Did Wheeler cut a deal?

   Mike Sanders insists he refused to cut an endorsement deal with Freedom Inc. And that's why, he says, he didn't win Freedom's endorsement for Jackson County executive Thursday night.

    So did his Democratic rival, Charlie Wheeler, cut one?

    "No," said Freedom leader Fuzzy Thompson.

   The question also was put to Wheeler, who grabbed the Freedom nod.

   "I think it's fair to say I've worked well with Freedom over 40 years, and I enjoy working with them."

   Not exactly answering the question.

Posted by Steve Kraske   

Comments

Can anyone spell F-B-I?

This smells really bad. I hope the feds do clean this mess up. Any attempted poltical deals for elected offices have to be prosecuted to the fullest extent. I knew the Dem party was corrupt, just not that openly corrupt.

[kayceewolf]

Of course it smells bad ... especially with sentences like this in the blog post:

"So did his Democratic rival, Charlie Wheeler, cut one?"

Oh, wait ... not THAT kind of cut one. My bad.

(But it still smells.)

[Cyndi]

I will withhold my final decision until a little more of the dust settles on this story, but if true Senator Wheeler has just lost my vote.

I am unhappy with the current state of county governance in Jackson County ie tax collection, etc. I knew Katheryn Shields endorsed Senator Wheeler, but I thought that was due to the bad blood between herself and Mr. Sanders ie FBI investigation of her. Katheryn Shields was at the Freedom, Inc. meeting with Senator Wheeler. Both left prior to the vote being officially announced, this (along with other tidbits I have been reading in the Star and heard on the radio ie. monetary support) means Senator Wheeler is being highly influenced by Ms. Shields (and her people) and this would portend a continuance of the sweetheart contracts and cronyism that has come to fruition under Ms. Shields' terms as county executive.

Initially, this Freedom, Inc. situation looks like an absolute vote breaker for me. It is very hard for me to imagine the Jackson County Prosecutor would make a public statement to members of the media regarding the trade of a vote endorsement for a political position without it being true. It is also hard for me to imagine Freedom, Inc. did not get something in return for giving Senator Wheeler their endorsement.

This is unethical and illegal, albeit commonplace in politics for these type of occurances. I am one voter who is sick and tired of the corruption - coming out of Washington and my own Jackson County.

[Freedom Member]

The smell of sour grapes is in the air. This was an endorsement desperatley needed for Sanders to have any chance to get elected against the immensely popular, Dr. Wheeler.

The fact is that Sanders pulled out every stop trying to get that endorsement, but people, especially in Kansas City,
are legitimally concerned about some of Mr. Sanders somewhat unsavory Independence politico supporters. It's not unreasonable to be concerned when Sanders starts talking about replacing a County assessor known for his integrity and experience. No one should want to go back to the bad old days when Sanders supporters controlled the assessor's office.

In an unrelated but important topic, after a careful review of the official senate journal, it shows that Senator Wheeler was present 70 of 70 days the legislature was in session during 2006 (excludes two technical sessions: 3/22, 4/21).

The 30 days Dr. Wheeler was alleged to be absent, he was actually present and he invites any voter to come to campaign headquarters at 8345 Wornall Road to look at the record.

In Missouri, a bill must be passed, in the affirmative, by a simple majority of the legislative body a minimum of (7) times as amendments are offered, accepted or rejected, and the legislative process ensues. Consequently, all votes are not of equal importance: some are critical, some are simply procedural. Every senate office is wired with live/real-time senate debate coverage where the Senator and staff may monitor the proceedings.

While it may be true that Senator Wheeler did not vote a total of 133 times, it is also true that the Senator never missed a meaningful vote. Republicans had decided the outcome.

One of the advantages to experience is knowing when it is important to be present for a vote and when it is appropriate to attend to other business.

[Lori]

Was a "deal" made with Freedom, Mr. Prosecutor? Tell us, was a "deal" made with the Firefighter's Union or the CCP?

The answers is that all of these groups choose the candidate that best served their interest. It is called the political process. You win some and you lose some. Nothing unethical in that at all.

For the Prosecutor to suggest that a "deal" was made because he didn't receive the endorsement is simply sour grapes. It only shows what an immature and inexperienced person he really is.

[Ian]

Lori, I think you need to make the distintion between what's legal and what's not. No one is naive enough to think that we agreements aren't made but to out and out hold an endorsement because you can't name the next prosecutor or write them a fat check? Come on.

[Steve S]

Freedom, Inc. cutting a deal for an endorsement? That's the worst kept secret in Kansas City Democratic politics. If you want Freedom's endorsement, you had better be ready to pony up some bucks. That's how they do most of their fundraising.

[sport]

the reason sanders lost this endorsement can be answered in two words VICTOR CALLAHAN .

[Adam Stewart]

Summary to date:

1) Senator Wheeler is supported by out-going county executive Katheryn Shields.
2) Senator Wheeler is supported by "heavyweight Republicans" (Star/Smith/Kraske).
3) Senator Wheeler is supported by big business interests, including the insurance industry (Star/Smith).
4) Senator Wheeler is anti-labor; he recently gave an anti-labor speech AT a labor meeting.
5) Senator Wheeler missed 132 Senate votes, including "10 key votes" (Star/Smith).
6) Senator Wheeler refuses to participate in a debate (Star).
7) Senator Wheeler stated this week he likes Gov. Matt Blunt and that "He is getting better all of the time." (Star)
8) Senator Wheeler refuses to answer the charge that political deals/promises were made to get him the one and ONLY Democratic endorsement his campaign has.
9) Senator Wheeler stated his top priorities as county executive would be the Truman Sports Complex, bird flu, and terrorism.

