Part 2: Blunt's Chief Makes Racist Comments (without apology)

KC Blue Blogger beat me to it. As noted last week, Joe Torres, the legislative liaison for the MHDC, wrote to Governor Matt Blunt about Ed Martin's racist comments. Tony's KC broke this story. I've made a Sunshine Law request (there's a helpful form on soon to be Gov. Nixon's web site). KC Blue Blogger got the letter and here's the good parts:

I am the proud grandson of Mexican immigrants who came to this country to provide a better life for their family and unlimited opportunities for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My mother’s family were migrant farm workers. My father’s family were railroad laborers. My uncles all served honorably during WW II and fought for our country on D-Day and during the Normandy invasion; the Battle of the Bulge; Iwo Jima; Guadalcanal and Okinawa. They were highly decorated with two Bronze Stars; a Purple Heart and many other commendations. My father served honorable in the U.S. Navy. He also served in the U.S. Army and fought in three major battles during the Korean War.

I am extremely proud of my Mexican heritage, culture and especially my family and I will not let anyone demean or degrade it, least of all Mr. Martin.

In your letter to MHDC on or about August 29th, you directed the Commissioners of the Missouri Housing Development Commission, and I am paraphrasing, “to address this emotional issue in a dignified manner that shows respect…” If you stand behind those words, I strongly encourage you to take any and all actions to ensure that Mr. Martin’s inflammatory language is never again repeated in a public or private meeting. Lastly, I am respectfully asking you to direct Mr. Martin to issue a public apology at the beginning of the September 14th MHDC Commission meeting and have it included in the official record of the meeting.

The following folks are calling for a resignation and an apology:
Coalition of Hispanic Organizations (COHO)
Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce- Missouri
Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce- Kansas
Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce PAC
Communication Workers of America (CWA)
Teamsters Missouri Hispanic Caucus
Daniel Romero, President of Inter-Faith Workers Justice
Rita Valenciano, President of Coalition of Hispanic Organizations
Mario Rojas, Teamsters Hispanic Caucus
A.J. Villegas Jr., Representative CWA District 6
Lynda Callon, Westside CAN Center
Theresa Garza, Jackson County Legislator-At-Large
Nicholas Moreno, Legislative Assistant to Jackson County Legislator Theresa Garza
Mike Talboy, State Representative
Leonard Hughes IV, State Representative
Paul Rojas, Former State Representative
Lali Garcia, La Raza and Westport Political Club
Enrique Chaurand, Vista Communications
David Moreno, Vice-President UAW Retirees Council