Rusty DePass, a prominent South Carolina Republican activist, is now apologizing for making a racist joke about Michelle Obama, and taken down the Facebook page where he made it -- though he does make sure to shift the blame and say that Michelle started it.And of course he uses the non-apology apology line -- "if I offended anyone" -- as if there's any question that comparing an African-American to a gorilla could be taken any other way.
DePass commented on a story about a gorilla escaping from a local zoo: "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."
"I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone," said DePass. "The comment was clearly in jest."
But, he said, "The comment was hers, not mine," referring to Michelle having said that man has descended from apes. The New York Daily News says they could find no such comment from Michelle -- but even if they could, it's not like that would make it any better.
I'm willing to bet that Ms. Obama will shrug off Mr. DePass as just another in a long string of white racist assholes she's had to deal with all her life and not even comment on it. That's her style. Will the media, though, give as much attention to this as they gave to David Letterman's equally stupid and classless jokes about Sarah Palin and her family? I'll bet not.
Cross-posted.
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