Pimps and Politics

Greetings!

For the last few years I have been following the career of Detroit’s mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. In 2001 at the age of 31, he became the City’s youngest elected mayor. Of course it was hard not to be proud of this accomplishment – a young black man, former football captain, law school graduate, and teacher in the inner city exemplified what could happen to our people if we stayed the course and kept our eyes on the prize.

The “pillar of the community” facade gave way as the Pimp of Wayne County emerged. Within months of his inaugural address, Kilpatrick was called to the carpet for leasing a car on the City’s dime for his family, using the city issued credit card to charge dinners and massages, and the biggest misstep of them all - the bashment at the Manoogian Mansion. Time after time Kilpatrick dodged the political bullet. Despite the murder of one of the “exotic dancers” who was at the fabled party and an approval rating that was plunging by the minute, Kilpatrick bobbed and weaved his way back into a second term.

You would have thought that this would have made him think – WOW!!! – these folks believe in me even when I chose to sow my pimp oats in the public eye and to the detriment of the people of Detroit. But no, that just stoked the fire of Kilpatrick’s arrogance! He then decides to he is going to use the People’s mobile device to text THOUSANDS of messages to his love thing. What got me is the complete indignation and neck rolling that accompanied the outright denial of these allegations. But as we all know – the text don’t lie.

Just when you thought he had enough public humiliation, he REFUSES to step down despite being indicted on several counts alongside his love thing. Last Friday he said that his departure would put Detroit in greater risk. Okay Super Pimp, I am sure that you can save Detroit from its ills while you and your massive “dream team” prepare your legal defense….interesting.

This case slays me. Of course there are countless others: Ray Nagin and his handling of Katrina, William Jefferson and his freezer full or money, and Black politicos refusing to pay taxes and student loans for a myriad of reasons. I introduce you to the Pimp elite – those that have gotten into our state houses, mayor’s mansions, and House of Representatives only to fall squarely in the hands of temptation that we as a people can not afford. Of course, this misconduct makes it harder for those who follow. Just take a look at Senator Obama who has to constantly deflect the bullets of impropriety even when he’s not a part of it!

So I ask Kilpatrick and all those who feel that they are above the law, the taxes, the oath they took when entering in office: please step down so that we can see ourselves to a legitimate political future that is not wracked with the misdeeds of our forefathers and foremothers.

To all my people in PA – make sure you are at the polls bright and early tomorrow!

I would love to hear your thoughts.

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G