Friday, March 5, 2010
Garrigan / Hicks From the Sticks / Racism Nothing Funny About This Monkey Mail
Posted by Liz Garrigan on Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 9:37 AM
Walt Baker, the prominent CEO of the powerful Tennessee Hospitality Association who was a key figure in gaining approval of the controversial $585 million convention center, sent the kind of "joke" email last night -- comparing First Lady Michelle Obama to Tarzan's Cheeta -- that might stop even Michael Richards in his tracks. (The entire email on the jump.)
Baker forwarded the racist missive -- introduced with this: "Quoting Larry the Cable Guy ... I don't care who you are, this is funny" -- to 12 prominent Nashvillians, including mayoral legislative aide Toby Compton, Nashville
Coming from a hospitality czar, the post didn't strike recipients as particularly hospitable.
"I don't think it's funny -- period," Dobie says. "Anything else I have to say about it I've already let Walt know."
Whitehouse calls the email "disgusting."
Del Favero was on the way to his office when we reached him and says he hadn't yet opened the email. "It's probably in my inbox waiting on me. But I've never known Walt to send anything that is politically incorrect."
"Who all got it?" Del Favero asks. When told, he responds, "Oh, how stupid!"
UPDATE: Baker says he meant no offense and sent it to what he considered to be "a select group of friends." "If anybody wants to make a political agenda out of it, they're wasting they're time," he tells Pith.
"It's not a political statement," Baker continues. "It was done in the spirit of having some fun with some close friends. It was something that was forwarded to me, and I forwarded it to a couple of people that, quite honestly, I thought might find some humor in it like I did."
Apparently, they didn't.
"I've gotten some emails back from folks," he says, "and that's fine too."
UPDATE II: The CVB's Spyridon calls the email "unacceptable and not representative of our organization and what we stand for." He says he telephoned Baker and "chewed him out."
UPDATE, 3/6: Baker sent a one-word follow-up email to the original recipients Friday afternoon. It read only, "Sorry." And today, the publicly funded CVB announced it's canceling its $50,000 marketing contract with Baker's company. Here's the statement today from CVB president Butch Spyridon:
"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."
See too Baker's apology, also in the comments below and in an email to the Metro Council.
"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."
LATEST UPDATE, 3/8: Walt Baker was terminated today from his post as CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association. "Walt's email reflects a deep misunderstanding of the nature of hospitality and our role as an association," said THA board president Bill Mish. "His email was sent in his personal capacity and not in his connection with the hospitality associations."
From: Walt BakerTo: 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!!!
Comments (370)
Showing 1-50 of 370
You know what's almost as stupid as the supposed "joke" is that it's one of those brainless forwards, falsely attributed to someone famous.
Scene, why don't you contact Larry the Cable Guy and get his reaction to having racist screed attributed to him?
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I don't care who you are, it's funny to see the racist assholes out themselves. Particularly when it's likely to cost them their jobs.
The screed is not attributed to Larry the Cable Guy, just the quote, "I don't care who you are, this is funny." Agreed about the stupid part, though.
The names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of the 65 members of the Tennessee Hospitality Association's board of directors are in a downloadable Excel document at the Association's website. Perhaps it might be time to start asking them if this is the sort of "hospitality" people can expect in Tennessee.
He cannot have seriously thought that people like Bruce and Ken would approve of this message. Looks like it was meant as a political taunt.
I'm with The Other Scott. Seriously. We want people to come to Tennessee and spend money and this is the kind of leadership we have at the Tennessee Hospitality Association?
Even if we could somehow overlook the blatant racism he expected all of his buddies to share, what kind of moron who wants people to come to Tennessee insults people with a lot of money who might come to Tennessee to spend it?
A movement to boycott the Nashville hospitality industry wouldn't look too pretty in a recession. Remember the firestorm of controversy TNGOP brought on itself for attacking Ms. Obama before she was First Lady? Local industry is a lot more vulnerable to retribution than is a political party. Trouble is, with our reliance on sales taxes, this kind of bone-headed racism opens us all up to the big payback.
