Last week, Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter said she would be happy to field questions about the Mutual Benefits scandal on her weekend AM radio show on 850-WFTL.
But Ritter wasn't very pleased when a caller named John brought up the scandal involving both the mayor and her lobbyist husband Russ Klenet on the air Saturday morning. Ritter's voice rose with anger, she cut the caller off repeatedly, accused him of being, uh, me, and then terminated the call.
Here's a rough, but wholly accurate, transcript of the exchange. Enjoy.
John: I wanted to tell Hazel that if she wants her house renovated all she has to do is make a deal with Stacy's husband, the lobbyist --.
Ritter: John ... why are you lying about what what you want to talk about?
John: Because you are a liar and a lowlife and you wouldn't take my call if I said I wanted to talk about your corruption ...
Ritter: First of all I'm not corrupt, John, so I'm happy to talk about what you want to talk about. I'm not like your Republican cronies who only want to talk about what they want to talk about. ... You're the one who doesn't want to hear both sides .you're the one who has already made up your mind, so why the hell should I waste my time trying to convince you of something you're already convinced I've done? Why should I? Why should I waste your breath on you? Tell me why?
John: You have to comment on it--
Ritter: ... You know who you're talking to, I don't have a freaking clue who you are. But last week when you said you wanted to talk about education, you lied about that, you really wanted to talk about Mutual Benefits. This week you said you wanted to talk about the bathroom situation, you lied about that. God I hope you never run for public office.
John: I'm the liar? It's too bad all that AIDS research went because the two convicted felons you're husband does busines with --
Ritter: First of all John my husband doesn't do business with them. Oh John, please. Stop reading the New Times. You're probably Bob Norman. The only way you can talk to me is to lie and say you're John and you want to talk about public education. You're probably Bob Norman from the New Times who I wouldn't give the time of day to. Next time John calls ... tell him to you-know-what himself. I'm sick and tired ... you know ... they have to lie about what they want to talk about. Who do they think I am? Bill O'Reilly? Laura Schlesinger?
