I was very pleased to bring a national convention to Detroit in 2005. We tried unsuccessfully to get Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to drop by and participate in the event. We thought he would be a great role model for the young people and IT professionals at the event. I guess it was a good thing that he didn't get featured at the conference. Today, I watched Kilpatrick, a one-time rising star and Detroit's youngest elected leader, get charged with perjury and other counts after sexually explicit text messages surfaced that appear to contradict his sworn denials of an affair with a top aide.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy also charged the popular yet polarizing 37-year-old mayor with obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. Former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, 37, who also denied under oa
th that she and Kilpatrick shared a romantic relationship in 2002 and 2003, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.
"This case was about as far from being a private matter as one can get. Honesty and integrity in the justice system is everything. That is what this case is about," Worthy said at a news conference. "Just when did honesty and integrity, truth and honor become traits to be mocked, downplayed, ignored, laughed at or excuses made for them? When did telling the truth become a supporting player to everything else?"
Kym Worthy has been in the national spotlight before from a police beat-down given to citizen named Malice Green shortly after the Rodney King riots.
A perjury conviction could bring up to 15 years' imprisonment and force Kilpatrick to relinquish the mayor's office. It appears he won't be giving up the office without a conviction. No Spitzer-like resignation from Kilpatrick ... which is too bad for the city of Detroit. I lived in Detroit for 8 years and my eldest daughter still lives there. As such, I think that Kilpatrick should resign in the best interests of the city and its citizens.
Sheesh, didn't any politician learn from Bill Clinton? His issues didn't come from putting stains on Monica's dress ... they came when he lied about it afterwards. Mayor Kwame, was it worth it?
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy also charged the popular yet polarizing 37-year-old mayor with obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. Former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, 37, who also denied under oa
th that she and Kilpatrick shared a romantic relationship in 2002 and 2003, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice."This case was about as far from being a private matter as one can get. Honesty and integrity in the justice system is everything. That is what this case is about," Worthy said at a news conference. "Just when did honesty and integrity, truth and honor become traits to be mocked, downplayed, ignored, laughed at or excuses made for them? When did telling the truth become a supporting player to everything else?"
Kym Worthy has been in the national spotlight before from a police beat-down given to citizen named Malice Green shortly after the Rodney King riots.
A perjury conviction could bring up to 15 years' imprisonment and force Kilpatrick to relinquish the mayor's office. It appears he won't be giving up the office without a conviction. No Spitzer-like resignation from Kilpatrick ... which is too bad for the city of Detroit. I lived in Detroit for 8 years and my eldest daughter still lives there. As such, I think that Kilpatrick should resign in the best interests of the city and its citizens.
Sheesh, didn't any politician learn from Bill Clinton? His issues didn't come from putting stains on Monica's dress ... they came when he lied about it afterwards. Mayor Kwame, was it worth it?
You know, I agree - he should resign. Not for the "misconduct" with another adult, I don't care what they did with each other. But elected officials should not be lying under oath.
ReplyDeleteThe real shame is that Kwame Kilpatrick was in a good position to effect positive change for Detroit but he threw it away with cheap thrills. He has continues to completely miss the point--he lied under oath and he used bad judgment. He has not owned up to that. Any fool knows not to use government or company property for personal use. Big Brother is always watching and the text messages have come back to bite him when he least expected them to. I agree with Kym Worthy, you cannot just lie under oath and think that everything is fine and honky-dory. He seems almost narcissistic in many of his responses. It is sad that so many of our elected officials get the Bill Clinton syndrome and choose to lie under oath. It is not the act of cheating that got him in hot water but it was what followed shortly thereafter. Detroit had the highest foreclosure rate for 2007, surely that money that was spent to fight the whistleblowers and subsequent settlement could have been used to help the cash-strapped city. Now his business is all over the airwaves and he looks like a fool. If only he had dealt with the situation like a man, he would not be in this mess today. Another brother bites the dust....
