Betsy Gotbaum enables Carol Anne Gotbaum’s alcoholism even after she dies. Message to the Gotbaum family: learn from your mistakes and move on.
Enabler of the month:
Betsy Gotbaum, the New York City’s “public advocate” and likely 2009 mayoral candidate who is Carol Anne Gotbaum’s stepmother-in-law, said the Gotbaum family believes Carol Anne “seems to have been manhandled” by Phoenix police during her arrest at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport and are contemplating a lawsuit for wrongful death. According to an eyewitness, Carol Anne became irate and out of control while repeatedly screaming “I’m not a terrorist” after she was not allowed to board an airplane for arriving late. Police of course (it’s an airport for God’s sake!) intervened and handcuffed her. They left her alone for five or 10 minutes in a holding cell at the airport, where she apparently managed to strangle herself. Betsy Gotbaum said her stepdaughter was “sweet and kind and loving.” And she may well have been–when not drinking. Unfortunately, Carol Anne, 45, was on her way to alcohol rehab, took a 90-minute lunch between flights and, well, that’s why she ran late. One recovering alcoholic who sent me the story quipped, “Another cured alcoholic.” Message to Betsy: recovering alcoholics are far harsher on their brethren than you and I could ever be. Leave it alone and let her rest in peace.
Note to family, friends and fans of the above: the benefit of the doubt is given by assuming alcoholism (they are either idiots and fundamentally rotten, or they are alcoholic/other drug addicts–which would explain the misbehaviors). If alcoholic, there is zero chance that behaviors, in the long run, will improve without sobriety. An essential prerequisite to sobriety is the cessation of enabling, allowing pain and crises to build. Thus far, many have done everything they can to protect the addict from the requisite pain, making these news events possible. The cure for alcoholism, consequential bad behaviors and, ultimately, tragedy, is simple: stop protecting the addict from the logical consequences of misbehaviors and proactively intervene.