Now the Pitch is picking on the Kansas City area's most prominent Puerto Rican

Across the country the New Times media is known for "gotcha journalism" and I don't really have a problem with that . . . However, just as Kansas City has it's own spin on everything, the New Times "Alt-Mart" here in Kansas City has a special take on their corporate agenda: The Pitch is infamous in Kansas City for printing hatchet jobs on almost every minority appearing on their pages.

Example: Local Activist Alonzo Washington simply refuses to talk to them. He's not the only one, but he's one of the biggest names. Think about that, the guy who SOLVED the Precious Doe Case, who has won countless awards and recently was recognized by Ford for his crime fighting efforts won't give these people the time of day. And while going on the Internet and taking his message directly to the people has earned Washington more acclaim, publicity and credibility . . . The dawning of the Internet age in journalism obviously doesn't hold the same promise for them.

I think it's funny that they constantly take pot shots at me and I'm ready to fire them back at them for as long as we're both taking in air but they've also threatened to "out" other bloggers and have basically pouted when the couldn't co-opt every local blogger with the a link . . . Do your research and you'll find that it's New Times policy that their employees can't even have a blog that isn't hosted/controlled by the publication . . . That's not exactly encouraging for folks who are excited about New Media.

Anyway, back to one of their feature stories . . . They're attacking KCMO School District Superintendent Anthony Amato for wanting to make changes and talking to every corn flake who has a grudge.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have any hope for KC Schools whatsoever and I believe that most of the Amato's efforts amount to nothing but rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic but their attack piece seems laughable when compared to how they've tirelessly defended Mayor Funkhouser who is noted (and despised by me) for some of the same brash tactics and talk of "reform."

It's worse than a double standard because it's ideology disguised as journalism.

The Pith has an agenda the same as everybody else and part of it is to put forth the idea that the way of the upwardly mobile white hipster is what will save Kansas City and that's absolutely not true given that now (predictably) even the Crossroads is subject to random shootings and the hipster/liberal tendency to ignore problems that aren't easily fixed with some form of welfare or marriage rights for homersexuals complicates their understanding.

In my opinion (the only one that counts) the Pitch simply has a problem with minorities in power . . . They sell/imply demeaning stereotypes about corruption and incompetence but overlook those same traits in their liberal champions.

I'm not the only one noting these things either, I always try and direct people to a fabulous essay written by journalist Jimi Izrael about his experience with the New Times organization. Here's one of the money lines: New Times is not known for their kind treatment of minorities, on the page or otherwise.

I've encountered these type of people all of my life so the tacit bigotry of liberals is nothing new to me . . . They want so desperately to pat local Latinos on the head when they're singing and playing the guitar but the second those same Latinos want a bigger piece of the pie or some power . . . They're out to deport you faster than the conservatives who were at least honest in the first place.

And what have been Amato's great sins? He cut a welfare program that had nothing to do with education, he has ruffled feathers from the same flock of complainers who have been responsible for the generations long downward spiral of the district . . . And the claim that he has alienated every teacher in the school district is supported only by anecdotal evidence and is basically the kind of hyperbole TKC pulls of better than some so-called alt-rag.

For this article, they've come up with 5 steps they believe apply to Amato's career here in KC . . . So in turn, I've come up with 5 of my own realizations about The Pitch and suggestions for some of their staffers:

1. Pretend that KC is just a cool as the larger media markets where you one day hope to write.

2. Laugh behind Nadia Pflaum's back every time TKC notes that she's a chicken head.

3. Try to date Jen Chen. When that fails give serious thought to going the ghey because the office is inundated with them . . . Note: This first and foremost applies to the men. The women probably take a swipe at Chen as well because she's cute but then they're pretty much reduced to being what many homosexuals have deemed "Fag hags" which is why all the broads who work for the publication (except Chen) are so bitter. Also, lament the fact that your boss is a lot like the lady from "The Devil Wears Prada" only without the style and with the distinct scent of patchouli oil.

4. Pretend not to notice that most Pitch distribution points are half full with unread copies . . . Also, ignore the environmental implications of all that wasted paper because being a liberal is really about dressing casually and buying cool t-shirts not the business you practice.

5. Get another tattoo.

Note from Tony: I just thought I'd include a photo of New York's Puerto Rican Day Parade to honor Amato's heritage and because it angers/offends/scares white people when anybody but the Irish demonstrate even a little bit of ethnic pride.