October 10, 2007
City Councilman Richard McIver arrested

The Times reports:

Seattle City Councilman Richard McIver was arrested and has been booked into jail for investigation of domestic violence assault.
McIver was first appointed to the Council in 1997 to replace John Manning, who had resigned after being arrested for domestic violence.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 10, 2007 08:01 AM | Email This
Comments
1. Liberals in Seattle just can't stop beating on their women.......They are starting to become more like Islamo-Facists every day!

Is stoning next?

Posted by: dawg on October 10, 2007 08:19 AM
2. Sometimes these stories are not what they are reported. Best to hold off judgment for awhile.

The Seattle police don't have a bad reputation and if they arrested a City Councilman, they must have had good reason, though. But remember the Duke lacrosse team, too.

And, that arrest would not have happened without calling Nickels first.

Posted by: swatter on October 10, 2007 08:33 AM
3. Ah Steffan...you don't disappoint!

I just knew you'd have the news first about a politician allegedly breaking the law...now, where's the post about the allegedly drunk, PDC dodging, resume padding Jane Hague?

Still waiting!

Posted by: rossitoo on October 10, 2007 08:47 AM
4. Dad, I told you not to go off the meds. You have been so good lately.

You believe all Richard Pope's drivel, though? Funny dad, but you always taught me to treat women well, and yet, you are equating wife beating (alleged) with PDC mistakes and a DUI. Dad, dad, dad, you always taught me better.

Posted by: rossi trey on October 10, 2007 08:58 AM
5. Swatter,

Heard at the 9:00 AM top of the news hour a sound clip from an interview KIRO had with Mrs. McIver. She said the councilman was drunk and knocking her around when she summoned the police. She said it was a first and they've been married a long time. Guilty.

Posted by: KitsapVoter on October 10, 2007 09:12 AM
6. It will take more than a paperclip, gum and some fabric softener sheets for McIver to get out of this one.

Posted by: Mortimer Duke on October 10, 2007 09:30 AM
7. Too bad McIver's seat isn't up this election cycle. Richard Pope could quick rent a PO Box in Seattle and mount a write in campaign.

I wonder how the gang at HA will explain this one?

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on October 10, 2007 09:36 AM
8. Piper @ 7:

The same goes for McIver that went for David Irons, who beat up his mother. How did you lot "explain" that one?

Posted by: ivan on October 10, 2007 09:53 AM
9. Won't hurt him one bit. Remember it is not so much the character of the elected official that decides these things it is the underlying character of who it was that voted him in in the first place.

Posted by: JDH on October 10, 2007 10:03 AM
10. Forget the pushing his wife around, if the guy is 66 years old and still out on the town getting stiff, than he needs some sort of lifestyle change. A couple of drinks and happy is one thing but getting pickled enough to get mildly violent with your life partner isn't social drinking. If nothing else, he's not setting much of an example for the huddled masses he professes to serve.

The clips I've heard Ms. McIver says she "was stupid" for calling the police. Go figure.

I'm sure the voters of Seattle will give him a pass.

Posted by: G Jiggy on October 10, 2007 10:04 AM
11. #6 and #7: +1

I agree it won't hurt him. As long as he has a (D) next to his name, his seat is likely safe.

Posted by: Palouse on October 10, 2007 10:07 AM
12. I agree with Mrs. Mc that she was stupid to call the police. She should have taken a cast iron frying pan or something and knocked him up along side the head. He would have sobered up real quick, and probably never knocked her around again! Women are only as weak as they allow themselves to be. As for the drunken old geezer, this deserves to hurt him politically. To answer Ivan's question, there's no 'splaining to do. Irons paid dearly for that smear campaign.

Posted by: katomar on October 10, 2007 10:16 AM
13. Palouse is right. It's okay to do wrong things as long as you're a democrat. (or so they believe--witness the Bill Clinton phenomenon)

Posted by: Michele on October 10, 2007 10:17 AM
14. Maybe he can head up the Clowncils "Domestic Violence Caucus?"

Nah. Wrong outfit.

Maybe he could have the seat of the "Designated Hitter?"

Just sayin.

Posted by: Hinton on October 10, 2007 10:19 AM
15. Ditto what Palouse and Michele said. He's a Democrat and a minority. That gives him an "Absolute Moral Authority Victim Get Out Of Jail Free" card. He must have grown up under the implicit oppression of the white man. So therefore, he's been under stress. Who could blame him for beating up his wife? Seattle needs a new program to reach out to these victims. And it should be paid for by taxpayers.

