Posted on 3/12/2005, 12:34:22 PM by Maigrey
'It would have been an honor to welcome the President to the city of Memphis'
Notably absent from the President's talk at the Cannon Center Friday was Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton. And Herenton was not happy about it.
Herenton said he did not receive an official invitation to the event or to welcome Thursday's arrival of Air Force One.
"The mayor of the City of Memphis was not officially invited to greet or welcome the President of our country," Herenton said. "The leadership of the Shelby County Republican Party really disrespected the office of the mayor. It would have been an honor to welcome the President to the city of Memphis."
Instead, Air Force One was greeted Thursday by Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons and state Rep. Tre Hargett, all Republicans, Memphis attorney David Kustoff, statewide chairman of Bush's campaign last year, and Tennessee Air Guard officials.
Officials at the Cannon Center included Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton Jr. and U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., both Democrats.
Herenton said he would not speculate why he was not invited. "I think you need to ask them," he said.
Also absent were Sens. Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander, who were involved with Senate business, according to their spokespeople, and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who missed a late flight Thursday. All are Republicans.
Ironically, some reports in the national press have speculated Bush came to Memphis specifically because of Blackburn, who is viewed as not fully committed to Bush's Social Security plan.
Did you read this?
Could you give us non-Memphians an idea of what Herenton is like? (although being a Dem mayor, I can pretty well guess.)
Did you ever see the blacksploitation flick "Black Caesar"?
Seriously, picture a small-town mayor, not too bright, with children out of wedlock and a lust for power. Imagine the crony-ism and corruption that might go on in a small town with that kind of mayor and then apply it to a city the size of Memphis. My step-dad is a native Memphian and cannot stand King Willie.
Try : " A male Maxine Waters".
Is a picture forming in your mind?
Memphis politics are like a soap opera, in slow motion.
If it would have been an honor to receive President Bush, why didnt Wille vote for him.
The hint that it was a racist exception is strong here. Wille is trying to slip in the race card without being seen.
Whoa -- he sounds even worse than what I was imagining!! I was picturing maybe an entertaining Rufus Thomas-type of figure. Thanks for the all-too-vivid images -- one more Rat mayor to add to the Most Wanted list.
Pictures?
Mike Fleming says that he knows for a fact the Willie was invitied to the speech. Jr. was there. We all know what a liar he he!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They lose all credibilty when they use disrespect or it's variations as a verb
King Willie cannot use the race card. Harold Ford Jr. was there and there was a Black minister on the panel.
He was ano show at Dr. Rogers last day at Bellvue Baptist as well and of course Jr. showed up trying to make us think that he is a viable canidate for the Senate.
I HATE THAT WORD!!!
Has a familiar ring to it. I'm originally from the Philly area -- Mayor Street was in danger of losing his re-election bid UNTIL it became known that he was the target of a corruption investigation -- after that, the voters swung around behind him and he was easily re-elected. Those ignorant masses have a way of showing up in lots of places. That's why we will always have a Democratic Party.
Great to see those guys again!! Andy Brown rules!!
Is that a picture of MEMPHIS's mayor or is it THE ATLANTA POLICE FORCE looking for the shooter?
Verbing wierds English.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.