CEO compares Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee in email. Loses big client...GOOD!

[Liberal_in_LA]

E-mail compares first lady to Tarzan's Cheeta

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Tennessean of Nashville reports that Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker's e-mail compares the first lady to Tarzan sidekick Cheeta. At the bottom of the e-mail is a photo of Obama, caught in an awkward moment with her lips pursed, and one of a chimpanzee wearing a similar expression.

Baker apologized in an e-mail to Nashville Metro Council members Saturday saying the message was not intended to be malicious but meant as "political humor."

Also on Saturday, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau said it would drop its contract with Baker's marketing firm.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/03/06/national/a153159S41.DTL#ixzz0hXqjIJ1k



Tennessee CEO Walt Baker sorry for 'humor' e-mail gag comparing Michelle Obama to Tarzan's chimp
By Michael Sheridan
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, March 7th 2010, 1:47 PM

An emailed "joke" from an Tennesee CEO comparing the First Lady to a famous movie chimp ended up being no laughing matter.

The CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association issued an apology this weekend for an offensive e-mail he recently sent to several people, including members of the press and a public official, comparing Michelle Obama to Cheetah from the Tarzan movies.

"I deeply apologize to anyone who is offended by this action," Walt Baker said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/03/07/2010-03-07_tennessee_ceo_walt_baker_sorry_for_humor_email_gag_comparing_michelle_obama_to_c.html#ixzz0hXrK2ifU

[Lars39]

1. I see he gave the standard non-apology.

I hope he loses a ton of business over this.

[roguevalley]

18. of course it was malicious because he sent it. he's just finding out that

people he thinks are as bigoted as him aren't.

[MUAD_DIB]

19. Yep. Im sorry you are offended.

Subtext: I'm really not sorry if I offended you since I am a racist bigot.

I hope the redneck loses his ass over this one as well.

[Warpy]

2. Would it be wrong to point out his resemblance to a fireplug

with intelligence to match?

[Faygo Kid]

5. Yeah, why does somebody who looks like that make fun of others? (You too, Rush.)

Of course, NOBODY should make fun of others' looks. The Reich wing seems to revel in it, however.

[SidDithers]

3. Another non-apology apology...

"I deeply apologize to anyone who is offended by this action," is not being sorry for the actions, it's being sorry about reactions to the action.

Fucking bigots can't just come out and say "I'm sorry for what I did".

Sid

[Touchdown]

6. He's sorry people have a problem with it, and that he got caught by them.

More of that "PC gone too far" bullshit they cry about.:eyes:

[Touchdown]

4. Ok, I'm white... but THAT GUY!!!

He's REALLY WHITE! Bet he eats mayonnaise on everything. Who part their hair like that anymore?

[HipChick]

7. covering a receding hair line

[Touchdown]

24. Why do you have a dancing french tickler avatar?

;)

[Foo Fighter]

22. That's gotta be a toupe.

Please tell me no one would actually wear their real hair like that on purpose.

And this guy is making fun of MO? Like the saying goes, those that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

But even if the guy were a perfect "10" in every way, that still wouldn't excuse his racist attempt at "political humor." There's nothing funny about racism. Not at all.

Good to know he got busted for it and is paying the price. Wish that would happen more often.

[Maru Kitteh]

26. Nah. That's the "Just For Men" super-suave young dude look.

[WCGreen]

23. Yes, and the swine nose fits him well...

[ProgressiveEconomist]

8. Baker sure picked the wrong time and wrong industry in which to make a racist "joke"

Competition among cities for convention business is desparate in this economy. And a relative handful of decisionmakers for each organization planning conventions will go out of their way to avoid any venue with the slightest hint of controversy.

And isn't Nashville's Convention Center fairly new, with millions of dollars in bonds to pay off? They dropped Baker in DAYS, as if he were contaminated with nuclear waste.

[AlinPA]

9. The RNC will bail him out and arrange events with firms that use his services. nt

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[47of74]

11. To the city of Nashville I give my own personal thumbs up

[devilgrrl]

12. "political humor"

Uh huh, sure, right....

[marmar]

13. The standard Repug non-apology apology.....

I so cannot wait for the day when people like this POS are out of power, out of sight and out of mind....relegated to bleak chapters in a history book.

[Lint Head]

14. Great news! This is a big deal. The convention center project involves

millions of dollars. The business my wife works for had to move because of the convention center construction. I hope this son of a bitch wilts on the vine!

[Initech]

15. This is why "conservative humor" is generally considered to be a redundancy.

[PDJane]

16. I beg to differ. "Conservative humour" is an oxymoron.

[Initech]

17. Can it be both?

[tblue37]

20. He sent it to "several people, including members of the press and a public official."

OMG! That is an epic fail. Did he really think no one would expose him for it?

[upi402]

21. The skin sack is blinded by arrogance

Like all the conservatives I know.

[Maru Kitteh]

25. Hey - white guy in the photo - Your "Just For Men" shoe-polish * Oh, I mean hair color

looks totally natural. Really.

[HopeHoops]

27. It wouldn't take long to find a picture of a hog that looks like that idiot.

I doubt he would see the resemblance.

[lunatica]

28. Walt Baker reminds me of this

Sorry if this offends anyone except Walt Baker

[Blue Owl]

29. It is humiliating when they compare Michelle to Dubya

and Walt Baker should apologize for it.