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Rebecca Cook / Reuters file
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick gets into a vehicle in front of the federal courthouse in Detroit on Feb. 12.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted Monday of a raft of federal corruption charges, a verdict that all but ensures a return to prison for a man once considered a rising political star.
Jurors found Kilpatrick guilty of 24 criminal counts, including racketeering, extortion and bribery, after a trial in which prosecutors said he presided over a breathtaking profit machine that turned City Hall into “Kilpatrick Incorporated.”
The racketeering count alone carries up to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors said that Kilpatrick, 42, steered $83 million in city work to a friend and contractor, Bobby Ferguson, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks. Jurors also returned guilty verdicts Monday against Ferguson and against Kilpatrick’s father.
A fundraiser also testified that she gave Kilpatrick a $200,000 personal cut of his political donations and pulled cash from her bra during private meetings.
Kilpatrick, a Democrat, was just 31 when he was elected mayor in 2001. His tenure was scarred by allegations of cronyism, nepotism and out-of-control spending, coinciding with the continued decline of the city itself.
Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in 2008 for lying in a civil trial during which he denied having an affair with his former chief of staff and plotting with her to fire the deputy police chief.
He resigned and spent three months in jail. He later spent more than a year behind bars for violating probation.
The former mayor was found not guilty of three charges, and jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict on three more. Kilpatrick appeared surprised as the verdict was read. He did not speak to reporters as he left court.
Detroit’s current mayor, Dave Bing, said in a statement that “we can finally put this negative chapter in Detroit’s history behind us.” He called for a renewed commitment to transparency and ethics in city government.
Ferguson, who owned an excavating company, was convicted of racketeering. Kilpatrick’s father, Bernard, was convicted of submitting a false tax return.
A judge set a hearing later Monday to determine whether Kilpatrick would be detained immediately or whether he would be released until he is sentenced.
Kilpatrick’s lawyer told jurors that Kilpatrick never extorted anyone and that he only helped Ferguson win city business because he knew Ferguson would hire people who live in Detroit.
Defense lawyers also argued that the government’s witnesses lied to win favor with prosecutors in their own corruption cases.
Prosecutors said Kilpatrick abused a nonprofit fund that he created to help distressed people in Detroit. Evidence at trial showed that he used it to pay for yoga lessons, golf clubs and camp for his kids.
This story was originally published on Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:00 AM EDT
Leave a Comment:
Corruption in Detroit???? How is that possible? They are all Democrats. It is not corruption it is the norm.
It's easy to see why Detroit is in the financial tank. Talk about mismanagement at all levels. The American people are now more enamored by personality and style than by competence. We elect leaders at all levels who promise great things and wow us with their style, but either aren't honest or have no real management skills (or both).
Detroit is like a 3rd world African nation in USA: Government Corruption. Crime. Poverty. Jobless. Decay. Socialism.
Kilpatrick sounds like the future of the Democrat Party!
Clinton/Kilpatrick '16
"Kilpatrick was considered a rising Democratic star when he was elected in 2001, but his tenure was scarred by allegations of cronyism, nepotism and out-of-control spending."
Sounds like Barry v2.0
You people disgust me, this city has been run into the ground, people die everyday because there is no fire or police for the people, pensions will never be paid to god damn americans who worked their whole lives for this?!? stop this lame dem vs repub arguing. get over it you loser!!
Timmy down boy, I hate to tell you this, but like every city in this country for about the last 50 years. There have been no Republicks in sight. Every major or minor city for that matter has been run by the Dumbocrats, so anything that has gone wrong is the fault of them.
If Obama had a brother...
Oh, big surprise, a corrupt liberal!
A career enhancer if you're a Democrat "See, he is just like one of us".
Understandable: Detroit's not far from Chicago, the great corrupt machine that brought us Obama. Isn't he like 10x richer since he became president? How is that--he only gets a salary, right? Has like $12 million now.
Actually, I'm surprised that there is another dirty black politician. What are the chances of that? Can't the government spend some of their "foolish" money determining whether this is caused by their genetics? Then blacks can claim that it's not their fault. They were born that way.
good old msn. didn't say what party he was from so i knew he was a democrat
WallStFatCat: re: "Detroit is like a 3rd world African nation in USA".
