Minorities in Kansas City Must Keep Quiet!!!
The reaction to recall petitioners yesterday once again clearly pointed out that Kansas City is a racist town and it's getting worse under Mayor Funkhouser's leadership or lack thereof.
Let's get it straight: Media people were justified in uncovering the background of petitioners. The info regarding voter registration was relevant and anybody who steps into the public forum has to be prepared to take criticism. The world is full of bitter, anonny talk radio callers and Internets commenters but even those d-bags serve to increase traffic and drive discussion.
What's more troubling is the vehement animosity toward any person of color willing to take a political stand in Kansas City.
White media watchers from across the metro and mostly in the suburbs throw preemptive accusations of "racism" in the direction of minorities opposed to Mayor Funky's policies in a desperate attempt to clear their own conscious and justify their constant attacks of people of color active in this town's political discourse.
Then there's the obligatory reference to minorities of different opinions. This schizophrenic mode of thinking both acknowledges and dismisses the topic of race in reference to any political issue . . . A proponent of this tactic decries "racist" motives of people of color with whom they disagree and then touts other voices from the minority community who share similar viewpoints with the majority; essentially this argument employs the same racially focused mode of thinking which it decries. This tactic is a staple of a hypocritical world view that really isn't interested in garnering any kind of real consensus or understanding on the the subject of race relations but merely wants to win a debate.
Yesterday, among the citizenry of this town outright slurs were hurled against the petitioners and constant mention of their race and supposed racist motives was encouraged by members of the media (talk radio mostly).
It is quite telling that supporters of Mayor Funkhouser have now openly begun courting the most reactionary and vicious elements in Kansas City's political sphere in order to attack their opposition. Put simply, Mayor Funkhouser is playing to the crowd who has consistently expressed their consistent opposition to both the Latino Community and the Black Community in Kansas City based on nothing more than the topic of race.
A wise person once said: "We are the company we keep" So far Mayor Funkhouser has had few minority leaders in his corner while he continues to surround himself with some of the most reactionary and right wing elements of Kansas City's discourse.
As always, anecdotal evidence abounds but Mayor Funky has openly admitted his strategy to cater to the Northland. In doing so the Mayor has missed an opportunity for real leadership. Rather than working to unite Kansas City, he has engaged in and encouraged some of the most racially divisive politics this cowtown has seen in years. His employment of conservative talk radio in his defense is a cynical and dangerous attempt to force mob rule from the outskirts of Kansas City given that his influence over the urban core and Midtown grows weaker every day.
The racially based attacks against Recall petitioners were a clear sign that Mayor Funkhouser is using the emotional and hot button topic to advance his agenda and save his neck.
What's clear is that Mayor Funkhouser is and has been using the race, class and economic differences in this community to his advantage but in the end this dangerous reliance on identity politics will only prove to be his downfall. At some point, his throng of supporters from the Great White North and the surrounding suburbs won't be there for him and he will have to face a great number of Kansas City residents whom he has treated like an enemy.
posted by Tony Permalink
True enough. Awesome post Tony.
I actually attended the Mayor's Town Hall meeting last night at The Clubhouse on Baltimore.
He talked about the budget, buses, light rail, for about 15 minutes. Then he took questions for about 45 minutes.
Some young, white, urban hipsters from the Dwontown Neighborhood Association got up and asked sincere questions about taxes, infrastructure, city services, etc.
Then a black gentleman stood up and spoke very enthusiastically about his support of Mayor Funkhouser and said people need to stop all this recall talk and let him be the mayor and let him make mistakes.
Then a very dapper Hispanic gentleman in red framed glasses and a dark suit got up and expressed his support of the mayor and everything he was trying to do. He said "this recall business is nonsense". He urged him to reach out to the Hispanic and minority community so that they could all work together to help make the city work.
Then a very small and elegant black woman in a hat got up and reminded the Mayor that he is not alone, that Jesus is walking beside him and said that she and everyone she knows would march for him and walk by his side if anyone tried to recall him.
Everyone was very polite and supportive.
