"Go For It.": President Obama And Blue Collar Midwest Americans Tell GOP That They Won't Turn Back

Give this President a lot of credit. When talk radio, 24-hour cable news and almost every pundit around the country wrote him, Democrats and healthcare reform off for 2010, instead of putting his head down he stands up for what he believes in and delivers. Make no mistake about it, while the country is still divided on the healthcare issue--thanks to the year long 24-hour campaign by Big Pharma Republicans courtesy of FOX News and talk radio-- history and reality tells us that many opponents of the bill are already beginning to come around.

Perhaps it's the fact that voters are actually looking at the bill instead of FOX News and Glenn Beck's description of it? Perhaps voters, as historically shown, regardless of their previous position just want to step up and support the President now that the legislation has been signed by him? Or Perhaps voters are beginning to see more of what the so called "Tea Party" movement is really about and have decided to support the millions of blue collar Americans supporting this bill; like the thousands we saw at the President's Iowa Rally today?

Maybe it's a combination of all of the above, but one thing is for sure, regardless of how long Republicans try to take away our reformed healthcare, it seems millions of Americans and The President of The United States have decided that they are not looking back.

Today, at a rally in Iowa President Obama moved thousands of Americans while speaking to them about the positive changes healthcare reform brings. Likewise, President Barack Obama stepped up to critics of the new health-care overhaul in a campaign-style stop here Thursday, challenging Republicans to try to repeal the two-day-old law.

“My attitude is, go for it,” the president told hundreds of people at the University of Iowa Field House.

You have to really admire his courage in the face of massive talk radio and cable news attacks. Perhaps it's because he realizes that Republicans talk a big game but are still completely out of touch from the average working class American. Regardless, President Obama stood in front of a crowd of over 3 thousand and sounded like a president who didn't just talk the talk, but on who has already walked the walk.

In fact, Thursday’s event was clearly reminiscent of the campaign rallies the president held all across the state on his way to winning the presidency in 2008.

The crowd roared when he was introduced, and the president greeted them with the first half of the familiar chant that marked his campaign before the caucuses.

“Are you fired up?” he asked.

We know we are.

Kinder Urges Folks to "Fire Money Bomb" Nancy Pelosi

As national news outlets are expressing concerns over a new RNC website that has House Speaker Nancy Pelosi surrounded by fire, Missouri's top Republican Peter Kinder is joining in on the madness.

Tweeting today from his official account, Lt. Governor Kinder urged everyone that there is "12 hours left for the Fire Pelosi Money Bomb" and links the URL to the website that has the House Speaker up in flames. In fact, he links at last 3 times to that website depicting the Speaker in flames.

We at the KC Blue Blog have to express serious concerns about any elected official, let alone the Lt. Governor, using "fire" and "bomb" in the same sentence when speaking about another elected official.

Let's all be grown ups for a second. This is not a coincidence that the GOP has placed Speaker Pelosi in flames. It is not a coincidence that JoAnn Emerson was energizing a crowd to keep up the chaos in the capitol after violence and racism occurred.

The GOP leadership has pulled the oldest, ugliest political card in the book. One from the days of the civil rights era of the 1950s and of the workers rights era of the late 1800s: when you have no plan, scare people to act. We all know the results that follow.

America Sees It's First Corporate Campaign Ad As Bitter Republican Uses Company To Attack Candidate

Remember when The Supreme Court made the decision to allow corporations to take part in our elections, and the GOP while celebrating behind closed doors came out and said that Democrats were just inventing rhetoric to scare you?

This week, the first corporate campaign ad has been published; and with the new healthcare reform bill signed into law it will surely be the beginning of massive corporate participation in the upcoming election.

Note that there's no attempt to hide the funding source as the ad takes the form of a letter signed, "Sincerely, KDR Development, inc." Apparently, the president of KDR Development, which bought the ad, had previously run against the incumbent state representative and lost.

Sam Graves Should Apologize and Fire Jeff Roe

Of all the people in Congress who would lie about being spit on and called racial slurs, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver isn't one. He is a Pastor, raised in poverty in the deep south. Yet that isn't stopping fellow Kansas City area Congressman Sam Graves chief adviser and campaign manager Jeff Roe from making the statement.

