John McGee is a young man who has always had "comer" or "potential" attached to his name.
I'd be remiss if I said I knew him - I really don't. I know his father-in-law and respect him immensely. I admire Senator McGee's young bride and join many who think highly of her.
John, though, is an enigma to me.
He is friends with people I respect, he's been supported and elected by people I know and respect.
He came on the scene long after my hay-day of Idaho Family Forum and my work with Focus on the Family. I saw him from a distance and he always seemed to be a handsome young man with a pleasant personality. He had the needed pedigree. he was a fortunate son of Idaho...
He also had a future...a political future, in particular.
Events of this past week most assuredly have ended that promising political future.
John McGee was found drunk (or high...I am not certain) stealing a vehicle and was subsequently arrested. His picture was taken at the county jail. His life turned upside down.
And my heart broke for his family, his bride and lastly for him.
John McGee has a problem. Whether his defense attorney is successful in having the court take into account a "medical" reasoning or not, I am not sure.
But he has a problem.
John's substance abuse (for that is what it is) is his problem.
For the last decade I've been involved in helping addicts and ex-addicts.
As an aside, I wanted desperately to place up to 30 staffed, safe and sober homes in Canyon County. We only succeeded in putting one in - as leaders of the GOP Legislature and the city of Nampa forged an unbreakable band of iron that kept "undesireable" houses/clients out of their neighborhoods. Eventually that lone house was closed down - so that the politicians, including Senator McGee, could "help" the community. John was outspoken in his opposition to houses in neighborhoods that had substance abuse people in them - "they should be placed somewhere, just not in nice communities" seemed to be the political line of reasoning. John echoed that perspective.
So, hearing about John's DUI and his medical problems and his arrest saddened me even deeper than you would imagine. I took no delight in this ironic twist of fate.
It just simply saddened me.
For in the past, the courts had the opportunity of placing normal people like John McGee in staffed, safe and sober homes...like ours.
But that's not a real option anymore.
That's what saddens me the most.
I pray that John McGee acknowledges whatever it is that has power over him and seeks rehab rather than medical excuses or legal defenses.
If he does faces reality, a new and improved version of the REAL John McGee can emerge. This can be the most fortunate thing that has ever happened to this handsome, caring young man.
From this situation, he can become a man who can truly help others. He is in my prayers.
Den
THIS KIND OF EVENT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM; THERE HAVE, NO DOUBT, BEEN OTHER INSTANCES OF JOHN'S OVER-INDULGING. WITH ALCOHOLISM, THE OLD AXIM, "WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE", APPLIES. I HAVE A VERY SIMPLISTIC DEFINITION OF ALCOHOLISM/ADDICTION: IF YOUR DRINKING/BEHAVIOR RESULTS IN NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OR OTHERS, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. THIS MOST LIKELY IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE SENATOR HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH ALCOHOL. THE REAL TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT IF HIS ATTORNEY DOES INDEED INSIST ON THE "MEDICAL PROBLEMS" DEFENSE, HE IS QUITE LITERALLY ASSISTING IN JOHN MC GEE'S SUICIDE. IT NEVER HELPS ANYONE TO GET HEALTHIER BY MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEIR ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR. I.E., LINDSAY LOHAN: SHE IS GETTING SICKER AND SICKER AS OTHERS, WELL-INTENTIONED OR NOT, SUCCEED IN PREVENTING HER FROM RECEIVING THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF HER ACTIONS. ALCOHOLISM IS A PROGRESSIVE, FATAL DISEASE. ITS MAJOR PRESENTING SYMPTOM IS DENIAL. WHEN ALCOHOLICS GET INTO RECOVERY, PART OF THAT RECOVERY IS IN GAINING EMPATHY FOR OTHERS AND HELPING OTHERS. IF JOHN MC GEE HAS ALL THAT POTENTIAL, THINK OF WHAT HE COULD DO AS A PERSON IN RECOVERY!! JOHN, IF YOU READ THIS, THAT'S WHERE YOUR TRUE SELF IS. YOUR TROUBLES WILL COMPOUND IF YOU BEAT THIS ONE, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS A MAGNIFICENT OPPORTUNITY WRAPPED IN SHIT! HOPE YOU TAKE IT.
Posted by: KELLY RIERDON | June 24, 2011 at 04:33 PM
Dennis,
I still have to come down on the side that we do not know all the facts yet. I look at Johns contributions to the state, and how he has influenced policy at such a young age, and still feel that the best is yet to come. I have known this guys since he was elected to the Senate. I believe in him, and unless I learn something contrary, and I doubt that I do, this incident should fade into obscurity.
Posted by: Stuart Davis | June 24, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Given that his BAC was 0.15, I'd say the "drunk" part is a certainty; maybe he was high as well.
Posted by: Bubblehead | June 23, 2011 at 04:09 PM