Here's something you might be interested in.
At last an alleged victim has stepped forward with famed attorney Gloria Allred on Monday afternoon.... Case closed, Filner is a "predator" right?
Not so fast. One look at Irene McCormack Jackson's bio and it is clear that she has a long history of being deeply entrenched in the GOP power-prokers that have run this town for decades. She has decades of experience working for Filner's arch-enemies the Union-Tribune and the San Diego Port Authority.
Irene McCormack, was Vice President of External Relations for the San Diego Unified Port District and worked for the Port Authority for 9 years. The Port has been a bastion of corrupt GOP political maneuvering for decades.
She started working at the Port District in November 2003 and held roles like Director and Assistant Vice President.
Prior to working for the Port District, McCormack spent 25 years as a journalist, working as a newsroom manager, reporter and assistant metro editor for The San Diego Union-Tribune. Her specialty according to her zoominfo profile was government, politics and public safety.
Hmmmmmm, interesting that a person who has been so deeply entrenched in the GOP power structure of San Diego would do an about face after 34 years of serving them and go to work for a progressive mayor like Mayor Filner.
Additionally, this is a woman with a very professional and extensive background who would be very knowledgeable about how to file a sexual harassment claim so why was her first call to Donna Frye and why would she commission the help of an attorney like Marco Gonzalez who has no experience whatsoever in sexual harassment claims?
Remember the horrific accusations that Filner told a staffer she would work better "without panties on."
"Irene is that woman," Allred said at a downtown news conference, with McCormack Jackson sitting by her side.
So at last a face! Obviously all the allegations are true if someone has come forward, right?
There are other serious problems with this narrative astutely identified by Reader writer Don Bauder
"The sexual harassment suit against Mayor Bob Filner filed today (July 22) by Irene McCormack Jackson raises many questions. First, the suit outlines extremely offensive statements allegedly made to her by the mayor in January, February, February/early March, April, late April/early May, and June. But there is no mention that I could find indicating that she officially complained until July 18, when she filed charges with the state about harassment having taken place on or before June 20, 2013. She would have had sexual harassment training at the Union-Tribune, probably at the Port, and maybe even at the City. It seems to me she had to know that she could come forward and file an official complaint about sexual harassment without fear of being fired. The "severe mental anguish and emotional distress" she allegedly suffered might have been abated had she complained or resigned earlier. She apparently saw inappropriate behavior against other women. She was a senior official. Did she do anything to protect those women? Much is being made that she took a $50,000 pay cut to join the mayor's staff. But that cut was from $175,000 to $125,000. She was not starving and did not desperately need a job."
Something is very fishy about Irene. It is simply not plausible that this seasoned professional did not feel empowered to come forward and that she hid under the protection of Donna Frye. McCormack is a pro and she knew how to file complaints and how to encourage others to file complaints.
Keep in mind this case never has to go to court, it simply has to be played out in the media long enough to force a recall. So now the public has a face and a name. Therefore they must assume all the anonymous allegations must have merit.
Well if any of the allegations have merit why did it take so long for someone to step forward? And with all due respect to Ms. McCormack it would be easy to lie about things someone "said". Her allegations are actually quite benign even if true. A few off color remarks does not necessarily mean a mayor should resign.
And if the idea that the developer GOP conspired to oust Filner is so unbelievable to you then why did they admit to following him with Private Investigators for years? Is it impossible to think that McCormack was a plant from the get-go?
The GOP knows they have to string this narrative along as long as they possibly can and the point of no return for them is the point where people are forced to lie under oath and that could take some time so they can milk these allegations for all they are worth in the meantime.
Demand due process San Diego. We are being bullied and we can not rush to judge Mayor Filner based on allegations that no one even thought were important enough to file.
At last an alleged victim has stepped forward with famed attorney Gloria Allred on Monday afternoon.... Case closed, Filner is a "predator" right?
Not so fast. One look at Irene McCormack Jackson's bio and it is clear that she has a long history of being deeply entrenched in the GOP power-prokers that have run this town for decades. She has decades of experience working for Filner's arch-enemies the Union-Tribune and the San Diego Port Authority.
Irene McCormack, was Vice President of External Relations for the San Diego Unified Port District and worked for the Port Authority for 9 years. The Port has been a bastion of corrupt GOP political maneuvering for decades.
She started working at the Port District in November 2003 and held roles like Director and Assistant Vice President.
Prior to working for the Port District, McCormack spent 25 years as a journalist, working as a newsroom manager, reporter and assistant metro editor for The San Diego Union-Tribune. Her specialty according to her zoominfo profile was government, politics and public safety.
Hmmmmmm, interesting that a person who has been so deeply entrenched in the GOP power structure of San Diego would do an about face after 34 years of serving them and go to work for a progressive mayor like Mayor Filner.
Additionally, this is a woman with a very professional and extensive background who would be very knowledgeable about how to file a sexual harassment claim so why was her first call to Donna Frye and why would she commission the help of an attorney like Marco Gonzalez who has no experience whatsoever in sexual harassment claims?
Remember the horrific accusations that Filner told a staffer she would work better "without panties on."
"Irene is that woman," Allred said at a downtown news conference, with McCormack Jackson sitting by her side.
So at last a face! Obviously all the allegations are true if someone has come forward, right?
There are other serious problems with this narrative astutely identified by Reader writer Don Bauder
"The sexual harassment suit against Mayor Bob Filner filed today (July 22) by Irene McCormack Jackson raises many questions. First, the suit outlines extremely offensive statements allegedly made to her by the mayor in January, February, February/early March, April, late April/early May, and June. But there is no mention that I could find indicating that she officially complained until July 18, when she filed charges with the state about harassment having taken place on or before June 20, 2013. She would have had sexual harassment training at the Union-Tribune, probably at the Port, and maybe even at the City. It seems to me she had to know that she could come forward and file an official complaint about sexual harassment without fear of being fired. The "severe mental anguish and emotional distress" she allegedly suffered might have been abated had she complained or resigned earlier. She apparently saw inappropriate behavior against other women. She was a senior official. Did she do anything to protect those women? Much is being made that she took a $50,000 pay cut to join the mayor's staff. But that cut was from $175,000 to $125,000. She was not starving and did not desperately need a job."
Something is very fishy about Irene. It is simply not plausible that this seasoned professional did not feel empowered to come forward and that she hid under the protection of Donna Frye. McCormack is a pro and she knew how to file complaints and how to encourage others to file complaints.
Keep in mind this case never has to go to court, it simply has to be played out in the media long enough to force a recall. So now the public has a face and a name. Therefore they must assume all the anonymous allegations must have merit.
Well if any of the allegations have merit why did it take so long for someone to step forward? And with all due respect to Ms. McCormack it would be easy to lie about things someone "said". Her allegations are actually quite benign even if true. A few off color remarks does not necessarily mean a mayor should resign.
And if the idea that the developer GOP conspired to oust Filner is so unbelievable to you then why did they admit to following him with Private Investigators for years? Is it impossible to think that McCormack was a plant from the get-go?
The GOP knows they have to string this narrative along as long as they possibly can and the point of no return for them is the point where people are forced to lie under oath and that could take some time so they can milk these allegations for all they are worth in the meantime.
Demand due process San Diego. We are being bullied and we can not rush to judge Mayor Filner based on allegations that no one even thought were important enough to file.