Furor Over Kwame Kilpatrick’s New Job Is Sort Of Puzzling

I keep hearing all of these people spewing hatred toward former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick(recently released from jail after lying in the highly-publicized text messaging sex scandal). I am not going to single out any one column or blog for this particular posting. Frankly, there simply are too many to choose from and they all make the same basic points. People are upset because Detroit-based businessman Peter Karmanos (who has done unbelievable work for the city of Detroit when others abandoned it and moved to the suburbs or out of the state) has hired Kilpatrick and given him a high-paying job. People seem to be additionally upset because the former mayor has a nice house in one of the richest suburbs of Dallas. I guess these same people would be happy if Kilpatrick was working at McDonalds, collecting minimum wage and mopping floors. Of course, these same critics also would be pissed that he isn’t paying back the $1 million he owes Detroit. It’s pretty difficult to pay back $1 million working at McDonalds. If this job helps Kilpatrick pay back the city of Detroit (and all parties can move on to bigger and better things) then I am all for it. It appears (emphasis on: appears) Kilpatrick is working toward paying his debt to the city of Detroit. Hopefully he gets it done and everyone moves on. This bitterness toward Kilpatrick for having a good job is just silly. now, if he is not paying back the city of Detroit then that would be a problem that requires attention.