"So Messy."  Those words are weapons hurled in a moment of Delta-house bravado turned around to be the political epitath of their author.  The sad situation with Assemblyman Mike Duvall, while still developing, offers a prime opportunity to illustrate some crisis communications maxims that are as true now as ever, and apparently bear repeating:

1.  Saying nothing is stupid and never, ever, ever, helps.  Ditto running from cameras.  Ibid for smugly sitting on the Assembly floor while cameras photograph you and journalists attempt to speak with you.

2.  Avoiding the truth or delaying acknowledgement of it never, ever, ever helps.  In this case it probably makes it worse.

3. No amount of legal advice or political counsel can change video/audio recordings.  It's as indelible as you-know-what on a blue dress.

Given this, why the delay?

I don't know Assemblyman Duvall, beyond his reputation, but I do believe there was a narrow moment yesterday when Duvall might have been able to capture control of the situation, attempt to regain direction, say something, and then move on.  But that window is closing rapidly if it hasn't already.

It's true that nobody eats their own like Republicans, and conservatives, social activists--supporters, constitutents have a right to demand the best from their elected officials.  They do not, per se, have a right to demand officials free from adultry, or any other vice for that matter, but they do have a right to demand that they not recklessley comingle the "messy" details of two conflicting lives. 

Duvall got caught and he should have owned the error in judgement and should have said as much.

In a time of crisis, if you are not the first person out with a message, the other person's message will shape--and evolve--perception.

By failing to do so, several key things happened.  First, the media drove (and is driving the story).  Second, social media is right behind--fueled by partisan social/political groups who have (justifiably) a point to make.  Third, the party gets hurt and as Republicans we all should know there's a time to put party first in the interest of an agenda.  Especially in California; especially right now.

So last night, if Assemblyman Duvall had faced Dave Lopez and said something like the following, things might be a little less "messy" today.

"Dave, I don't know what to say.  The tape is authentic.  I was talking like a drunken street punk about something that was personal and never should have been discussed.  It was disrespectful to the woman who was my partner, and was hurtful and cruel to my wife and family.  I showed poor judgment, I acted like a child, and my consitutents, colleagues and political allies have a right to be utterly disappointed in me.  I'm not sure what lies on my path ahead, but there's no avoiding that I exercized poor judgement--and that judgement could very well be called into question and cost me my political career.  That's all I'm going to say at this time.  I have some serious, and hard work, that lies ahead with my family, and my pastor, my colleagues.  I embarassed my constituents and will have to face their decision on my future."

But Lopez is a smart guy.  And he knows that the politican caught with his pants down and panty preference on tape is going to run.  That makes for compelling television news (for good or for bad), emboldens the social media and your enemies, and doesn't help solve a serious communications crisis.  So in another tragedy, perhaps there are some lessons to be learned.  Atop this list is the fact that a predictable act most certainly means a predictable outcome.

It is beyond practical to expect that politicians--or any people--be free of vice, error in judgment or flaw.  It's not beyond reasonable to expect them to own the f-up when it's broadcast so publicly.