Criminal Law

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

kattyka — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:36:28 GMT

Tennessee GOP Staffer & Racist Obama Spook Photo reason we still need this type of legislation

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

kattyka — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:30:36 GMT

Sad that we need this type of legislation, but obviously we do.Historical Keepsake Photo: Tennessee GOP Staffer Emails Racist Obama "Spook" Photo digg Huffpost - Historical Keepsake Photo: Tennessee GOP Staffer Emails Racist Obama "Spook" Photo stumble reddit del.ico.us ShareThisThe Huffington Post | Rachel Weiner First Posted: 06-16-09 09:07 AM | Updated: 06-16-09 04:01 PM I Like ItI Don’t Like It Read More: Gop Racist Email, Sherri Goforth, Tennessee Gop Racist Email, Tennessee Republicans, Tn Gop Racist Email, Politics News Show your support. Digg this article. Get Breaking News Alerts never spam Share Print CommentsSherri Goforth, an executive assistant for Tennessee State Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin), sent this picture out to other legislative staffers: The email was headlined "Historical Keepsake Photo." One staffer who received the email publicized it online: I talked to my local rep, Mark Maddox about it, and described the picture to him at a recent fund raising event. I think he was as appalled as I was. I was going to post it last week but there was a death in my family and I had to think about it. Because it made me mad. But, you know, people need to know that this stuff is going on. I would be just as angry if a democratic staffer had sent it. Dammit, Tennessee, haven't we moved past this kind of crap. I'm serious. Goforth admitted to sending the email, but she apologized only for sending it to the wrong people. "I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button," Goforth said. "I'm very sick about it, and it's one of those things I can't change or take back."

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

Mike Hignite — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:03:01 GMT

It is a waste of time and energy to try to pass a law punishing thoughts. Just have the law punish crimes and let it go. How do you prove it? Based on group identification? Library books read? Political parties, or lack thereof?

Do we really care why someone stole a car? Whether the victim is a member of a vulnerable class or not doesn't affect what was done.

Let's not grandstand to various groups to show how politically correct you are.

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

kattyka — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:21:23 GMT

Letterman's analysis of "stewardess" hair WAS right on, though. lol

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

kattyka — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:12:23 GMT

Rusty DePass, apology a few days late, but accepted. Seriously, Rusty DePass? GOP NOT classy between Palin and Rusty DePass. What year is this?

GOP activist says escaped gorilla was "ancestor" of Michelle Obama

Posted: June 12, 2009 07:19 PM EDT

Updated: June 12, 2009 11:23 PM EDT

GOP activist says escaped gorilla was "ancestor" of Michelle Obama. Ben Hoover reports

Screen capture of the comment (Source: FITSNews)

Rusty DePass (Source: Facebook)

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COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A state Republican activist has admitted to and apologized for calling a gorilla that escaped from the Riverbanks Zoo Friday an "ancestor" of First Lady Michelle Obama.

A screen capture of the comment, made on the Internet site Facebook, was obtained by FITSNews, the website of South Carolina politico Will Folks.

The image shows a post by an aide to state Attorney General Henry McMaster describing Friday morning's gorilla escape at Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo.

Longtime SCGOP activist and former state Senate candidate Rusty DePass responded with the comment, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."

DePass told WIS News 10 he was talking about First Lady Michelle Obama.

DePass has been involved in state politics for decades, and helped elect Republican Governor Jim Edwards in 1974. He was an early South Carolina supporter of former President George W. Bush in 2000.

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, one of DePass' political rivals, condemns the comment.

"You know, I think the comment is inappropriate. It's a racist comment," he says. "I think Mr. DePass should apologize."

We spoke with DePass over the phone Friday night. He said, "I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest."

"You know, I don't think there's anything funny about that comment," says Coble. "That is the First Lady of the United States. We've had a long tradition of wonderful first ladies, and I don't think any of them deserve that type of comment."

DePass took his apology a bit further. He also said, "The comment was hers. Not mine," saying the first lady made statements in the media recently saying we are all descendents of apes.

But an Internet search for those comments turned up no news articles of the like.

"I don't know of any," says Coble.

All of that aside, the mayor wants a clear-cut apology.

"Rusty DePass is well known in the community, and I know he's done very good things in addition to his political work," says Mayor Coble. "I don't want a comment like that coming out of Columbia, South Carolina for the world to comment on."

The comment has been removed from Facebook.

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

albaby2 — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:11:56 GMT

No more than they are sure you aren't Barney Franks lover. BTW, I meant Bush's wife,not Reagans. My bad.

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

OTRDriver — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:54:57 GMT

Is anyone sure this isn't Bill O'Rileys' twin brother?

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

albaby2 — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:48:53 GMT

But all of those Nazi and Hitler comparisons of Bush by libs are classy? Or the slurs about Palins Downs syndrome baby and Palins daughter being pregnant by her father are classy? Lettermans derogatory comment about Palin's 14 year old daughter are classy? Rev. Wrights and Farrakhans diatribes about whites are classy? All the insinuations about Reagans wife deliberately killing someone in an auto accident are classy? Michelle Obama is a public figure-not royalty. She married a community organizer from Chicago and tied to Chicago politics, who became President. "For the first Time in my life, I'm proud of my country" now that's classy! Yeah, right!

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

kattyka — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:55:36 GMT

GOP activist says escaped gorilla was "ancestor" of Michelle Obama--RUSTY DEPASS

RUSTY is not classy.

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )

kattyka — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:51:26 GMT

Seriously, Rusty DePass? GOP NOT classy between Palin and Rusty DePass. What year is this?