Now if this had been a conservative, well then, that's entirely different. Then he would deserve the death penalty, after a short trial by the media and HorsesAss.

Posted by: Jeff B. on October 10, 2007 10:24 AM
16. First, domestic violence is wrong, but there seems to be a pattern here involving alcohol. Several pols of both parties have gotten in trouble when alcohol was involved. That doesn't excuse bad behavior, but points to a problem. What we have learned by this incident and others involving pols and even Shark's little encounter with a waitress at the pizza place is that people are human, they make mistakes and if one is a pol one's mistakes, family problems, trouble with children are publicized, magnified, and made fun of. I think once or twice a decade I would probably agree with Ivan, but both he and swatter are right, wait for the facts and bad behavior knows no exemption-people of both genders, all parties, races, creeds, and colors can engage in bad behavior. I suppose many of you here are without sin which is why you are entitled to pick up stones.

Posted by: WVH on October 10, 2007 10:25 AM
17. Mike Holmgren is desparately trying to reach McGiver; anyone with a record of beating opponents is sorely needed by the Seahawks.

I wonder if McIver's intoxicated state was because he stayed too long at Drinking Liberally last evening?

We ought to get Richard Pope to check that out.

Anyone want to make book on how long it takes Goldy or the P-I to call for McIver's head? My money's on never.

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on October 10, 2007 10:31 AM
18. Good grief, are you conservatives so focused on the race of Mc Iver that you make statements like:
From Jeff B:

"Ditto what Palouse and Michele said. He's a Democrat and a minority. That gives him an "Absolute Moral Authority Victim Get Out Of Jail Free" card. He must have grown up under the implicit oppression of the white man. So therefore, he's been under stress. Who could blame him for beating up his wife? Seattle needs a new program to reach out to these victims. And it should be paid for by taxpayers."

I'm always amused by the term "minority" because that implies 3/5 of a person from the Constitution. I don't know what statement Mr. Mc Iver will make about this incident, but to assume that he will claim oppression by whites is a bit over the top, don't you think? There already is a program for domestic violence victims in the city of Seattle.

Now, this is the abuser profile which does not have a specific race, religion, gender, political party or class attached to it. Domestic Violence is wrong.

Abuser Profile

Uncontrolled temper. Have very short fuses and become immediately angry.

Have poor coping skills

Unreasonable and demanding at times

Unpredictable

Give double messages... pendulum swings from loving to abusive

Deny that the abuse has occurred or make light of a violent episode.

Blame the victim, other people or outside events for the violent attack.

Abusers don't act because they are "out of control."

Abusers choose to respond to a situation violently. They are making a conscious decision to behave in a violent manner.

They know what they're doing and what they want from their victims.

They are not acting out of anger.

They are not reacting to stress.

Extreme jealousy.

Express remorse and beg for forgiveness with seemingly loving gestures.

Can be hard workers and good providers.

Can be witty, charming, attractive and intelligent.

At times are loving parents

Intense fear of abandonment.
A background involving physical, emotional or sexual abuse, abandonment issues.
Unrealistic expectations of a relationship. (To "fix" them or solve their problems.)
Isolation and antisocial temperament.
Recklessness. (dangerous sexual behavior, reckless driving, drug use etc.)
Inability to accept responsibility for their behavior and actions, even in the face of dire consequences.
Cruelty to children and animals.
Threats of violence.
Low self-esteem, shame.
Inability to respect interpersonal boundaries, a compulsion to violate boundaries.
Emotional volatility - fear of being "out of control".
Need for power and control to compensate for the above.
Abuse generally escalates when the partner leaves.
Many of the characteristics above are documented trauma based adaptations to childhood emotional, physical and sexual abuse.

http://www.crescentlife.com/psychissues/abuser_profile.htm

Now, do any of you see a particular race or political party in the profile above?

Posted by: WVH on October 10, 2007 10:41 AM
19. Remember, the Liberals have NO STANDARDS for behavior. Anything goes. You may not judge anyone else's behavior.

Posted by: Carol Kujawa on October 10, 2007 10:54 AM
20. Domestic Violence is a crime which you are guilty of until you are proven innocent.

Let the facts come out.

(although I confess I am having the guilty pleasure of watching someone from the D side getting caught up with the DV mafia)

Posted by: Andy on October 10, 2007 10:55 AM
21. Typical liberal wimps, gotta beat on a woman.