In his recent post, Roe alleges that Cleaver "invented a racial incident to promote his political agenda and hide his bad votes". To prove his case he shows a 48 second You Tube video of some of Cleaver's colleagues first started walking through a crowd. What he didn't show, was at the top of the steps shortly after that 48 second clip, was Emanuel Cleaver being spat on.

Well Congressman Graves, we have a clip of the Rep. Cleaver being spat on and now it is time for you too, to publicly apologize and fire your campaign manager. Below is the video, it will show a series of clips as Rachel Maddow speaks, including a clip of Congressman Cleaver stopping and pointing to the man that spit on him his lips reading "You just spit on me. You just spit on me!"

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Enough is enough. Instead of saying sorry to an old friend, Missouri now has two members of the Congressional delegation directly involved in this incident. One, Rep. JoAnn Emerson, was reported to have held up signs energizing the crowd to continue with their antics. The other is now Congressman Sam Graves Campaign Manager saying on his blog that Rep. Cleaver "invented a racial incident to promote a political agenda".

This is shameful and disgusting. In the political arena, there will always be dispute. However, the great joy of our democracy is that throughout those trying times, Democrats and Republicans, have mostly worked together in a professional, adult manner through civilized debate. That is no longer the case for some of the GOP members of Congress that urged protesters to break House rules by protesting in the gallery during debate.

Emanuel Cleaver has a history of being a man of God. Someone who treats you with deep respect whether Republican or Democrat. He may not agree with the politics you believe, but he will still treat you as a friend. And this is how he is treated by you Rep. Emerson and Rep. Graves?

It's time The Kansas City Star and all media outlets demand action by Rep. Sam Graves for this disgusting display of disrespect by a consultant that makes a living being as ugly as he can be.

BREAKING: Despite Racial Attacks On A Missouri Congressman, Peter Kinder Moves Closer to Tea Party

Despite national news reports now linking Congresswoman JoAnn Emerson to one of three congressional members confirmed to have been firing up a crowd of protesters that attacked minority members of Congress, Peter Kinder has moved himself closer to that crowd.

All weekend long, while the Missouri budget is all but paralyzed, Peter Kinder tweeted and tweeted about "obamacare", playing to the fears of the far right and linking every tweet to the Tea Party.

Meanwhile, Emerson, Kinder and the Missouri Republican Party have sat silent as we at the KC Blue Blog, Gone Mild, now other media outlets broke the news that Emerson (Blue Note: Peter Kinder's Congresswoman), was tied to the crowd, that spit on and yelled racial slurs at, a fellow member of the Missouri congressional delegation, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City).

This should have Missouri up in arms. If Peter Kinder can spend all weekend tweeting updates on health care reform, he certainly would be aware as the head of the Missouri GOP, that a Missouri Congressman was spit on and called the "N" word, by a crowd that Emerson was firing up. That's why we are calling on Peter Kinder and JoAnn Emerson to make a public statement on her involvement in this crowd of protestors and issue an apology.

BREAKING WaPo: Emerson Was Waving Signs, Tommy Sowers Calls Out Emerson

The Washington Post has posted a story online that will haunt Rep. Joann Emerson for weeks to come.

We at the KC Blue Blog first broke the story that Congresswoman Joann Emerson (D-MO) was part of a small group of Republican elected officials firing up the Tea Party crowd that was involved in racial chants at minority members of Congress, including spitting on a fellow Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City).

Cleaver, once reported he had a friendship with Emerson that often involved faith, saw the ugly face of hate. Which makes this part of the story even more disgusting considering he saw her as a friend.

The latest story states that Emerson not only spoke to the crowd but came out with a "trio" of legislators waving signs "Kill" "That" "Bill". She was directly involved in continuing to energize a crowd that had already went to far.

Emerson's opponent, an 11-year Army Veteran, Tommy Sowers issued a statement saying,

Sowers demands Jo Ann Emerson apologize for encouraging hateful protest

Yesterday, Congresswoman Emerson was involved in encouraging protesters at the Capitol. Instead of contributing to the debate, she offended her office and the people she claims to represent. This supposed moderate chose to incite the same voices that used racial slurs and spat on lawmakers (including Emanuel Cleaver, a fellow member of the Missouri delegation) on the steps of the Capitol.

