Imagine the reaction if a white Republican mayor appointed a white minister of a conservative, all-white church as his deputy mayor of neighborhoods and told him he could keep his full-time pastor job while pulling down a full-time salary as a deputy mayor. The Indianapolis Star would be editorializing daily, and Matthew Tully and Tim Swarens would be cranking out regular columns condemning the unethical and untenable relationship resulting from the mayor's appointment until he relented and withdrew the appointment. Oh, hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to our liberal friends who can't hate enough on conservative, white Christians.
Mayor Joe Hogsett appointed Rev. David Hampton, the senior pastor of the Light of the World Church, an all-black Christian church, as his deputy mayor of neighborhoods. Rev. Hampton is not giving up his full-time ministry job at one of the city's largest black churches. He will continue in that role while pulling down his six-figure salary as a full-time deputy mayor. I ask if it is even remotely possible for Rev. Hampton to serve two masters. Not a single member of the City-County Council had the courage last night to question the efficacy of this arrangement as they voted unanimously to approve his appointment without debate. Committee members in the Administration & Finance Committee never even questioned him about his dueling, conflicting roles. The same liberal council members who bash conservative Christians daily on social media gushed over Rev. Hampton's appointment.
14 comments:
I am a left-wing liberal and I think this appointment is distasteful, but not surprising!
Separation of church and state? Hmmmmmmm?
Kind of makes the Star's war on RFRA pointless.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/01/anti-trump-the-political-cowardice-of-the-gop-elite/ As an aside folks don't know what journalism was like before Breitbart? Gary's point about cowardly Council whores is, essentially, about their cowardice isn't it? How well they eat a crap sandwich and smile about it. How does it taste? Detroit-like? Detroit-light?
Worse are the Democrats last known for flee bagging to Illinois in a great act of cowardice unmatched since Wisconsin Democrats did the same thing. One might ask of the cowardly Democrats just what was the payoff for not continuing their lawsuit against the bumbling signature counting Todd Young? What does Indiana get for having political stunts (it seems that further action is taking place so that the previous action could only have been a stunt)?
As for this false minister...one lacking in honor....and lacking in wisdom....we understand dollar signs....but we can assure you that no man can serve two masters. Which one of yours are you going to sell down the river?
Rev Hampton's church is of the Disciples of Christ (aka The Christian Church). As a paid minister of the Disciples of Christ he is pro same sex marriage as well and pro homosexuality in general. That is the official position of his church. As I understand it,the black church community in America has generally been anti homosexual. I'm not sure where they stand in Indianapolis as a whole. I'm sure the liberals in power vetted out his views on homosexuality before they appointed him.
I don't know what difference it makes whether his church denomination is gay friendly or not. The national governing board of Disciples of Christ have recently accepted gay marriage. But in Indianapolis the black Christian community is decidedly anti-gay, and in fact they are quick to say that civil rights weren't meant for anybody but blacks, and certainly not gays. So I don't really think Reverend Hampton's pro or con position on gays is the issue or will be an issue. The reality is that the position of Deputy of Neighborhoods is a bone thrown to the black community alone. The gay community doesn't get a Deputy of Neighborhoods. Nor do Hispanics or Whites. And I promise you Rev. Hampton won't spend a minute of his time on anything that isn't a black issue. I don't care. Lord knows the black neighborhoods need advocates. But alleging that his vetting process was cleared for homosexual friendliness is ridiculous. This gay community is under pressure from every other community. Hard to find a friend in Indiana, liberal or conservative. We don't have the votes. We don't have the support. And public opinion turned on us once we got the right to marry. Violence against gay people is up. There are few protections. And nationwide, gay bars are closing at a frightening pace. Its funny when people assert Christians are under assault by gay people. The 97% under assault by the 3%? If many more gay people leave Indiana you won't have to worry about us, because there won't be any of us left. But you'll still have your white Jesus.
I'll take: Ghost Employment for $500, Alex.
I guess I will ask the Question why the hell do we need Deputy Mayors???
Anyway this is how the Corporate Democratic Party binds themselves like a virus to the African-American Community, Gay Community, etc., find someone who will carry the water for the 1%. It is like patronage, in return the expectation is the selected "Leadership" will be expected to get the Vote Out for the slated candidates when it's time.
Think of this way it is like the Academy Awards, the nearly total White Corporate Power selects who the nominees will be for the awards. An African-American a Gay Person, etc., will be selected to MC the show thus demonstrating diversity.
Guess what church gets free police security???
You're right Flogger. The deal is like this: the Indianapolis monied white power structure throws scraps and bones off the table to the so-called leaders of the black community with the understanding that a black candidate will never run for mayor or overtly contest that power structure. This has been the understanding going back at least three generations in this city. While every major rust belt city had riots and civil unrest during the 1960's Indianapolis did not. When UniGov was enacted it solidified the white power structure while allowing even more bones to be tossed to these black community leaders. In exchange for cash and other favors people like Rev.Hampton are expected to keep the lid on the black community and give blacks the feeling they have a seat at the table when in reality they do not and never have has a seat at the table.
I can't believe his church would allow this. Does this make him a part-time minister or a part-time deputy mayor? No way he can pull off two full time jobs. I suspect he will do both half-assed. Since when is a minister only available to his church after 5:00pm during the week and on weekends? If he visits a church member in the hospital on a weekday morning, is he doing so as the deputy mayor or as a minister? If her performs a funeral on a weekday afternoon is he doing so as the minister or as the deputy mayor? Does he get a city vehicle? Is he allowed to drive it to and from church related duties? This doesn't pass the sniff test. And oh, does he tithe 10% of his city salary?
Reading Flogger 3.24, I am thinking not only should we abolish the useless Indianapolis City County Council but also abolish the useless office of Indianapolis Deputy Mayor.
Why do "we" have a deputy mayor? It sure looks like a great way to funnel a hefty paycheck to a political chess pawn who might be connected to potential voting blocs. It sure looks that way.
Didn't experience much of an outrage against Olgen when Ballard appointed him to the same position. Surely there must be more to it than a time study. Is there a religious problem or is it the fact that he is a D?
Olgen was forced to give up his other job.
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