Walt Baker should be socially shunned and ostracized to the point of virtual exile. How about it, Chamber of Commerce?
Wait, upon rereading this, I have a question. Is it really possible in this day and age that a white guy could send an email to his friends comparing a black woman to a monkey and he thinks he's being criticized because of the politics of it (a conservative making fun of a liberal)? Because if he doesn't even get how noxious what punchline of his joke is...
I don't know.
Wow.
Cue right-wing response that mean liberals compared George Bush to a monkey in 5... 4.... 3 ....
It concerns me even more who Baker thinks wouldn't be offended by this e-mail. Butch Spyridon? Joe Hall? Bruce Dobie? Abie Del Favero? Ken Whitehouse? These "select friends," as he calls them: what the hell do they talk about that led Baker to believe it would be OK to send such an e-mail to them in the first place?
I hope Tom is right and this is indeed a “political taunt.” These are civic leaders, journalists, reporters. It is worrisome to me that Baker may have thought this message would be acceptable to them. For those who haven't condemned it already, they will need to speak out.
And no, Albie. This isn't about being "politically correct." It's about racism. Not the same thing.
I would not tarnish the names of the recipients just because they received the email. We're all subject to receiving an email from some random douchebag like Baker. It's not their fault.
Its Southern Racism.
The southern repub senators and congressman are pushing this crap.
Oh, my! How are they going to get gigs for the great big ole convention center now with this on the welcome mat?
Other Hotel Industry Issues
Legislative Representation
The primary purpose of the Tennessee Hospitality Association is to provide legislative advocacy for its members and to protect the interests of Tennessee’s second-largest industry from excessive government involvement and from unintended consequences from unrelated government actions.
TN HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION has three paid lobbyists who represent the Association at the General Assembly at the state Capitol. In addition, through our involvement with the American Hotel & Lodging and the National Restaurant Associations in Washington, advocacy is extended to the federal level, as well.
http://www.tnhospitalityvotes.com/index.php?ht=d/ShowFeedItems/i/3233/guid/1
State Issues
http://www.tnhospitalityvotes.com/index.php?ht=d/sp/i/3187/pid/3187
Either independent of, or in conjunction with the Tennessee Jobs Coalition, the Tennessee Hospitality Association is focused on the following issues in the 2010 Legislative year:
Comp Meals Tax
Mandatory Nutritional Labeling
Guns & Alcohol
Hospitality Licensing
Dram Shop (certifications, limited liability to businesses, etc.)
Hotel Occupancy Tax
Minimum Wage/Tipped Minimum Wage
Unemployment Trust
Immigration
Wine in Grocery Stores
Corporate Campaign Contributions
Department of Revenue Case Hearing Realignment
Uniform School Start Date
Mountain Top Removal Mining
Health Department Inspections and Guidelines
Tourism Marketing Funding
ABC Audits & Procedures
Food Safety Programs
Interlock Devices
Paid Sick Leave
Worker’s Comp Programs
Additional Smoking Bans in the Workplace
Cue right-wing response that mean liberals compared George Bush to a monkey in 5... 4.... 3 ....
And over at Aunt B's we have a winner ....
12:12 pm. Hmm. Y'all are slipping.
SB,
I just checked. No posts at TCP mention George Bush, George H.W. Bush, Bush's Best Baked Beans or Moses and the Burning Bush.
Now there are a couple of people suggesting that hate speech and violence inspired by such speech are a problem for both the Left and the Right.
Your problem with that is what?
I received the e-mail. I did not think it funny. Amazing that I have to write to say so. But I am.
I should say that at a certain point, I stopped calling the email recipients for comment. I don't want readers thinking that those not quoted above simply had nothing to say or, worse, were offering their tacit approval. As Joe Hall implies in his comment above, he shouldn't have to defend himself for receiving something he never asked for and wouldn't ever want. Same goes for Terry Clements, Toby Compton and all the others.
