I turned 65 on Friday, and we broke out the hats and hooters at our house last night, celebrating well into the night — past 11 o’clock.
The only thing that blemished the party — for me and a few of the guests, anyway — was news that The Star had endorsed Sly James for mayor. (The endorsement editorial that appeared in today’s paper went up online last night.)
I said in a Feb. 26 post that, partly because I had contributed heavily to Mike Burke, I would not attempt to “cover” the race in the traditional journalistic sense, but that I would write about mainstream press coverage of the race.
The Star’s endorsement of James is about as mainstream as it gets. So, what’s up with this endorsement?
First, it obviously hurts Burke and boosts James. The editorial, probably written by Yael Abouhalkah, who has written about City Hall for more than 20 years, casts James as the candidate of “fresh ideas” and Burke as the candidate more familiar with “City Hall’s inner workings.”
OK, there in a nutshell, is the justification. But what’s going on behind the scenes with the seven-member editorial board, which made the decision? Besides Abouhalkah, the board includes publisher Mark Zieman, editorial page editor Miriam Pepper, Matthew Schofield, and columnists E. Thomas McClanahan, Barbara Shelly and Lewis Diuguid.
While I certainly believe the editorial board members worked hard at their decision and tried to come to it based on the pluses and minuses of the two candidates, other factors had to be in play. (I worked at The Star for 36 years and know something about how editorial decisions are made.)
Specifically, I think two factors tilted the board toward James: political correctness and the desire to pick a winner.
Political correctness
Four years ago, the editorial board chose Mark Funkhouser in what turned out to be one of the most ignominious endorsements in Star history. Funkhouser has been a disaster, and Yael and the board were so embarrassed that, a year or so ago, they rescinded the endorsement, and Yael later personally apologized for his ill-fated selection.
Back in ’07, however, The Star didn’t just select Funkhouser. It also passed over a relatively strong black candidate, City Councilman and community icon Alvin Brooks. It was a close race, but Funkhouser won, and he won for one reason: The Kansas City Star.
Once again, this year, The Star was faced with a difficult choice between a black man and a white man. I’ve got to think that The Star — a bastion of liberal thinking (which suits me just fine, by the way) — couldn’t bring itself to oppose another good, black candidate for the second consecutive four-year cycle.
Picking a winner
James started running more than two years ago and spent hundreds of hours developing connections and wooing support from people in various fields of interest. In addition, he proved to be an articulate, engaging candidate. In the primary, he cast himself as an eye- and ear-pleasing anti-Funk — a refreshing contrast to the glowering, sloop-shouldered mayor.
Burke has portrayed himself, justifiably, as the straight-and-steady candidate, the one with the most city-related experience and better prepared to start turning the city around the day he takes office. He says, convincingly, that his learning curve would be much less sharp than James’.
As is often the case, though, charisma is hard to beat. As I have sought out people’s opinions on the contest, a majority of the people I have talked to (those who have an opinion, anyway) say they favor James. Take a look at the yard signs, too, which is usually a good barometer. Again, James has the edge.
James’ populist appeal has not escaped Yael and his fellow board members. They sense that James is the candidate who is playing best on the streets.
Shamed by its selection of Funkhouser, The Star badly needs a winner to get back on track. Collectively, the editorial board members have their finger in the air, and they feel a breeze, propelled by a rush of east-side votes.
Does this mean Burke can’t win? Absolutely not. The race probably will be decided in the Ward Parkway Corridor, which has the highest proportion of registered and frequent voters.
In the corridor, never underestimate a Rockhurst High grad.
That’s Burke.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Sounds like either way we will elect a decent guy and maybe a great mayor. We sure need one.
My friend Mike C. told me he thought Funky was underated because of his success with the budge.
He made a very good case and spent some time explaining his points.
After he was through I said he might be right. Then, I hung up, and even thought he made some good points, all I could think about was Gloria.
I like to think that I am somewhat sophisticated and can see the “big picture”. An eclectic view of Funk’s administration, and the recent comments of my friend should have, to anyone with some smattering of IQ at least shifted the Funk into a more favorable light, especially within 1 minute of a detailed explanation of Funk’s accomplishments. No go.
The visceral disgust (emotional weakness, I know…) that is there everytime I think of Funk and his metaphysical narcissism with respect to his wife overpowers any rational thought.
I told Mike, that right and wrong had nothing to do with Gloria’s presence at City Hall. Funk’s mandate from 9 to 5 was that of the people, and NOT his loyalty to his wife. The guy infuriated me when he would not bend to the political wind that blew through City Hall when he refused to slend his wife home.
Mike admired his loyalty, I hated his intransigence and stupidity in the face of an obvious decision.
Plaxico Burress shot himself in the foot, Funk sawed off his whole leg with a pocket knife and a thousand cuts.
The city spent 4 years watching 127 hours.
I still like Sly. Much needed charisma, in the aftermath of a churlish and unpleasant lacuna.
I think you’re overanalyzing the “political correctness” aspect of the endorsement. And most of us are tired of hearing that phrase in any case.
There is no comparison between James and Brooks, and anyone who thinks that the latter is an “icon” is rather poorly informed.
Government in KCMO is rather badly broken and has been for quite a long time. The Funkhouser era might have made the dysfunction more obvious, but that’s just because the mayor and his wife were not quite as smooth as previous administrations. But the fact is that 12th and Oak doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the residents or businesses in the city and really doesn’t pay much attention to them until election time. There is very little accountability for services that should be a basic part of municipal government (public safety comes to mind), or how well those services are provided. Which is why there is so little satisfaction with city government and such low turnout for elections.
