The Mayor and the Media: Funkhouser’s turn

I always figure things are going downhill for a politician when he starts blaming the media for his troubles. Over the last 22 months, I’ve heard Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser do that at a town hall meeting, in his weekly newsletter and on his front porch.

As editor of the mainstream media outlet that may have been the toughest on him and his wife, Gloria Squitiro, I’d argue that all politicians make their own media problems. The mayor, however, most certainly has a different opinion — one he gets to express in a moderated discussion sponsored by the Kansas City Press Club at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania.

Reporters, bloggers and the general public are welcome. According to the Press Club, Funkhouser “says he’ll be happy to weigh in on whether he feels he’s been covered fairly, as well as where he thinks we’ve dropped the ball.”

You have to admit the guy has guts.