City Hall is hosting video of Mayor Funkhouser cordially introducing Caroline Baughman a Wiccan high priestess.
Just click the link for the July 26th Legislative section and the video should come right up.
The Mayor has long argued that he is seeking a "diverse" segment of voices to represent the City and that was his silly justification of backing a member of a hate group . . . Now the Mayor seems to think that MEMBERS OF THE OCCULT are representative of Kansas City.
The fact that the Mayor of Kansas City would share the stage with a WITCH is just repugnant . . . Anybody who would hold such a ill advised and misguided view of diversity really does not deserve to be Mayor.
If the Mayor sides with the Ooccult over the Latino Community then obviously his priorities are completely screwed up.
Put simply, anybody sharing the stage with some WITCH doesn't deserve to the Mayor of a major metropolitan area . . . Having seen this video I can only say that I'm completely committed to making sure that this charlatan is removed from office.
Seriously, it has now come down to nothing but a struggle against the forces of witchcraft and I may not be the most Christian person in the City (far from it really) but the fact that someone who would cozy up to the occult is running Kansas City just scares me.
RECALL FUNKHOUSER!!!
Also, you may want to hurry up and grab a copy of that video given that City Hall has already blocked this site so they'll probably take down the clip ASAP.
RECALL FUNKHOUSER!!!
Can things in our fair City get any weirder. RECALL FUNKHOUSER
ReplyDeleteI wish Funky would bring in a celebrity witch instead of some lame Raytown Wiccan bitch. Why not Witchypoo from "HR Pufenstuf?" Or Glinda, the Good Witch from "Wizard of Oz" (she's been working at Bazooka's lately since that scandal over the orgy in Munchkinland)?
ReplyDeleteTony, what's wrong with Wiccans? Personally, I really like the patio furnture they make.
ReplyDeleteWiccans are somehow 'occult' and therefore evil.
ReplyDeleteIt's not ok to discriminate against people who break the law (illegal aliens) but discriminating against people based on their religion is OK? What the fuck is wrong with you man?
You have gone over the edge into retard land. I'm deleting my rss feeds and bookmarks to TKC. Have a nice life and die in a fire.
You omitted the most embarrassing part - the pagan minister was explaining the occult and pagan prayer in front of all of the visiting Japanese VIPs from our sister city in Japan.
ReplyDeleteUggghh.
Dude, this is a bit embarrassing, but you have gone off of your rocker...were you hexed as a child or something?
ReplyDeletePeople - remember that this is a joke blog. Only a flaming idiot would think that this is really an issue, and Tony is laughing at those of you who are expressing righteous and unconstitutional indignation. And I certainly agree with Tony in his laughing at those who are acting like this is an "issue".
ReplyDeleteThe mayor having a pagan minister explain "the occult and pagan prayer in front of all of the visiting Japanese VIPs from our sister city in Japan" is not an issue? Are you serious Dan? Man, I voted for Funk, and I can say that your lovefest for the guy has caused you to fall down the ranks in my view of local bloggers. A list that you once were on top of.
ReplyDeleteWell, BJ, I'll just have to somehow carry on without your approval.
ReplyDeleteBut, guess what - most Japanese aren't Christians, either. I'm glad we showed our religious tolerance to them, rather than some thieving televangelist, aren't you?
Are you saying it's embarrassing because the Japanese visitors will think Kansas Citians are total hicks who are completely ignorant of anything except Christianity?
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to information about Shinto, the number one religion in Japan next to Buddhism: http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm
Shinto seems to have a lot more in common with Ms. High Priestess' beliefs than with Christianity.
Wiccan, Christian, Satanist, Hindu, Muslim, it's all the same.
ReplyDeleteSuperstitious, supernatural, mumbo jumbo used as a crutch by intellectual cripples who can't manage to wrap their feeble intelect around the fact that we are NOT here for some Higher Purpose, everything DOESN'T happen "for a reason", there is no God or Jesus or Mary or Buddha or Krishna watching our every move, punishing or wrongdoing, protecting us from harm or guiding our destiny.
