Tennessee CEO compares Michelle Obama to chimpanzee

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Tennessee CEO compares Michelle Obama to chimpanzee

http://rawstory.com/2010/03/tenn-ceo-compares-michelle-obama-chimpanzee/



By Andrew McLemore
Saturday, March 6th, 2010 -- 8:21 pm

"I don't care who you are, ... this is funny."

Thus began an e-mail that Walt Baker, CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association, sent to to a few friends, the president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and several members of the press.

It continues by comparing First Lady Michelle Obama to Tarzan's chimpanzee sidekick Cheeta. There are two photos at the bottom — one of Obama with an awkward pursing of her lips and another of a chimp.

Unsurprisingly, Baker has already begun apologizing for the outrage created by the e-mail.

"I am sorry for my actions. I am sorry for the offensive contents of the email," Baker said. "I can only hope those that know me can find it in their hearts to forgive me."

[Bicoastal]

1. This is old, isn't it?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. Only if old = Saturday, March 6th, 2010 -- 8:21 pm

That's the time stamp on Raw Story.

[WCGreen]

2. If I were a progressive organiztion....

I would call for a boycott of holding any conventions in Tennessee until this racist ass hole is fired...

But that's just me, a liberal northerner.

[Kalyke]

3. I'm a liberal Southerner who lives in Tennessee.

Thankfully, I don't stay in hotels here.

But, a boycott is not necessary... you'd know that if you read the article:

Many of Tennessee's leaders are angry that their state is once again front and center of a negative media spotlight.

"Who wants to come to a state where people think like that? This is far reaching and it's damaging," said District 3 Metro Council Member Walter Hunt.

This isn't the first e-mail sent by a Tennessee official since President Obama took office that smacks of racism.

In October, a state trooper sent a "white pride" e-mail to nearly 800 state employees.

Several months before, an aide in the state Senate sent out an e-mail depicting Obama as two cartoonish white eyes peering from a black background.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau has decided to drop its contract with Baker's marketing firm Saturday, but many are calling for Baker's resignation from the Tennessee Hospitality Association.

[WCGreen]

25. He needs to be fired...

that is why I would boycott...

If these ass hats get away with some weak ass apology, it changes nothing...

Why do you think the GOP just says what ever it does. It''s because no one holds their feet to the fire...

[tnlefty]

7. It's not just you, I'm goddamned sick and tired of the

knuckle dragging mouth breathing asshats from this state getting all of the attention, thus giving the impression that the whole state is comprised of their ilk. Rarely is any attention given to liberals in this state, except in derision, by media of any stripe.

Now if you will excuse me, I'll be tearing my hair out.

[bluestateguy]

4. I do not accept his apology

Now would be a real good time for Mr. Obama to make a phone call to the IRS commissioner about this man's tax returns.

That's how it was done in LBJ and Nixon's day.

[flvegan]

6. Mr. Baker should be unemployed on Monday then.

[David Zephyr]

8. Friggin' amazing. There are some sick people in this country.

What an evil ass this CEO is.

[Xenotime]

27. Tenn. is not the most progressive state in the union..what do you expect?

[Zoeisright]

9. So that means I can compare Baker to a worm?

No, not strong enough. He's a fucking ignorant cruel stupid fascist racist bigot. There.

[applegrove]

10. If they are so public with their racism in public...think how much horrid crap

they spew in private.

[Kalyke]

11. Here's his email... have at 'em.

[e-mail]

FWIW, this isn't a government organization, it's kind of like the chamber of commerce.

Currently in its 82nd year of operation, the TnHA (formerly the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association) is a not-for-profit trade association representing the hospitality industry in Tennessee and its preferred vendor partners. TnHA is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

[BlueIdaho]

14. Raise fucking hell!

Somebody signs this oaf's checks - let them all know this kind of overt racism is the shortcut to the front of the unemployment line.

[HipChick]

12. His apology is unacceptable

[sakabatou]

13. Riiiiiiiight....

"I am sorry for my actions. I am sorry for the offensive contents of the email," Baker said. "I can only hope those that know me can find it in their hearts to forgive me."

Bull. Shit.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yodoobo]

16. Will he think its funny when the secret service pays a visit?

They don't look to kindly on this sort of thing.

[Quantess]

17. That's the kind of thing only someone hiding under a white hood would say.

It's unforgiveable. Apology not accepted.

[Lyric]

18. What an asshole.

Racist, idiotic piece of shit.

[liberal N proud]

19. Their not even covering up their racism any more.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

20. That's the second layer of outrage

There's nothing new about racism.

The way that it's been gleefully paraded around since Obama's taken office shocks me, because I thought we were better than that.

I guess some of us are, while others are just unrepentant pigs, the scum of the earth.

[liberal N proud]

22. When we elected Obama, I thought the country had turned the corner

But since then, I have been proven wrong and stories like this are the evidence.

Sad that a nation as diverse as this one being called the great melting pot is so racist.

[Dogmudgeon]

21. Perhaps this is a GOOD thing

An event like this is kind of like lancing a pocket of infection, draining the pus, and irrigating the area with sterile saline.

Or maybe it's Yet Another Genteel Racist who has less self-control than your average 8-year-old.

--d!
(Yes, this was a seriously ironic, nay, sarcastic post.)

[HipChick]

23. Please send an email...people are taking action...it only works when you do..

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100306/NEWS0202/3060339/CVB-drops-hospitality-executive-s-contract-over-controversial-Obama-email

[Golden Raisin]

24. Only thing he's truly sorry for

is having to use chimpanzee instead of the n word.

[Bluebear]

26. 'I can only hope those that know me' - translation: other racists. nt