This shouldn't be surprising, since the goal of the powers moving us to a globalized economy is for the USA to become a 3rd world nation. Detroit is just the one of the first to go.
Welll...The Chrysler Commercials do say "Imported from Detroit"
Loads and loads of corrupt Republicans, too!
We all know that. It really doesn't matter the political affiliation of the office holder. It's the temptation of power and the easy availability of corruption factors that do the job.
Unfortunately,Detroit has been under the control of Democratic politicians for decades beginning with Its old Mayor Coleman Young. Decades of being in power allowed the corruption to enter the system and then it became a regular part of running city business. Dennis Archer was the next mayor but stayed and kept the badness out of city business. Kilpatrick was already on the shady side when he got into politics and once he got the job the city's business as usual was there and used in full force by him to take advantage of to the max.
It's happened to republicans too..
I don't see what the problem is...Democrats are all about handouts...He was just cutting out the middle-man
@ WSFatcat
Socialism, Socialism! where the hell do you see socialism. You wouldn't know socialism if if hit you in the a$$.
Detroit is run by a crime syndicate.
Par for the course for a liberal run cesspool with total corruption. Is there a successful city in the country run by democraps?? I doubt it!
Damn and I took the odds that he was innocent, they were 1,000,000,000,000,000 - 1, so pretty good payout
At least now he's a shoe-in for his next run at office.
OBAMA DNA!
I'm trying to figure out what distinguishes this clown from every other American politician at any level, democrat or republican. if we were serious about putting them away, we would have to convert nevada to a statewide prison.
Kilpatrick represents Democrats? Then republicans must be represented by William Frist, Jack Abramoff, Scooter Libby, Tom Delay, Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Philip Giordano, Neal Horsley, Edison Misla Aldarondo, Mayor Philip Giordano, and Gov. George Ryan.
And we need to pray for all of our leaders especially fallen. Motown
OW Poor timmy is going to CRY. Someone please give CRYBABY TIMMY a tissue.
That city has been run CORRUPTLY for YEARS, way before Kilpatrrick decided to Screw over the working people of Detroit. Sorry Timmy, That is the DEMOCRAP way fu ck those that put you in charge.
everyface,
Don't confuse these haters with "fact". They're on a roll - having too much fun!
everyface Detroit has been ruined by Democrat's and Unions. The black sheeple's will learn that race and sklin color shouldn't be a deciding factor when you go to the polls. Look what we got for a President because of the black sheeple didn't care to do their homework before they voted.
Detroit Councilwoman:
Enough said.
Look at how @!$%#ed up Wisconsin was until they got a decent governor. Now they are doing fine!!!
Why does this not surprise me.
The rising number of have nots in this country are responsible for electing these scumbags into office. These people want their welfare and health care entitlements and the scum promise to give it to them, knowing perfectly well what will happen, but don't care after they get theirs. Worse yet many people who could change things don't bother to vote.
Republicans don't have much to be smug about these days. But, like many he has handed out over the years ex-mayor Kilpatrick has given them a gift. Of course, it's easy to forget corruption is a disease which affects, rich, poor, young, old, black, white, Republican and Democrat alike. The Dems will have their chance to crow soon enough, and the Republicans will hang their heads in shame. Although, perhaps I should correct that. When confronted with skulduggery by one of their own, Republicans don't feel any shame. They simply point out that the other side does it too. So, two wrongs always cancel out. Right?
Ya hit the nail on the head Rontron!!!!!!!!!
EVERY I would love to have someone else in charge of Detroit VS Any dumborat. Sure there may be some republicans that are cheaters also. But we see WAY more DUMBORATS that think they can get away with it.
Please tell me why any republican would feel any shame for the DUMBORATS stealing from the American public.
Kwame should run for retiring Senator Carl Levin's Senate seat from prison.
Run Kwame, Run!!
Detroit is typical of what the libs are capable of. More is coming to a city near you.
