Detroit follies

In Chapter 8 of Donkey Cons, Detroit is cited as the ultimate demonstration of how the Democratic Party's urban policy has devastated America's inner cities. Now the mayor of Detroit adds a new wrinkle:

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, a one-time rising star and Detroit's youngest elected leader, was charged Monday with perjury and other counts after sexually explicit text messages contradicted his sworn denials of an affair with a top aide.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy also charged the popular yet polarizing 37-year-old mayor with obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. Kilpatrick, who was to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon, could face up to 15 years in prison and be expelled from office if convicted. . . .
Former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty, 37, who also denied under oath that she and Kilpatrick had a romantic relationship in 2002 and 2003, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.

(Via Memeorandum.) When President Clinton needed some extramarital passion, he got it on with an intern. When Gov. Eliot Spitzer wanted a little side action, he hired a prostitute. The mayor of Detroit hired a chief of staff to satisfy his needs.

The pathetic thing about Kilpatrick is that Detroit is a city that's been circling the drain for years. If there is any hope that Detroit can recover from years of misgovernance, it will require leadership that's totally devoted to recovery. Instead, Kilpatrick spends his time pursuing his own personal pleasure.

UPDATE: Don Surber notes the "Name That Party" factor in the Associated Press coverage. I guess the AP feels that party identification would be redundant. Sex scandal, abuse of office, perjury, obstruction of justice -- of course he's a Democrat!