Throw all of that bullshit in the garbage where it belongs, Get Rational and start dealing with real problems we face.
"Well, BJ, I'll just have to somehow carry on without your approval."
ReplyDeletewow dan, could a now c team blogger be more arrogrant?
I believe that there should not have been any prayer. How about maybe a jazz group or a local musician play a welcome song? Or maybe the marching cobras? Or maybe Slugger? Or maybe even one of the koalas at the zoo! I mean, the guy playing the keyboard at the city market is more Kansas City than a pagan occult. For some the debate could easily be about religion. But for me its about just another poor choice from our Mayor and his staff aka wife. Just another reason why I want my vote back, and why your blog is going down the toilet. what a dick.
AeroSquid - Neal doesn't like it when you surf the Internet at Cerner. Go back to "transforming Healthcare"......
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with a Wiccan giving the invocation - if we let pastors of other religions (including mine) give the invocation do it, the Wiccans should get their chance, too. BUT the specific blessing that the Priestess gave was, IMHO, much more overtly religious and faith-specific than any other that I have personally witnessed for occasions of this sort. Typically, the pastor makes some generic comments about providing wisdom and strength and courage. Most troubling, though, was the extended infomercial for Wicca that she got to give. That is, in my experience at least (which is by no means exhaustive, but does include almost a decade of watching this sort of stuff - I know, pathetic on my part) unprecedented and horribly inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteBJ -
ReplyDeleteYou're killing me.
Who keeps that C list? I want to appeal my grade. I think I deserve extra credit for class participation.
If I look at graffiti, am I going to get pregnant? Oh wait, I'm not a teenager.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I think this is just disgusting.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the Mayor would stand hand in hand with someone like that.
I didn't know he and his wife had an affiliation with these kind of people when I voted for him.
If I would not have voted for him if I did.
It's about time you posted this Tony. Everyone at City Hall has been talking about it since last Thursday. Literally from the second the meeting started.
ReplyDeleteYou really are one intolerant son of a bitch Tony. Good luck to you. I hope all of the enemies that you're making serve you well when you decide to get a real job washing dishes.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I think is intolerant. The fact that anybody would defend this kind of idol worship.
ReplyDeleteI will not defend Tony but I know right and wrong when I see it. This town has a Mayor who associates with people who are lost. These are not the kind of people I want representing me.
Good luck to you all. You'll need it if you have to support Pagans along with your choice of politican.
Could we come to a compromise Tony.
ReplyDeleteHow about no prayers to any God and public forums?
That way we don't risk offending all of the assorted superstitions.
Doc had it right earlier today...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I wouldn't have seen this without your blog Tony.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Not that I really care about this stuff one way or another but it's always good to know.
Keep up the great work.
Be VERY CAREFUL TKC. There is a Voodoo doll with your name on it and it's resting under Gloria's feet.
ReplyDeleteHey Dan while you're in the Mayor's kitchen cabinet why don't you make him a sandwich? It's probably easier than carrying the guy's water on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteStanding up for the correct side on issues like this is a whole lot easier than you'd think. You really should try it at least once.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really defending Funk here. I'm just defending the Constitution, which prohibits establishing a state religion. Personally, I agree with those who say we ought to do away with religious invocations, but, if we have them, we can't discriminate among religions.
I've disagreed with Funk when he's wrong. This is most definitely not one of those times.
Tony, congrats on a fantastic post! You've really brought out the nutcases this time!
You Tony you ought to give it a rest. There are more things going in the city that whoever speaks at some boring legislative session.
ReplyDeleteI don't care who is on what side of anything. I don't want witches in my City Hall. Constitutionally protected or not, I'm not voting for anybody who walks arm in arm with or is friendly with a Wiccan or a Pagan or any other kind of devil worship.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Tony I'm from the Northland and I'm not a racist. I voted for Alvin Brooks and I stand by that choice.
who cares?
ReplyDeleteAll you've really done Tony is demonstrate how intolerant people can be, I wonder if that's your goal? Not very Christian at all.
