Here's the hero!
Posted on 03/10/2006 6:24:28 AM PST by macmedic892
Emerging from a 72-hour stay in Orleans Parish Prison on Thursday, embattled Clerk of Criminal District Court Kimberly Williamson Butler compared herself to Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and other civil rights heroes while vowing to press on as both a lame-duck clerk and a candidate for mayor.
The stint in jail solidified her as "the people's candidate," Butler said, particularly among people who have been incarcerated. While in jail, Butler had a cell to herself, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said.
"I represent every person who feels that their voice hasn't been heard, every person who has been incarcerated, right or wrongly," said Butler, dressed in the same red suit jacket and black pants she wore to court on Monday, when deputies hauled her away to jail on a contempt of court charge. "I can rank myself among many heroes: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi and Nelson Mandela."
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Un - be - liev - able ! ! !
AND she's in charge of the elections in New Orleans, which she has already botched once - before Katrina!
"The stint in jail solidified her as "the people's candidate," Butler said.
Can felons vote, though?
Only eight or nine times on election day in many Democratically controlled cities but aftehr that they usually show some restraint.
Since she's in charge of the elections (for now), she could conceivably vote as many times as she wanted.
Affirmative action in action.
Check out the look on the blond's face.
Bump
http://www.ringsidepolitics.com/index.php?pageID=190
GANDHI ON THE BAYOU
March 10, 2006…“I consider myself among many heroes. Heroes like Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, heroes like Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.” Kimberly Williamson Butler March 9, 2006.
Please accept my apology dear readers because after all of these years of covering politics in Louisiana, I became blinded to the sight of true greatness. My human failings such as cynicism and skepticism about typical Louisiana politicians had prevented me from recognizing one of history’s illustrious leaders in my midst, Kimberly Williamson Butler. Forgive me for not realizing such true greatness in our presence.
For the past several years, I have seen Kimberly Williamson Butler in action and even interviewed her, but I did not fully comprehend that she was one of the great heroes of all time. My bad, I am sorry. Now, it is all too clear. Kimberly Williamson Butler is a heroine for all women, an inspiration for all African-Americans and shining example of public service for all Orleans voters.
Never mind that she was fired as CAO by Nutty Buddy Nagin. Never mind that the legislature reprimanded her for being unable to place voting machines at precincts for an election. Who needs those pesky machines anyway? Never mind that Secretary of State Al Ater called her the “most unprofessional person” he had ever worked with. Never mind that judges jailed her for not following their orders. Never mind that members of the media were surprised when she decided to run for Mayor on a whim.
These fools don’t understand true courage, true conviction and true character. It took me a while, but now I understand Butler’s gift to our community. Yesterday, upon being released from jail, Butler likened her case to some of history’s most legendary civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Maybe one day Butler will have a holiday named after her as well. If so, I recommend April 1st. Regardless, all of us should thank Kimberly for reminding us of her immense talents. See, we are just regular people, but Kimberly Williamson Butler is one of the giants of history. She is a leader with lofty goals and represents her constituents in so many ways that mere citizens cannot understand.
What other elected official has her history of being fired, reprimanded, and jailed? It is a remarkable resume to run for Mayor. That is just what we need with the eyes of the nation upon us, a talent as awesome as Kimberly Williamson Butler. She will provide great copy for the media. If she is elected Mayor, she will quickly make the Chocolate City speech look like the Gettysburg Address.
After her qualifying last week, Butler missed the first mayoral debate because she was in jail. She missed another one last night because she might have been afraid of being arrested again. All of us missed her because surely she would have added fireworks to the debate. But, she was probably busy studying the life of Gandhi. See Kimberly Williamson Butler has a higher calling, the history books. Undoubtedly, along the photos of Gandhi, Mandela, Parks and King will one day be Butler.
Like Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, Butler was imprisoned for 3 days. Like Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus, Butler refused to comply with multiple orders by judges. Like King protested for the rights of millions of African-Americans, Butler protested her own innocence. Like Gandhi fasted to protest British rule, Butler fasted because the prison food was so bad.
Yesterday, Butler reminded all of us how special she really is and what superb fodder she will be for our next Politics with a Punch. Thank you Kimberly!
Kimberly Williamson Butler said that people tell her everyday to run for Mayor. Maybe these are the same people who tell her she is one of the great leaders in history. Maybe these people live inside her brain, a fertile place for such cheerleaders. Louisiana had another politician with similar friends; Uncle Earl Long. He finished his career, not in Congress or in the Governor’s Mansion or even jail, but in a nice resort, or psychiatric hospital, in Mandeville. Where will Kimberly Williamson Butler finish her political career? Only the history books know the answer.
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