Public figures have tough time saying 'I'm sorry'
 

Troy Moon
tmoon@pnj.com

We don't vote for popes or saints here in Northwest Florida.

 

We don't expect our public figures to be perfect — or so we say.

 

But when they do wrong — especially when they're charged with breaking the law, or engaging in governmental shenanigans — we expect them to 'fess up, repent and offer mea culpas to every citizen and their dogs.

 

We don't want them to apologize, but then say they never did what they were charged with doing except for this one time.

 

That's what Escambia County School Superintendent Jim Paul did in explaining his arrest on a driving under the influence charge on Jan. 10 in Pinellas County.

 

We don't want them to plead ignorance and blame their hunting guides.

 

That's what Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby, former Escambia County Administrator George Touart, Commissioner Mike Whitehead and their high-profile hunting posse did.

 

We don't want them to apologize for causing embarrassment without apologizing for the offense.

 

That's what Touart did after revelations that he was in private business ventures with county vendors.

 

We want them to do what former Woodham High School coach and teacher Benny Washington did after a March 8 traffic stop that resulted in his arrest for possessing small amounts of marijuana and cocaine.

 

"I take full responsibility for what I've done," Washington said. "I want to apologize to my students, my kids. They are the main ones I feel like I let down. I want to make sure they don't make the same mistakes I did."

 

That wasn't so hard, was it?

 

 

Jeff Nall of Pensacola, one of 52 public-relations practitioners across the state certified by the Florida Public Relations Association, agreed with Grabowski's assessment.

 

"You have to tell the whole story and apologize," said Nall, who is spokesman for the Council on Aging of West Florida. "And then you have to give details about what steps you would implement to remedy the situation."

 

And if people don't believe your story or apology?

 

"If you've been honest and told the truth about it, then that's all you can do."

 

But even if a public figure does apologize and tell the truth about any infractions, crimes or indiscretions, can he or she recover lost credibility? Can public trust be rebuilt?

 

It depends on who the public figure is, Grabowski said.

 

 

It also depends on what offense a person has committed, and for some, whether that person worked closely with children.

 

Wanda Morado, 46, of Pensacola is more likely to forgive Paul for DUI than she is to forgive a teacher involved with illegal drugs.

 

"I look at the DUI thing different that I do crack or cocaine," said Morado, who was arrested 14 years ago on a marijuana charge and sentenced to two years probation. "What bothers me most is the teachers who have direct contact with children and are doing hard drugs. They're in there every day with our children."

 

The Rev. Richard Hines, pastor of St. John Divine Missionary Baptist Church, said people need to remember that all public figures were once just regular folks like the rest of us and aren't superhuman or in possession of superior moral standards.

 

"People in leadership positions and who are public officials are held to a higher standard," Hines said. "But at the same time, they got to where they are from where all of us are now."

 

Hines said many people should be given a second chance.

 

"If they're truly repentant in their hearts and offer sincere apologies and try to make amends, then I don't think we should toss them away," he said.

 

But sometimes, the public enjoys seeing the mighty fall. Especially when the public figure sets moral standards for others and preaches to others about acceptable behavior. If you're going to act holier-than-thou, you better be holier-than-thou, many say. Otherwise, the people you act holier than are going to pounce.

 

The Pensacola News Journal message boards are filled with denouncements of Paul, King and other pastors and educators who once preached morals to others, but who have since fallen from grace.

 

"It's like they're on their high horse looking down at you,'' said Karen Graves, 41, of Pensacola, who has two children in the Escambia County School District and who wants Paul to resign. "I just think it's kind of funny when someone like that gets caught doing the same things that they preach about not doing. They don't want you to do anything wrong, but then they go ahead and do just what they told you not to do. They're hypocrites.''

 

Morado agreed.

 

"If they're going to put themselves out as role models, then they need to act like role models,'' she said.