates immaturity and poor character integrity. You don't win by bullying, and the actions Andy has engaged in towards Traini are not Christian. God is not going to give him a high-five for mockery, manipulation, and Machiavellian plots. If he thinks so, he needs to read the bible again, and spend some serious time getting up close and personal to God. If anything I pray, and as those of you who read this blog to do the same. For what? That God will touch Andy's heart, and open his eyes to the dark path he is traveling. In the meantime, until that happens, I cannot support his ascension to Anchorage Assembly, and ask that you vote for his opponent who possesses the character integrity and maturity that Clary needs to develop before entering into a leadership position.


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ADN's Article On Traini and Clary
http://www.adn.com/2010/03/30/1205926/experience-vs-new-ideas-marks.html?pageNum=2&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container