ReplyDeleteGet a life Tony
ReplyDeleteI'm not here to defend Tony but I think this raises a lot of questions about the Mayor's judgment. THere have been rumors about the Mayor's wife's religion floating around for months but for the Mayor to introduce some woman who was a self-described Wiccan was obviously a bad choice. He is not getting good advice from people who should know better. Sure the Brookside liberals aren't going to mind but standing next to a witch will be harder to justify with the religious people and conservatives in KC. And there are more churchgoing people and conservatives in Kansas City than you would think.
ReplyDeleteThe silent majority.
ReplyDeleteYeah right.
Get over it Mac.
So who is going to start singing witchy woman first?
ReplyDeletewhere is the progress in the mayor's office?
ReplyDeleteThe Eagles are so 70's.
ReplyDeleteIf we're going to do a sing-a-long than could we please start with something from this millennium.
I wish this blog had a little diversity. Yawn...
ReplyDeleteShowing religious tolerance IS progress RDM.
ReplyDeleteOr at least demonstrating that all religions are basically the same: Based on something outside of fact and science.
ReplyDeleteTake your meds Tony
ReplyDeleteI guess it's ok to have a wiccan give the invocation . . . as long as the satanists get on the schedule next week. It would be good to hear from the polyamorous too. I know it's not a religion but it should be.
ReplyDeleteBetter yet . . . what if we keep all religions, sects, cults out of the Council Chambers?
This could blow up on Funkhouser's face if he does not let some blood-drinking, goat-worshipping, kitty- skinning, devil-loving de-flower a virgin or at least have the same access as the witchy woman.
This is basically a non-issue, not important to the way the City is managed and does not represent any malfeasance on the part of Mayor Funkhouser. Therefore there is no reason to recall the Mayor and using this issue to institute a recall effort might result in a charge of perjury against those who took part in the effort.
ReplyDelete10:08 you're using the same twisted logic that Republicans use against those who advocate marriage rights for homosexuals.
ReplyDeleteIt is an unreasonable argument that equates bestiality and polygamy with a consensual relationship between two adults who only want equal protection under the law.
I don't want any kind of religious sermon before City business. There is no need for it and it does not make City Hall run more efficiently. Cutting that "tradition" could be one thing that Funkhouser to do to cut government waste.
ReplyDeleteYou people are really going to be sorry if you think this kind of thing is right. Shame on the Mayor and all of the City officials for letting this kind of lost soul into Council Chambers.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is the constant "eff you" Funk & Gloria keep handing to what they perceive to be the establishment in Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteThe previous poster who wrote that everybody had been talking about it at city hall for the last week is TRUE, I heard about it the day it happened. And once again, it wasn't a good "everyone's talking about it" it was a bad "everyone's talking about it".
I'm all for open-ness in belief systems, but the move, in front of the Japanese delegation was a clear, conscience choice to make a statement.
You see, Kanas Citians want to be represented to foreign countries in a way that represents Kansas City.
We have a choice - we all value the diversity of our culinary choices here in KC, Right? But we also value our barbeque and Boulevard Beer, right?
So when someone comes to Kansas City, especially a foreign delegation from our sister city WE HAVE A CONSCEOIUS CHOICE, we can serve them Indian takeout, which is reflective of our culinary diversity, and we can serve them Samuel Adams beer, reflective of our open-ness and beer diversity.
So if you're mayor, what do you do?
Hmmmm, Funk essentially selected the Indian takeout and Sam Adams. A choice that's reflective of our freedoms and liberty under the constitution.
Right, Dan?
Yep.
But if I were the Mayor I'd serve them Gates and Boulevard. To do anything else is a mean-spirited sell-out.
And by the way, they could also serve Bo-lings. Chinese please, just not a Wiccanism when we only have three days to make an impression on people.
Get the analogy? There are three people that are Wiccan in this community, and we welcome them. But we don't hold them up when we have 5 minutes to demonstrate who we are.
It's not being exclusionary, it's just common sense. And Funk & Gloria had a choice.
So shitcan the inflammatory race- and religion- baiting.
Well said mainstream too bad tony's posts tomorrow will probably be on the topic of racism and how every brown or black person in Kansas City is persecuted.
