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

[Unrepentant Fenian]

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10526195

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.

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[BuyingThyme]

1. They can't help themselves anymore.

Rush Limbaugh is bringing out the best of the Republican Party.

[DaveinJapan]

2. I really fucking hate non-apology apologies. n/t

[Lilyeye]

26. Exactly. This guy is a piece of shit.

[autorank]

3. Another example of "dehumanizing" the Obamas - dreadful k*r

There's really no apology for that, it's such a repellent remark, so revealing of underlying
distortions and contempt.

The theme I'm noticing about the bigoted criticisms of Obama is this - they all turn him, and now
his wife, into something other than what they are -- exceptionally bright, ambitions citizens involved
in the political big leagues. There's plenty of room for disagreements on policies and implementation.
That's the tradition in politics here and in other countries where there is some degree of free speech.

But this garbage floating to the top from the Limbaugh faction of the Limbaugh party is disturbing
for it's extreme tone with the degradation involved. I'm sure it doesn't sell across the board for
the majority of citizens, regardless of party. But the fact that these non rational, hateful comments
are allowed to spew forth with out an across the board condemnation from the Republican Party
leadership is both revealing and completely unforgivable.

[mwb970]

4. I would specifically expect just such a comment to come out of Columbia, South Carolina.

"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."

Who is the mayor kidding here?

[Union Yes]

5. The grunting of a Fascist PIG.

[Vinca]

6. It doesn't get more offensive than that. What absolute scum.

[Bluebear]

24. +1

[jimshoes]

7. Wonder if the M$M will obsess over that

like they're doing with the Letterman joke? .................... crickets.................. still more crickets................... wait.... what's that ???? Oh, just more crickets.

[sutz12]

8. Actually, that gorilla was one of my "cousins"

Evolutionally speaking, of course.

[MineralMan]

12. But he was "racistly" speaking, and there's the rub.

Lots of that going around on the winger sites, too.

[sutz12]

14. Oh, I know. Just trying a little levity to deflate the bigots

Vain hope, I know.

[monmouth]

9. The Obamas may determine it isn't worth a second term run when

you have to tolerate the scum of much of the populus in this country. I wouldn't blame either one of them either.

[960]

16. Yes, I'm sure they'll be scared off.

Give them some credit.

[960]

17. Dupe. Delete

[krispos42]

10. It's ingrained in their personalities... they can't help it.

It's how they talk at private social gatherings and such, and in moments of candor. It just comes out in a matter-of-fact fashion.

Guy gets home, wife asks him how his day went, and he's still steamed about how "a fuckin' _________ " cut him off on the interstate on his way to work.

[predfan]

11. Well, if the Republican Party has been searching for a face, here it is....Rusty DePass.

[theHandpuppet]

13. Disgusting doesn't even begin to describe it

The MSM should pick up on this and shame this racist bastard for the world to see.

[Starry Messenger]

15. OMFG.

These are just the kinds of troglodytes I'd love to send to the moon. Preferably without oxygen tanks. :grr:

[zbdent]

18. bet this doesn't get as much traction as Sarah Palin trying to convince the world

that Letterman is a pedophile ...

[BlooInBloo]

19. (shrug) More typical racism.

[cagesoulman]

20. What. Does a RWinger believe in evolution now?

Hey Rusty DePass, that gorilla is your family relation too. Except your side of the family tree lost whatever brains that gorilla had, while everyone else has been growing theirs.

[MadMaddie]

21. Notice the pattern? It's everyone elses fault even though it came

out of his mouth! Typical Repug trying to hide his racism.

[Scurrilous]

22. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Bluebear]

23. Disgraceful.

[Solly Mack]

25. Feed the hate fuckwad. What a POS.

[opihimoimoi]

27. He is a POS....he should go FckHimself..

[Maru Kitteh]

28. Keep the pressure on the ignorant spit bucket.

He should be made to offer a REAL apology.