More racist jokes found from Atwater (CA) councilman

[marmar]

Here's the pig:





AP, via San Jose Mercury News:



More racist jokes found from Atwater councilman
The Associated Press

Posted: 08/12/2009 02:47:26 PM PDT


ATWATER, Calif.—An Atwater councilman is in more hot water after his e-mails released by the city show he sent more racist jokes than previously reported.

Gary Frago forwarded the jokes to a Merced County supervisor and other Atwater officials. Recipients have said they don't recall receiving them.

The city released more than 200 e-mail messages sent by Frago at the request of the Merced Sun-Star. Most are disparaging to either blacks or Hispanics, and one e-mail's punchline is an enticement for the assassination of President Barack Obama.

After the newspaper wrote about eight of the e-mails, some citizens demanded he resign.

Frago said he won't resign as a councilman, but he did give up his position as mayor pro tem and said he's enrolled in sensitivity training.

Frago declined comment on the newly released e-mails.


http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_13046342?nclick_check=1

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. What really made me angry was that the council was citicizing the newspapers for publishing his

racism. One councilman said the newspaper was "irresponsible" for doing so.

[stillcool]

2. enrolled in 'sensitivity training'?

I wonder who teaches that.

[imdjh]

4. More to the point- why bother?

He's an elected official, and he's probably not going to be re-elected anyway. He obviously thought the emails were funny, so why all this sack cloth and ashes crap? Why doesn't he just say, "Hey, I thought they were funny. If you haven't told an offensive joke then you are either a liar or the most boring person in the world. Get over it. A Joke's a joke. " Something like that. Why pretend to be sorry? Does anyone honestly think he's sorry about thinking the jokes were funny? Don't be ridiculous. If anything, he's sorry this has turned into a pain in the ass.

[marmar]

5. Not telling racist jokes makes you boring?

I guess I prefer to be boring then.

[imdjh]

6. I broadened the category to "offensive" jokes...

.... for the express purpose of making sure that the self-righteous would be included.

[stillcool]

7. Of course he is sorry...

just because a public official is a racist, that doesn't make him a bad guy. As far as a bore..I guess it depends on what you think of as an interesting/fun person. He sounds like a real hoot.

[imdjh]

8. Jokes are funny because they are shocking.

If Chris Rock were politically correct, there would be no point in watching him.

[stillcool]

9. Yeah..those public officials..

real comedians! Love the racist jokes! Keep 'em coming!

[Maru Kitteh]

10. You think racist jokes are funny. We get it.

We also reserve the right to think you're full of shit. Alrighty then. That's settled.

[imdjh]

11. I can only think of one comedian who doesn't tell offensive jokes: Ellen.

And she's not particularly funny. She's pleasant and amusing, but not shocking and funny.

Anyway, the point was that this politician isn't fooling anyone with his sensitivity class, in fact it's rather pathetic whenever someone takes this route. If he can stand on his record, then he should stand on his record. If he can't stand on his record, then he needs to go anyway.

[Maru Kitteh]

13. He wasn't trying to "stand on his record" in private emails but NICE TRY.

And thanks for the update. In your world, the only people you can think of who do not tell racist jokes are not that funny, according to you.

[imdjh]

16. I have a new policy of not arguing with people who can't read.

Since it's essential to this communication form.

He wasn't trying to "stand on his record" in private emails but NICE TRY

No one said he was trying to stand on his record in his private emails. Standing on his record would be something he would do in his defense. So, since I have no intention of arguing with your imagination, enough of you. Bye!

[theothersnippywshrub]

12. Probably David Duke. n/t

[rurallib]

3. Time for some "town hall" treatment.

plus some petitions, Lttes, guest editorials, calls to the local call-in shows.
No doubt this guy is a hero to the 30% dead-enders.

[The Animator]

14. All racist jokes are offensive, but not all offensive jokes are racist...

I thoroughly enjoy me some offensive jokes...
I enjoy hearing them...
I enjoy telling them...
sex jokes, religion jokes, national tradgedy jokes, dead baby jokes...
I think they're fucking hillarious... cause I'm a sick bastard, and I'm fine with that.

but even I draw the line at racist jokes.. Well, except for hispanic jokes (relax, my last name is Fernandez) There isn't anything wrong with poking fun at you're own cultures eccentricities. It's when you mock someone else's culture that people start getting pissed off.

Jeff Foxworthy had a great line about his specialty
"You can't make fun of Rednecks unless you are one... and I are one."

In general though, race jokes are just messy... Chris Rock can tell a joke with the "N" word in it, but if a fan of his repeats it, and he's white, hispanic, or asian, ... he's gonna get his ass kicked.

[pipoman]

15. Frankly

"There isn't anything wrong with poking fun at you're own cultures eccentricities. It's when you mock someone else's culture that people start getting pissed off."

any ethnic comedian can (and most do) make Caucasians the butt of their jokes and that seems to be the only exception to your statement. I tire of that too. Some are fine, many are crude and would result in admonishment if the same 'joke' were told about any other ethnic group.

[Dramarama]

17. Other guy was detained, why not him