Liz,
Thank you for such responsible and professional coverage.
I hope you don't get kicked out of the liberal media for being fair. Clearly some people didn't want your point above to be made, particularly by the author.
This is the same city whose allegedly progressive politicians and leaders left the black community high and dry over rezoning.
Why should this kind of mindless, good ol' boy crap surprise anyone coming from a leader in Nashville? It is the prevailing sentiment, even among the so-called Democrats in town.
As Joe Hall implies in his comment above, he shouldn't have to defend himself for receiving something he never asked for ...
He does when the guy who sent it tells the media, "Hey, I was just sharing a yuk-yuk with my good buddies! Boys will be boys, can't you take a joke?"
Looks to me like Walt Baker was looking for some cover. His friends are going to have to make it clear that he won't find it with them, not on this issue at least.
I'm grateful some of the crackpot chain e-mails I've received from my right-wing inlaws haven't seen the light of day, but I never let that kind of crap go un-answered. I *will* hit "Reply All" and let them and everyone else on the recipient list know what I think of such claptrap. When it all shakes down I don't want there to be any doubt in anyone's mind where I stand on such issues. Fortunately, I don't receive too many of these things anymore.
Mark Rogers: I have no clue what you are talking about.
SB,
You wrote:
"Cue right-wing response that mean liberals compared George Bush to a monkey in 5... 4.... 3 ....
And over at Aunt B's we have a winner ....
12:12 pm. Hmm. Y'all are slipping."
I was just pointing out that you were misleading the readers here. I think that there is now some discussion about comparisons to Bush over at TCP. But when you wrote that comment, there were not.
Hmm, I thought the joke was that they had the same expressions. But, I guess I am not as quick to pull the race card.
Oh heck....that was funny. All of you with sticks up your a** need to lighten up. Races have made fun of each of for a really long time. I am sure that the blacks have some really good jokes about us white people...and you know what? They most likely are funny! PC is killing this country...freedom of speech, I say!
Sherry why do we have to have a stick up our a***, because we don't laugh at a joke insulting our first lady? Would you laugh if that was a depiction of you? If you don't see that something is wrong with this picture then something is seioudly wrong. All races need to stop and think before they act as their actions could cost them their jobs. Why is he sending out this type of info on company time anyway? That needs to be addressed. The joke Hmm is that Michele Obama is compaired to looking like a monkey and yes have the same expressions, but if you were black heard your white teachers call black kids little monkeys or white people people call you a jungle monkey, etc etc etc then you may understand the hurt that comes with this "joke." NOT FUNNY!!
This is the same left-leaning hospitality association that fell all over itself hating law-abiding gun owners.
Of course it's funny. You sour pusses get on my last nerve. How do you know what anyone who finds it amusing thinks about the races? In fact JamaJ you are bigoted in you own contorted way for such presumptions.
And, BTW, if it wasn't funny the SCENE would have not put on here. Now, what does that say about the smirkers at the SCENE?
That is really, really vile. I don't know how you keep your job after sending this sort of email.
"I'm grateful some of the crackpot chain e-mails I've received from my right-wing inlaws haven't seen the light of day, but I never let that kind of crap go un-answered. I *will* hit "Reply All" and let them and everyone else on the recipient list know what I think of such claptrap."
SB, many of the recipients did hit reply and let their displeasure known, as Baker himself is quoted as saying in the piece. But in any case, those who receive content like this aren't any more culpable than you are when your inbox is cluttered with it.
Liz,
No one is saying anyone is "culpable" and 99% of the time it's a private matter but the fact that this became a news story makes this incident completely different from the rantings I get from my in-laws.
PC is killing this country...freedom of speech, I say!
Yeah tell it to Sarah Palin who wants to ban the word "retarded."