Sowers said, "I call on Congresswoman Emerson to issue a formal apology for inciting these protests. As an 11-year veteran, I defended the Constitution and the right to protest, but lending support to a group that has spit on and called lawmakers racial slurs is beyond defense. This may make sense to a DC politician trying to grab headlines and score political points. But this is not the kind of representation that the Founders intended, nor what the people of Missouri and America expect."

Shortly after Emerson's protest, Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen told reporters: "I think it is bad taste for people to go and encourage them. I can see this crowd getting out of control and they are being encouraged."

The Sowers campaign couldn't agree more. Congresswoman Emerson must immediately apologize and disavow association with protestors that use hate and racial slurs.

We at The KC Blue Blog will continue to urge Congresswoman Joann Emerson, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and the Missouri Republican Party to make a statement and apology to Missouri and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.

CALL REP. JOANN EMERSON AND DEMAND SHE APOLOGIZE TO MISSOURI AND REP. EMANUEL CLEAVER TODAY!

Washington DC

District

2440 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-4404

The Federal Building
339 Broadway
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

(573) 335-0101 (tel)
(573) 335-1931 (fax

BREAKING: Congresswoman Emerson and Republicans Seen Firing Up Crowd Yelling Racial and Homophobic Slurs At Democrats

In a major breaking story, Congresswoman Joann Emerson was one of a handful of Republican representatives, spotted energizing a Tea Party Protest crowd in the Capitol yelling racial and homophobic slurs at Democrats.

This is the same crowd that reportedly yelled racial and homophobic slurs leading to House Democrats walking through the halls of the capitol locked arm in arm in what was called a "chaotic scene".

The breaking news is coming very fast. However, this is a clear tie to the Republican Party having Congressional members directly firing up these protestors as they acted in this behavior.

Congresswoman Emerson is the US Congresswoman of Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, seen as the leader of the Missouri Republican Party.

We at the KC Blue Blog are now calling on Congresswoman Emerson, Lt. Governor Kinder and the Missouri Republican Party to publicly apologize for being involved in such insulting, shameful behavior.

BREAKING: Pro-Life Democrats Reach Agreement With President To Support Health Care

BREAKING: Congressman Bart Stupak and the Pro-Life Democrats have reached an agreement with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama to support comprehensive health care reform.

According to Politico and MSNBC, the agreement will include an Executive Order stating that the Hyde Amendement will be protected in this bill.

The Hyde Amendment states that federal tax dollars will not fund abortions.

Pro-Choice groups are also reportedly at the table and are in support of this agreement.

BREAKING: Congressman Cleaver: "N" Word "Was A Chant"

BREAKING: The Republican Party is stating that racist comments were "isolated" incidents". Congressman Cleaver states the "N" Word was clearly "a chant".

Having a Missouri Congressman spit on and called the "N" word by Republican Tea Party members is a shameful incident. As the Republican Party tries to now distance itself. After making public statements that clearly address this national issue, Lt. Governor Kinder must make a public statement, as head of the Republican Party in Missouri that is clearly endorsing this movement, and apologize to Congressman Emanuel Cleaver for what has taken place.

BREAKING: Cleaver Spit On and Called the "N" Word By Tea Party

The face of the Tea Party is shown for what it is.

Yesterday, as Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-KC) and Rep. John Lewis enterred the capitol to work on health care legislation, Cleaver was confronted by a group of Tea Party members screaming.

National reports are now stating that those members began yelling racial slurs, including the "N" Word to Cleaver, who was then spit on.

The scene is right out of the ugly days of the civil rights movement and forces us to ask, all of this over health care? Seriously?

Showing the face of the Democratic Party, Cleaver chose not to press charges. Those that know our Congressman know that even in the face of evil, he always forgives. That's a true leader in times like this.

Shame on the Tea Party for their racist agenda and shame on Republican leaders in Missouri for supporting such right wing activists.

We are calling on the Missouri Republican Party to make a public statement apologizing to Congressman Emanuel Cleaver for the situation he faced. If the Missouri Republican Party leadership can waste taxpayer dollars passing legislation rejecting health care reform, and the Lt. Governor can publicly speak out in rejecting health care reform, then they have to own the actions of their party's final attempt to block it.

That includes racial slurs and spitting on minority members of Congress.