There were no pickets, no protests, no raised voices or animosity.
I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears.
I urge each of you to do the same. Go to one of the Town Hall meetings and see for yourself.
The Truth Is Out There.
It would be naive to think that race hasnt played a role in the recall petition to some extent. Racism is alive and well on both sides of troost. Race aside, that doesnt mean the petition is without merit.
I don't know, midtown. I read the affidavit. It looked pretty sloppy on all counts. Legally and gramatically.
The nepotism charge was the only one that might stick, but even that charge needs to be better researched and crafted.
I doubt the nepotism charge will stand either. You must recieve compensation for that charge to stick so that is out the window as well. The rest of the charges are baseless and could easily beaten in court if it came to that. A friend of mine is a lawyer and she said the affidavit is a complete joke and won't hold up at all.
i still think that mayor kay has something to do with all this mess. even when she was mayor funk wouldnt play ball with her and do what she wanted. oh by the way tony your blog isnt ban from city hall because of funk its because of the pics that you post go to tell the truth kansas city and they will tell you since hes a city worker
This town is racist no question of that. It is also very corrupt. The business people I deal with daily are some of the most unethical people I have met.
Neither of these have to do with Funk's politics or lack thereof.
there is a rumor around city hall that the funks are getting ready to take tony to court.
Everybody is on their period. The town has always been a very rigid racial community. That just didn't start over the last year. This behavior is well practiced and honed. Funkhouser is doing his part to not squash any of that. Because of that neglect, he comes off as racist.
Again, I am looking for something positive to come out of City Hall. It hasn't happened yet. I don't care about your Town Hall meetings. They aren't true barometers as to how this city feels about downtown politics. Some people don't show up because they know they'll be locked up after their first or second exchange with the "out of touch" mayor.
You d-bags won't get 1,000 signatures.
RDM - "I don't care about your Town Hall meetings. They aren't true barometers as to how this city feels about downtown politics." Then maybe more people with diverse views need to attend.
"Some people don't show up because they know they'll be locked up after their first or second exchange with the "out of touch" mayor."
REALLY? Perhaps you can point to one, single example where that has occured. Just one.
I'll believe what my own eyes and ears tell me. Real people, in person expressing their views directly in front of the mayor.
Much more compelling than anonymous douche nozzles pretending to be powerful movers and shakers.
Go to a Town Hall Meeting and see for yourself. The microphone was open. No one was asking for names or checking IDs. Just walk up, ask your question or state your opinion. Grow some cajones.
Why waste time with the Mayor? There are more important leaders in Kansas City to support.
Well, Tony, "racism" aside, in order to file a recall petition, you must be a registered voter. It looks as if 3 of the 5 aren't registered voters. But yes, Tony, it racism because they weren't smart enough to figure out that if you want to have an elected official recalled, it's a good idea to be registered and able to vote for the person you would want to replace said official.
Also, every time you use the word "racist" it loses a little of it's impact.
The reason the Mayor has such a hard time with minorities is that the minority political class are almost always WRONG. Part of the reason they are wrong is they lack a basic understanding of economics, but mostly because they put helping cronies above all else. But any mayor in a large city that wants it to work for EVERYONE will always butt heads with minority politicians. Look at any large city where minorities are in complete control. Chaos reigns.
It is ironic that a liberal mayor is now loved by white conservatives and attacked by liberal blacks and hispanics.
What you think about all these race baiter's and whiners. Everything is the White Peoples fault !!!!
Like little children who refuse to stop throwing tantrums and take responsibility for themselves.
Gimme mine! But I don't want to earn it!
Tip of the Day . . .
Do not interfere when your enemy is making mistakes. (Zen saying)
XO,
Who's your mayor?
Some guy named Don Reimal. You've probably never heard of him. That's because our city government works and we don't have a bunch of yapping little dogs with inflated egos nipping at everyones heels and then running away.
ha! the guy that writes this trash thinks that he's an intellectual.
Nah, never heard. You've got a good police system up there. Not too many minorities head that way.
