At long last, the soon-to-be erstwhile Democratic mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, pleaded guilty and will resign as mayor. The Detroit Free Press reports all of the salacious details--except the singular detail that Kilpatrick is a Democrat.
In a courtroom this morning, Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstructing justice by committing perjury. He will spend four months in jail, pay up to $1 million in restitution, and serve five years' probation. [...]
Story Continues Below Ad ↓The deals also call for Kilpatrick to turn over his state pension to the City of Detroit, which paid $8.4 million to settle two whistle-blower lawsuits three former cops filed against the city. [...]
In a rushed monotone, before a standing-room only audience, Kilpatrick told Wayne Circuit Judge David Groner: "I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit ... I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury, to impede and obstruct the disposition of justice."
NewsBusters writer Tom Blumer chronicled the New York Times's inability to name Kilpatrick's party, but the NYT & Free Press aren't alone in their decision to keep Kwame's party out of the ongoing scandal. CNN's report on the case also fails to note Kilpatrick's party affiliation. In describing Governor Jennifer Granholm's foot-dragging inability to act on the Detroit city council's recommendation that she remove Kilpatrick, CNN failed to point out that she, too, is a Democrat. What's this? A Democrat failing to remove another Democrat from office? Good thing prosecutors did their job so Granholm wasn't forced to do hers.
Instead, they quoted her seemingly waxing nostalgic over the loss of Kilpatrick to scandal.
"Today, this sad but historic story is coming to an end," Granholm said.
"It's very important for us as a state and as a city to turn this page together. There is much work to do. It is my profound hope that we can now write a new history for this great but embattled city."
The governor had been trying to determine whether to use her constitutional power to dismiss the mayor.
Someday, maybe, when reporting scandals, the media will acknowledge the party affiliation of everyone, and not just Republicans.
(h/t: John Cook & Andrew Rosengard)
—Jacob S. Lybbert is an editorial associate at NewsBusters.
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Comments Policy
Don't Need A "D" In Michigan
September 4, 2008 - 15:27 ET by NoMoreClintonsI'm sincerely hoping that the antics if this racist buffoon will open the eyes of the people of Michigan and swing it to McCain/Palin. It can't hurt, that's for sure. I think the people in Michigan who have been paying attention know which party he represents.
Of course the party
September 4, 2008 - 15:34 ET by bigtimerOf course the party affiliation isn't going to be mentioned, when it didn't happen at all...poof...he's just magically gone...kinda' like what is going to happen to Granholm on down the road...another democrat.
Let's see...hmmm...now if this was a repub Mayor, with same problems...say someone like Palin albeit small town Wasilla, would her party affiliation be named by the press....
This whole scandal was down-played so bad in the press it hurt.
Where's Jefferson...what's up with him...silence of course.
Jefferson...democrat.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
"Someday, maybe, when
September 4, 2008 - 15:38 ET by bradbenj5952"Someday, maybe, when reporting scandals, the media will acknowledge the party affiliation of everyone, and not just Republicans."
Holding breath is not recommended. You will suffocate!
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
No Mystery Here
September 4, 2008 - 15:44 ET by SemperrightMost of the time I agree about the bias but I don't think all the other Republicans named Kwame are worried that they may be confused with the Mayor of Murdertown.
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference.
The MARINES don't have that problem."
President Ronald Reagan - 1985
AOL News
September 4, 2008 - 16:11 ET by Kenny BunkportAol news page gets around to mentioning he's a Democrat in the sixth paragraph below the photo album link, requiring the viewer to scroll the story before the D word appears. Not a single one of the nine photo captions refers to his party affiliation. Maybe because he's Black and the mayor of Detroit, we are supposed to know he's a Democrat?
http://news.aol.com/article/detroit-mayor-to-resign-in-plea-deal/154819?icid=200100397x1208679623x1200492246
Also missing from this story is "How is this scandal going to affect the Obama campaign and Democrats in November?". The impact on McCain and Republicans would certainly be mentioned if he were the Republican mayor of a major city.
A gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone.
Da Hip Hop Mayor
September 4, 2008 - 16:15 ET by jefflebowskiDa hip hop mayor is going to jail...where all hip hoppers eventually end up!
Why am I not surprised??
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Mayor of Murdertown
September 4, 2008 - 16:21 ET by SemperrightHe's still got more experience than Barrack
Maybe the dems will run him in 8 years. 4 with good behavior.
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference.
The MARINES don't have that problem."
President Ronald Reagan - 1985
he's been lying?
September 4, 2008 - 16:35 ET by soosanhis mother must be so proud.
label
September 4, 2008 - 16:49 ET by right of wayi just saw this story from another outlet that drudge linked, and like all of the stories writen about kilpatrick, there's no mention of his democratic affiliation. i also heard, (but can't confirm where) that obama endorsed this pos. go figure.
This man could be the next
September 4, 2008 - 17:08 ET by AntiMediaThis man could be the next great Community Organizer.
As A Native Son of Southeastern Michigan...
September 4, 2008 - 17:32 ET by geoff.galeI can only smile. The corruption and the political machine in Detroit and Wayne county government is so deeply ingrained that it seems like 80% of those two governments could resign and you'd still have political machine operatives there.
Barack Hussein Obama, in another sign of his inability to pick friends who would be good for the country, called Kwame Kilpatrick and a great leader. So much for the judgment there Barry.
You can see Obama at the Detroit Economic Club talking up Kilpatrick at:
http://www.youtube.c...
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
www.conservativeboot...
sounds like
September 4, 2008 - 17:35 ET by kdizzydazeKwame has a weak pimphand judging from that hat and that "scammin' on the down low" beard of his.
I don't want my politicians to have "style". I want boring, droll, mercurial leaders who go to work everyday with the well being and freedoms of the citizens of the community, state, and country they SERVE at the forefront of their minds.
----
September 4, 2008 - 20:14 ET by dahliatraversexcept the singular detail that Kilpatrick is a Democrat.
One isolated exception. C-Span has the announcement on their front page and the (D) in the first sentence.
Everyone else should be embarassed.
What's the Big (D) "G"?
September 4, 2008 - 20:58 ET by CrashKwame Kilpatrick, Marion Barry, Bill Campbell, & Coleman Young. All of them corrupt, all of them ran their perspective cities into the ground, all of them Democrats, three of them found guilty. Got MLK? These night-mayorish swines are not exactly the dream he had in mind.
This is happening all over the country as you know.
September 5, 2008 - 09:26 ET by ThalpyThis is happening all over the country as you know. Is Monica Conyers next?
Re Kwame:
September 7, 2008 - 12:03 ET by Tom BlumerThanks for the image credit. I spent countless hours slaving away with paintbursh and palette. (/kidding) Actually, spent a few minutes modifying stuff found elsewhere.
Seriously, thx.