[Ads-l] "distraction" -- the (not-so-)new euphemistic apology upon "resigning"?

[Laurence Horn]

> On Feb 28, 2015, at 12:57 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at ATT.NET> wrote:
> 
> "<something unacceptable, but personal, in my past> has become a distraction".
> 
> Not disqualifying from office, not having the potential for conflict of interest or for malfeasance, not hindering or handicapping the performance of official duties -- merely "distracting".
> 
> Not new, but prompted by the resignation yesterday of Paul L. Barrett, named only a couple of days earlier "to lead a high-profile review of the beleagured MBTA" by Charlie Baker, newly-elected Republican governor of Massachusetts and former ten-year CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.  Who should, given that background, know better how to vet.
> 
> Barrett said in a statement released by Baker's office, "I regret that my personal financial issues have become a distraction and have voluntarily offered my resignation to the governor."
> 
> The financial issues in question are unpaid federal income taxes of nearly $200,000, "multiple state and federal tax liens, several foreclosure notices on his Cohasset home, and a $1 million legal judgment stemming from a Cape Cod real estate development that went sour.
> 

Well, that certainly does sound to me like a major distraction...


LH
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