Congemi’s comments are outrageous in any format and horrendous in this one, yet Baker alone had the courage to speak up.
St. Petersburg, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.
I was at the League of Women Voters Mayoral debate
Tuesday evening. Hats off to the group who put this one together.
Details in Mitch Perry’s saintpetersblog Post, Candidates
spar again at St. Pete mayoral forum.
The debate went along predictable lines with carefully
orchestrated outbursts from the UHURUS supporting their candidate Jessie Nevel.
The moderator respectfully let them have their moments.
Nothing much new in the questions or subject matter
area and the answers from the candidates are now well-rehearsed and dutifully
given.
New to the candidate mix was perennial candidate Paul
Congemi
Things went along well until the last minute or so when
as part of his closing comments Paul Congemi said, “Mr. Nevel, you and your
people, talk about reparations. The reparations that you talk about, Mr.
Nevel, your people already got your reparations. Your reparations came in
the form of a man named Barack Obama.”
“My advice to you is,” he added, “if you don’t like it
here in America, planes leave every hour from Tampa airport. Go back to
Africa!”
There was a vocal response from the crowd, but the dais
remained silent.
After a moment Rick Baker replied, “I know we’re not
supposed to respond to other things, but I first have to specifically reject
the comments Mr. Congemi just made. I just think that in 2017 in St. Petersburg,
Florida, I never would have dreamed we would hear comments like that in a
mayoral debate.”
The dais remained silent as Kriseman looked at a loss
for words.
Congemi’s comments are outrageous in any format and
horrendous in this one, yet Baker alone had the courage to speak up.
The true measure of a man is when he will defend the
rights of those he philosophically disagrees with.
This event should be a pivotal moment in this Mayoral
election.
Baker did not need to prepare a written response, run
it by his spin masters and have someone else deliver it. He instinctively knew
these comments were wrong and those offended needed to be defended and he
acted.
Rick Baker may not agree with your positions but he
will without hesitation defend your right to those positions and work
tirelessly to resolve the differences.
There in an instant was real the answer to the
question, “What’s the difference between the two Ricks?”
One just wants your vote and the other wants to stand
with you regardless of who you are.
E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com
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