A Moment In History: President Bound To Be True. Gives Historic Speech To Congress

President Obama just finished delivered what will be looked at as one of those moments that define a president's time in office. One of those moments that define history. The night before one of the most important votes in American social policy, President Obama calls on Congress to "Not be bound to win." Instead "be bound to be true."

Take a look:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

You want Roy Blunt to Be Your Voice? It Will Cost you $10,000

Great job at FiredUp Missouri for catching this story in the very last line of the article.

In a speech to hundreds of Wall Street Bankers, Republican Senator Richard Shelby urged everyone in the room to "send Roy Blunt $10,000", claiming that as US Senator he will block any efforts to curb financial fraud on Wall Street.

Each night on television we hear about another Wall Street company on the brink of collapse, asking for assistance from the US Government, while paying their executives hundreds of millions in bonuses.

Meanwhile, here on main street Missouri, businesses are folding, farms are struggling, jobs are leaving and credit is minimal.

This couldn't serve as a more clear message about this US Senate race. Roy Blunt is for Wall Street Bankers and DC Lobbyists. Robin Carnahan is for Missouri families, farmers and small businesses.

If you don't have $10,000 to give Roy Blunt, he's not going to be your voice. Sorry to break the news to you. Don't take our word for it. Take theirs.

BREAKING: Blunt's Lobbyist Campaign Manager Illegally Parks (The Sequel)

We reported yesterday about Roy Blunt's Big Insurance / Big Tobacco Lobbyist Campaign Manager illegally parking in a fire lane all day on Tuesday at the state capitol in Jefferson City.

Our story led to a lot of feedback via e-mail from tipsters at the captiol who say that Roy Blunt's lobbyist campaign manager always parks in a fire lane.

Well, apparently this is true because one of those tipsters e-mailed us a picture showing Roy Blunt's Lobbyist Campaign Manager parked illegally yesterday in the same spot AGAIN!!









Honestly, if you are lazy enough to park in a fire line, why not park right in front of the steps instead of 10 feet down?

We at The KC Blue Blog are calling on the press, and our great blog friends, to begin demanding Roy Blunt apologize and answer why his lobbyist campaign manager (and son) feels he is above the law?


We are also calling on legislative staffers, lobbyists and press to have some fun and take a photo each day of where Roy Blunt's Big Insurance / Big Tobacco lobbyist Campaign Manager Andy Blunt is parked.

BREAKING: Roy Blunt's Lobbyist Campaign Manager Thinks He Is Above the Law

Houston (Missouri), Roy Blunt has a problem.

The lobbyist campaign manager of Roy Blunt apparently thinks he deserves special treatment at the Missouri state capitol building in Jefferson City.

A tipster sent us these photos from the capitol of Andy Blunt, proudly displaying a Roy Blunt for Senate campaign sticker, illegally parked in a fire lane outside the steps of the capitol yesterday.











(A special thanks to one of our awesome Blue Blog Tipsters)


Despite receiving an orange ticket, his truck remained in the fire lane all day (where sources say he habitually parks when he comes to the capitol) while he lobbied Republican leaders for special favors in the budget.


We at the KC Blue Blog are calling on Roy Blunt to apologize to taxpayers and emergency responders in Missouri for his lobbyist campaign manager thinking he is above the law and deserving of special favors at the state capitol. Parking illegally in a fire lane is not only lazy, but an insult to our emergency responders and capitol police who work hard everyday, no matter who you are. The fact that Roy Blunt is running for US Senate and his lobbyist campaign manager is doing this sends a poor example throughout the state.


Below is a list of Roy Blunt's Lobbyist Campaign Managers Clients, including big health care companies. That's right, Roy Blunt's campaign manager is the lobbyist for health care companies while Roy Blunt votes on health care in Congress. A conflict? We think so.


