“I’ve never seen this type of insanity,” said Herenton. “It’s a perversion. It’s perverted behavior. It’s racism. It’s small time thinking. It’s all of that.”Posted on 07/23/2009 12:48:41 PM PDT by SmithL
Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton is still leaving office next week, but not without taking some powerful shots at his critics.
Wearing a “Herenton 2010” shirt and blue jeans, the mayor said this morning that his critics on the City Council and Shelby County Election Commission - who he feels are trying to push him out of office - are “perverted” and racist.
“I’ve never seen this type of insanity,” said Herenton. “It’s a perversion. It’s perverted behavior. It’s racism. It’s small time thinking. It’s all of that.”
Despite Herenton’s wishes, the City Council on Tuesday finalized approval of a resolution recognizing a vacancy in the office of the mayor July 30, and the Election Commission on Wednesday set a date for a special election to replace the fifth-term mayor.
During that meeting election commission chairman Bill Giannini blasted Herenton, saying, “It's just one more side show in this long, puzzling drama that has unfolded over the past three weeks involving the mayor.”
Herenton said Giannini’s comments reminded him of comments racist white people used to make about Civil Rights activists.
“It reminds me of when white Americans said African-Americans were trouble makers because we did not want to be segregated,” said Herenton. “We didn’t want to be discriminated against.”
Herenton, who was busy loading materials from his seventh-floor office into a pick-up truck in the City Hall garage, said that he plans to retire July 30 to work in an investment firm with his son and run for the 9th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Steve Cohen.
Herenton also confirmed that he has leased campaign office space from Belz Enterprises and he said the slogan for the campaign will be “Keeping it Real.”
“We’re keeping it real,” said an energized Herenton. “Keeping it real is the campaign theme.”
Herenton also said he is worried about the large number of candidates emerging to replace him and that citizens have told him they are worried, too.
“They are worried what is going to happen when the Myron Lowerys of the world gain control of the city,” said Herenton. “I think I’ve made this job look easy. Everybody thinks they can do it.”
Just going with what works apparently.
Fact:
Half of every graduating class, graduates at the bottom and these people go into government.
They were lazy in school and hate those that worked hard and use the government to bite back at them.
The Race Card
Don’t leave office without it.
Two points - good and bad
He at least resigned before starting after a new office.
Memphis seems to be on the First 48 show, a lot.
Mr. Mayor,
Why not consider relocating to Detroit? You can run the city without interference from the “perverts and racists”....
hh
Memphis Commercial Appeal was the paper that made public the names of all Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit holders.
The jerk may have let his monumental ego himself into a corner. According to polls taken in Memphis, Steve Cohen beats Herenton in ALL demographics.
BUMP!
The only problem is that Cohen makes Herenton look as Conservative as Jesse Helms.
That is a good point, in this case conservatives in Memphis have no options.
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