Posted by: pbj on October 10, 2007 11:07 AM
22. WVH (18): You are aware, perhaps, that the 3/5 of a citizen designation was an agenda pushed by the Northern states to diminish the political power of the Southern slave-holding states. The southerners, naturally, wanted all their inhabitants, slaves included, to be counted for census purposes to determine their number of seats in the House of Representatives, and votes in the Electoral College.

Posted by: Steve on October 10, 2007 11:07 AM
23. Hello Steve,

The point is that I wouldn't have been included because I am a woman and my Black brothers were counted as less than a person along with Native Americans. Americans have had an interesting trip to this point in time and I am aware of the history.

Posted by: WVH on October 10, 2007 11:29 AM
24. WVH.

And thank GOD WE brought slavery to an end!
To bad we can't say the same in Africa or Asia.

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on October 10, 2007 11:38 AM
25. Anybody that does not get along with Peter Steinbrueck is ok in my book.
Good luck Richard

Posted by: Publicbulldog on October 10, 2007 11:42 AM
26. The same goes for McIver that went for David Irons, who beat up his mother. How did you lot "explain" that one?

Nothing to explain. Irons was never arrested for it, there is no evidence that it ever happened other then from his obviously ill mother. If it did happen, then obviously, that would be terrible, and he'd deserve the condemnation he'd get. I also agree we should wait till the verdict is in on this one. But there is still a world of difference between being arrested for something that just allegedly happened and having someone dredge up an allegation that supposedly happened years ago with no proof during an election cycle.

Posted by: cliff on October 10, 2007 12:25 PM
27. Sounds like Thomas & Hill all over again....

NOT!

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on October 10, 2007 12:34 PM
28. WVH and a few others who have brought race into this: I didn't know what ethnicity the old, drunk geezer was until I read it here! I doubt most people did. All I'm saying is that his wife probably could have and should have put the smack down on him. That tends to stop abuse abruptly and forever. No excuse for this guy, no matter what color he is. And for those of you who will say that the poor woman was weaker, I have a story for you. My mother had an acquaintance long ago who was regularly beaten by her regularly intoxicated husband one time too many. She waited till he passed out in bed, sewed him in the sheets by hand (took hours) and then beat the holy stuffing out of him with a baseball bat. He stopped drinking and he stopped beating her. She left him anyway...

Posted by: katomar on October 10, 2007 12:39 PM
29. Katomar....

RIGHT ON.

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on October 10, 2007 12:47 PM
30. WVH,

Apparently you are not aware that my tounge-in-cheek rhetoric has real follower in Seattle. Take Venus Velasquez for example. And why take offense at the word minority. Minority means the lesser side of a total population. It says nothing about an individual person. If you want to read 3/5 in to minority, that's on your end. Consistently we see Seattle leadership use racism to combat racim. And we see racism excused as long as it is in the politically correct direction.

The reality is that there will be no multi-day, multi-story condemnation of McIver's actions by the media, as there would be if he was a conservative. And if the scandal becomes larger, you will see race baiters like Jesse Jackson step in and try to justify McIver's actions based on historical racism and his color.

My point is that that all racism is wrong. There should only be a judging based on merit and character. And there should be consistent standards for conduct applied by the media, regardless of party affiliation.

Posted by: Jeff B. on October 10, 2007 03:48 PM
31. I heard on Dori Monson Show today that McIver was out drinking with a reporter from the Weekly ( Curl)? and she is writing about it on the SLOG. He gave her a ride home after the post work drink-up according to what was reported. So he must have just lucked out in not getting a DUI before the Domstic Violence arrest.

Posted by: Huh? on October 10, 2007 03:53 PM
32. The fact that McIver was out drinking and drove home was reported in the Times article.

Once again the lame stream media plays "Name That Party!" There's not one mention that he's a dem. If he'd had a R after his name one can be assured that it would be all over the article.

Liberals can kill a woman (Admiral of Chappaquiddick) and be credibly accused of rape (Slick Willie) and the party faithful will still return them to office.

Posted by: Obi-Wan on October 10, 2007 04:45 PM
33. Here's the funniest comment of the bunch from G Jiggy.

"If nothing else, he's not setting much of an example for the huddled masses he professes to serve."

Ha!! You're looking to an elected official to set an example? Why not set your own example? (I'm also waiting for the fair and balanced analysis of Jane Hague)

Posted by: Richard Borkowski on October 10, 2007 04:59 PM
34. Richard @33, we don't need to critize Hague, we have your side for that.

