Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten Featured On Leno

Kansas has a reputation for being socially backwards and culturally isolated. This is no secret. Westboro Baptist Church and Governer Sam Brownback are prime examples. Even the Speaker of the House here in Kansas, Mike O'Neal, and his rude, racially charged emails about Mrs. Obama, are too backward to be found among polite human beings. But a couple of days ago, Kansas reached an embarrassing new low. Bill Bunten, the mayor of Topeka, made a speech wherein he insulted the high school prom date of Shawnee County Commissioner, Ted Ensley. Basically, he called her a prostitute. He did not mention how long ago senior prom was for either of them. One might guess that it may have been a long, long time ago, harking back to a day when such jokes may have been appropriate, but since there never was such a day, one would dismiss that thought, and wonder if every white Kansan male is a bore. We would hope not. Bill Bunten also ridiculed Ted Ensley because he dated a young woman from the Potowatomie Tribe in the past. This information really did not belong in his speech. Jay Leno also thought it was a bit unusual.