On the subject of Obama, elitism, Democrats and why nobody votes in Kansas City

Last night a very smart, educated and (surprisingly) employed friend of mine told me that he decided to support Obama in light of the recent mudslinging on behalf of the Clinton campaign regarding the leading contender's so-called elitism.

Both he and I agreed that the outright hypocrisy of Hillary on this issue was utterly mind boggling. A woman with $109 million expects to be taken seriously when she casts stones about elitism? This is the same broad that shook the dust of Little Rock off her shoes years ago and never looked back. Like most name calling perpetrated by panicky broads on a losing streak . . . It just doesn't make sense.

At the outset of Democratic Primary there were stupid questions about Obama's racial background and whether or not he was "Black enough" to garner widespread support in minority communities - The most reliable Democrat voting bloc. Throughout the course of this race Obama's minority credentials have been a affirmed for anybody who had doubts . . . Very much like any other minority running for office, the guilt by association trick has been used against Obama and now politicos entrenched in D.C. for decades are accusing him of elitism despite the fact that neither one of his opponents have anything in common with most Americans - Other than the fact that they waffle on their support of immigration reform when it's convenient.

Put simply, the attacks against Obama by his opponents are yet another reminder that white candidates consistently leverage racial animosity from every angle imaginable. When a person of color is well-qualified, they're over qualified or elitist . . . When minority politicos play to their base, they're guilty of using racial politics.

As for Obama's statements about bitter rural voters clinging to faith and anti-immigrant sentiment: It's not only true but probably the most profound thing any candidate has said thus far in the presidential race. Having followed voters and politicos in rural Missouri, I can honestly proclaim that they are the worst people on the planet. By my (expert) estimation, they're all backward, ill-informed, racist and reactionary . . . Luckily, the tyranny of the rural voter is quickly coming to an end given that the world's population is undergoing a unprecedented urbanization as everyone seems to be moving toward the cities.

And this thought brings me back to my hometown . . . It seems to me that the same Democrat hypocrisy that exists nationally in nonsensical statements from scumbags like Hillary also infests Kansas City Democrat politics. Mayor Funky desperately wants everyone to believe he's a liberal Democrat working toward reform when, in fact, he has not only slashed funding for infrastrucutre and basic city services but has aligned himself with the most reactionary forces in Johnson County and the surrounding suburban area in a silly pursuit of regionalism that has been overwhelmingly defeated at every opportunity for the past decade. Additionally, Mayor Funky has been going around hat in hand begging for money from all of Kay Barnes' old contributers, eating at the same trough which he criticized so vocally only a short year ago.

In Funkhouser's defense, there are only a small number folks interested in Kansas City politics who also have enough money to make significant donations . . . This elite political clique of mostly Democrats represent a force that has ultimately brought about the failure of Democracy in Kansas City given that most elections draw a dismal turnout.

In minority communities in KC it's worse, I don't want to get into describing politics in the African-American community - because they have enough problems . . . However, in my 10 years of community reporting on the Westside and Northeast I've noticed that politics in the Latino Community are run by whatever cadre of pissed off people able to bring the greatest number of associates or relatives to a public meeting. On rare and wonderful occasions there's a bit of commonality and unity for a cause that has universal support in the Latino Community - Like opposition to Minute-Lady Frances Semler and her membership in a hate group dead set against brown people. However, for the most part Kansas City Latino politics is run by thug like groups assembled in a hurry for causes that are mostly insignificant to the longterm wellbeing of the community at large . . . Latino elites (forgive the term) run politics in this community for the benefit of their own careers with only a few exceptions (obviously, I'm one of them).

Still, by and large politics is an "elite" endeavor simply because it's a pursuit of money and power. I don't really care if Obama is an elitist because those same charges could be accurately leveled against the other two candidates as well. And while I could note that Obama's campaign platform is actually the most inclusive of all of the candidates . . . It would be hypocritical to pretend that I care. Truth is, I'm supporting Obama because he's a Black dude and that kind of straightforward reasoning is still (surprisingly) the best way to piss off white people who complain about everyone's racial politics but their own.