What’s needed is not tinkering aorund the edges by someone who claims to know the inner workings of city government. Knowing how a dysfunctional system “works” is a recipe for doing the same old thing the same old way.
KCMO needs someone with the moxie and the guts to ask brand new questions, not accept “because that’s how we’ve always done it” for an answer, demand accountability and results from both appointed positions and employees, clean out the insiders and consultants who have done very well, thank you very much, by gaming the system from the inside, have some candid discussions with special interest and ethnic groups to help them understand that government is about making things better for everyone, not getting “their share”, and providing some leadership, not just for KCMO, but for the entire metro.
Vote for whomever you want, but those should be some of the criteria, not the “Star’s” endorseement or the analysis of some political arcana.
Okay – this has nothing to do with the post but I’m a little hot right now. What is this about Tony of Tony’s Kansas City hosting a debate for the candidates this weekend? WHY would this man be given this opportunity? Why would the candidates not demand a non-sexist host the debate? Seriously ticked right now. Right now both candidates make me ill. The type of photos on Tony’s blog supports objectification. In light of what happened in Texas to a minor, in light of the violence towards women that Waldo experienced, you would think the candidates would try to get away from this type of person instead of giving him legitimacy by agreeing to this debate. Why, Jim, why?
Stacy — The forum you’re talking about, the Kansas City Hispanic Community Council and Mayoral Forum, is at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Guadalupe Center. Mike Burke’s calendar says that NBC Action news reporter Christina Medina is the moderator. I’ll try to find out if blogger Tony Botello is playing a role. He promoted the forum in his blog today, but he did not say that he was a moderator.
Jim
Thanks, Jim for the info and quick response. According to Sly James’ FB page, Tony is a co-moderator. I left messages both on James’ and Burke’s FB pages questioning why they would give legitimacy to a womanizer. Feelings still stick on this one even if he is a wonderful reporter. Doesn’t change what he posts and what he represents. Because in the same vein, isn’t the Westboro Baptist church awfully good at organizing protests?
Stacy — I think a lot of people, especially women, share your strong feelings about the “type of photos” on Tony’s blog. That said, he has established himself, through hard work and inspiration, as the top blogger in the area and can credibly argue, in my opinion, that he would be a competent moderator of a mayoral forum.
Saturday’s forum at Guadalupe Center is geared to Latino issues, which Tony is intimately familiar with. He participated in at least one forum earlier, on the East Side at Watkins Cultural Center, and acquitted himself well.
Another thing: From what I have read, he has not taken sides (unlike me) in the race. He has written positive and negative things about both candidates. So, I think he brings objectivity and genuine curiosity to the task.
In short, if he is a co-moderator Saturday, I think it’s appropriate, especially given the subject matter.
Jim
Stacy — I just got this e-mail from Tony…
Christina Medina is the Mayoral Moderator . . . KC Hispanic News publisher Joe Arce might help her.
I’ll be asking Council some questions just to get started . . .
But what I’m trying to do is get as many people there so there will be a crowd of people to ask their own questions.
Christina seemed very open to doing like an Oprah-type thing . . . Which is something a bit different than what we’ve seen.
But as far as the Mayoral Candidates go, I won’t be asking any questions.
My role . . . Promoting, trying to organize doing as much publicity as possible and I’ll be one of three panelists for the Council session.
Hope that helps.
However, I wonder . . . What question could I possibly ask that would screw things up?
Peace,
Tony
Jim, thanks for emailing him and posting the reply. Here’s my (respectful as I can make it) reply to Tony:
It’s not what questions you may or may not ask – you may ask wonderful, insightful questions. It’s what your website represents that makes we wonder why any candidate would want your promotion. I know that I am not alone in my reaction to the type of photos you post on your website. It is very difficult to continue reading what you have to say, or to hear what you may be asking when the thoughts that are screaming in my head are, “This is the type of behavior that hurts women. This is the type of behavior that lets men (and women) think that objectification of women is okay.” And then my mind spins to specific instances when women I know and do not know have been hurt. Then I wonder if the men who attacked them viewed pictures like the ones shown on your blog and experienced a disconnect because of the pictures that justified their brutal actions. And I worry about my daughter because so many people do not even realize that what they are looking at is dangerous.
Back on subject (can you tell this issue is important to me?). When my mind spins these things out, I know what I’m doing. I try to stop it so I can focus on the points being made. But, I can’t stop the thought process that occurs after I hear someone who supports the objectification of women open his/her mouth. It’s the Howard Stern effect. I just stop caring what the person has to say and I can’t hear what the responders have to say. And I do try, but it’s just lost. I am not the only woman I know who feels this way. So, the question boils down to: Will the candidates be seen in the same light as your blog if you are one of the promoters?
At this point, it is very hard to separate the candidates from this in my mind and I can’t be the only person who feels this way. This all started with the Central Standard interview this morning if you were wondering where my questions/concerns came from, Jim.
Thanks,
Stacy
Readers — Tony was a guest on KCUR’s Central Standard show, Jabulani Leffall, this morning.
Tony Botello is a major influencer in the community and has a right to participate in forums any way he wants. He’s not any less biased than Yael Abouhalkah at the Star, but might soon be more influential.
Maybe you need to use the “Playboy” excuse of just reading the articles and not looking at the pictures. There’s a lot of good information on his blog.