Doug Ford’s loyalty and support for the city’s chief executive buffoon are admirable. But surely, even councilor Ford must see the futility of continuing to publicly support his baby brother.
Yet,
understandably, Doug Ford clearly feels the need to protect the mayor at all costs,
and seems to publicly ignore his brother's many personal failings.
Both brothers seem to believe Rob Ford’s negative behaviors in his
personal life do not and should not reflect badly on his public persona as
mayor, or on his ability to perform his job as mayor, or on the way in which he is perceived by the general public.
New Video, Old Behavior
For the uninitiated, the latest video casting aspersions on the mayor’s
character apparently was surreptitiously shot Monday night, Jan. 20, 2014 at a
Toronto steakhouse by one of Rob Ford’s friends or companions and made
available to the public.
In the video Mayor Ford seems drunk or at least under the influence of
alcohol or some other substance, in a rambling and curse-laden diatribe; partly
against Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, and using crude, gutter-level
profanities.
Recap
Many Ford-watchers will recall Chief Blair publicly reporting late last year that Toronto police had obtained a much-discussed video of the mayor seemingly smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine.
In recent months Ford and at least one of his questionable cronies were put under surveillance by Toronto police and apparently the mayor was caught on surveillance video cavorting with alleged criminals and gangsters.
During that period, late last year, Rob Ford finally conceded what he had long denied: he had smoked crack cocaine once in a self-described ‘drunken stupor.’
But he seemed to believe smoking that illegal drug in a drunken daze didn’t really count, or wasn’t that significant, because he was drunk, and because he did it in his private time. Despite making many public apologies, he still seldom seemed to grasp that he shouldn’t be doing that at all.
Self-Destructive Overtones
Perhaps, having another degrading video of himself filmed and publicly released this week by one of the mayor's ‘friends’ might finally lead Rob Ford to question the quality of some of the company he keeps; to question why he needs and wants to behave in ways that are inherently self-destructive personally and professionally; and, maybe, to finally stop putting himself in such situations.
This latest incident comes just a couple of months after the mayor swore publicly he had sworn off alcohol in his own “Jesus moment” of supposed self-awareness--an apparent realization that he needed to clean up his personal life.
Many Ford-watchers will recall Chief Blair publicly reporting late last year that Toronto police had obtained a much-discussed video of the mayor seemingly smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine.
In recent months Ford and at least one of his questionable cronies were put under surveillance by Toronto police and apparently the mayor was caught on surveillance video cavorting with alleged criminals and gangsters.
During that period, late last year, Rob Ford finally conceded what he had long denied: he had smoked crack cocaine once in a self-described ‘drunken stupor.’
But he seemed to believe smoking that illegal drug in a drunken daze didn’t really count, or wasn’t that significant, because he was drunk, and because he did it in his private time. Despite making many public apologies, he still seldom seemed to grasp that he shouldn’t be doing that at all.
Self-Destructive Overtones
Perhaps, having another degrading video of himself filmed and publicly released this week by one of the mayor's ‘friends’ might finally lead Rob Ford to question the quality of some of the company he keeps; to question why he needs and wants to behave in ways that are inherently self-destructive personally and professionally; and, maybe, to finally stop putting himself in such situations.
This latest incident comes just a couple of months after the mayor swore publicly he had sworn off alcohol in his own “Jesus moment” of supposed self-awareness--an apparent realization that he needed to clean up his personal life.
He implied he was finally going to start behaving, publicly and personally,
like an emotionally-mature and responsible elected official.
Deny, Deny, Deny
Remarkably but also not surprisingly, throughout this never-ending Ford fiasco the Toronto mayor’s older brother Doug has been, publicly, his staunchest supporter. Even earlier this week, after the latest video of an apparently drunk Mayor Ford surfaced, his big brother was in denial about the mayor.
Doug Ford did what he has done countless times before: disavowed the naysayers and vowed to reporters that this particular video of his apparently inebriated little brother could not have been shot on Monday night, Jan. 20.
Doug Ford is reported to have said he spoke to the mayor around 10:30 p.m. on Monday and all seemed fine. He also affirmed, the day after the steak house incident, that his brother Rob was off booze “100 per cent” and would not have been drinking the night before.
No Mistake
Not long afterwards, though, Rob Ford again proved his brother wrong in this regard, and proved his brother's apparent trust and belief in him were again misplaced.
Deny, Deny, Deny
Remarkably but also not surprisingly, throughout this never-ending Ford fiasco the Toronto mayor’s older brother Doug has been, publicly, his staunchest supporter. Even earlier this week, after the latest video of an apparently drunk Mayor Ford surfaced, his big brother was in denial about the mayor.
Doug Ford did what he has done countless times before: disavowed the naysayers and vowed to reporters that this particular video of his apparently inebriated little brother could not have been shot on Monday night, Jan. 20.
