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Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Compares Michelle Obama to Chimpanzee
March 8th, 2010
Tennessee Republicans up to the same old racism they’ve been displaying since Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee for president in 2008.
Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker sent out an email last week to 12 prominent Nashvillians in which Michelle Obama is compared to a Chimpanzee.
Tennessee Hospitality Association was instrumental in the development of the new Nashville Convention Center project.
On Saturday the publicly funded Convention and Visitors Bureau announced that it would be canceling its $50,000 marketing contract with Baker’s company.
CVB president Butch Spyridon is one of the people Baker sent the email to.
Here is the original email sent by Barker:
From: Walt Baker To: Albie DelFavero, Bruce Dobie, Butch Spyridon, Joe Hall, Peter Heidenreich, Terry Clements, Toby Compton, Chuck Creasy, Rob Moorefield, Ken Whitehouse, Paul Brown, Bob Davis Date: March 4, 2010 9:18:29 PM CST
Quoting Larry the Cable Guy…I don’t care who you are, this is funny…I was at the store yesterday, and I ran into Tarzan! I asked him how it was going and if he was into anymore movies.
He told me that he could no longer make any more movies as he had severe arthritis in both shoulders and could no longer swing from vine to tree.
I asked how Jane was doing, he told me she was in bad shape, in a nursing home, has Alzheimer’s and no longer recognizes anyone, how sad. I asked about Boy, and he told me that Boy had gone to the big city, got hooked up with bad women, drugs, alcohol, and the only time he heard from him was if he was in trouble or needed something.
I asked about Cheeta, he beamed and said she was doing good, had married a Lawyer and now lived in the White House!!!
Butch Spyridon, in a CVB president press release said:
“On behalf of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, I apologize for the offensive email sent yesterday by Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker. As a recipient of the email, I am embarrassed for my organization and myself. The content is deeply hurtful to all Nashvillians and beyond. The attitudes expressed in the email 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. After serious consideration, the NCVB has terminated its contract with Mr. Baker’s marketing agency, Mercatus Communications. I have communicated this action and my deep regrets about the email to the Mayor’s Office and other hospitality industry leaders.”
Bakers apology with the pretense that it was somehow not meant to be racist; nor even insulting:
“Thursday night I spontaneously forwarded — to a small group of people — an email that had been sent to me as political humor. As I forwarded it, 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 email. 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.”
posted in News & Events, Politics, Racial Injustice | | | View blog reactions |
47 Responses to “Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Compares Michelle Obama to Chimpanzee”
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About The Blog
Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
I created this site to give new voice to socio-political issues that are in need of thoughtful consideration and redress.
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When will it take people to realize that this is totally inappropriate even as humor - especially people in power - he is so out of line.
Lee, I don’t think some people want to learn. They simply don’t care…well, until it hits them in the pocket like it’s doing Baker with getting his contract canceled.
So the guy put 2 pictures of the same monkey in the email. Who cares?
Why is it, that the sender never seems to realize the content is offensive before they get outed? I refuse to believe this is true. I hate to have my intelligence insulted as an adult.
@msladydeborah, yeah, like we’re supposed to believe that he meant for it to be flattering. His lying about what he did is as bad as sending the email in the first place.
I hear Walter Baker got fired. If so, GOOD! There is a history of racism which goes with labeling Black Americans as monkeys and this Baker guy knew that. Being from the South he should have. Kick his racists behind to the curve.
Shame is all I can say. It is a shame that we have people representing the entire state of Tennessee using malicious humor that is Hateful. I know this man wish this had never happened. But he can’t unring this bell. Shameful behavior. I am truly sorry for all concerned.
Bro. Bos, I’m republican. Sad you don’t see past your prejudice skin, I can and I live peaceful with all people. The joke was just that, a joke.
But, to put it in perspective; I can send you archived jokes, emails, websites, and articles where your liberals have bashed Bush, Palin, and others you oppose…but thats alright, right?
To me, that makes you people too simple to see things as they are, all people are equal and you are not able to allow it. May God remove your blinders, Bro., so, you can live in peace as well.
@Homey
1. “Prejudice” - false, unsupported accusation # one. Your lame, typical attempt to flip the situation and call me prejudice for point out someone else’s racism is not going to fly here.
2. “Liberal” - I’m not a liberal. I think for myself. I don’t conform to your contrieved left-right false dichotomy.
3. A racist Joke is just that, a racist joke. There’s absolutely no logic behind the racism-defending notion that because something is a joke that it’s not racist. The racism is what you’re laughing about, that’s the punchline, that makes the joke racist, genius.
