Perhaps no city leader was as close to the late Carol Ann Campbell as U.S. Rep. Bob Brady.
"I believe her life partner for 25 years was our congressman, Bob Brady," quipped Fredrica Massiah-Jackson, former president judge of Common Pleas Court, during a three-hour memorial service held for Campbell today.
Brady himself referred to Campbell's nephews as his own during the service, and her brother as his brother as well.
He also passed on some sentiments that Campbell had shared with him before her death Nov. 19.
Looking into the pews at Saint Matthews A.M.E. Church, he told City Council President Anna Verna that Campbell believed Verna was "very kind to her" and thanked her for sharing "institutional knowledge" during Campbell's brief Council tenure. Campbell also thought well of Verna's chief aide, Anne Kelly King, Brady said.
He then turned his attention to former Mayor John Street, telling him, "She wanted you to know you were a good mayor to her." Sure, Street initially tried to turn Campbell down once or twice. But in the end, Brady told him, "She trained you well."
Next, Brady addressed a trio that from time to time fell on Campbell's bad side. "She had three little bad black boys she wanted to say hello to," Brady said, naming U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, Mayor Nutter, and state Sen. Anthony Williams.
As for himself, Brady said Campbell had a different name: "I was her bad little white boy."
The congressman then lashed out at the news media, saying they unfairly criticized Campbell in an effort to "balance" news stories. "And that's why there may be no more press in the city," he said.
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It's always classy to attack the news media at a funeral, isn't it? I think the coverage of Carol was pretty balanced over the years, but failing to file reports and then a misdemeanor campaign finance conviction are objective facts, hard to ignore. I think Bob has it backwards -- "no more press in this city" is what will allow political corruption to fester here in Phila., not the other way around.— will
Comment removed.- Lashing out at the media at a funeral..What class..That's the kind of people we have running this city and country
- bob brady's words were nothing less than perfect! it was exactly what she wouldwant, and it was HER service!— SMOOTH
- Comment removed.
- After Fumo, Brady is next. Brady likely has his office sniffed for wires once a week. It's not the papers that are dying, that death moan is the Democratic machine.— CleanupPhilly
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