Officials: No animosity in removal of Obama pic

[unhappycamper]

Officials: No animosity in removal of Obama pic
By Dan Elliott - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 24, 2009 15:42:51 EST

DENVER — The removal of a picture of Barack Obama from a Presidents’ Day sign at a Colorado Air Force Base wasn’t done out of “political or racial animosity,” the military said Tuesday.

The Peterson Air Force Base commissary was responding to complaints from customers who said the holiday is meant to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, not current presidents, said Ron Kelly, a spokesman for the Defense Commissary Agency, which oversees the military’s commissary system.

Thirteen commissary employees filed a grievance over the removal through the American Federation of Government Employees. One, Lavonda Bacon, said she suspects racism was behind the incident.

Kelly said he can’t comment on the grievance until the agency files a formal response. It wasn’t clear when it would be filed.

Obama’s picture was on a letter-size sign announcing store hours for Presidents’ Day, Feb. 16. Kelly said the picture of Obama was a small image in a corner of the sign, not a large portrait.


Rest of article at: http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_peterson_obama_portrait_022409/%2e

[DrDan]

1. bullroar - bet a dime-to-a-donut that junior's picture was flying high last year