Too funny.
problem is the Voting rights act that mandates black candidates in predominatly black neighborhoods and hispanic candidates in hispanic neighborhoods etc... And the most damning evidence of all is the fact that these new pols believe that they can continue the fleecing of america, just like the white pols did before them. We need the best candidates for the job, regardless of color or culture. Voting for someone based on familiarity or color is a travesty of the system. And there is no argument to the fact that people are voting for minority candidates because they weren't allowed to in the past. There were no minority candidates in the past to vote for and that makes the argument moot. Voting is a popularity contest nowadays, awarded to the one who can BS the best and fool the un-intelligent into giving them the power to basically get rich of the american taxpayer.
It appears that Feisty, the fat redheaded pork rind eating pig is staying away from this story.
heeeere Feisty, Feisty, Feisty... come on kitty!!
Yup... another no show...
Ray Nagin is next. stopfreeloaders and Back East you all forgot pigotry...
LOL!!! No surprise here! And anyone want to bet when he gets out in 15-16 years...he is only free for about a year before he is embroiled in ANOTHER crooked scheme that sends him BACK to prison again?
And for you Donkey Party members squawking about how Republicans are just as bad. Not even CLOSE! Are there some? Yep...and unlike the Donkeys, we flush them and they don't get to come back in some other form. But you guys? Just bring 'em back again and again! (Marion Berry anyone? LOL!!!)
There have been much Much MUCH larger numbers of Donkey Party members sent to prison over the last 100 years than Republicans. Chicago, and Louisiana alone have sent huge numbers of Donkeys to prison. So...accept the facts...the corruption of politics is well embedded in the party of the Mule!
Yep, that proves it Republicans are better crooks because they don't get caught like this MORON .... LOL
HAHA..Sam you're an idiot.
This is really a shocker to hear this.
@Rachel, our president is also a best selling author. Best selling authors get paid for their work, usually a lot of money. Is it ok with you that he earns additional income?
Axel Foley must have been on the jury.
Detroit is a cesspool of corruption, and has been for a long time. The last republican mayor of Detroit went to prison too. It's going to take more than a mayor to fix this city. Maybe the motor city madman, Ted Nuggent would like to take a shot at running it. He seems to have all the answers for everything else.
o.k., this will proably be collapsed;
the large city's that are now controlled by the minority population; the politicians must keep the welfare money on a roll, or else they are out; look at New Orleans( if a white politician would say this is going to be a vanilla city, they would crucify him), look at Bell city Calif., loaded up the city workers with Janitors making 150 k per year, East St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, the list goes on; in order to keep their group in power, blame everyone else for everything, but shovel the money out the door to keep the welfare voters on your side, a very sad state of affairs.
I left Detroit in the white flight in 1980, but my nativist heart actually feels for those people still trapped inside a corrupt city with no chance of escape.
But then, the last 5 Black mayors of the city have been democratically elected by its citizens - so how badly should one feel? If you make your bed you should [expect to] lay in it.
@Rachel.....true but that would go for ALL politicians! Would be interesting to see how much wealth is accumulated by politicians AFTER they get elected as well as the source.
Tim Luc Geissler... #1.5
So here is the reality...instead of making Detroit some victim of circumstance let's hold Detroit, like Chicago and like DC and like any other bastion of corrupt pay to play Democratic leadership...Detroit has reaped the benefits of the criminals that they put in power...as is evidenced by the decay and corruption that their elected officials are guilty of..."what is in it from me", say the Unions, "What's in it for me" say the gang members, "what's in it for me" say those in city government.
The people of Detroit are not victims, they are just as culpable as the criminals they elect.
Hey tim, didn't they re-elect him after coming out of prison for corruption or am I reading it wrong?
Saxon: remember when only white men were in charge everywhere? Some of them were corrupt and their actions were always part of holding minorities down. The promise was when we get women and minorities in power it would be a better world because only piggish bigoted white guys were capable of doing wrong. Minorities should be flourishing now. Particularly in Detroit which has had many, many all Black Administrations. So how does one explain Kwame ? How does one explain the University he graduated from, FAMU ? How does one explain the woman CEO of Yahoo ? IF she were a white guy all we'd read is how he was tramping all over Mom's working at home. But she is a working Mom herself so the conversation sticks to the business reasons for her decision - as it should be. But a white guy and you never would have read the first word about a business decision - it would have been all about hate and tramping on people. So I am glad women and minorities are in charge now. Some of it IS business and some of it is stupidity and corruption. And it's all on display ! So congrats to Yahoo and put Kwame in prison next to Blogovich. They can tell each other how they were wronged.
