THE PARTIES: Rusty DePass, GOP activist, former chairman of the Richland County (South Carolina) GOP; Michelle Obama, First Lady.
THE FUCK-UP: In response to a news story about a gorilla that recently had escaped from the Columbia, SC zoo, DePass posted on Facebook, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."
APOLOGY (#1): "[WIS-TV] spoke with DePass over the phone Friday [June 12, 2009] night. He said, 'I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest.' 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 [sic] of apes. But an Internet search for those comments turned up no news articles of the like."
RATING:2. Note to self: After you call the First Lady a monkey, don't blame the First Lady for starting it. We're also fans of the ubiquitous "...if I offended anyone" clause and DePass' boneheaded explanation that his racist joke was "clearly in jest."
APOLOGY (#2): “I want to thank Dr. Randolph [of the NAACP] for giving me this opportunity to come here this morning. I am here today for one purpose, and that is to apologize in such a way that there can be no misunderstanding. When I was asked about this on Friday, I apologized for it. I am truly sorry for any offense that I have caused. My remark was clearly inappropriate, and I apologize for writing it. Since that time, I have written a letter of apology to Mrs. Obama and I have given Lonnie [Randolph] a copy of that letter, though I have made no effort to make it public. My comment was offensive and a flippant remark made without thinking. It was wrong. It was foolish, and I deeply regret it and any pain it has produced. I do not want to compound my indefensible words, other than to offer each of you, as I have Mrs. Obama, my complete and total apology and for any offense I have caused. I have embarrassed myself, as well as my friends and associates, and the members of my family. All I can do, is ask you to forgive me. Thank you, very much.” (from FITSnews.com)
RATING: 7.5. In front of the NAACP, no less! DePass earns +2 bonus points for the private, unpublicized letter to Mrs. Obama, but immediately forfeits 2.5 points with the "I have made no effort to make it public" boast.
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