I've been employed in the TN tourism/hospitality industry for many years, and know quite a few of the THA board members personally. I will emphatically voice my displeasure with Mr. Baker continuing to represent the industry that is the second largest employer in the state. The tourism and hospitality industry has a difficult enough job in claiming its rightful seat at the economic development table. Now we discover we're represented by someone who thinks racist jokes, about the First Lady no less, are appropriate. I don't want Mr. Baker representing my industry, much less the Tennessee.
The truly sad part is that that kind of racist political trash comments are par for the course in TN. This is a state where people are outraged that former Vice President Al Gore is being torn to shredsin the blogosphere and talk radio shows for being given a honorary degree from UT. This is also a state that religious fanatics hand out flyers speaking against/ridiculing catholics religious beliefs and the blogosphere is overwhelmed with support for the fanatics. The same state where the majority of these same clowns believe bush was a good president and kept us safe from terrorists and believe that President Obama is the anti-christ. The same state where people say poor people are poor by choice and that homeless people should be ran out of town. Welcome to the state on TN. inbred, uneducated and proud.
This is just par for the course in TN. They do not hide their racism and hatred of democrats. This is the same state where they plotted to shoot President Obama when he was campaigning. Tennesseans should be sterilized at birth. Maybe if we prevented them from inbreeding and creating more ignorant republicans we would not have to suffer their ignorance.
I don't care who you are, when you are in a position of leadership in the community, you have a responsibility to conduct yourself in a manner that reflects integrity and is worthy of respect by all people. This man has fallen way short; it doesn't mean he's a bad man, but he isn't leadership material. He needs to go bus tables for a living for awhile.
I would say she looks more like the Wookie from Star Wars.
Grow a sense of humor folks!
You leftist people are always trying to play the race card. Look in the mirror if you want to see a real racist.
I have met but don't know Walt Baker. I'm astonished and saddened that he did what he did and then expressed no remorse the next morning.
I do know Albie Del Favero, Bruce Dobie, Joe Hall, Toby Compton, Ken Whitehouse, and, less well, Butch Spyridon and Pete Heidenreich. If the Bob Davis in Alabama referenced in the e-mail is the journalist I know there, then that's one more.
To amplify what I noted above, I am convinced that none of the folks named in the prior graf would have been happy to receive this message. I'm quite sure none of the recipients would have welcomed it.
It is humiliating for me, as a Nashville native, to have to say this much. The chances that Baker's idiotic indiscretion will end up pilloried in national media seem ample at the moment, and there's not a damned thing we can do about it.
SB,
Tiny Cat Pants. Where you incorrectly wrote that someone had made an argument about liberals and George Bush.
Man ... I bet Walt doesn't like one of those friends anymore ... I'm guessing Dobie ...
I'd like to say I'm shocked by this. But this is Tennessee.
The State that has a Park named after the founder of the Ku Klux Klan.
This is now making national news, which is how I heard about it. Tennesseans, don't feel so bad, I've had republican coworkers in Wisconsin who forward similar stuff among themselves and even to me, since I happen to be lucky enough (I suppose) to be white (they stopped). It's a GOP thing more than a southern thing. Some of the least racist people I've known were in Virginia. The GOP though, is pretty much inexcusable, even if they have a few naive non-racists among them.
I'm Canadian and have lived in the U.S. for 30 years.The first 25 in Arizona and the last 5 in Tennessee.The joke (?)was not only obviously racist ,but also not well written.(No plans to improve it)For the first 25 years in the U.S. I have heard almost n o racist rantings, or read racist material. The latter 5 years have been quite different. In Tennessee there seems to be a cloud or blanket over us spouting racist garbage by the boatload. Will it ever stop? As a "pure whitey" I believe your country coild use a good scolding e.g. From persons like Churchill, and similar folk who know how to carry on .
This is not a Southern thing, a GOP thing, or a Tennessee thing. This IS stupid, and stupid is as stupid does. I also have seen this sort of gutter "humor" thrown at Republicans, remember the Condoleeza Rice cartoons? We also thought that was in horrific taste.
I give this idiot about four days before he is "out on his backsides" and looking for work in a terrible economy.