And clearly you’re the one who is simple because the issue is not someone in the public being bashed, it’s someone who’s such a fool, who does business with Government (tax payer money) and sending racist emails to public officials. Now I would try to break that down further for you; but you’re so simple it would be a clear waste of my time.
I, personally am even MORE appalled than all these black people who pretend to be offended by the chimpanzee/Obama reference!
For several years the picture of George Bush with a particular look on his face and a chimpanzee spread like wild fire around the internet.
Did ANYBODY say THEY were offended by this reference? NO.
Did the bias news media ask a bunch of white people how they felt about the images? No.
So, PLEASE, stop pretending you’ve never seen this reference before!
@Anniebella let’s hope so. I wonder how funny he thinks it is now. Personally I think it’s hilarious, ha ha ha. There is some justice in the world. Every now and then someone gets their just deserved comeuppance.
What a shame. What a crass, heartless attitude.
Is there a word for claiming to not be racist yet openly practicing and justifying it ?
And then blaming the person or group impacted by it ? Like reverse racism, is it triple axle racism ? Because it’s definitely out there and trash like @Homey and Walt Baker represent that thinking quite frequently.
@concerned Yeah, I think the stupidity of someone in his position doing this, is the most striking thing; and the fact that he sent it to public officials that have something to lose if they’re associated with it.
But he’s not the first person in his type of position to do this sort of thing, and he won’t be the last.
@shea justice we need to coin a word or a phrase for that. It’s a form of the saying “pissing down my leg and telling me that it’s raining.”
You completely sidestepped my point as all progressive socialist liberals do..you all can bash opposition, but when it returns you yell rasism. It’s sad my people are manipulated by white [supremist/money] hate mongers that need you to keep them voted in office. The word for it is being used; kept poor, dumb and full of hate. God is no where to be found in your circles, your God is “hate”.
I didn’t think we could have continued with a decent, constructive conversation..so, I’ll leave it here..may God give you a light in your pathway, Bro., for your darkness is dreary.
It’s really cool when folks like @Homey try to argue intellectually about their racism and use words like “progressive socialist ” to back themselves up. It’s so 1950’s ! No white sheets but the same pathetic hatemongering. white trash is white trash even with a diploma.
Quit acting like a bunch of 5 year olds.So he said something you don’t like, get over it.
Boswell, i definitely think that you make some good points, and that the joke definitely has racist overtones. However, the way u attacked Homey was pretty ridiculous. If u want to have an argument with him, which i can understand why you do, you need to approach it in a different way. It makes you seem pretty hateful to those who oppose you. Same with Justice (but i don’t think Homey is a white guy lol).
In the end, the guy got fired and he is paying the price. I think that justice was done and racism punished with a very severe consequence. If anything people should be really happy with the result instead of still upset.
Ep, you can believe what you want, but I’m not going to concern myself with ridiculous notions that I attacked Homey. He said I was simple, prejudice, and a liberal; and I pointed out in turn that his logic was what was simple and not mine. You, like Homey, call responding to an attack, attacking, in order to flip the issue. Such illogical tactics don’t move me, so I don’t know why you all come and even bother trying me with that stuff.
Next, who said discussing a happening news issue equals being upset? I am really happy with the results, and did a whole post about how happy I am about them ,and how funny I think it is: Getting Fired For Sending Racist Emails, Now That’s Funny
Bos; you and Justice make my point, you can’t understand what I wrote or even detect my direct mention of my ethnicity because of your hate mongering.
You both just make my point. It took me some time to understand it, but with God’s help I was able to let Him reach inside and remove the cancer called hate. I am a free man and know no race, for all men are created equal…a concept you all have yet to understand. A peace you have yet to know; Bros’, its beyond beautiful.
A Klansman hanging on to Jesus. Quite impressive Homey. Keep explaining and trying to tell folks when and how upset we should be over this. The last thing I would be interested in is listening to these bloggers tell me to ” get over it”. The racist klansmen like the tea partiers, Glenn Beck et all should be exposed and it’s sad to listen to people try to sidestep the issues with concerning themselves with calming me down or telling me how I should feel or respond.
I guess Homey isn’t white because of the name according to ep. Such transparent bigotry.
No it is because of what he put in his post shea. That is what he just said above you “direct mention of my ethnicity”. How very ignorant of you to call me a bigot.
why is everybody arguing? Shouldn’t we all be happy this guy got fired????!!!!