ReplyDeleteMo & Janet - I agree with you both. It is truly a shame that a young man with unlimited potential screwed it up so much. He had a wonderful rapport with business leaders in town ... he helped get casinos, Compuware world headquarters, rebuilt stadiums and much more into the downtown Detroit area ... yet he couldn't keep his zipper closed in the office and he couldn't keep his pinochio nose at normal length. Sad story...
ReplyDeleteI am even more concerned about the allegations of firing the whistleblower. That smacks of serious corruption to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is a real stain on Detroit, and an embarrassment. Is this going to make it more difficult for a young black man/woman to get elected moving forward? I hope not.
SheCodes - Excellent point about the firing of those three cops. Your comment reminded me that the one who must be shaking his head back and forth is the guy who beat Kilpatrick in the primary ... but lost to him in the 2nd term re-election (2005). I don't recall his name ... but, he must be shaking his head big-time...
ReplyDelete...by the way, would you check out the comments in my post on Sharpton and NAACP. There is a brother who is president of NAN chapter in Cleveland, OH. He wants to find a way to help...
This guy is a real piece of... er... um... work,but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, look at his family if you want to know about the REAL Kilpatricks.
ReplyDeleteHE IS DESPICABLE. Simply put. I think everyone can agree that people are more upset than about him lying, but he was MARRIED with children... black sons to be exact. What kind of message does this send to his sons?
This is that same, macho, bullshit mantra that keeps people thinking that black men are only controlled by their dicks and that even the most talented, intelligent, brother can be weakened when it comes to some coochie.
I am so tired of the myth of the oversexed, hypersexual, well-endowed, playa-typ, black man with some "swagger" who only succeeds in life to make himself more irresistible to women. It's disgusting. Kwame has taught his sons that it's completely okay to screw other folks DESPITE the fact that you've publicly vowed to love one person in a mutually exclusive arrangement. Lying is okay... Abusing power is okay. Misappropriating funds is okay and having a stripper killed is OKAY.
He is a shiftless chitlin' eatin' negro and I hope that he's convicted and has to serve some hard time.
SeaGoat - Why don't you tell us what you really think! (smile). I don't know if the brother needs to go to prison, but, I hope that he gets some advice from someone so that he realizes that he needs to resign.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather once told me something that Kwame must not know. You can't get away with the same stuff (as a Blackman) that others (white folks) can get away with. Clinton can have extra-marital affairs in the office; lie under oath; and still be revered as a national leader. Kwame, you can't get away with it...
It's a shame that all the good he has done in and for that city will end with this as his legacy. Because 10 years from now he will be remembered for the text messages and not for anything good that he did.
ReplyDeleteI hope it was worth it.
What's Done In The Dark...
Regina - I agree with you. It is a sad end to a young career that had so much promise. But, it's over now. He needs to quietly step down and let the city move forward...
ReplyDeleteVillager, thanks for keeping it real and for saying what needs to be said. I have heard several people that I had respected in the black community try to defend Kwame and just don't understand it. It is as if we are saying to our kids that it's ok to be mediocre because, we are entitled to be bailed out either by our community or by the larger American community.
ReplyDeleteThis young man had so much going for him, if he would have been honest from the start he would probably shave still been able to keep his job too. I guess, the only thing to do is to use this as an example with our young men of what not to do.
Thanks Villager!
Benin - I need to share some love with my blog readers about your African Village social network. It appears to be boomin'!
ReplyDeletere: Kwame. I heard that there was a local poll taken and 94% of the citizens want him to resign. When is the last time you've see a poll with 94% in favor of anything?!
What Kilpatrick has done to this city is almost beyond calculation. The rage and disappointment he has lit fire to are enough to light the sun.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to say that I really don't know what to say...
Keith - I was glad to see that you regained your voice on your blog ... and your analysis of the current situation with Kwame and Detroit was on target...
ReplyDelete...you may want to consider participating in weekly Old School Friday meme based on your love of music...