It is simple really. The mayor wants to make changes. All those people who have had their hands in the money pot for years are resisting that change and are playing dirty pool. Wayne Cauthen should be fired not because he is a black man but because he is corrupt. Terry Riley has had his seat for years and NOTHING has gotten better on his side of town. Instead of listening to failed leadership everytime they try to race bait city hall, the minorities in this community should be looking to remove the crooks who mis-represent them and should try to replace them with someone who will truely work for them -- not pocket the spoils.
the mayor of detroit will be looking for a job....he would fit right in with the kansas city council.
"yapping little dogs"
That's kind of racist.
The only ones I see crying foul are the ones who no longer have easy access to the cookie jar. Tony and a handful of want-to-be leaders are the ones who continue to throw race into every decision that Mayor Funkhouser has made. Wayne Cauthen and Terry Riley have engaged in shady deals and I want them out of office. Not because their are black, I don't care about a persons color. I want them out because they are stealing from the taxpayers.
And speaking of neighborhoods, I live in a well diverse neighborhood as far north as you can get. There are blacks, whites, hispanics, chinese, hindu, living side by side. We all speak to each other, we watch out for each other, we are a community. Try moving whites or other people of other ethnic backgrounds into some of the shadier parts of town and see how long they last. The truth is, Tony and the black leader thugs want to keep the controversy going. It's what pays the bills. If it wasn't for all the controversy that Tony stirs up, he wouldn't have traffic on this blog. He admitted that.
I challenge Tony to look into how the City Managers office is really run. Look into how much money Wayne Cauthen has peddled to his crony consultants. Hell, one consultant charged the taxpays over $200.00 stating it was time spent writing up that invoice. HELLO?? On the lights on upstairs Tony. Do you care that Wayne Cauthen is throwing money down the drain. Or, are you going to continue to fuel the fire of racism?
If you were a person of integrity, you would investigate this stuff and then throw down. But to throw down on the Mayor because he is basing his decision on the facts of each of these matters, is just plain irresponsible and adds more proof that you are someone who says alot, but with really nothing substantial to say. You have the gift of gab, and you are not bad with articulating your points. I bet you could write a best seller with your ability to spin gold from shit. I applaud you there. But at the end of the day, you are a still a poor pathetic misguided boy. And at the end of the day, Wayne Cauthen still needs to go... not because he's black. But because he is a crook.
every time you use the word "racist" it loses a little of it's impact.
--------------------------------
Maybe that's the point?
Tony bantering around the term "racist" is like a 2 year old throwing around the term "polytheism." It's meaningless and has no intelligence behind it.
Tony has a long history of hateful and racists comments on this very website. The archives are littered with ridicule, stereotypes, and hateful comments towards one particular race.
But he portends this "my shit don't stink" attitude, when in fact he's shitting more than a Canadian on a South American vacation.
Hey Anon. 2:13/CityHall ButtNut, buy a clue.
1) Tony's not an investigator. He's a blogger.
2) In all your WC ranting you have yet to present concrete proof that WC is crooked.
3) If you do find an investigator perhaps you'd have them investigate how much money was wasted before WC showed up in KC on a WHOLE DEPT. of employees who did nothing for YEARS while over 300 city projects lay there waiting for somebody ANYBODY to move them forward. Talk about millions wasted down in inefficient rat hole. I'm sure you'd like to see those days back, ButtNut, pay raises without cause, no accountability, the slackard City Hall employee lifestyle.
If you think that's what the non-City Hall citizens of Kansas City really want back then by all means, kiss Funk's ass and punt WC. Just don't count on anything useful or productive getting done.
anon 1:19 - "yapping little dogs" is not racist. If I had said "yapping little chihuahuas", THAT would have been racist.
it just goes to show you how dumb people really are. Hhahahaha.
Helloooooooooooo. Register voter. It's not racist.
It's stupidity
Were you racist when you produced campaign videos for Funkhouser? Or was that just the usual Latino reaction of not voting for the black guy? (Hello President Hillary!)
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