Kansas City Westside Council Forum: Hot Tamales, Lowriders & Horchata

Finding common ground can be tough for politicos on the campaign trail.

And so tonight we post a tidbit regarding a recent council forum faux pas not to express criticism or self-righteous indignation but merely to provide an interesting case study.

Here's the sitch . . .

The council forum at Guadalupe Center this week earned a collective sigh from patrons when two candidates attempted to connect with the audience by way of foodie and cultural references.

First up . . .

John David DiCapo talked about his work with Jim's Tamales and guessed that there were likely a few tamale connoisseurs in the crowd. 

The reaction was reportedly muted and Westsiders did their best to muffle their groans. 

Quick foodie fact check . . . Local chef extraordinaire Jasper Mirable reminds us that the legendary Jim's Hot Tamales "are not Mexican style tamales, but rather New Orleans style tamales. They are still made with corn masa, but rather than stuffed with meat and wrapped in corn husks they are flavoured with broth and cylindrical in shape."

And then . . . 

LGBT leader Justin Short shared his recent adventures at a local lowrider show and asked the crowd if they had ever tried horchata . . . 

Again, no harm and no foul here . . . The denizens of the crowd are expected to fully recover from their eye-roll strain. 

An objective perspective . . . 

"The comments were tone deaf . . . And basically represent two candidates trying very hard to connect with a community that they obviously don't understand."

And here is where we can actually serve to help political hopefuls venturing out into the growing number of local Latino enclaves . . . 

These neighborhoods have EXACTLY THE SAME CONCERNS as most Kansas City residents; they're frustrated by high crime, worsening infrastructure and unreliable city services.

Don't worry . . . This isn't a rant or even a horrible cultural teaching moment . . . Just another reminder that our council campaigners DON'T HAVE TO TRY SO HARD and should let their community connections come naturally . . . If they have them at all. 

Every American loves tamales, kick-ass cars and drinks with too much sugar . . . Meanwhile, council candidates can stand out by patiently explaining to voters how they can help to navigate city hall policy that is nearly indecipherable to most residents. 

Developing . . .