Nadia Pflaum gets all of her story ideas from TKC

The Catwoman has struck again! This week Nadia Pflaum files a story that expresses every sentiment I've already written on this blog regarding Marcus Leach. They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery so I'm guessing that if I ever meet this woman I'll have to make sure that she doesn't blow me. Here's her story which is featured in this week's Pitch that (thankfully) is not gushing over a local emo band or a passing fad in this town that is promoted by some carpet bagger who is secretly screwing a member of the staff:

The Miseducation of Marcus Leach

Just to show you that I'm not fucking around, here are some links to prove that I've also written (eloquently) about the subject:

"Leach, who is Black"
Leach Impeached

And a few other posts right here.

As usual Pflaum's article is thorough and well written. If you have time to read the 3,000 word polemic I'm sure you will enjoy it and you probably need to schedule a colonoscopy if you're spending that much time on the can.

Thing is, I just hope this isn't a trend because I noticed that she pretty much stole borrowed every sentiment I've ever written about Stan Glazer and added a bit of muck raking and insider dirt of her own. It was a nice article but didn't really capture the guy's charm and acumen along with the distinct possibility that in such a crowded field he just might (and probably should) be this town's next mayor.

Anyway, Pflaum's admiration of all things Tony is odd because not only is Pflaum a better journalist than I am (I'm not one) but also she wrote the best news article published in print last year in KC. Also, I liked her story about narcocorridos in Kansas City even if I wanted to slap everyone who was interviewed and I think journalists should work harder to find Mexicans who aren't holding a guitar.

Still, there were a few things missing. Pflaum gets too caught up in the dopey student politics at UMKC and she doesn't examine the real issue: Why is Marcus Leach under fire and why have so many people have taken an interest in the silly machinations of student government politics at UMKC? The answer isn't just race, it's also about achievement and race coupled with the fact that UMKC (like this nation) is so paralyzed by political division that any strong leader will face an inevitable backlash. Nadia tries to develop this theme in terms of SGA spending (yawn) but never makes the connection.

Also, true to form for the Pitch, the article capitalizes on tawdry (fun) facts and fails to put the controversy in perspective. My favorite portion of the story is a bit of dirt digging that Pflaum comes up with in regard to Leach's Internet humor:

Tasteless jokes written by Leach on Cross-x.com, an online debate forum. One joke that appears to have been written by Leach reads: "How do you make a 7-year-old cry twice? Wipe your bloody dick on her teddy bear."

That's pretty good gossip but if you look even harder, you'll find that many people have a few complaints about Leach that aren't as frivolous or prurient.

Co-workers and (so-called) friends of Leach have sent me a few e-mails and have made the following complaints:

"The guy has absolutely no focus. He's involved in so many things that he performs all of them poorly"

"Just because he's half Black that means every turd he pushes forth must be polished and celebrated by those looking to use him as part of their cause."

Also, Pflaum was too busy muckraking on the Internet to report that Leach was recently fired from the Campus Ambassadors program at UMKC because of his lack of participation and poor attendance. Incidentally, poor attendance for SGA meetings was also an issue touted by Leach's detractors which Pflaum doesn't mention; she relies more on painting the issue as a coup d'état run by the Frat boys and girls - that's accurate but not exactly the whole story.

In the end, you should read the article on your own and then ask yourself what you'd do if all of your college fuck ups, enemies and hardships made the local news. So often, when issues of race and college campuses appear in the media we have a tendency to forget the stupidity of most college kids and college life in general because of the amazing potential of the people involved, the reflection of our society within the microcosm of a campus and the fact that colleges are horribly run, full of unimportant bickering and dysfunctional . . . Just like the real world.

Finally, (whew) the article features a number of lessons for youngsters seeking political office. Here's number 7: Don't trust people from New Times publications. More and more this city's corporate alternative rag resembles the middle aged ranting of someone desperately trying to be cool rather than a glimpse at stories the MSM won't report. This article just seems like a backstabbing attempt to air the dirty laundry of a 20 year-old kid and call it news . . . I thought that's why people read bloggers Xanga. Normally, I admire Nadia's journalistic skill (not really) but this cover story is nothing more than a he said/she said account of some kid's college political career and it's import to KC is unapparent and largely contrived . . . Very much akin to Pflaum's hip-hop poseurdom reporting.