BIG SISTER WHIMPS OUT

As noted in our last report on Grand Rapids mayor George Heartwell's campaign to file a federal lawsuit to overturn the voters' approval of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, Heartwell a.k.a. Big Sister seemed to lack the stomach to battle the City Commission's opposition.  After his defiant pledge a couple of weeks ago to sacrifice his office to fight the good fight, this week Heartwell conceded that the city government wasn't going to fight that fight.  He acknowledged the plain fact that the federal courts have spoken clearly on the issue, plus the cost of pointless litigation for the budget-crunched city government would be far too expensive.

Heartwell's surrender to reality is a good thing for the residents and taxpayers of Grand Rapids.  It certainly seemed to take the steam out of his sanctimony, which is obnoxious.  But to whimp out so quickly on issue that he bellowed he would stake his political career upon ... Hmm.  Well, folks, I didn't think it was possible, but Heartwell has managed to make his trademark sanctimony even more contemptible by making it so spineless.