NAACP: GOP Activist's "Sorry" Not Enough

(AP)  The state NAACP is demanding an apology from a former South Carolina official whose Internet posting suggested a gorilla that escaped from the Columbia zoo was an ancestor of first lady Michelle Obama.

NAACP president Lonnie Randolph said Monday that former Election Commission chairman Rusty DePass has not offered a "proper" apology. Randolph says the NAACP isn't giving DePass undue attention, rather decrying racially charged commentary against the Obamas.

Minutes after the gorilla's escape was reported, DePass posted: "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."

The Facebook posting was captured on a South Carolina politics blog. DePass did not immediately return a call Monday, but he told WIS-TV that the posting was a joke.

[usc1801]

The comment Mr. DePass made was crude and he was stupid for posting it on Facebook. However, Mr. DePass isn't an elected official. He isn't officially part of a political party. He is a self-appointed "activist". Everyone in South Carolina has strongly condemned this comment. Had the individual saying the comment been an elected official maybe more could be made of it. Mr. DePass apologized for his comment. So the NAACP says this isn't enough. The fact of the matter is that the SC NAACP has no other issues to discuss. The SC NAACP has no other way of obtaining press coverage than to create controversy or riding a current controversy's "coattails" to press coverage. Several days had passed since the condemnations against the comments came out and THEN the SC NAACP decided to run to the media.

Lonnie Randolph is a total joke of a President for the SC NAACP. He's not once discussed job creation for SC's black population, educational issues, domestic violence, gang violence, etc. But he sure can run to the media over a nobody making a stupid comment.

[ReallyMeanIt]

DePass comment was improper and disgusting.
But why the libs are so upset about it since they think everyone is fair game in politics?

[janeyre-2009]

Michelle Obama has class... Something most Rednecks lack. That she is well educated and not a **** is also, something Rednecks lack. Name calling will continue, because these sore losers, can't accept the fact, non-Whites are making strides and contributing as Americans. So be it...

[pooksmom]

Blacks insult whites, whites insult black, jews insult blacks who insult indians who insult muslims who insult whites....it's the way of the world. Always will be. We all need to agree to disagree, accept that we're all different, and leave each other alone. No more name calling.

[endurorob]

by truth-b-toll June 16, 2009 7:21 AM PDT
GOP- the party of HATE! No solutions just blind HATE! GO WHIGS GO!


This is not a one party thing. Obama made a tastless joke about disabled people and his choice for the S.C. is a racist.

[vinny9178]

@endurorob - Obama made joke about himself and the nutjob like Palin and others tried to turn it around...didn't last long. But there has never been racial jokes made about any of the first ladies...ever so your statement is moot. He should be asked to step down from any political venue. Obama needs to put a foot up his flat behind.

[ABM_21]

An 'apology' is hardly necessary in this case. Some type of sanction is in order. I have never understood why some people to this day still think it's acceptbale to make racially charged 'jokes' about African Americans. They usually have to point out the color of Blacks or some other physical attribute. Now, if Judge Sotomayor is a racist for her 'wise Latina' comment, clearly this clown is racist. If DePass represents the Republican't pasrty in any way, the country showed the wrold that it is trying to move away from its racist past. Shame on you, DePass...

[parrots7]

A Racist Repug ???? ...... Is this even news-worthy ?? Dumb Repugs !

[truth-b-toll]

GOP- the party of HATE! No solutions just blind HATE! GO WHIGS GO!

[ReallyMeanIt]

Give it a rest would you rev. wright.

[endurorob]

DePass did not immediately return a call Monday, but he told WIS-TV that the posting was a joke.


Will these people never learn? If you are in the public eye, especially in a political postition these types of racial or sexist jokes are not acceptable. Do like the rest of us and keep the jokes for your buddies around the card table, pool table, bar......

[DefendLiberty]

These comments are a window into how the GOP still thinks. "OOPS! Did I just say what I think?" No they will not learn. You cannot teach grown adults to stop their hatred and bigotry. It's baked in.