ReplyDeleteTalking Kind of Crazy = TKC
ReplyDeleteKC area has always been home to great wiccans through out the years. We have blended in so you don't recognize us.
ReplyDeleteIf you check out the history of Barry road for example, it was founded by Postmaster Barry, a Freemason. All of the people buried in the Barry cemetary, which was left intact, in the parking lot, when they built Metro North mall, was all Freemason.
Even Walt Disney, who got his start in Kansas City, belonged to a Freemason chapter.
There use to be some prophet guy up north too, can't recall his name,,Broadway Bill,,or something like that. Think he died in a car crash.
I find it hilarious that you all assume that the mayor did this (not that thre's anything wrong with having a wiccan.) Are you really all so cluless as to think the mayor has time to personally decide who will do the invocation that week? I'm would guess it's on some kind of a rotating schedule arranged by some assistant-type employee. And doesn't the mayor always introduce whoever is doing the invocation?
ReplyDeleteSo, I guess he should have shown religious intolerance and just sat there and refused to introduce her in front of the visiting guests when he looked at his agenda and saw that she was (oooohhhhh) non-Christian? That would have made a real good impression. You all need to grow up.
And for all of you who equate Christianity with Gates as being "what Kansas City is about," you really need to get out more aside from your little church activities.
At your suggestion, Tony, I watched the video. Didn't see anything offensive there, to tell you the truth. It was just another viewpoint, another religion...who ended up there from the Interfaith Council. It's not like she sacrificed a pig and drank its blood. You're making a big deal out of nothing.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, why wasn't this embarassment covered by The Star.
ReplyDeletesounds like tony is trying to get his mom some sympathy. this is getting old so tell la raza and the puppet master to find another cause to start up. no wonder theres people in kc that doesnt like any race with all the bs going on
ReplyDeleteYah next there'll be a satanic chant before dignitaries arrive.
ReplyDeleteOoohh, I had heard *rumors* before the election that Alvin Brooks was a ... Christian ... who attends church and talks baout the Christian God all the time. Scary. I'm glad he wasn't elected.
ReplyDeleteDan, this mayor has his head up his ass and neither cares or has a clue what is going on in this city. You keep making it about Religion and Race, but for me its not about either, its about properly representing Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteAs I said before, I believe that there should not have been any prayer. How about maybe a jazz group or a local musician play a welcome song? Or maybe the marching cobras? Or maybe Slugger? Or maybe even one of the koalas at the zoo! I mean, the guy playing the keyboard at the city market is more Kansas City than a pagan occult. Quit spinning Dan, this about just another poor choice from our Mayor and his staff aka wife and you know it. Just another reason why I want my vote back and why kansas city's blog readers should know that you will do, say and write anything to defend Mark Funkhouser.
basketball jones,
ReplyDeletewhy don't you call city hall and ask how the invocation-giver is selected each week. are you really so clueless as to think the mayor/his wife pick the person or even know ahead of time who it's going to be? get real. someone in japan could pick their nose and you'd probably find a way to call it a "poor choice by the mayor of kansas city."
as for the jazz idea, i agree. i'd rather see religion taken out of it altogether. but i find it interesting to see that all of you religious bigots wait until its a pagan to freak out and say religion should be taken out of it altogether.
I thought all the TonyKC bloggers were for Funky becasue he was a City Hall outsider.
ReplyDeleteGot what you asked for eh?
For those interested, the City Charter as amended in 2006, provides a rather high bar for recall elections. Please refer to the Charter beginning at Section 720, page 34.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kcmo.org/clerk/charter06.pdf
That said, and to paraphrase Victor Lazlow: "Welcome back to the fight, Monsieur Tony. This time I know our side will win."
Ignorance is Strength
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Funkhouser is Reform
E. Goldstein, Sec. 720
BJ, good idea on nixing the invocations entirely.
ReplyDeleteI've always been uncomfortable with the invocations before the council meeting. It doesn't feel very inclusive to me, knowing there's someone of one faith at the microphone and maybe over 100 differing views in the room. Not a very good way to start a meeting that is intended to forge consensus on important topics.