Shall I go on? Wheeler is our party's latest Zell Miller/Joe Liberman. A Democrat in name only. Wheeler is our party's next Tom Delay/Roy Blunt. Whatever backhanded, unethical, illegal act it takes to garner a few more votes is ok in his book.

[Ian]

if it looks like crap, smells like crap, it probably is crap......

[LillyJ]

Jackson County Prosecutor Mike Sanders did not get the Freedom, Inc. endorsement because he refused to betray his oath of office or the people of Jackson County. You can try to spin this any way you want, Wheeler supporters. This shows Mr. Sanders' strength of character and Mr. Wheeler's lack of integrity.

[Adam Stewart]

I would like to reiterate my call for a televised debate between these two candidates. Someone else on another blog mentioned a Sanders/Wheeler debate would be very interesting, especially with the recent Freedom, Inc. vote buying/bribing scandal. True. I think it would be beneficial for the voters of Jackson County to be able to see the two candidates debate the issues facing Jackson County.

I WANT A SANDERS/WHEELER TELEVISED DEBATE! Anyone else with me on this???

[Stacey Knowles]

Sanders and Wheeler - definitely televised, but led by unbiased moderators (if they exist) - not by reporters secretly (or not so secretly) from either candidate's camp. This election is turning into a circus.

[Marvin Williams III]

A televised Sanders and Wheeler debate to discuss the REAL issues is desperatley needed in this election. I agree with Stacey, the moderators need to be unbiased.

[tracy abeln]

Last night, four Historic Northeast neighborhood associations sponsored a candidate forum that included Sanders and Wheeler (as well as other candidates in other races), and this topic did not come up, though at least one person asked the candidates for the Missouri Senate seat which Wheeler is vacating about their endorsements.

I don't think endorsements are that big a deal, though I'm sure it stings Richard Tolbert, the other candidate for Jackson County executive, who used to be under the Freedom, Inc. wing, to be forever excluded. And for those who don't know why, it probably "looks" really funny.

[Cyndi]

Adam, Stacey & Marvin: I would like to see a televised debate between the candidates too.

Once again, the LARGEST Democratic voting block, African Americans, just went to Wheeler by way of the Freedom endorsement. Combined with his name recognition at 85% and understanding where the majority of votes lie in a Dem. primary, one does not need to be a rocket scientist to understand that it is nearly impossible for Wheeler to lose. Anyone on the fence better jump on board with Wheeler because this thing is OVER. It's simple math, folks!

[Stacey Knowles]

Reading this thread, it's pretty clear that if Wheeler wins, Jackson County loses.

[Freedom Member]

To the other Freedom member:

If you were there last night you saw the circus Mark Bryant was running. He held a PRIVATE meeting with Katheryn and Charlie and agreed to God's knows what deal and then shouted for Sanders to come into the room if he was willing to let him name the next Prosecutor. He changed the order of the agenda so that Sander's supporters wouldn't be in the room. I know Mike wanted that endorsement but he was unwilling to sell his soul to Mark or Gwen Grant. Let's be clear, this was not about a black prosecutor it was about a Prosecutor that MARK and GWEN could control. Using Victor Callahan as a boogey man is a tried and true tactic of these low down money grumbing folks who pretend to serve the community when they are just lining their pockets with contracts and money that could actually be used to help people. SHAME on ALL THOSE WHO VOTED FOR SELF INTEREST BEFORE THE COMMUNITY GOOD. Congratulations to Mike for not being stupid enough to bargain away his soul. Piety to Charlie for making a deal with the devils.

[huggie216]

freedom inc. ?

Why do you need a hand in the choice for Jackson County Prosecutor? Is this a way to keep half of freedom inc's people out of trouble? Maybe your affraid someone as good as Mr. Sanders will be the next Prosecutor and your group still wont have any pull in jackson county.

[Clarence KCMO]

The unnamed poster above is arrogant enough to presume the entire community will vote for Wheeler based on the Freedom endorsement. The endorsement is tainted. You must think so very little of the hearts, minds, and souls of the people in the community.

I just really pity the fools who think this was good news for Wheeler, getting the Freedom endorsement. Those of you treating the black community like some monlithic "voting block" that automatically goes the way Freedom tells them to is condescending at best, and racist at worst.

Losing this endorsement was the best thing that could have happened to Sanders, and the Wheeler mchine will figure that out in due time. Those in Freedom who put their own greed ahead of everything else should learn a valuable lesson too.

Wheeler himself could learn some valuable lessons from his own antics of late (missing important votes in Jeff City, his refusal to deny any deal with Freedom today, and sucking up to Blunt on Wednesday).

I find it best to let people think you a fool - rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt!

Hmm... maybe that's why Wheeler is running from debating Sanders?????

[Smudge]

Charlie Wheeler is still around? When I transferred to Houston, he was KC mayor and had implemented 8-hour work days for city firemen during which they were to drive around town looking for fires.