It's been almost twenty-four hours and Pauline Basso is STILL no where to be found.

She's not answering her phone and/or returning calls from the press.

Here's the latest on the majority leader's AWOL status from WLAD's noon news report:



To this date, the only answer she she's given to the press regarding her disgusting behavior is this flippant remark to the News-Times.

"I really have nothing to say...I sent an apology and that's it."

Now, when you put Basso (a rabid supporter of Elise Marciano) response, and the mayor's reaction the entire disgraceful episode, into proper context, you get a better sense of how "apologetic" everyone is about this entire matter that has now placed a dark cloud on Danbury.

1: Basso offended not only African-Americans, but Latinos, women, and Muslims.

2: Basso NEVER MET with Rev. Pitts in regards to her offensive emails.

3: Although Basso was aware that Rev. Pitts was in possession of the emails since at least October 1st, she never issues a public apology to the public, specifically the various ethnic groups she offended, and only writes a private letter of apology to Rev. Pitts (although other organizations also received the emails).

4: Mayor Boughton was also aware of the emails but did not public state that he condemned the emails in an official statement to the public he swore to serve.

5: As you can read in the tone of Basso's response, the majority leader becomes irritated, states that her one private letter to Rev. Pitts was more than enough and states that she has nothing more to say.

6: The other Common Council member who received the emails from Basso over a series of months (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE...AS WELL AS EVERYONE WHO HAS A COPY OF THE EMAILS) hasn't come forward and offered an explanation for her role in the matter or at the very least condemn the majority leader.

7: Planning Commission member Joel Urice's response to his role in the emails is so over-the-top, full of crap, and painfully boneheaded that it warrants a separate post.

8: The anti-immigrant leeches avoidance of Basso's role in the matter, while spinning the issue on those who speak out only highlights their outright bigotry and hatred.

I'll get right to the point...this is complete bullshit plain and simple.

This is an unbelievable level of arrogance from our city's leaders that is completely unacceptable and goes to show everyone in the state (as well as the country) just how out-of-touch these so-called politicians are with reality.

For the mayor of the SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN CONNECTICUT to run away from the television media, hide in his spider hole, position himself on the fetal position and suck on his thumb as the citizens who swore to serve cry outside his office for leadership is absolutely insane and speaks VOLUMES about this man's character.

It's painfully clear that for the last honest man in Danbury, the term "People over Politics" is just a slogan...a cute little catch phrase that carries little weight. Even now, AFTER THE TELEVISION STATIONS packed up and left City Hall, his latest excuses to the local media are heartless and lack the level of common sense you would expect from a billy goat.

A level of shame and disgust has fallen over the office of mayor, which Danbury hasn't seen since the days of Jim "quick Mary Ann, grab the papers before THEY get here" Dyer and political hacks like Basso, Urice, and Boughton have only themselves to blame.

Think I'm the only person pissed off, take a look at Brian Kootz's brutal piece in today's News-Times.

The Rev. Ivan S. Pitts, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and president of the Danbury chapter of the NAACP, looked into the TV cameras and never blinked.

Not on this issue, not with one of Danbury's top public officials accused of peddling ignorance and hate over the Internet.

Surrounded by people of every color, Pitts came to City Hall on Tuesday to call for the resignation of Pauline R. Basso, the Common Council's majority leader and a veteran Republican.

Basso allegedly circulated at least five -- and as many as 15 -- racist and offensive e-mails targeting Africans, Latinos and Muslims. The e-mails were forwarded from April to August 2007.

"We are outraged, deeply concerned, offended and insulted, and find these e-mails unacceptable from anyone," Pitts told about 75 people gathered in front of City Hall.

"But when they come from the majority leader of the Common Council, Pauline Basso, an elected official, we find them particularly disturbing," he said.

[...]

It's no secret that Basso supports Danbury uniting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. But until Monday night, Basso's ugly Internet secret was locked in the closet.

But she wasn't the only one with a key.