Barbly it seems like everybody is arguing because apparently when examples of naked racism is exposed and posted online, the reaction from conservative trash like ep and Homey is to tell people to calm down and then try to minimalize what was so offensive. Controlling the discussion and trying to label people “socialist liberals” and so on. Folks that want to dictate how people should feel about racist comments that have an ugly history as old as this country. People saying they aren’t racist, are tired of being called racist, and yet practice it with impunity. It’s fine that he’s fired, it’s pathetic how people try to pretend it’s isolated.
Here is my point again, if Bro. Bos and Shea are so concerned about someone committing a racist act and deserving punishment for it; then, go after the bloggers, etc that attacked Bush with the very same kind of joke/email. If you are truly against racism, then demand restitution for Bush as well as Obama. Did you all do that? No. Because you are not close to caring about racism, you only care about using it as a tool to fight opposition in order to get ‘your’ way. You don’t give one thought to racism when it thrown at those you oppose, in fact, you promote it and do it constantly…making you as much a racist as Rev. Wright, Farakon, Flager and Baker. You guys are equal to me as humans, but you are deeply lacking mentally as you have been brainwashed by elitist money/polititions that need you to keep them spewing out hate and desention. They need you to usher them in power so they can destroy freedom and REALLY own you. Bros., you wont ever be free following such ideologies. Democrats, Republicans, Tea Partiers, Black Phanters, etc..are not preaching equality and trying to stamp out rasism..they all are about promoting it and using it to get what they want…power over opposition.
Again, my point was: you are not opposed to racism, you only oppose it when it’s thrown at your side…that makes you total hypocrites. Care about everybody, love everybody, show concern for Baker for loosing his job, and then, my friends, you will convince me you really care about true racism.
More utter stupidity from Homey. Either he’s really too stupid to understand that insulting a president doesn’t equal racism; or he just like to play dumb to obscure the issue of racism. Either way, as I said 6 days ago; enganging him would be a clear waste of my time.
oh ok i understand shea. im a conservative. does that make me trash?
I know Bos…truth has to be utter stupidity to you. How else can you live and justify your hate and not go more insane than you are. No. I’m not slamming you, hate is a form of insanity; one has to ignore true moral facts of life to deal with it..you did it poorly though..you must have well understood what I said this time.
So, are you saying anything said about a President can’t be rasist? I want to be careful I understand what you said…because, you know I’m going to slam you with this one..lol..later Bro.
Adam Spence probably never showed any outrage over the images of Bush as a chimpanzee himself and I doubt he even considered the source of who made the images. Likely white liberals. Black people ” pretending” to be outraged over the continual degradation of black women is not a game as Spence implies.If he knew American history he wouldn’t come off as a racist jackass. I’d like to think that presidential spouses should be off limits to this kind of mess. Did anyone trash Laura Bush like this ?
Homey should spell check his ignorance before he goes on. Hanging on to God as a weapon of choice only proves the likelihood that the Bro never actually read the Bible. Or understood it.
(By the way, he conveniently left out Falwell, Focus on the Family, and Robertson who control the inner workings of the Republican Party’s domestic policies .)
Bloggers exercising free speech are one thing, someone in charge of increasing tourism for the state is another. Besides being unprofessional he probably cost the state a lot of money in potential clients and visitors.
Barbly wants to know if I think they’re trash because he/she is a conservative. I’m not sure why a complete stranger wants me to define them after answering their original question. My only guess is that they want to lure me into another debate to prove a point and distract from the original post about the CEO degrading Mrs. Obama. Nice try though Bos.
I’m not trying start a debate. I just think it is funny how you adressed conservatives. I’m sure you have a good reason to have a problem with whoever these other people are. Believe me, after seeing these posts, I don’t want to argue with you.
Yobachi, after reading further I see now why you are upset with Homey. I retract my first statement.
Shea your attempts at insult don’t bother me. First you say that I am a bigot based on no evidence, and then you say that I am a conservative when in actuality I am not affiliated with any party. I don’t how you get your information out of my posts. You need to work on your reading comprehension skills.
ep
You don’t have to be affiliated with any party to be a conservative. I never said you did. It feels good to listen to you act as though your little feelings are hurt as a means of watering down the guys bigotry. Know your American media history. Especially the parts about racial stereotypes and dehumanization. ( Homey using the word Bos or Bros must mean he’s black right ?)
Barbly thanks for confirming my earlier post. Try to focus attention on what I must think about conservatives and ignore the ongoing racist degradation of black women by people like Walt Baker.
