The many faces of Larry Langford

There doesn't seem to be a lot of sympathy out there for Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Larry Langford, who was arrested this week and charged on Monday with 101 counts of bribery and corruption, including charges of accepting expensive jewelry in return for public favors.

Langford seems to be taking heat from all sides, including two of our own syndicated bloggers at The Daily Voice.

Writing what he calls "another black official 'done went and done' me wrong post," attorney and columnist Wain Bennett accuses Langford of betraying the public trust.

"Here is the thing Larry: All those folks who felt the wrath of Bull Conner's dogs and the sting of the fire hoses on their backs, didn't do it so that...[you] could get elected Mayor of their city one day, just to be able to fly up to New York and have Rolex watches and jewelry given to you at the expense of the interests of the citizens you serve," writes Bennett.

Anticipating Langford's response to the charges, Bennett challenges the mayor to come clean. "A black man is President now. You can't cry racism while stealing from us anymore, that crap will not fly in the age of Obama," he writes.

In his scathing piece, Bennett calls Langford a "phony" politician who forgot where he came from and who he serves. "Here is hoping that if found guilty, this greedy scumbag, like 'dollar Bill' and all the others who came before him, will do a nice long perp walk with some shiny bling on both of his wrists," writes Bennett.

Bennett was not alone in his criticism of the mayor. "It couldn't happen to a better person," says writer Rod McCullom.

McCullom describes Langford as a "black anti-gay social conservative" and criticizes the mayor for refusing to issue a parade permit for gay pride earlier this year. It's been a colorful year for Mayor Larry P. Langford, whose motto is 'A world without Jesus is a mess waiting to happen," writes McCullom.

McCullom says the mayor wore a sackcloth and Rolex watch in April as he led a prayer rally against crime. "Oh and a children's charity founded by Langford is also being investigated by the feds for lavishly spending money and writing checks to a gay porn star Ryan Idol," according to McCullom. "None of this sounds very Christian," he writes.

If the critics are after him, Mayor Langford doesn't seem to be bothered, at least not publicly. It was almost business as usual for Langford on Tuesday. The mayor delivered his regular weekly report to the city council and even took part in the annual Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony, according to the Birmingham News.  

The mayor was defiant with reporters as well. "If you all are waiting for me for me to drop my head and crawl, that is not going to happen," he told them. "I got elected to do a job and I'm going to do that job," he said.