Who is gonna ask? Will the Mayor's wife get called on THE FACT she used the term "Mammy" to describe African-American female City Hall employees?
Among the political set in KC's blogosphere . . . There was only one question over the weekend: Why is TKC so awesome? . . . Also, there was a lot of debate over the fact that everyone connected to City Hall is murmuring about an EEOC complaint filed against the Mayor's office and statements (which have been confirmed) that a portion of the complaint relates to Gloria Squitiro using the term "Mammy" to describe college educated, professional, African-American employees at City Hall.
Here are the related links:
Here's what a few other bloggers are saying:
Sadly, I was surprised that none of Kansas City's major news media bothered to set up a link or write about the story while the TV news gave it only a passing mention.
I find it hard to believe that Mayor Funkhouser has that much control over the local media and I really think it's just a matter of time before mainstream journalists start digging. Sad to see a statement of the event came out on Thursday and Prime Buzz didn't even bother letting their readers know . . . Here's hoping that they are sandbagging.
And then there's the question of the victims of this derogatory and bigoted language. Rumor is already spreading on the local internets that one of the women in question has already been the victim of retaliation. I don't want to put anyone's livelihood in jeopardy but I will note that "retaliation" in these kind of cases is really easy to prove and she would actually help her case by "going public" but that's here choice not mine.
What's really horrible about this situation is that Mayor Funky and his people have approached this growing controversy in a manner that's typical of most politicos. They haven't been out in front of it, the Mayor's acolytes are working hard to discredit the source of this issue rather than working to confront the real problem of Gloria Squitiro's insensitive language, regular missteps and the fact she shouldn't be in the Mayor's office in the first place . . . Obviously, this is politics as usual and if the Mayor or his wife really believe in notions of reform they would quickly apologize, correct the alleged salary inequities and make sure that Gloria no longer occupied a place in the Mayor's office for which she is unqualified.
I can only expect more stalling tactics and cheap political maneuvers from the Funkhouser Administration as they have continually been dismissive and hostile to the concerns of Kansas City's minority communities.
But that's been the status quo from Mayor Funky . . . A more interesting question is: Will the mainstream media address the concerns of so many local Internet denizens, City Hall staffers and watchers and FINALLY ask Ms. Squitiro her motives for using the term "Mammy" to refer to African-American women at City Hall?
posted by Tony Permalink
snzzzzzzz
damn dude. take your meds. obsess much?
Give it a rest. Nobody cares.
Obviously a lot of other people care about this.
Just because the Mayor's supporters know that he can't go more than a week without a major scandal that's no reason that the rest of the City can't talk. Especially because this mistake could prove costly.
Dude, ever try to get anything done at city hall? Saying it is full of mammy's is being nice.
I wish I would not have voted for Mark Funkhouser. I never will again.
City hall is run like virtually everything in Mexico. You should love it.
The real journalists in town haven't jumped into this free for all because they are required to engage in something called FACT CHECKING.
I know this will sound like a pretty radical concept, but stay with me here.
Professional journalists are required by their employers to take due diligence to verify that something is actually TRUE before printing it.
I know that will sound like CRAZY TALK to most of you, but it is what separates an actual, credible, news outlet from a joke blog.
That and the softcore porn.
Hey Mr. onASSis are you sad because Dan and you are backing a bunch of racists?
That's typical.
I just don't know why you would defend someone who would use those kind of slurs.
Or are you jealous because nobody reads your blog?.
Get over it. I hate most of the stuff that Tony writes but the fact is that if you and Dan talked to anybody at City Hall besides the Funkhousers you would know that this story has been circulating for a week.
Why defend this language guys? Unless you believe that black women should be called mammy and that wouldn't surprise me much either.
Excuse me Xavier.
Real journalists HAVE covered this story.
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/353398.html
They just couldn't publish the details that Tony did.
Which several people have noted are spreading around City Hall like wildfire.
Odd that you don't mind online campaigning or opinions when your friend Dan does it but you're holding Tony to the standard of a journalist when he identifies himself as an artist.
Maybe you guys just don't like that not all bloggers support Funkhouser as much as you do or maybe you could care less about the African-American community.
But the truth is that both of you are also guilty of using your blogs to peddle your ideology and opinions.
Tony just does it better.
Rather than attack the messenger maybe you should tell Funkhouser to run an office that is not so racist.
Tony is the biggest racist of them all. He also condones illegal border crossing so he is not to be trusted.
Pay no attention here, he's just a sad blogger living in his mom's basement.
* sigh *
Someone seems to lack reading comprehension skills.
I haven't defended anyone. I don't know anyone at City Hall.
If I see PROOF, actual, factual EVIDENCE that this occured, I will condemn it loudly and often. If it's true, it is deplorable, vile and disgusting.
But the only actual fact I've seen is that the Mayor's office received an EEOC comlaint that they said involves salary.
That's it.