Belittle the impact, change the subject, go in another direction if you will. It’s comical.
LOL !! All of these people going to a black blog site trying to force people to get over it and minimalize such hate. I can’t help but laugh.
“It’s sad my people are manipulated by white [supremist/money] hate mongers that need you to keep them voted in office. ” - Homey (no Bos or Bros here…)
“In the end, the guy got fired and he is paying the price. I think that justice was done and racism punished with a very severe consequence.”
-ep on my first post. (Watering down bigotry?)
Again Shea, you need to work on your reading comprehension skills.
Shea I’m definitely not belittling the impact of this horrible email. I am personally offended by it and I hate to see this stuff going around in a supposed professional workplace. It’s interesting to see you try to flip the blame back to me and dodging your comments by saying that I am belittling the issue when you are calling people Klansmen and trash. I take this issue very seriously.
Thank you for posting this article Boswell. I think this will be the last time that I come back to this article. People like Shea make posting far less enjoyable.
Barby,
In a nutshell I answered your first question about why is everyone arguing. You chose a follow up about if I thought you were trash because you’re a conservative.
You tried to engage me in something off topic instead of the matter at hand so you were looking for a debate. Anything to detract from the guy degrading Michelle Obama. So when you say you were offended I doubt your sincerity. Good luck finding a site for racist tea baggers and klansmen. Maybe Fox News has a site that is your cup of tea.
ep would rather focus on semantics instead of the ongoing degradation of black women and the First Lady in particular by people like Walt.
You guys are great at trying to accuse me of dodging, going for my quotes, being illiterate and anything BUT the matter at hand. I’m impressed how racism in the computer age works.
Especially with you ” conservative” bloggers. People who want to talk and negotiate then debate racism out of existence.
At least Adam Spence was honest about his hate.
As in my earlier post, triple axle racism. Everything but the truth.
For the most part, I’m self educated, retired twice over and total disabled. Yeah, I misspell a few words now and then, its called brain fog due to my chronic illness. But, regardless what ep, and you all think; I’m sure glad I’m old enough to know right from wrong. From what I read and the feeling I get from some of you; it’s ok to slam the title racist on whoever you feel should wear it, but when you show your racist side, it’s not racism..and you act like it’s totally justified. That’s called hypocrisy. You are just as racist as they are, just on the other side of the fence of politics. God judges ALL your actions/words regardless of the issue. To say I’m a clansman hiding behind Jesus…shows your true character. A Godless individual. To keep your racist rhetoric flowing…makes you a Godless individual. “No sin will enter there”.
Yeah, ep. ]“It’s sad my people are manipulated by white [supremist/money] hate mongers that need you to keep them voted in office. ” - Homey (no Bos or Bros here…)] George Soros is laughing all the way to hell leading my people as blind as they choose to be. Again, hate/racism is a form of insanity. The Bilderberg Group leads Soros..all money wanting to own the world. You all might want to do a little research..you might learn something about yourself you can’t live with.
Well Homey,
As you labeled others as “progressive liberal socialist” you seem to be hurt when you’re acknowledged as the racist that you are. Being a religious zealot doesn’t change that. Pat Robertson proves that.
I could care less about your personal illnesses , failures and grammatical errors. It’s just fascinating about how you folks here deviate from the disgusting racist E-mail about the First Lady. Negotiate and badger the racism away. And then decide how black people should feel or react.
I’m with Yobachi on this. I’ll leave you alone until your meds kick in and you stop with your racist diatribes. Barby might be more interested in hearing from you. It’s like you’re Klan soulmates. Get Adam Spence to help you with writing content. His hate was easier to read. Take care Bro.
Oh…dear, the word that folks are looking for is PSYCHOSES…anyone who disparages Black folks based on skin color is psychotic. Baker is not just way out of line, he’s mentally ill. Dude is sick…and he tries to backstep?! And as for that excuse of a human, Homey…who says “I’m done with it and continues to blather on…” let’s see, Tennessee about a century or so ago..he would be strung up by the very Repub-nicans he’s so ardently defends. My prayers are for you brother, that is if I can call your sorry ass that.
Oh and by the way, if hate and racism is a form of insanity, it’s clear that you’re exhibiting an internalized version of it.
Shea your arguments are totally broken. NOBODY IS TRYING TO DETRACT FROM THE E-MAIL. Whenever someone makes any opposition to any of your comments they are automatically racist or a bigot. You are the real bigot.
