Detroit Mayor Decries Media "Lynch Mob"

In Wake Of Scandals, Kwame Kilpatrick Lashes Out Against Opponents In State Of City Address

(CBS/AP)  Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick lashed out at his opponents and the news media Tuesday night, accusing them of showing a "lynch mob mentality" in the aftermath of the scandal over his exchange of sexually explicit text messages with a former top aide.

It happened as he finished reading the written text released before his State of the City address, which had only a brief allusion to the text-message controversy.

The case has led to a criminal probe of whether Kilpatrick lied under oath when he denied the affair with former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, revealed in numerous text messages.

Kilpatrick, who is black, said he and his family have been subjected to racial slurs, as well as threats.

"In the past three days, I've received more death threats than I have in my entire administration," he said. "I've heard these words before, but I've never heard them said about my wife and children," he continued, his voice rising as he wagged his fingers and gestured with his arms.

"I don't believe that a Nielsen rating is worth the life of my children or your children. This unethical, illegal, lynch mob mentality has to stop."

The angry tone was a sharp contrast to his earlier remarks in what was Kilpatrick's seventh State of the City address Tuesday to what he called a "transformed Detroit."

During the 65-minute address delivered to about 1,500 people, he promoted an economic stimulus package, promised improved public safety and the creation of new jobs.

"In the daily press of events, in the midst of foreclosures, joblessness, Iraq and Afghanistan, presidential politics, hatred and racism, and even the Kwame Kilpatrick roller coaster ride, sometimes we may not see our own time for what it truly is," Kilpatrick said in prepared remarks. "Tonight, we are at the dawn of a new, transformed Detroit."

Although violent crime has dropped, the number of homicides in Detroit in 2007 - 494 - was about the same as that in Los Angeles, even though the L.A. population is four times larger than Detroit's, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Four members of the nine-member Detroit City Council took their customary seats behind him on the stage. Three chose to sit in the audience, and two others did not attend.

"I represent the people and I knew this was the right place to be," said Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, one of the four on the stage.

Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy says she will announce whether to bring perjury charges against Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former top aide sometime during the week of March 24.

Worthy announced her investigation on Jan. 25 after the Detroit Free Press reported on sexually explicit text messages left on Beatty's city-issued pager in 2002 and 2003.

The City Council is expected to consider a resolution next week calling for the mayor to resign.

Kilpatrick again promised not to resign, citing the fighting spirit of residents in the face of 15 percent unemployment, reports the Free Press.

Instead, Kilpatrick called for city leaders to work together.

"President Cockrel, we have much more serious issues affecting our city than whether we attend a speech," Kilpatrick said, addressing Council President Ken Cockrel Jr.

Cockrel chose to sit in the audience. He has been critical of Kilpatrick's role in the text-messaging scandal and a Kilpatrick-approved confidential agreement settling an $8.4 million whistle-blowers' lawsuit brought by three former police officers.

Cockrel would complete the remainder of Kilpatrick's second term in office if the mayor is forced to leave office. He was unsure why Kilpatrick chose to publicly single him out for criticism Tuesday.

"My door is always open. He has my number," Cockrel said following the address. "It was inappropriate, but I have bigger fish to fry. I think we all do."

He and Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel stopped short of saying Kilpatrick played the race card at the end of his address.

"The mayor is under a lot of stress and it's telling," Sheila Cockrel said. "Anyone can certainly appreciate what the impact has been on him and his family."

But the situation Kilpatrick finds himself in is due to choices he made, she added.

"I'm not surprised the mayor has a hard time taking responsibility for his actions," Sheila Cockrel said.

New mayoral Chief of Staff Kandia Milton said Kilpatrick's speech was simply about working with the City Council on issues impacting the city.

"It's about action for the mayor," Milton said. "What you heard was passion, and the mayor has a passion for moving the city forward."

Kilpatrick said future mayors "will remember this as a time when we thought not only about us, but about the future - a time that we put aside divisions and found a new hour of healing and hopefulness in which we joined together to transform the city that we all love."

