Story Archive

Sun of a Beach

“You’re a pitiful human being that will never matter to nobody. Ever.” said Mike Thomas, mayor of Panama City Beach, Fla., at a council meeting. His target was Burnie Thompson, who hosts talk shows online and on the radio. “When I ran for office, I didn’t lose my personal rights,” Mayor Thomas said. “That’s my personal opinion of Burnie Thompson.” He did apologize, however, for some other rays of sunshine he cast at the meeting — on women, smokers, and the obese. The city’s police department had asked to hire another dispatcher, and Mayor Thomas said: “You need to hire people that aren’t fat, don’t smoke, and aren’t going get pregnant, and that way you could save us some money.” Thomas claimed that the remark was a joke, and that he doesn’t discriminate. (AC/Panama City News Herald) ...And if Panama City Beach elects a mayor who doesn’t go around insulting people, it could save itself some embarrassment.