Strange how Bush and Cheney did exact same thing but with 100's of billions of dollars and they're republican heros.
What did they do that was "exactly the same thing"? Please be specific.
Isn't that all that you and every lefty has done here? What does hypocrisy mean again?
Wow is that the new spin from the stupid? Name time anyone has called Bush or Cheney a hero, you liar.
Must be a link on the Drudge.. the angry republicans are out in force LOL
Sorry, goosestepper, but MSN can't make their articles Stupid Proof.
In plain English from the article:
"Kilpatrick, a Democrat, was just 31 when he was elected mayor in 2001. "
Duh
Detroit & corruption go together like birds of a feather lmao!
@unrealistic woman - President Stinky (bo) is a best selling author because he's the president. Have you read about his dog eating? His bullying of girls? His drug use? His books are trash, written by garbage.
It's fine that he earned "extra" money. How many jobs were created or saved because of the money he "earned"? Compare that to 10 million of Mitt Romney's wealth. Keep in mind that when Stinks refers to "paying fair share", he excludes himself and his cronies. What "shared sacrifice" has been made by Stinky and his family?
Idiot.
@Steve - "The Audacity of Hope" was a best seller before he became president. It probably sold more copies after he became president. And no I haven't read anything about dog eating, drug use or bullying, can you please tell me where I can find that information? Thanks
In Dreams of My Father, Obama did talk about eating dog meat as a child in Indonesia. He also was frank about trying cocaine in his youth. I don't think you'll find cocaine or dog meat on the White House menu today.
I'll bet my bottom dollar that the majority of posters crying "Liberalism" are completely unaware that the name is associated with FREEDOM! But in this day & age I guess the truth does not matter. Also amazing how quick supporters of both parties are to condemn each other rather than the "criminal" who perpetrated the crime. Until people in this country STOP blaming one another it stands little chance of recovery.
But getting back to Liberal here's a quick definition:
"tolerant of his opponent's opinions"
Today's liberals have twisted and contorted the true meaning of that word, just as they have so many other words, that it no longer has anything in common to it's original definition. True liberals hate that truth, but it is true none-the-less.
"... and pulled cash from her bra..."
The perfect date.
Oh my my how the "liberal" bashers have come out of the wood work for this article. If anyone thought racism wasn't a factor in the last 2 presidential elections, this thread is great proof to the contrary.
A punk thief/criminal is just that - - does not apply to any race - - YOU must be the racist!!!
YEs, cheetah: The congressman in New Orleans kept his in his freezer !!
This man is a criminal and continues to keep getting away with stuff....I hope they put him away for a very long time...and YES I'm a Michigander!!!!!
Not a chance that they will find him guilty. Three weeks of deliberation means they have nullified the jury. No bailout for this morally and fiscally bankrupt city.
Wrong! Bam! Convicted "A jury has convicted former Detroit mayor and current Grand Prairie resident Kwame Kilpatrick on corruption charges after a five-month trial that portrayed him as a greedy politician who took bribes, fixed contracts and lived far beyond his salary." Suhweet!
Gives me some hope that Justice really doex exist even when you know influential people....
Being a suburban Detroiter, I can't help but wonder what the racial balance is of the jury. Unfortunately, if most are black, he will be definitely be found not guilty - if a good mix of races, then it's anybody's guess....oh, wait! Verdict is in - he's guilty in at least 5 charges right now - must be a good balance of races on the jury!!! Can't believe justice is being served!!! Hooray for the good guys!!
Yes, Jannie. All white juries ALWAYS do the right thing...Guess most of the jurors in this case were white.
I hope he gets at least 80 hours community service AND a $2,500.00 fine.....
/s/
Democratic dream ticket - Jesse Jackson Jr./K. Kilpatrick 2016 - Campaign motto: "Finish the job".
pgulrich dream ticket, Anne Coulter/Ted Nugent 2016...See what I did there? Now ask me if I think I am clever. Loser.
