ya mean it's NOT whiteys fault??? i am shocked!!!
Posted on 01/30/2008 6:29:47 PM PST by ShadowDancer
Text Of Kwame Kilpatrick's Speech
POSTED: 7:42 pm EST January 30, 2008
UPDATED: 7:57 pm EST January 30, 2008
Mayor Kilpatrick
Good evening, Detroit. I want to start tonight by saying to the citizens of this great city, I’m sorry.
To all of you who have believed in what we have been doing in this city since 2002 … to all of you who have believed in me and my leadership … to all of you who have stuck with me through difficult times … to all of you who have prayed for me … I’m sorry.
For the embarrassment and disappointment the events of the past few days have caused you … For what you, as my supporters, have had to hear when you go to the beauty shop or the barber shop …
For what you had to hear when you were in church this past Sunday from people who know that you have supported me … To those of you who have not always been Kwame Kilpatrick supporters, but who lift up our city, who live in our city, who support this town in various ways … I truly apologize to each of you individually … and to the city as a whole.
Most of all tonight, I want to make a public apology to my entire family, and specifically to the four people who I love the most in this world. First, I want to apologize to my sons, Jelani, Jalil and Jonas.
For the first time in my life I had to have a conversation with my twin 12-year-olds about very grown up things. It was without a doubt the hardest conversation that I’ve ever had in my entire life.
Finally, and most importantly, I want to make a public apology to my wife, Carlita, who I fell in love with when we were 19 years old. We decided to build a family together and we did that.
Our marriage has not been perfect, but it has been great. Now, I have put her in a situation which many couples deal with in the privacy of their homes. But in our case, it is on the front page of the newspaper. This dynamic, strong, caring woman has been forced to go through this very difficult experience because of me. I truly apologize to her.
As many of you know, I am not the type of person who displays my emotions in public. But I have to tell you. . . I’ve felt more emotion in the last week than I have in the last 20 years.
I have truly been hurting. I’ve been hurting because I know that many of you are hurting. And most of all, I’ve been hurting because I know my family is hurting. And I’m responsible for that.
Over the past few days, there has been some speculation about who is in charge of the city.
Make no mistake about it. Since 2002 I’ve been in charge of the city. There have been ups and downs. There have been hills and mountains and valleys. But through it all I remain in charge of the city.
I believe we have built a team here that understands the mission and focus, and the commitment that we must have to serve our citizens. We’ve done some amazing things, but we have a lot of work left to do.
Over the past few days there’s also been a lot of speculation about me resigning from office. Let me be very clear tonight. I would never quit on you. Ever. We’ve got a lot of work to do. And, with your help, I am going to continue to lead this city in getting it done. I am truly blessed and grateful that my wife is beside me tonight to make some personal remarks of her own.
Carlita Kilpatrick
It is very difficult for me to talk to you at this moment, but I want you to know what is on my heart tonight. Like all marriages, ours is not perfect. Like all people, we are not perfect.
But through our commitment to God, my husband and I will get through this. Yes, I am angry, hurt and disappointed, but there is no question that I love my husband. With the help of our Pastor and others, we are having very difficult and very frank discussions to work through some very painful issues.
Most couples who work through problems in their marriage are able to do so privately. Unfortunately, that option is not available to us. Our family has endured the most painful and intrusive week of our lives, our most intimate issues have been laid out for all to see, for all to comment on, and to analyze and dissect.
However, this private matter is between me, my husband and God. We are deeply committed to working through through these problems together as a family. As his wife, I know how committed he is to the City of Detroit.
I'm asking the citizens of this city to be committed to him and our family, and the continued growth of our city as well. And please allow our familythe space and the privacy that is essential to anyone when they work through these very personal issues. Lastly, I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and uplifting words. Thank you.
Mayor Kilpatrick
This has been a very difficult time for my wife and family.
I would ask from this point forward, that if you have to attack someone, attack me.
I would ask that you don’t follow my wife. Don’t film my kids going to school. I ask that you leave them alone.
I am the Mayor. I made the mistake. I’m accountable.
Because there are legal matters pending at this moment, unfortunately I am unable to discuss any of those issues at this time But I do have some personal words I want to share with you tonight. Over the past week, our marriage has been opened up for public view. This has been a situation where, yes, it’s been embarrassing, yes it’s been painful. But through all of that, through the grace of God, we’ve also had a feeling of thankfulness and freedom.
We have committed to moving forward together to make our marriage better and stronger. Last weekend was the first weekend since I took office in January 2002 that I just put everything else aside and focused only on my family. I know people have been wanting to hear from me.
But I needed to do that first. I want to thank the people of Detroit for their patience in allowing us that time. We as a family needed to do that. I told my sons this past weekend that when you make a mistake, you learn from it,you get up, you dust yourself off, and you keep moving forward. Detroit, I am determined that we will keep moving forward. I am determined to continue the tremendous progress we are making in this city. In the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression Detroit, together we have managed to do great things.
We have paved more streets than ever … we have built more new houses than ever … we have balanced our budget and wiped out a $300 million deficit …we have developed 75 buildings downtown large and small … we have built seven new hotels … we have built 3 new rec centers in neighborhoods that had not seen rec centers in 20 years … we are building out our riverfront.
And we are not stopping now. Detroit, please keep praying for our family, for our city, and our continued progress.
God bless you Detroit. I love you.
Hiz honor speaketh.
yeah. everyone knows Detroit ain’t no “great city.” Phooey.
In a church.
That is a real difference between the Rats and us. We don’t put up with criminals as our elected officials. When you violate the public trust, you are gone.
All he really needed to say was:
“At least I ain’t no Ted Kennedy!!”
He’s learned well from the x42...sadness,remorse,tears,the lies,the sneaking,the infidelity. He’ll continue to rise in politics...
Mayor Kilpatrick: “The woman in question is still alive. I am not Ted Kennedy. If you (Democrats) could overlook his transgressions, you can certainly forgive mine. As for the rest of America, F### You!”
He’s still a slimeball, but you’ve got to admit:
that reads like an apology, not one of those silly-assed, “I’m sorry if you’re offended” -type things.
Give him just a little credit.
Then of course boot his sorry ass out of office!
Two words:
Larry Craig.
America’s Most Miserable Cities -
http://www.forbes.com/home/business/2008/01/29/detroit-stockton-flint-biz-cz_kb_0130miserable.html
DemonRats at all levels have perfected the art of the “drive by repentance.” Kwame the Swami is no different.
And we have demanded his resignation.
ya mean it's NOT whiteys fault??? i am shocked!!!
Isn’t Detroit an islamic city under sharia law? He can have a bunch of wives.
You mean there really IS a Detroit?
I’ll be damned!
What a pantload. His toilet of what used to be a city is about to flush and he thinks he still matters.
Yeah, I'm gonna have to pass on that one.
Oh please, he toned down his ear rings on an order of magnitude, did this from ‘his church’ what were you expecting? Foreign policy or economics? ;-)
Yes, in a church. Cause ya know, God has forgiven him and all so why the hell haven’t the rest of us?
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