Kwame Kilpatrick's scandalous awakening
I have to admit that whenever a political scandal breaks in the news I can't wait to tune in to Jay Leno to see what hilarious cracks he comes up with. Earlier this year we've seen New York Governor Elliot Spitzer resign over revelations he was involved with a prostitution ring. This week Embattled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick plead guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of Justice which results in four months jail time, five years probation and he must pay 1 million dollars in restitution. The charges stem from a civil suite filed by his former body guards claiming they were fired unjustly by Kilpatrick for an internal probe into his personal conduct. One these allegations was an affair with his aid Christine Beatty. The obstruction of justice charges were brought against him for lying under oath about the affair.
I remember thinking to myself when Kilpatrick was first elected that he was too young and immature for that kind of responsibility. Once in office, his arrogance became clearer to me- evidenced by his earring, flashy suits, and his prominence court side at Detroit Pistons basketball games, and a diamond- earring him the nickname "The hip hop mayor". The affair with Beatty was the pinnicle of Kwame's transgressions. There was the alleged wild party at the governors mansion whereby an exotic dancer was reportedly attacked by Kwame's wife Carlita. The dancer, Tamera Green was shot and killed later that same night while sitting in her car with her boyfriend. Kilpatrick was not implicated in the murder. Then there was the nearly $25,000 lease of a Lincoln Navigator for his family using city funds; the alleged misappropriation of funds from his non profit civic fund for a trip to California with his family and baby sitter and he was sued for slander by Detroit police offers after they were accused of harassment after they stopped Beatty for speeding. The affair came to light after sexually explicit text messages were discovered from City issued cell phones.
This brings one of the most irresponsible political careers in recent memory to a tragic end. In my opinion, like many politicians Kwame was not there to serve the people but there to serve his ego. I wonder while he was creeping in and out of hotels with his plaything, giving wild parties at the mansion or riding around in his taxpayer funded SUV, did he once think about his responsibilities to his wife, their three children or the people that elected him. One thing is for certain, he'll have plenty of time to think about them while he's in his cell.
I remember thinking to myself when Kilpatrick was first elected that he was too young and immature for that kind of responsibility. Once in office, his arrogance became clearer to me- evidenced by his earring, flashy suits, and his prominence court side at Detroit Pistons basketball games, and a diamond- earring him the nickname "The hip hop mayor". The affair with Beatty was the pinnicle of Kwame's transgressions. There was the alleged wild party at the governors mansion whereby an exotic dancer was reportedly attacked by Kwame's wife Carlita. The dancer, Tamera Green was shot and killed later that same night while sitting in her car with her boyfriend. Kilpatrick was not implicated in the murder. Then there was the nearly $25,000 lease of a Lincoln Navigator for his family using city funds; the alleged misappropriation of funds from his non profit civic fund for a trip to California with his family and baby sitter and he was sued for slander by Detroit police offers after they were accused of harassment after they stopped Beatty for speeding. The affair came to light after sexually explicit text messages were discovered from City issued cell phones.
This brings one of the most irresponsible political careers in recent memory to a tragic end. In my opinion, like many politicians Kwame was not there to serve the people but there to serve his ego. I wonder while he was creeping in and out of hotels with his plaything, giving wild parties at the mansion or riding around in his taxpayer funded SUV, did he once think about his responsibilities to his wife, their three children or the people that elected him. One thing is for certain, he'll have plenty of time to think about them while he's in his cell.
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