I lean Democrat and I want this guy thrown in jail for a long time.
(And it's just that easy to contradict the posts of a thousand righties with one short sentence!)
Ferguson got off because of an A-A female plant. They will ALL go free because its too easy to plant an "A-A can no wrong" on a jury in Detroit. Just to bad.
A-A? Afrikans Anonymous?
Huh?
LGS...
If you're going to use race to justify your response, don't be such a pussy and just say it.
As a resident of Detroit I am very tired of hearing about Kilpatrick. Replace one corrupt administration with the next. Detroit's problems are much deeper than the mayor.
I include that quote for the people who usually complain about NBC not reporting that a politician is a Democrat. They also included a picture that shows his dark complexion. So I guess we shouldn't see too many comments about that either.
Actually I commend MSNBC for doing that. It really is a true shocker to see them show both his race and his party affiliation given that he is "black" and a "Democrat".
A. If it was a republican mayor you would blame the mayor.
B. So what, they got it right in one story finally. The issue is so bad with this site that you even noticed it.
Rob, saying democrat after black would be redundant
hahahahahaha good point
@link, it must be nice to have God living among us. Only He/She would know what the party affiliation is of all black people. You and those uninformed people that voted you up need to learn something before you make such asinine statements. SMH
Looking at the last presidential voting statistics shows Link has a 95-98% chance of being absolutely correct...I'll take them odds any day!
But they also included pictures of trayvon martin when he was 10 years old and looked like he might have been 4'7" and showed pictures of zimmerman with his olive complexion and hsipanic facial features and keep calling him white because one parent was white. obama has a white parent also but they refer to him as black. Point being that msnbc has a habit of slanting stories and omitting identifying democrats but pointedly identifying republicans, removing photos of blacks that had any negative connotation.
Kwame Kilpatrick did what was expected of him! No diatribe about how wealthy the War in Iraq made Dick Cheney?! He is still a major stockholder in Bechtel who of major supply contract with the Military for their overseas operations, not to mention their oil drilling operations. He even made up information to insure that we went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. There was no conflict of interest there! The dishonesty is not limited to one party or race. Give it a rest! The saddest part of this story is that economic development in Cities and urban area is not happening here. If you want to read about the redevelopment of a city, you will read about Mumbai or Shanghai. Urban planning is not happening in Detroit, Newark or Cleveland. American cities are being left to die.
I'm going to guess guilty. We'll know shortly. There certainly are no shortage of corrupt politicians in Detroit. Hope he gets a nice long jail term. They need to clean up the rest of Detroit's corrupt political system..
LOL Not just Detroit!
This guy was just doing what all people in government do. Being in government is like winning the lottery. The higher you are the bigger the jackpot. And everyone just looks the other way unless like this guy who got to greedy.
Ah yes, american political corruption. My question is:
How many other mayors of major cities are indulging themselves and have NOT been caught ?
Can an merican politician run for office without EXPlICITLY getting the nod from the israeli lobby ?
Have we as people become economic slaves to the zionist system that NORMALIZES this kind of behavior? In other words, are we all so hungry for money that most of us will be corrupt when handed some by our zionist political overlords ?
and finally, are there any decent honest americans left or are we all corrupt and power hungry (just like cops are these days)?
The answers are reflections on ourselves. Don't ask if you don't wanna know the answer !!!
Seriously conrad? Now his corruption is due to the Jews? Sheeze, get a clue...
Conrad - do you have voices in your head??
Zeig Heil Conrad. Stupid must be your middle name.
Is that Conrad or COMRADE???
loooooooooooool con-rad
OK Conrad may of had some drastic questions. But I find the one that you IDIOTS forgot to answer is How many other do it and have NOT been caught yet.
Kilpatrick was considered a rising Democratic star when he was elected in 2001....
Jessy Jackson Jr. was considered a rising Democratic star when he was elected too...
These are the stars who got caught. Just think of the ones that didn't get caught. Where are they now?
and the Republican Party ones too. Party affiliation and corruption seem to have no common grounds. I really wish my party would clean up its act so people do not blindly vote Democrat.
