McGee and Sykes: When Private Grief Becomes Very Public

Have you seen Drudge today?

Michael McGee's bilge has gone national, REALLY national.



At the top of the page is a link to ABC's Milwaukee affiliate WISN 12.

Michelle Malkin has the story, too.

McGee's latest hate-filled rant is no longer a Milwaukee matter.

That's a good thing in terms of exposing McGee and his enablers, including WNOV and the local media.

I think it's a good thing that the dysfunctional city of Milwaukee is getting national attention.

Anyone researching Michael McGee, Sr. is sure to come across the disgrace of Michael McGee, Jr.

The country can learn what a mess Mayor Tom Barrett's city is. It is such a mess.

Perhaps this negative publicity will be the push needed to get Milwaukee's complacent community leaders to act. Maybe something positive will come from this.

Maybe this humiliation will finally be the wake up call for the city's leaders and the community to condemn the sort of hate that the elder McGee, the younger McGee, and their followers promote.

That said, it's heart-breaking that something as tragic as the death of Charlie Sykes' mom has become a national matter, thanks to the ugliness of Michael McGee.

I know what it's like to lose a parent. I know the grief. Because I'm not a person in the public's eye, I had privacy and time to grieve.

As a public figure, Charlie Sykes' loss is playing out in an open forum. That has to be extremely difficult as the family mourns their loss. I don't think I could handle that.

Then again, when tragedy hits a known personality, the individual receives an out-pouring of prayers and support that unknowns don't get.

Look at Elizabeth Edwards. Because she's a public figure, thousands and thousands of people have reached out to her as she deals with her health challenges.

Others, all of us unknowns, don't get gestures of support on that kind of grand scale as we face our personal problems and pain. Some of us suffer alone.

But on the flip side, we aren't publicly scrutinized and criticized and taunted as we confront our challenges. We have our precious privacy intact, time to grieve and cope with whatever we're dealt.

I guess that's the tradeoff.

Still, I'm sorry that Michael McGee's repugnant words are fodder for a national audience because the sicko probably loves the attention he's getting. He's such a twisted, hateful person that I suppose he's thrilled.

Hopefully, McGee won't win this one. Hopefully, this will be the end of his reign of hate in Milwaukee. Hopefully, members of Milwaukee's African-American community will speak out AGAINST McGee and abandon him.

I'm so sorry that the Sykes family has to endure this additional pain.

I think it's appropriate to highlight the family's statement.

WTMJ's Charlie Sykes confirmed that his mother, Katherine B. Sykes, died in a fire at her home in Mequon this afternoon. She was 87 years old.

Kay Sykes was a warm, intelligent, and generous woman who took great pride in her son's work as a writer and broadcaster. She delighted in her three grandchildren and was very proud of their academic, athletic, and artistic achievements. She loved books, music, and nature. She lived a full life, and her family and friends will deeply miss her.

Charlie wishes to thank his listeners for their thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

You can send your messages of support to Charlie and family at charlie@620wtmj.com.