Everything else is rumor-mongering from anonymous sources who may or may not know anything.
If I make a claim on my blog that Tony shot a white woman in El Paso just to watch her die, should the population rise up and demand his arrest, conviction and execution?
Maybe I'll give that a try and see what happens.
agree with Xavier. Better to let the real journalists handle this one and leave tony to telling jokes.
Maybe the issue is that no one is gonna believe this kind of claim from a frequently mistaken blogger whose only source is his own mammy?
Actually the issue is that LOTS of people believe this kind of claim from a frequently mistaken blogger (with an axe to grind).
Also, if this turns out to not be true, it could potentially be libelous. Any lawyers that can comment on whether this kind of defamation is legally actionable? I doubt the Mayor's office would sue a blogger, but damn it would be hilarious.
Too bad it's true Ryan. And there are a lot of people at City Hall who aren't laughing one bit.
Is it really so hard for people to believe Gloria would use this kind of language? Look at the facts.
1. She set up the free Honda Hybrid for the Mayor and could not understand why people thought it was inappropriate.
2. The mayor's wife also personally requested police bodyguards for Mayor Funkhouser only for his trips into minority neighborhood meetings. I understand her concern about the meeting at Guadalupe Center because that could have been a heated discussion but the meeting at the church on the East Side was full of senior citizens who were afraid to ask any questions after Funk's lecture.
3. Gloria pushed for the appointment of Frances Semler. She didn't understand why Hispanics in Kansas City and across the country would be upset over the Minutemen connection.
4. Now it has been revealed that the Mayor and his wife are buying expensive cell phones and Chiefs tickets.
Face it this Mayor is not the man he promised Kansas City he would be and his wife is an incompetent bigot or insensitive at the very least.
She does not know what she's doing. Personally I don't care if she apologizes but I think everybody including the Funk would be better off if she no longer worked in the Mayor's office.
So this has been confirmed in the blogosphere?
Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!
Blogosphere! Thats' rich!!!!!
One fact that cannot be denied is that Gloria has become a major distraction and liability for the Mayor. I do not want updates from the Mayor that are written by his wife, and I am tired of hearing about her outrageous behavior. It is not coming solely from a "joke blog" - I also have heard first hand accounts from City Hall employees that confirm much of this, and it appears that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Gloria, Please Go Home!!!
Some more confirmed hearsay. Rubbish. If you have verifiable information take it to the EEOC.
I's gonna rip Funky a new one in my column the minute this is verified. Fo' sho'
Why can't the Mother Ship just come get Funk from his Lair in the Ozarks?
hey tony ask your mom if she ever call the people that she worked with at city mammys
Can you imagine how the shit is going to hit the fan when the NAACP get a hold of this before deciding on their decision whether to pull their convention from KC?
Ding Dang Ya'll
Why would any douchebag put up a bad photo of themselves in shades with every post?
Seriously. Its as if we no longer have to envision you being a douche...you provide us the proof too.
Tony makes up the story and then quotes the blogosphere for legitimacy. You really can't buy this kind of humor.
I don't want the Funk anymore. So far he stinks.
Unless it is true.
That is SO UNTRUE,poster 9:18. because he only hears farts between Gloria's snores!
Get it right. This is such a joke blog no one can believe it when it claims that Gloria called an Colored woman a Mammie.
Screw the NAACP convention in Kansas City!
Yeah, who needs millions of dollars? Idiot. Funky town ain't my town. Maybe you should move to his front porch and wait there to sniff Gloria's feet.
It really makes me sad to hear some of these comments that are bigoted. So sad it makes me want to move to a progressive city.
bigot
Main Entry: big·ot
Pronunciation: \ˈbi-gət\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, hypocrite, bigot
Date: 1660
: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
Tony's right. It's only a matter of time before someone on the editorial board decides to take away the bone that Funk has been begging to be thrown his way.
Expect a column at the end of this week.
Some of these Funk fans are sad. They've given up so much backbone they wouldn't even be upset if Gloria did something similar to their own family. A little dignity people. Why sell yourself out for a one time politician?
Anyone with a brain could've seen this coming.
Why is are people attacking Tony for this? Unlike the rest of you idiots at least he is taking a moment to confirm his stories. Pretty sure the Funk towel boys are upset because local leaders actually contact TKC instead of their own blog.
has anyone else noticed that the Funk supporters are blatant racists and everyone else really isn't? Telling.
The cliché of the reactionary blogger as angry vigilante plotting schemes from his mother's basement appears to be universal.
The fudamental problem with finding someone guilty in the court of public opinion is the damage is done regardless of facts or outcome. If in fact this incident occurred then it should be dealt with. The reactions of both sides is a shining example of why we have a legal system. People tend to react from the gut which is why so many are quick to pass judgement before the facts have been confirmed. A good example is the Anon poster who just called all Funk supporters racist based on the comments of a couple of knuckle draggers.
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