Doug Ford is reported to have said he spoke to the mayor around 10:30 p.m. on Monday and all seemed fine. He also affirmed, the day after the steak house incident, that his brother Rob was off booze “100 per cent” and would not have been drinking the night before.
No Mistake
Not long afterwards, though, Rob Ford again proved his brother wrong in this regard, and proved his brother's apparent trust and belief in him were again misplaced.
The mayor admitted publicly he
had been drinking the night before, thereby destroying Doug’s earlier public assertion that his brother would not
have been drinking.
Caretaker?
In these contexts, the mayor seems content to let his older brother play the loyal sap he seems to be--or at least this seems to be the role Doug Ford has adopted.
On one hand, Doug Ford’s constant denials of his brother’s repeated
misbehaviors suggest he does not know the mayor as well as he would have others
believe. In these contexts, the mayor seems content to let his older brother play the loyal sap he seems to be--or at least this seems to be the role Doug Ford has adopted.
Or, maybe Doug Ford knows exactly what his brother is like, especially after drinking, and just feels an unrelenting familial need to protect him and clean up the messes.
Some might say this scenario could be symptomatic of dysfunctional aspects of a family in which one family member instinctively adopts the role of caretaker: to elevate him/herself above the madness; to protect the family’s ‘offender(s);’ to protect the family’s overall reputation; and to pretend there is nothing wrong.
Ultimately, both or all parties implicitly contribute to the overall
problem and seem complicit in perpetuating the troubling situation.
Problem, What Problem?
Similarly, just as Doug Ford seems in denial about his brother’s public personal failings, Rob Ford seems to deny that his negative personal behaviors should adversely reflect on his public persona as mayor. He seems to deny that he has an inherent responsibility as mayor to behave responsibly in public and in private.
Admittedly, this could seem like an impossible task for one who repeatedly behaves appallingly in private, as videos apparently filmed by his 'friends' show he has done.
Problem, What Problem?
Similarly, just as Doug Ford seems in denial about his brother’s public personal failings, Rob Ford seems to deny that his negative personal behaviors should adversely reflect on his public persona as mayor. He seems to deny that he has an inherent responsibility as mayor to behave responsibly in public and in private.
Admittedly, this could seem like an impossible task for one who repeatedly behaves appallingly in private, as videos apparently filmed by his 'friends' show he has done.
Sadly, Rob Ford does not seem to see or accept that
his personal behavior is inexplicably intertwined with his professional role as
mayor of Canada’s largest city.
Personal Insight Seems Lacking
Throughout it all, Rob Ford hasn't appeared to realize or care that he has been setting a bad example as Toronto’s elected mayor, who is almost always in the public eye.
Personal Insight Seems Lacking
Throughout it all, Rob Ford hasn't appeared to realize or care that he has been setting a bad example as Toronto’s elected mayor, who is almost always in the public eye.
Many of his public activities, and some private ones,
have been intensely scrutinized by reporters and others, partly to see how
or if he could top his most-recent embarrassment with a bigger one.
When asked by reporters about his disturbing and possibly criminal behaviors, Ford has usually seemed to fall back on his now-familiar refrain: he is entitled to have a private life and what he did in his private life was nobody else’s business.
Similarly, the day after the latest video of the seemingly inebriated mayor at the steak house surfaced earlier this week, Ford essentially gave the same old song-and-dance: what he does on his own time is none of anyone else’s business.
Right but Wrong
Ford is right about that, but only to a point. He still seems unable or unwilling to admit and accept that as mayor, he is and should be held to a higher standard of public and private behavior than the ‘average’ person. He seems unwilling or unable to believe that his personal behavior reflects on his character and values, on his public image as Mayor of Toronto, and, by extension, on the city and its residents too.
In Perspective
Finally, falling off the proverbial wagon is not a crime and is not necessarily something about which the Toronto mayor has to be embarrassed. What does reflect badly on him, though, is his typical behavior after he has been drinking, which was on display again earlier this week in the latest video capturing him in all his crude and boorish glory.
When asked by reporters about his disturbing and possibly criminal behaviors, Ford has usually seemed to fall back on his now-familiar refrain: he is entitled to have a private life and what he did in his private life was nobody else’s business.
Similarly, the day after the latest video of the seemingly inebriated mayor at the steak house surfaced earlier this week, Ford essentially gave the same old song-and-dance: what he does on his own time is none of anyone else’s business.
Right but Wrong
Ford is right about that, but only to a point. He still seems unable or unwilling to admit and accept that as mayor, he is and should be held to a higher standard of public and private behavior than the ‘average’ person. He seems unwilling or unable to believe that his personal behavior reflects on his character and values, on his public image as Mayor of Toronto, and, by extension, on the city and its residents too.
In Perspective
Finally, falling off the proverbial wagon is not a crime and is not necessarily something about which the Toronto mayor has to be embarrassed. What does reflect badly on him, though, is his typical behavior after he has been drinking, which was on display again earlier this week in the latest video capturing him in all his crude and boorish glory.