Blunt Andrew B ALTRIA- PHILIP MORRIS USA INC., JOHN MIDDLETON CO., AND U.S. SMOKELESS TOBACCO CO.
Blunt Andrew B MILLERCOORS, LLC
Blunt Andrew B MEDSOLUTIONS
Blunt Andrew B MOTOROLA, INC.
Blunt Andrew B APS HEALTHCARE, INC.
Blunt Andrew B PYRAMID GROUP
Blunt Andrew B AGP
Blunt Andrew B MISSOURI COALITION OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS
Blunt Andrew B ACS HERITAGE, INC.
Blunt Andrew B BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY
Blunt Andrew B MISSOURI HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
Blunt Andrew B MISSOURI AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION
Blunt Andrew B FARMER COMPANIES
Blunt Andrew B TICKETMASTER
Blunt Andrew B SYSTEMS & METHODS, INC.
Blunt Andrew B SERAPH, INC.
Blunt Andrew B SCHREIMANN, RACKERS, FRANCKA AND BLUNT, L.L.C.
Blunt Andrew B AMERICAN AIRLINES
Blunt Andrew B BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Blunt Andrew B AT&T, INC., AND AFFILIATES
Blunt Andrew B COMPUTERIZED VEHICLE REGISTRATION

BREAKING: Funkhouser Charging Groups for Speaking Engagements As Mayor

He's at it again. This time the failed Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser is charging organizations and businesses throughout Kansas City and the world, according to his website, a minimum of $5000 to $7500 plus travel expenses in order to hear him speak.

The contract on his website also charges a flat fee of $500 for meals and lodging.

A lot of questions should now be asked of the Mayor. Is he also charging the city for these travel expenses? Are taxpayer paid for employees used to staff the Mayor on these paid speaking engagements? How many organizations in the Greater KC Metro Area have been charged to hear the Kansas City Mayor speak?

We are calling on the area bloggers and press to demand that the Mayor answer these questions immediately.

MRA: Blunt's Moral Compass Is The True Compass Of Missouri Republicans

The Springfield News-Leader has a great story that all Democrats should be using this election season.

The Missouri Republican Assembly, which bills itself as the "Republican wing of the Republican Party" has endorsed D.C. resident and lobbyist candidate Roy Blunt saying "his moral compass points true north".

We at the KC Blue Blog wonder if the other seven candidates running against Blunt would agree that he has a moral compass that is the true direction of the Republican Party?

Afterall, Congressman Blunt's moral purity even earned him the honor of being named "One of the 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress". In fact, he was #2 on the list for trying "to insert provisions in bills that benefited a client of his lobbyist son, Andrew Blunt and the employer of his lobbyist girlfriend turned wife."

Thanks to the Missouri Republican Assembly for drawing the moral sand in the line for the Republican Party. Now every Republican elected official and candidate should go on record as to whether their moral compass is as "true north" as Roy Blunt.

Airport Bathrooms, Green Balloons, Hot Tubs and More Hypocrisy

This week you probably caught the Associated Press and Brock Vergakis headline 'GOP leader's skinny-dip confession stuns Utah'.

Upon reading the title you probably just thought it was another story about a GOP member who plays Jesus by day and Hugh Hefner by night. It was. But the article tells a much more serious story:

"A late-night confession by Utah's House majority leader about sitting nude in a hot tub with a minor 25 years ago has shocked this conservative state's political establishment but has not prompted calls from party leaders for him to resign.

Rep. Kevin Garn, 55, acknowledged the indiscretion late Thursday immediately after the Legislature adjourned for the session. He said he paid the woman, Cheryl Maher, now 40, $150,000 to keep quiet about the episode when he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2002."

If this isn't the poster child for Republican hypocrisy, then we don't know what is. Yes, this was 25 years ago. But we are talking about an elected official not a dishwasher at your local restaurant.

While today's reports show that Rep. Garn has resigned--a move anyone could have predicted--we want to know why party leaders were not immediately calling for his resignation?

Anyone else wondering how Garn was able to pay $150,000 to this girl in exchange for her silence?

Anyone else wondering what happened to the faith, morals, values and compassionate conservatism being preached everyday in GOP political circles?

Whether it's in airport bathrooms, harrassing the local page, paying an undercover police officer, raping your fellow young republican, getting a DUI after leaving a gay bar after voting numerous times against gay rights, playing with 'green ballons', or any of the dozens of other scandals it's pretty clear that the GOP can be defined using many words; none of which are compassionate, conservative, moral or ethical.

Finally, with these scandals as well as the bribery and pay-to-play scandals hitting states like Utah and Missouri, who is holding The GOP leadership accountable?

Afterall, at best they stayed quiet on this issue and at worst they helped finance this Utah Republican so that his hidden secret would stay in the dark.

Think about that.

Just more reasons to Vote Democrat this fall.