What I can't beleive is how anti black the Dumbocrat party is. With all the stealing that goes on in this party, how is it that only 2 black guys get busted? Can you imagine what is going on in Chicago, Philly, NYC, and all they can do is bust 2 black guys.
They have locked up in prison, the last 6-8 Governor's of Illinois, which were all white. The last was Blagojevich, who was getting kickbacks, and even tried to sell Obama's Senator seat. Definitely white. And a Republican.
In the White House.
Grape, ... Blago is NOT a Republican. He is a corrupt Democrat!!
Sorry BP Blogo was a DEM.
My biggest question is; Be they Democrat, Republican or Independent, why do we keep voting them in?
There doesn't seem to be much of down side for these guys. Few get prosecuted, most make gobs of money. And they all constantly get voted back into office. Sometimes even after being convicted.
Hilarious BP: he was white, must be republican? hahaha, the posts today are double classic.
BP the Grape,
I honestly wonder if you are just misinformed or if you're just so vehemently against Republicans that you will state falsely to make your point. (*CNN.com now noting Blago's Democratic affiliation)
I do not believe that any intelligent person would deny the culpability of elected officials from both sides of the aisle. As to whether the D or R designation holds the lead in such a contest is, to my mind, less important than our need to elect honest people in the first place!
And, before you go off on "honest," I speak of someone who has a basic moral compass. I am NOT speaking of someone who has never told a lie, swiped a candy bar, and who can resist the political machinery once they are elected. A tough proposition, but because I still believe in the goodness of mankind, if we all voted for the good of the nation, and not the good of our district, this could actually happen. Term limits would work, but the American voters' mantra is "throw all the bums out, except mine!"
The jurors have an answer and that answer is....well uh, huh well were not going to tell you.
I'm shocked !!
I'm shocked and amazed!
Same as "pro" sports!! This guy is just another thug gone...should be fireworks
The sad part is this. If he gets out of prison in 20 years...the people of Detroit will re-elect him. They dont care what his policies are, his behaviors, his past, nor his actions. They vote for him for one reason and one reason only!! I need not say why.
Why is every city that is run by liberal and Democrat minority mayors a complete waste land? Look at Camden, NJ. Every mayor since 1981 has been a minority (black and hispanic) and 3 of them were arrested for corruption. Camden, NJ is also a waste land.
Are we seeing a trend here?
Nyer here and the answer is tax, spend, hire tons of lack of public service workers pay them phat stacks of cash and benefits. Load the peeps up with all kinds of welfare gifts, watch business move out first then the white middle class. And you are left with NYC, Patterson NJ, Bridgeport Ct, Philly, Detroit the list is end less.
no doubt!
I wonder when the black community will wake up to these so called leaders. It's not the white man anymore. It's your own people that are killing your world.
No stymie222 they will not, the inner city peeps could care less who is in charge. As long as the freebees keep flowing, they could be green and from Mars.
Ok let me get this straight, there are NO corrupt white politicians?????? None????? I'm not making this about race. I'm just asking you two geniuses a very simple question, since you made such matter-of-fact statements.
Be Realistic, Woman. The percentage of crooked negro politicians is MUCH higher than white politicians. Just like criminals in general, welfare recipienets, etc, etc. Is is an inconvenient truth that the negro culture condones taking, whether legal or not. Tell us how many strong, viable negro African cities and countries there are. Even the once-proud and civil South Africa has fallen into crime, decay and destruction since it was handed over to the negroes. Just sayin'... gimme my obamaphone!!
@catlover, give me a credible source that confirms what you just posted. And step into 2013, you sound like you still live on the plantation.
Just look around UnRealistic, just look around. I love how you libtards always try to shut down comments that don't fit your libtard agenda. If you don't insult and call us names, you demand "proof" for the obvious. Hey, I have an idea! YOU show PROOF that I am wrong. Can't find any? Hmm... Stoopid libtard sheep. obaa-baa-ma gimme my obamaphone!!
Can't convict on 2 counts, another inner city jury, can you imagine how dumb they are. Just send him on his way. Detroit and all major cities with Dumbocrat mayors, and all those lack of public service workers deserve just what they get. And anyway it isn't their money to begin with, they could care less, as long as the welfare milk doesn't stop flowing they could care less what Detroit has become. That is why they continue to vote for the Dumbocrats.
