Former Mayor Shirley Franklin sees traces of Trump in Reed’s ‘bullying tactics’

Mayor’s former political mentor has ‘marveled at the personal attacks I have garnered from him’ when they disagree

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“Reed’s bullying outbursts are not much different from those we have witnessed these last 18 months in president-elect Donald Trump’s despicable behavior. If such behavior and tactics are acceptable by any high ranking elected or appointed official, as Americans we lose because the guarantee of free speech won’t matter. If everyday folks and leaders are intimidated by the possibility of retribution and verbal or physical attacks by their leaders, then fewer will exercise their freedom of speech. When we lose civility in politics and accept bullying from our President or our Mayor, our human rights are weakened.”

— Former Mayor Shirley Franklin, writing on her Blogging While Blue website, compares Mayor Kasim Reed’s penchant for forcefully responding to critics to Pres.-elect Donald Trump’s bullying style on the campaign trail. Franklin, a former political mentor to Reed, says she has “marveled at the personal attacks I have garnered from him when we either disagree on the facts or hold different opinions” and that Reed “routinely smears me and disparaged her late son Cabral, a political consultant unnecessarily.” In an email, Reed spokeswoman Jenna Garland says “we wish former Mayor Franklin a happy Thanksgiving.” 

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