By: (AP) An independent political action committee whose name was on a full-page newspaper advertisement likening media coverage of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to lynching denied Tuesday that it was behind the ad.
The ad, published last week in the city's largest black newspaper, depicted images of black corpses hanging from trees and stated it was paid for by Citizens for Honest Government. But Robert (Bill) Miller, the PAC's treasurer, said his group didn't pay for the ad, and he didn't know who placed it.
"I didn't know about the ad until I saw it," Miller said.
The ad, which appeared in the Michigan Chronicle last Wednesday under the headline "Lynching is Still Legal in America," claimed the media has targeted Kilpatrick, who is up for re-election Nov. 8. The ad also said the media has failed to examine challenger Freman Hendrix's tenure as deputy mayor.
The ad echoed complaints by Kilpatrick about media coverage during his first term, but the mayor has said he didn't condone the images and denied the ad was affiliated with his administration or campaign.
A message seeking comment was left Tuesday with Sam Logan, the Michigan Chronicle's publisher.
A similar version of the ad appeared in the Oct. 16-22 edition of The Michigan Citizen, another community newspaper. Catherine Kelly, who is co-publisher, said Tuesday the newspaper was investigating who placed the ad.
Kilpatrick has implied that the media is out to get him with scrutiny over his use of a city credit card on expensive out-of-town travel and a city lease of a luxury sport utility vehicle for his family. In May, his father apologized after comparing the media's treatment of his son to Nazi propaganda.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here