ReplyDeleteI have to say though, that out of the many council meetings I have attended, I have never seen a minister of any faith give a two minute infomercial on their particular brand. In my opinion that was a bit over the line.
I agree, Mark. But given the bigoted attitudes expressed on here, I can see why she might have felt it necessary to explain her religion a bit. She could have done it in a sentence or two, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm a believer said...
ReplyDeleteyou are a fucking moron. too bad the bible didn't teach you to research shit before you open your mouth. they don't worship the devil. in fact, many of your beloved christian celebrations were confiscated from rustic pagan societies as an easier way to convert people to christianity. christmas; winter solstice. easter was a celebration of Eostre/Ostar, a pagan goddess.
personally, i could care less what religious preference people in office have, although i wish more of them were not christian, as you guys seem to have the most distorted perspective on things.
/flame on
OOOOH, looks like this topic got all the little Dawkins clones out in full force. For people who claim I have a brain disease they sure yell a lot.
ReplyDeleteHaving a Wiccan priest do the invocation was not appropriate for the Japanese guests. Considering our Japanese guests and their religion (Shinto and Buddhist) I would have invited one of those groups, or maybe just skipped the invocation and had a jazz or blues singer sing "Kansas City" or something.
We have to be concious how we portray ourselves nationally and internationally.
Funhouser thinks otherwise. In his first major speech he told KC they need to stop considering ourselves a national or even regional city (KC is 29 out of 229 markets nationally) and be more like PV. It is clear the mayor doesn't care about our national image because to him this might as well be Huntington, Wva.
No man is a religion unto himself or herself.
ReplyDeleteWhen it gets to the point where we are bringing in witches who believe the earth is a living thing and aren't running off of any widely read spiritual book we should just scrap the whole thing.
I'm sure that's what the anti-religion crowd wanted all along. Congrats. You won the battle of the 1 minute speech on Channel 2.
"...aren't running off of any widely read spiritual book..."
ReplyDeleteThat's right! Ban anyone who's different! To the gallows with anyone who doesn't base their superstitions on a "widely read spiritual book!"
Your arrogance and sheep-like attitude are unbelievable.
All of this "Ban anyone who is different" and religion this and religion that is a freaking moron. As many people have mentioned its not about religion.There were hundreds ideas for an introduction better than that one. Its just another example of the the circus going on there.
ReplyDelete"are you really so clueless as to think the mayor/his wife pick the person or even know ahead of time who it's going to be?".
Are you really so clueless as to think that they don't? If they didn't then someone on the staff should be fired. But given the current administration, I am sure that his wife and he did know. Because of that, I am sure that they both should be fired and my vote should be given back to me.
Christianity is more occult than Wicca.
ReplyDelete"Are you really so clueless as to think that they don't? If they didn't then someone on the staff should be fired."
ReplyDeleteYou should take yourself on a civics field trip to city hall someday. I can assure you that a) the mayor of any city the size of Kansas City has much more important shit to do than pick who's going to do the invocation that day, and b) there hundreds of employees at city hall who do daily tasks who have nothing to do with the mayor and who fall under the auspices of the city manager.
And also, what in the hell is wrong with you? Your jazz idea is all well and good, but I never heard/ saw you squealing with outrage after the gazillion invocations given by Christians. Like I said, to the gallows with anyone who's different!
Perspective has never been Tony's strongest suit. So much for his mother's diversity training.
ReplyDeleteJust about everything at City Hall is run by the Mayor and/or his General Counsel.
ReplyDelete"I never heard/ saw you squealing with outrage after the gazillion invocations given by Christians. Like I said, to the gallows with anyone who's different!"
Guess what Dbag, I firmly believe in the separation of Church and State. If they had Rev. Jerry Johnston, Gone Mild on behalf of Rich-itation Catholic Church or Mitt Romney preaching to a bunch of Japanese tourists I would be equally angry.
My beef with this is that there were so many other options to better represent our city. Given the importance of the trip, I hardly believe that the Mayor or his counsel had no knowledge of this. However, I did say that "If they didn't then someone on the staff should be fired."
