Congratulations, Ken Lewis — two stereotypes in one!

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There are a lot of American personality stereotypes known around the world, such as "Cowboy," "Hollywood Celebrity," "Tacky Tourist," "Rap Singer," or "Redneck Sheriff." Real people, of course, rarely fit stereotypes exactly, but Charlotte is lucky. Yesterday, two Charlotteans in the news managed to represent a total of three American stereotypes between them. First came Judge Bill Belk who is rapidly becoming the champion "Arrogant Rich Guy Who Thinks He Can Do Whatever He Wants" stereotype. Belk, who has been told repeatedly that he's breaking judicial ethics rules by serving on corporate boards, actually asked to be excused from his judging gig yesterday in order to attend a corporate board meeting. Topping even Belk in the stereotype sweepstakes was Ken Lewis, current honcho of Bank of America, who managed yesterday to fulfill the requirements for two stereotypes at the same time: "Corporate Tight-ass" AND "Arrogant Rich Guy Who Thinks He Can Do Whatever He Wants" — quite a feat! Lewis, along with other banking bigshots, was hauled before a Congressional committee, where he seemed so tight-assed, you couldn't have driven a nail up his rectum with a sledgehammer. Afterward, he blew off the press by having a flunky wave off the serfs who dared to wish to speak to one of the mighty financial Lords of the Universe. We knew you could do it, Ken — congratulations!