Kilpatrick and Beatty denied under oath during a whistle-blowers' trial last summer that they had a romantic relationship. The text messages text from 2002 and 2003, released by the Detroit Free Press in January, contradict those statements, leading to a scandal that has embroiled the mayor's office and forced Beatty to step down.

[keithle1]

Hope his wife doesn''t think this is the end of his shenanigans. He''ll lie low for a while then make his move. A man can only say "no" to his p e n i s for so long. Got to get your freak on.

[libsrweak]

cant handle the heat?? stay away from politics..

[libsrweak]

black people are INCAPABLE of commiting anything wrong..BECAUSE THE LIBERAL MASSES CONDITIONED US THAT IT IS SO.

[keithle1]

Black women will forgive ANYTHING a black man does. ANYTHING FROM A TO Z.

[keithle1]

"Kwame.." Please. I love black Americans with African names. Fatso has probably never visited Africa. Got nothing in common with Africans. Get over yourself.

Always have to have a posed photo with the long-suffering wife. He''s going to have to kiss her derriere for 5 years or so. "I have sinned! Please forgive me Jesus! My p e n i s was in charge. Mistakes were made."

Stay out of Detroit. Nothing good going on there.

[westhaven5]

So sad to learn of another Mayor convinced he is above the law and willing to spend millions of tax dollars to prove it as essential programs go without.

[jetlizhan]

this guy doesn''t even merit a comment - surely by now he knows he''s trash without my telling him.

[a1215m]

He is a Democrat.

[a1215m]

So it is all right to use the word "lynch" if you are an African-American, but people of other races are called racist when they use the word. So much for the change that everybody is bringing about in politics. Now free speech is being suppressed under the guise of racism. He got caught. He should resign now.

[thaddiusesq]

I couldn''t agree with you more exCoachKen!!!!

[lochlan-2009]

Their is a solution fr all these crooked sticks. They could try not doing it in the first place.

[antoniof123]

Is he a Democrat or a Republican?

Posted by coffee260 at 10:53 AM : Mar 12, 2008

Who cares get rid of him he is another sick perv.

[extremophil]

You''re just making it harder on yourself, ya freakin hump.

[rushlimpdrug]

Lynch mob?
Now what is he crying about.
Guess his mistress put him up to it.
Bet he "misses" her.

The icing on the cake would have been him holding up a noose when he spoke.

Now that would have been a Kodak moment.

[kailumego1]

Kwame Kilpatrick is an abomination and Detroiters should not excuse his behavior, they should demand his resignation immediately.

[excoachken]

Kwame, Kwame, Kwame. If it is inappropriate for a golf analyst to use such a term in describing a Championship competition, it is certainly even more inappropriate for you to use it to excuse your cowardly denials. Perhaps you could learn something from your fellow public servant-turned *** addict Elliot Spitzer, and FACE UP TO YOUR PUNISHMENT like a man!

[jersupporter]

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick''s use of his security unit to cover up extramarital affairs cost Detroit taxpayers $8.4 million and he plays the Race Card. What a travesty. He is both a coward and another bad example of politicians.

[advanceus]

Where does he get off being high and mighty. He screwed up and got caught. It cost millions of dollars to buy off the cops, Detroit could use that money right now. They should throw him out of office.

[slim1h2o]

Kilpatrick is not the victim here, although I''''m certain he feel like one.

Posted by roger_inkart at 10:19 AM : Mar 12, 2008

I agree,,,with all the hoopla surrounding the "Noose" saga here lately,,,how can he say "Lynch Mob", and have anyone (other than Jessie, and Al) take him seriousely.. He''s just a scum politition that got caught,,no different then Spitzer...

[roger_inkart]

Oh, WHAT a surprise - the race card. Gee, could that be just a desperate and cynical attempt to silence the critics?

What Kilpatrick is doing is shameless. Like a someone who claims rape when none has taken place crying ''racism'' at the drop of a hat undermines legitimate instances of it.

Kilpatrick is not the victim here, although I''m certain he feel like one.