Wow.
Sweet.
And now I have to go smack myself in the head considering that the reasoning of a recent Star editorial calling for Minuteman Frances Semler's removal is pretty sound. Also, their accurate representation of how this appointment went down is pretty impressive. The only thing that I would have (crassly) added is this: Rumor has it that the Mayor's wife was really the one behind this incredibly bad deal and now it's clear that she needs to get out of the Mayor's business not only because no one elected her but also considering that, in addition to the current debacle, Gloria Squitiro had a major role in the Honda Civic sponsorship dust-up as well - She could be single handedly ruining Mayor Funky's career.
Anyway, here is my favorite part of what was written:
Kansas City ought to work on building an image of an enlightened, welcoming area for people of all races and ethnicities. Instead, we’re risking being linked with a fringe group over a board appointment that should never have occurred.I like the Blue Blog's take on this somewhat surprising stance from The Star.
Many well-qualified people applied for the park board. Frances Semler was not among them. She simply got a position on the board as a reward for her work during Funkhouser’s campaign.
Worse, Funkhouser failed to properly research her background and didn’t even know she was a member of a troubling group called the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps.
Then, incredibly, Funkhouser refused to accept Semler’s offer to resign from the park board.
Now two major civil rights organizations are standing up for their principles, saying they won’t patronize a city that honors a member of a group linked to vigilante actions along the country’s southern border.
Illegal immigration is not the issue here. Everyone is concerned about illegal immigration and the host of problems it brings.
The issue with the Minutemen is their insensitive rhetoric and tactics that inflame ethnic tensions.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Forsythe had some great insights on the situation as he noted the Mayor's sly change of language directed toward Semler suggests that he's backing off his previous unequivocal support.
So, maybe the sweet old broad can take a hint.
We'll see . . . But what I've taken from this controversy is that the undue influence of bigoted suburbanites on the inner workings of Kansas City, Missouri is a powerful as ever. It has been SO OBVIOUS that the huge outcry supporting Semler has mainly come from IMMORAL suburbanites who want their political will carried out but don't have a stake in Kansas City Proper and the convention business that the Sprint Center and Electric Avenue desperately need.