I voted for this guy but it wasnt to walk around like a dumbass and hire a bunch of know nothings (which includes his wife). So I have a right to be angry about this and you have a right to f off since your arguement that I am some psycho Christian doesn't fly.
P.S. I've walked through Administration Offices in a lot more City Halls in this country than you. So Maybe you should take your trip through a real one, and while you are at it take this Mayor and his staff.
You're a fucking idiot and have no idea how many city halls I've walked through. YOU are the know-nothing.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, y'all are a bunch of insecure freaks who've probably never left Kansas City if you think that a bunch of Japanese tourists got (ooohhh) a bad impression of Kansas City because of a silly little invocation at city hall. Yes, jazz would have been better but I highly doubt the Japanese guests really thought much of it, given that a religion that involved mutiple gods and earth sacredness is a big part of their culture (and probably, public life.) get OVER it already.
Completely wrong on this one Tony. The mayor is showing that he isn't going to favor one religion over the next and I applaud him for it.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you want him show negative feelings toward a perfectly valid and legal religion says more about you.
I can't think of a better reason to do away with the invocation all together.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:34 I agree with Basketball Jones 100% and I have lived and participated in politics in multiple countries. If we have anyone walking our City Hall who types "ya'll" we have a lot more problems than I thought. Great post Tony.
ReplyDeleteSo why hasn't this story shown up on the news?
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with your position on immigration Tony. I think you need to rethink that idea and realize that this is a nation of laws and we need to control and protect our borders.
ReplyDeleteBut you have a point when it comes to this. This isn't about freedom of religion as some people in your comments have said. It's about the Mayor endorsing a belief that most people around Kansas City don't take kindly to and I think that Mayor and his people know they are in the wrong. It may not have been something he had direct knowledge of but I don't want my mayor introducing members of the occult.
Just wanted to point your attention to this.
http://funksfrontporch.typepad.com/index/2007/08/newsletter.html
The Mayor's wife signed her newsletter this week:
"In faith"
I only wonder what faith she's talking about. It's not mine or the majority of people in Kansas City.
Having a lot of luck beating that dead horse Tony?
ReplyDeleteThis blog is one of the worst representations of Kansas City on the Internet. You should seriously change the name and keep your bigoted opinions to yourself.
ReplyDeleteWitch way is up?
ReplyDeleteFunny thing...
ReplyDeleteI know the "witch." She is a good friend of mine. A wonderful person, an educated woman, and above your ignorant stone throwing.
The woman you're talking about is a good and loyal friend, a loving and charitable person, and never EVER would she say such things about another human being as you have about her. Hang your head, sir. May YOUR god bless our mayer for being wise enough to see the facets of our community aren't all Christian in nature.
ReplyDeleteAlso your use of the word "occult" is inaccurate. It implies a Satanic influence, and pagans don't believe in Satan, nor are they influenced by evil. I recommend you educate your ignorant ass. Like it or not, we are here, and there are many, many of us. I wish you happiness and love, and I bet that pisses you off.
Unfortunately to the reading public, sarcasm is very difficult to convey.
ReplyDeleteSurely this post is purely sarcasm, I am from the South, in Louisiana, and I find it difficult to believe that there are still people in the world (especially within a religion that teaches love for all mankind) who teach hatred and bigotry against another person... period.
Study your history... even in the bible... Enoch practiced magic... so did Moses, and Aaron, and all the other sons. Study your own holy book, and you will see the truth of the matter.
I have been pagan/Wiccan for almost 20 years - since I stepped out of the Christian church. I have many friends who are Christian, and they respect my beliefs... because I truly teach love.
I will gladly take teaming up with a Wiccan over the illegal mexicans or mexicans of illegal decent any day. You talk about the Latino community. You mean the ones who have destroyed our healthcare system, the ones who brought down the housing market, the ones who hold 1/3 of our jails. Are you talking about this Latino community? Screw you putz. Take you man boobs somewhere else. Pack you bags and leave this city since it's so terrible you A$$
ReplyDelete