I was more than amused earlier this week when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was pressed unsuccessfully about the abrupt departure of Robert Gordon, director of the Michigan Department of Health.
Whitmer did the customary corporate dance around questions posed by the pesky press, including Channel 8 political reporter Rick Albin. She never answered the question, instead providing the classic well wishing for Gordon’s future endeavors and perfunctory thanks for his service.
Gov. Whitmer successfully avoided telling the media and Michigan citizens why he resigned so quickly after the announcement Michigan would permit restaurants to open at 25% capacity Monday, Feb. 1.
The process we witnessed was outlined very well by author Laura Penny in “Your Call Is Important to Us — The Truth About Bullshit.” I refer to this process as “corporate lying” because it seemed to have been perfected in bygone days by corporate officials when someone in the organization suddenly was no longer around. The most common celebrated excuse was, “He stepped down to spend more time with his family.”
Mr. Albin should know better. His former colleague, news anchor Suzanne Geha, some time ago suddenly was no longer a member of the News 8 news team, and efforts by a slew of media representatives produced no answers from her or Channel 8. I had to hand it to one competing news outlet that subsequently published a tribute to her, calling attention to the breakup and its lack of explanation.
One of my earliest frustrations with this unpleasant practice was the inexplicable disappearance of regular third baseman Howard Johnson from the Detroit Tigers’ lineup during the post-season playoffs in 1984. He was replaced by rookie Marty Castillo, a pretty bold move.
One friend back then mused, “Did HoJo get caught in bed with Sparky’s daughter?” Sparky Anderson was the Tigers’ manager.
The following year Johnson was playing for the New York Mets, where he had a reasonably successful career, becoming one of the few to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same year.
Closer to home, it was nine years ago, during the earlier days of Townbroadcast I made a mortal enemy of Wayland Chamber of Commerce Director Denise Behm, who left her job to take a job as public relations director for the Gun Lake Casino. She was back at her old post in Wayland less than a week later, telling the Penasee Globe that the reason was that she missed everybody at the chamber. The casino is about three miles away.
I wasn’t buying it and I suggested that something went horribly wrong and caused a split. Casino officials mimicked Whitmer by saying they wished her well in her future endeavors, but explained nothing.
I’m certain somebody will tell me it’s nobody’s business, particularly the trouble-making pesky press. But when there is no explanation or if the attempt sounds implausible or downright fishy, mistrust is the result in an era in which cynicism runs rampant.
Columnist Lynn Mandaville easily did the best job ever in this situation.
After serving 29 years as director of the Henika District Library, she was asked to resign. Rather than give phony excuses for the development, she candidly told me Library Board members wanted Henika’s leader to be much more proficient in technology, with an eye toward the future.
She didn’t like what the board decided, but agreed that it made sense for board members to make the move.
As far as I can tell, there aren’t any rumors circulating in this community and environs about just what happened between them. Ms. Mandaville put a stop to that by using a terrific and powerful weapon — telling the truth.
At the Tiger Outing the next spring, my friend asked Sparky why the change was made and Howard Johnson pulled from the lineup. Just as you say, David, Sparky avoided the answer and ridiculed my friend for asking. It was embarrassing.
Some people want to keep either a firing or requested resignation quiet, both those in power and the person losing their position. If the person leaving doesn’t want to reveal the reason(s), we should respect that position.
In this case, Robert Gordon was probably fired, since Whitmer didn’t want to answer the question. She probably got orders from the new president to open Michigan up now Trump was gone. Such is the way of the Democrat fantasy bulls#%t.