BREAKING NEWS: CHIEFS SIGN VETERAN PRO-BOWL RB THOMAS JONES

It seems The Chiefs' new front house is going to invest in success. As many began to question their lack of activity during this free agent offseason, Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Jones, who rushed for over 1,400 yards in 2009 and has rushed for over 1,000 yards in 5 straight seasons, has signed a 2-year $5 million contract with Kansas City.

The signing of Jones not only gives Kansas City the best backfield in The AFC West, it also means that Kansas City is looking to take the load off of Jamal Charles, who rushed for 1,100 yards in 2009, in order to keep him healthy and compete for years to come.

Additionally, The Chiefs also protected their passing game this week and by announcing that they have also re-signed veteran wide receiver Chris Chambers. The former Dolphin and Charger stud wide receiver caught for over 600 yards in just a few games and has more than 7,000 career receiving yards.

Are you excited about 2010 yet? As this seems like a sign of more agressive off season activity to come, we think you should be.

Republicans And Tom Delay "It's The Truth" That People Are Unemployed And On Unemployment Because They Want To Be

There you have it Blue Readers! Tom Delay, the former leader of The GOP and still one of the most popular people among Republicans, goes on the record saying that "It's the truth" that people are unemployed and on unemployment because they want to be.

Hear it for yourself:



For all of you who may be unemployed or know someone who is unemployed, how does that make you feel?

Things haven't changed in The GOP. And they won't change as long as the same people run the party.

Don't be fooled. Just another reason to Vote Democrat this election season.

It's Funk's Party And He'll Cry If He Wants To. Funkhouser Has Fit. Embarrasses Fierro. Has He Lost Park Board?

Here we go again Blue Readers. Matt Campbell of The Star is reporting that this week Mayor Funkhouser "lashed out" at his Park Board for "showing insufficient support for his agenda and accused one of them of corruption".

During the mayoral fit, Funkhouser made a number of comments that offended members of the board including President John Fierro.

In fact, Fierro was so offended by the comments that he even reminded the mayor of when he (Fierro) stood by Funkhouser during the controversy over the appointment of Minutemen member Frances Semler to the park board early in his term saying quote.

“I chose you over people I have known for 20 years,” Fierro quickly reminded Funkhouser.

But Fierro wasn't the only person offended. It seems Funkhouser may have also lost the support of Commissioner Meg Conger, Aggie Stackhaus and others by criticizing them and making comments like "Good God,” “It would have been nice for you guys to have sent somebody to testify. I was just stunned."

If that wasn't enough he even went as far as to call one of the commissioners he appointed corrupt in front of a reporter.

Can it really get any worse than this?

Park Commissioner Conger said she and her colleagues have worked hard to promote the park department’s interests by talking with city council members and other members of the community.

While The Star didn't report on The Mayor's reactions to these responses, it would've been nice to have seen them.

This should have come as no surprise given The Mayor's previous temper tantrums, his lack of common sense and his all too frequent pompous-elitist behavior .

Montee Shows Real Leadership

While Auditor may be the most boring statewide job (editor's note: we are bias because we hate math) when handled correctly it can show real leadership. State Auditor Susan Montee is doing just that.

Auditing the Kansas City Missouri School District takes real guts. Marilyn Simmons and company have driven the district off a cliff and into the water, only to hit a rock upon impact. Now the district is looking to cut $50 million this budget cycle.

Our new Superintendent Covington has made his proposal known to the public including closing up to 31 schools. That also takes guts. No matter what, in proposing a tough budget, it is in the best interest of the KCMO School District to have this audit.

If it comes back and shows minimal fraud, it will answer some critics. If it comes back showing massive fraud, it will confirm what many have expected.

Montee's initiative to take a look into the KCMO schools and St. Louis Schools shows she isn't afraid of the failed buddy system that has plagued these districts for decades. Instead of acting in the best interest of the students and families it serves, the KCMO School District has continued to act in the best interest of some of the people it pays. Usually that means you have to be loyal to the Simmons Regime.

So it is fitting that the audit starts as Simmons has compiled a "slate" ran by a former field organizer on the Obama campaign. That slate is the same failed business as usual. Hopefully for the best interest of our district and the families it is to serve, the elections will bring about change. After that change takes place, we hope the audit will uncover a clear path towards success.