A Private Family Matter…I Think Not

In case you haven’t heard the news, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has found himself in the middle of a very messy “scandal” involving his wife and “another woman.” There have been many rumors over the months about dissension in the Villaraigosa household and, a few weeks ago, the Mayor announced that he and his wife were separating. At the time, Mayor Villaraigosa pleaded with the press to allow this “private family matter” to run its course without the glare of the media. Right…sure.

So now we learn that the Mayor has been having an extramarital "relationship" with a newswoman from a local Spanish language television station for more than a year. This is a reporter who has covered the Mayor’s political and personal activities for her TV station and to say there appears to be a conflict of interest seems to be stating the obvious. Once again, the Mayor is pleading with the media to allow this “private family matter” to be handled without the glare of media scrutiny. Who is he kidding?

Now I understand that, in any longterm relationship and marriage, there are bound to be problems which arise and sometimes these problems escalate to the point of separation and divorce. Divorce happens and we have come to accept that fact even in the lives of our elected representatives. However, Mr. Mayor…you had no compunction parading your family in front of the media while running for public office only a few short years ago, portraying yourself as a wonderful and caring family man. Now, when that self-made image is suddenly tarnished, you expect the media to ignore the story. And, when you place yourself in the tawdry position of having a mistress (and a high profile one at that) while still married, do you really expect the media to close their eyes and ignore the news? As that old cliché goes…”you made your bed, now you have to lie in it.”