I guess he will be hanging with all his cousins now... sounds like a family reunion is next.
It's just so cold there.
WWRWS? What would Rev. Wright say?
"America's chickens....coming home.....to roost?
"A rising star in the Democratic Pary? Yup, just like the black congressman from New Orleans who kept bribery cash in his freezer and JJJ (Jesse Jackson Jr.) - the Soul Train Batman with his fur cape!
Karma is a bitch, but today she is my friend.
Many of you seem not to be able to read. He was convicted on the racketeering conspiracy charge and several others. Is it because that doesn't fit your preconceived racist, jingoistic assumptions that you didn'e even read the first sentence accurately? By the way... I DID NOT bring up the race card. Several idiots before me did when discussing the makeup of the jury (also for your information... 8 women, 4 men; racially balanced)... sorry to disappoint you.
It looks like the story was updated with the news of the verdict, probably after some of those posts were made.
Most, if not all, of the comments to which you refer where posted before the verdict was in. The article was updated with the verdict after it came out at around 10:30. Any comment postulating a not-guilty verdict posted before 10:30 wasn’t for lack of reading comprehension.
I will not, however, defend any of the rationale for the assumptions on a verdict.
Good bye detriot....hello D.C.
How come I never see Fiesty comment on stories like this?
Feisty only commentss when she can spew her venom. When it comes to discussing facts, well she's got nothing. Just like a liberal
That's because Feisty... Can't Understand Normal Thinking...
I think she gets her roots retouched on Monday.
That way nobody knows she's really blonde.
How do you say, I'm shocked, in Ebonics?
Canon,
Refer to old reruns of "Amos and Andy" or some other (embarrassingly inappropriate) production if you really want to know.
I be shocked - aww yea foo!
If you want to see embarrassingly inappropriate programing I suggest you turn on the BET channel.
Canon, no argument there.
wa u takin bout willis?
wtf man
@canon what's inappropriate on BET? And don't say everything. Give some specifics since you seem to know.
the fact that its called the BET channel, thats racist against white poeple. I can play that card too!
Realistic woman,
Perhaps you should read this article and it will explain all.
http://www.blackbluedog.com/2012/10/uncategorized/bets-president-explains-why-she-doesnt-offer-more-positive-programming/
@canon, you do know that BET is no longer owned by a black man? He sold it to Viacom, making him a billionaire, so who's responsible for this programming?
@makessense, I guess Lifetime, television for women, is sexist against men. You can play whatever card you like, honey.
Realistic,
This is who decides. And yes she is Black.
Debra L. Lee, Esq. (born 1955, in Fort Jackson, South Carolina) is an American businesswoman. Currently, she is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET, the parent company for Black Entertainment Television. She is the mother of two. Lee has sat on the board of directors for a number of companies/organizations, including the National Cable & Telecommunications Association the Ad Council, and the National Cable Television Association.
So you did some research on BET? You must really like the network. And she is NOT the one decider of what gets aired. If you think that one person is responsible for an entire network, I have a bridge that might interest you for a great price.
Obviously you are biased towards the network. I get it.
Please enjoy you mindless, cultural cesspool of a station.
And as your network stars would say;
Peace out, my n!&$r.
Comments are getting better. Any "Jersey Shore stereotypes fake italians" cards? Go fish?
BY the way BET: 12 hours of Roots on Christmas Day?!?! SMH.
good day for the people of detroit to finally get this barnacle off their ass. i would like to have seen his entire family go to prison. they helped destroy detroit since day one. maybe irs can pick up the rest of them in the future.
oh he's fine. He will get a slap on the wrist!
Understandable: Detroit's not far from Chicago, the great corrupt machine that brought us Obama. Isn't he like 10x richer since he became president? How is that--he only gets a salary, right? Has like $12 million now.
Documentation please.
What a surprise. I'm sure the good voters of Detroit researched him carefully, and voted for him solely on the merits of his political positions.
Hah!
Just another black gang banger that happened to make the mayors office...send him to illinois, he can a$$ fu_— young jesse and the rest of Illinois politicians...