Saturday, October 15, 2005

Republican Family Values

Incumbent Republican Durham city councilman John Best Jr. was sentenced last December to 48 hours in jail and two years' probation for failing to make timely alimony payments to his ex-wife. The court also garnisheed his City Council salary and wages from his bartending job at the Bennett Pointe Grill. (N&O background here)

Last Tuesday, Mr. Best trailed badly in the Durham city council primary but eked out just enough votes to make it onto the November 8th ballot. When asked via telephone to comment on the fact that some voters said they couldn't support a alimony scofflaw (not to mention jailbird) for city council, Best reportedly lashed out at the "liberal media":

"A part-time bartender, Best issued a lengthy verbal tirade that displayed an impressive and varied command of curse words for an elected official. He then laid down a fiery challenge reminiscent of former Sen. Zell Miller's on-air invitation of NBC's Chris Matthews to a duel. 'I'll meet you anywhere, anytime, you [expletives deleted],' the councilman screamed before hanging up."

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