Las Vegas Review-Journal - Steve Sebelius Slash Politics

CARSON CITY – The embarrassing video will likely be part of Nevada political legend for a long time: A casually dressed Gov. Jim Gibbons, wearing aviator sunglasses while walking through the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, lying his ass off.

KLAS Channel 8 I-Team reporter Jonathan Humbert (a colleague of mine at the station) was walking alongside the governor, asking him about a tip: Had Gibbons traveled from Washington D.C. with Kathy Karrasch, the woman to whom Gibbons had once sent more than 860 text messages (during a legislative session, on a state cell phone)? The video of the story clearly shows Karrasch walking behind the governor.

No, Gibbons lied. Humbert persisted in his questioning, until Gibbons finally let loose: “You’re full of shit,” he told Humbert.

But it was, in fact, Gibbons who was full of shit.

He had been traveling with Karrasch, who after failing to dodge Channel 8′s cameras walked outside, told lies of her own and climbed into the governor’s state-owned SUV for a taxpayer-provided ride home. A state trooper — Gibbons’s bodyguard — helped Karrasch into the vehicle and threatened to arrest and jail Humbert for obstructing a police officer. (That’s another bit of bullshit, one perhaps more offensive than Gibbons’s lies.)

What’s the point? Gibbons instinct to lie when confronted with uncomfortable truths. And when somebody lies by habit when the truth would suffice, his problems run far more deeply than lame attempts to cover up personal matters.

Think about it: Who would have objected had Gibbons said simply said this to Humbert: “Look, I’m almost divorced. I’m an adult, she’s an adult. No taxpayer funds were used for her travel. Our relationship is my personal business, and it has nothing to do with me being governor, and that’s all I want to say about it.”

That truth would have sufficed. But Gibbons lied by instinct. And, the next day, he made matters worse by an angry “apology” that began this way:

“I apologize for any ambiguity or confusion caused by my answers to your questioning of me late last night. I had just finished three days of arduous meetings and a cross-country flight when I was suddenly confronted with your questions. I admit I was briefly stunned to face your brazen inquiries about my personal life and, I hope understandably, I became defensive. Again, I apologize.”

Ambiguity? Confusion? The governor knowingly lied to a reporter — lied when he could have simply told the truth. It actually took more energy — after an arduous three days full of meetings — to lie than it would have taken to tell the truth. And there likely wouldn’t be brazen inquiries about the governor’s personal life, had he simply been up front about it.

More from the governor on the morning after:

“Kathy Karrasch accompanied me on this trip. Her expenses were NOT paid by the state. She did NOT attend any of the NGA [National Governors Association] meetings. The fact that she accompanied me added absolutely no taxpayer expense. Kathy Karrasch has been a long time friend of mine and will continue to be a friend of mine. Kathy Karrasch lives near my home in Reno. The fact that I gave her a ride home and a dignitary protection officer helped her into the vehicle is a matter of common courtesy.

“What I do in my private life has nothing to do with my duties as governor. I would like to keep my private life just that—private. I am deeply disappointed that you and KLAS TV would stoop to such a low level for something that is obviously not a news story and is merely meant to smear my name and reputation.

“This is all I intend to say about this and any other matters of a personal nature. I would encourage you, for the benefit of your viewers, to focus on the pressing issues involving the current state budget.”

Much better — but it would have been even better for Gibbons had he simply said this outright. (However, giving your friend a lift in a state-owned vehicle driven by your state-provided bodyguard does tend to make this more a matter of public concern than it would be otherwise.)

It’s understandable that Gibbons would want to keep his private life private. It’s also understandable that he’d want to protect the identity and reputation of Karrasch. But the fact is, Gibbons is a public figure, one who’s personal life has become a matter of public interest because of a high-profile public divorce that he initiated; texting that he engaged in on a state phone; and obviously false denials that he issued.

Next time, the governor ought to try to keep his private life truly private. And, of course, he should always remember to tell the truth.

Tags: Jim Gibbons

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