Monday, September 14, 2009

Faux Pas in the Hamptons

You can observe a lot just by watching.
-- Yogi Berra (1925 - ), Berra's Law

After the screaming died down and the blogs and websites vented their bile over the DWI arrest of Town of Southampton Supervisor this past week, some reality has set in. DWI’s are a longstanding problem on the East End and also affect the restaurant business in the mini-Depression that we are all enduring. Bars and restaurants would wind up closing even earlier in the season if one could not stop in and have a couple of drinks after work. This does not make is smart or right to ever get behind the wheel while impaired – regardless of whether you are under the legal limit. It is one of the biggest problems in a suburban or rural area, such as the Hamptons, where transportation (both public and private) is an issue.
Fortunately, Kabot did not hit a pedestrian, do any property damage, or hurt herself. Having said that, she deserves her day in court – not to be tried in the court of public opinion – and, the opportunity to address the mistake no matter how it plays out. She’s already paid a price.

Of course, this was a gift to the Republican Party because she has had the gall to run against the machine and win in the previous Primary against Skip Heaney two years ago and went on the win the Supervisorship in the last General Election. The threatened Primary between Kabot and Maloney this year was called off because the Party knew she would win and essentially, by their actions, threw the race to Democrat Anna Throne-Holst by pulling a few party lines out from under Kabot. That’s politics. Holst is a good candidate and would benefit the Town. But, that isn’t the point.

Essentially, the lesson to be learned here is that making a stupid or dangerous decision -- is simply that. If you have a high profile it WILL be used against you. If you have friends in town, as in the past, coverage will never get published. If the ruling clique is after your ass, they will spread as much unsubstantiated dirt as they can against you. Linda is popular and she’s one of the people. Time will tell if they see through the smear and support her in spite of her mistake.