FDLE Commissioner Resigns After Comparing Obama to Bin Laden

[demdiva]

Remarks prompted Tunnell's resignation
By Jim Ash
DEMOCRAT CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060422/NEWS01/604220329/-1/NEWS02

Gov. Jeb Bush acknowledged Friday that Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Guy Tunnell resigned after making inappropriate remarks about civil-rights leaders.

Bush said that he met with Tunnell and Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings Thursday and that Tunnell gave his resignation and apologized to Jennings, who was present when the remarks were made.

Published reports say Tunnell joked at an agency head meeting about an upcoming protest rally. He reportedly compared the Rev. Jesse Jackson to outlaw Jesse James and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to terrorist Osama bin Laden. Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton attended a protest Friday at the Capitol.

''My attempt at humor was ill-conceived, ill-timed and inappropriate,'' Tunnell said in a statement, adding he did not intend to be disrespectful.

- SNIP -
Some news outlets seemed to miss this part of the story all together
http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/2669396.html
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/21/State/FDLE_chief_steps_down.shtml
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-mprotest2106apr21,0,6964317.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

[JI7]

1. "adding he did not intend to be disrespectful"

then what did he intend. all comments focused on black Dems.

stupid ignorant fucker.

[AussieDave]

2. The only reason he's "sorry" is that he got caught

What an asshat.

[rpannier]

3. I believe he wasn't trying to be disrespectful

He was trying to be funny.
And as a long time listener of the Stephanie Miller Show, I have come to learn this about Republican humor, because Steph reminds us of it all the time...It's NOT Funny.

[demdiva]

4. This reminds me of Trent Lott trying to be "funny" about Strom Thurmond

Which to be honest, I kind of believe. Don't mis-understand me... it was stupid and wrong. But in addition, it was incredibly naive to think a these statements are ok. Why don't the Republicans understand that any racially based humor, especially out of the mouth of a Republican, is just a bad bad bad idea?

[izzie]

5. I am willing to bet he still does not understand what he did.

It is like another time zone