Its good to see that there can be consequences for such behaviors.
Michelle Obama, chimp e-mail costs executive Nashville contract
Hospitality association CEO says message meant as joke
By Juanita Cousins and Michael Cass • THE TENNESSEAN • March 7, 2010
A day after his e-mail comparing first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee came to public notice, Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker apologized for the message others called unwelcoming.
In an e-mail sent to Metro Council members Saturday, Baker suggested the message was intended as a joke but was misinterpreted:
"I did not think or consider its implications, other than that it was political humor. I am saddened that anyone misinterpreted the sentiments behind the
e-mail.
"I deeply apologize to anyone who is offended by this action. I hope that those who know me realize that the message was not intended to be malicious or hurtful in any way and can find it in their hearts to forgive me."
But the damage had already been done.
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau on Saturday dropped its contract with Baker's marketing firm Mercatus Communications. The firm had received almost $50,000 to market the new convention center and money that came indirectly from Metro to market the annual Music City Bowl.
NCVB President Butch Spyridon issued a statement Saturday expressing his remorse for Baker's actions:
"The content is deeply hurtful to all in our city and beyond," Spyridon said. "The attitudes expressed in the e-mail are both appalling and unacceptable, and are not shared or condoned in anyway by the NCVB or by me personally.
"Nashville's hospitality industry has worked tirelessly to create a welcoming environment for our visitors and this behavior discredits the work done by so many."
The controversial e-mail, sent to Spyridon, Mayor Karl Dean's legislative liaison, public relations executives and members of the Nashville media, compared Obama to Cheeta, the chimp sidekick in Tarzan movies.
It opened with a quote attributed to comedian Larry the Cable Guy: "I don't care who you are, this is funny..." and ended with photos of the first lady and a chimpanzee.
Many found it no laughing matter.
"The e-mail was extremely offensive. It does not reflect who we are as a city and our values," the mayor said in a statement.
When someone you know does something inappropriate, the best response can be to make it clear that it is unacceptable, a professor says.
"People feel they have the cultural backing and license to make invidious jokes and behaviors, but people have to challenge their colleagues to not do so," said
Vanderbilt University philosophy professor Lucius Outlaw.
"As this behavior is increasingly isolated it will curtail."
More than 250 readers commented on tennessean.com, many expressing outrage over Baker's actions. Some said he was exercising his First Amendment right to free speech, while others said Baker must be prepared for the consequences that follow such actions.
Many express outrage
"I am outraged that anybody in any public position would be that stupid," said Lee Mitchell of Donelson, who read the story in The Tennessean.
"I am so sick of people in Tennessee saying they're not racists but following their statements up with behavior like this. I have always been offended by this bigotry.
"I don't know what we can do that is bad enough to make them understand but we need to something to let these people know this is unacceptable."
Other readers agreed, and some told Baker's employer how they feel:
"This looks like just another good ol' boy cover-up. He didn't mean for it to be interpreted as racist, wink, wink," Jackie Bruce wrote in an e-mail to the THA Board of Directors.
"The Music City Convention Center was not an easy sell, but keeping this man at the top of the THA should be much more difficult.
"An apology is not enough. What is most disturbing is that he thought the people to whom he was sending this held the same narrow, racist, ignorant view of the world as he did."
This isn't the first time a negative e-mail involving the Obamas has surfaced in Tennessee.
Last May, a state employee was disciplined after she sent out an e-mail depicting President Barack Obama as two cartoonish eyes on a black background.
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