Posted by: Obi-Wan on October 10, 2007 05:36 PM
35. Katomar, Army Medic/Vet, and Jeff B:

Katomar said this:

"WVH and a few others who have brought race into this: I didn't know what ethnicity the old, drunk geezer was until I read it here! I doubt most people did. All I'm saying is that his wife probably could have and should have put the smack down on him"


This camment came from Jeff B at comment 15 and I commented on his remark at comment 16:

" what Palouse and Michele said. He's a Democrat and a minority. That gives him an "Absolute Moral Authority Victim Get Out Of Jail Free" card. He must have grown up under the implicit oppression of the white man. "

So, if you want to comment about someone bringing race into the discussion, e-mail Jeff B.

Army Medic/Vet

You said:

" WVH.

And thank GOD WE brought slavery to an end!
To bad we can't say the same in Africa or Asia."

This comment is true and the hated Christian Evangelicals led by Rod Parsley and TD Jakes are buying slaves their freedom.

Now my original remark which prompted you comment was this:

"I'm always amused by the term "minority" because that implies 3/5 of a person from the Constitution"

Seems like I am picking on Jeff B tonight. That was in response to his comment:

"He's a Democrat and a minority. That gives him an "Absolute Moral Authority Victim Get Out Of Jail Free"

Now, Jeff B said this:

"Apparently you are not aware that my tounge-in-cheek rhetoric has real follower in Seattle. Take Venus Velasquez for example. And why take offense at the word minority. Minority means the lesser side of a total population. It says nothing about an individual person. If you want to read 3/5 in to minority, that's on your end. Consistently we see Seattle leadership use racism to combat racim. And we see racism excused as long as it is in the politically correct direction"

Now, Jeff B, I said that I was amused, as in your use of the term "minority" is lame no matter how you try to explain it. Further, any person of color that calls you on an issue involving race is now going to be compared to Venus and accused of race-baiting?

You said:

"My point is that that all racism is wrong. There should only be a judging based on merit and character"

This is in accord with the aspirational language of Dr. King's "I have a Dream Speech." Obviously, from some of the posts at this site, we are not there yet.

Posted by: WVH on October 10, 2007 10:26 PM
36. I checked the 3 "major" networks in Seattle tonight. Not ONE managed to mention his political affiliation. Stalinism here we come!

Posted by: Fedup on October 10, 2007 11:15 PM
37. City Klowncil is non-partisan, so there is no need by the media to report affiliation.

However, there are times like in Montana recently and when in a partisan position, the bad guy was a Democrat, but that fact wasn't mentioned. This is the one the MSM shows their true colors. They just can't seem to mention their own party.

Wasn't it that Democrat evil, the Hammer, who said the difference between Democrat bad guys and Republican sinners is that the Republicans get them out of office (hey, Craig is gone in January and he couldn't be shamed into voluntarily giving up his seat)?

Posted by: swatter on October 11, 2007 07:09 AM
38. "City Klowncil is non-partisan, so there is no need by the media to report affiliation."

True, but in the unlikely event that McIver happened to be a Republican our local media surely would have taken great pains to mention that he was a "conservative". Over, and over, and over. That's how they play the game.

Posted by: Bill Cruchon on October 11, 2007 12:37 PM
39. You can also add my opinion, why announce anyone's affiliation? So and so did this or that should be commented on. Adding party affiliation by the D media just causes the country to be split more and more. There is no need really to call out one party or another.

Posted by: swatter on October 11, 2007 02:00 PM
40. no excuses for that behavior--and forget the party affiliation...

now--let's see if justice is really fairly applied to all--(assuming after just day in court)will we see a BoomBoomBobbiejudge-type of legal wrist slap or something else?

let's also see the real content of character of the actor come out--will you Seattleites trust this accused with your daily life-affecting decisions, taxes and lawmaking? will the person resign? chalk it up to therapy like the Hollywoods?

Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on October 12, 2007 05:05 AM
41. I think it is funny how no one responded to WVH's comment #35.

Posted by: Truthinwords on October 12, 2007 05:59 AM
42. Truthin words: You mean "WVH's bloviations at #35."
WVH: As somebody once said, "Keep it pithy."

Posted by: Organization Man on October 12, 2007 07:43 AM
43. PS I would love to be in court when McIver is asked "So when did you stop beating your wife?"

Posted by: Organization Man on October 12, 2007 07:49 AM
44. Hello Organization Man,

This pity enough, I answered something I was accused of doing with an explanation. Now, Truthinwords, I noticed too, but since this site is generally populated by pubbies, some indies like me, and a few progressives, generally there will not be a counter response to a critique. Politics means never having to say you are incorrect or sorry. :-)

Posted by: WVH on October 13, 2007 12:43 AM
Post a comment
Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember info?