I’m done with you. Post again if you like but I can say that I won’t be here to read it.
ep
Is that short for EPMD ? So maybe you’re black too “Bro. ”
My arguments are not broken just too much for you to hear or deal with. The Fox News standard media response to a black person by calling them a ” liberal socialist” or ” full of hate” just doesn’t wash.
But considering the games played on this issue , it’s easier to see you guys for the true racists you are. Getting mad over that word doesn’t change what you are with these weak pathetic arguments. So you run off at the mouth to hide it. LOL Truly pathetic.
No one on this particular blog discussed Walt Baker’s “hate” towards black women and the First Lady in particular. Just a visceral reaction to the article being posted on the site. And then accusing black people of double standards etc. Those diatribes were BRILLIANT distractions.
Starting with ” Jamal” then “Homey”, I’m got a better understanding of the racist game that was being played.
” Barby” and you ” ep” decided to try to continue the negotiations on the matter of race. Accusations, labels and the almighty ” get over it”. Any reaction to minimalize the content of the article.
The Fox News techniques to put someone of color in their place is too transparent. So run off ” ep.” You’re just one of these conservative bloggers that want to deal with matters of race on their own terms. So you come to Yobachi’s site and spout your hate and ignorance disguised as intellectual discourse.
If you truly aren’t around to read this post hopefully Adam Spence will see it. Him and Homey can bring it to the next cross burning or Tea Bagger meeting. LOL.
Take care “Bro.”
Here is what I’m going to do. I’ll print all the comments, send them to my grand daughters 6th grade class and let them point out where I ‘ardently’ defended Rebublicans. I’ll see if they can find where I’m a racist by pointing out it is a cancer killing our Black Heritage. I know a lot of white people and not one of them ever owned a black slave. George Soros does, he pays out a lot of money to keep them spewing and fighting his opposition for him. How is being owned by a rich white man working out for you. First off, you have no peace with your own people who live and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Homey,
Make sure you also give this message to your granddaughter from me:
Rupert Murdoch, Dick Cheney and the Neocons are hurting America. When you grow up fight them and their corporate control of Americans. Don’t be like your Grandpa who clearly has mental health issues. Current white slave owners would have to be over 100 years old. Forgive Granddad Homey for his ignorance in math. And religion and race.
And definitely don’t be like like ep,Jamal, Barby and Adam Spence who hate black people and look for excuses to blame them for white people’s racism. Be honest and don’t deviate from the truth.
Be a good person and ignore your Granddad Homey’s version of religion. He’s an ignorant zealot. Can you say ” ZEALOT ?” It’s like Jim Jones mixed with the Klan. And that’s bad. LOL.
Take Care Bro
(Or is it Sis ?)
p.s.
Comparing black people to monkey’s is very racist. No matter what excuses conservative trash like Granddad Homey and Walt Baker make.
Shea, I totally agree that greed has been the single source of motoviation for our whoe’s in America. It has no party, ethnicity, political boundaries. All are guilty of it, and it leads to other vices…one after another. I have yet to defend Walt. Baker or anyone, just pointed out we can’t use racial hatred to combat racial hatred. If we do so, we are just as quilty as they are. I know you guys see my point, you’re too intelligent not to. I also know it’s the ole rush of adrenaline that feeds you. If you die with racial hatred as your life’s work, you die a sinful death. I only wish to reach out to you.
Sis?..lol. Never been accused of being a female before.
Bos, you and the other posters may find this article interesting..it shows history of what you fight for and why you still embrace racial hatred.
http://www.bilderberg.org/bernhard.htm
[QUOTE] from Wikipedia Illuminati…
Modern Illuminati
Main article: New World Order (conspiracy theory)
Writers such as Mark Dice,[7] David Icke, Ryan Burke, Jüri Lina and Morgan Gricar, have argued that the Bavarian Illuminati survived, possibly to this day. Many of these theories propose that world events are being controlled and manipulated by a secret society calling itself the Illuminati.[8][9] Conspiracy theorists have claimed that many notable people were or are members of the Illuminati, including Winston Churchill, the Bush family,[10] Barack Obama,[11] the Rothschild family,[12] David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski.[13]
In addition to the shadowy and secret organization, several modern fraternal groups claim to be the “heirs” of the Bavarian Illuminati and have openly used the name “Illuminati” in founding their own rites. Some, such as the multiple groups that call themselves some variation on “The Illuminati Order”[14][15][16] use the name directly in the name of their organization, while others, such as the Ordo Templi Orientis, use the name as a grade of initiation within their organization.