Two other e-mails -- one about Mexican immigrants and one about "13 million illegal aliens" -- were sent to Basso by Joel Urice, a Republican member of the city's Planning Commission.

Like Basso, Urice is running for elected office next month. After serving on the Planning Commission as a full-time member for about a year, Urice is seeking a seat on the city's Zoning Commission.

"I just thought that it was funny," said Urice, an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration. "There was nothing intended about anything.

"I am definitely a believer in law and order," he said. "Once again, these people are a burden on our tax system and we're forced to pay for them. It was in no way a racial slur."

Of course, Urice's "these people" remark speaks louder than any denial.

Basso, who did not return a phone message from The News-Times seeking comment on Tuesday, has served on the Common Council for about 15 years.

Although Mayor Mark Boughton condemned Basso's actions, he stopped short of calling for her resignation, or even a public apology that stretched beyond one person.

In Boughton's mind, a two-paragraph apology to Pitts dated Oct. 1 was sufficient. It addressed the transgression.

Hardly.

Basso needs to stand before the people who elected her -- most especially, those Danbury residents she insulted and offended -- and seek their forgiveness, not the forgiveness of Pitts.

Maybe Basso doesn't need to convene a special press conference like Pitts did Tuesday at City Hall. But certainly, an apology at a Common Council meeting -- with on-the-record comments -- would be a start.

"Look, forwarding those e-mails was wrong and completely inappropriate," Boughton said. "Mrs. Basso has accepted responsibility and has issued an apology. It was certainly out of bounds and she shouldn't have done it.

"But she's already made a very public apology," Boughton insisted. "I would say, in terms of her resignation, that decision will be up to the voters to decide 3-and-a-half weeks from now. But again, I can't emphasize enough how inappropriate it was."

Make no mistake, there is no room for racism among public officials -- not one off-color remark, not one demeaning joke, not one hurtful e-mail.

To dismiss these e-mails as harmless is to miss the point. Racist jokes are just ignorance and hate cloaked in humor, no matter their source.

[...]

As the city's mayor, as the city's top-ranking Republican, Boughton really needs to exercise "People Over Politics," as his re-election signs proclaim.

He needs to ask Basso to step down, even if there are only 3 1/2 weeks left in her term. It's not enough to scold her in one breath and keep her on the Common Council in the next.

And yet, Urice is just as culpable as Basso in this whole sad affair. Over the last 48 hours, they have become hugely polarizing figures, touchstones for Danbury's changing population.

But understand, Basso and Urice are not the victims here. Don't make them out to be martyrs, public mouthpieces for ignorance and hate in Danbury.

Better yet, don't vote for them on Nov. 6.

Amen.

In closing, I think this video clip from yesterday's press conference makes the case.

Make no mistake, if the overwhelming amount of people who showed up and supported Rev. Pitts ON 1 P.M. ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON is any indication, this matter is far from over and you out of touch Republicans who have no problem buddying up with the likes of Elise Marciano and her band of racist misfits better hurry-up and respond to the reality check that's slapping you in the face.


NOTE TO THE MAYOR, BASSO, AND ALL OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL INVOLVED IN THIS MESS

We are upset...we are hurt...we are ANGRY...and we make up the residents of Danbury that you're swore to represent.

Don't for one moment think that you can just hide and hope this latest act of arrogance and narrow-mindedness will just blow over. We're far beyond that point now and...in fact, we're quickly approaching the point of no return.

It would be in your best interest of the Republican leadership here in this city to grasp the seriousness of this situation and the hurt these emails has caused in the various ethnic groups that you usually overlook.

Mark: I question your leadership and your ability to make correct decisions in the face of criticism.

Joel: I question your common sense and wonder why you think your cowboy tactics (or twisted mind-set) have any place in reality of the world we live in.

Other elected officials involved in this matter (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE): Show some guts, come forward, do the right thing and condemn these emails. Your silence only leads people to believe that you see no problem in these hurtful messages.

Pauline: Please, please, please just resign.