Posts: 6,996
Threads: 3,794
Joined: May 2013
Reputation:
2,387
Florida elections chief resigns when blackface photos emergeFlorida's top elections official abruptly resigned Thursday after a newspaper obtained pictures of him in blackface dressed as a Hurricane Katrina victim at a 2005 party. Associated PressJanuary 24, 2019 — 4:31pm TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida's top elections official abruptly resigned Thursday after a newspaper obtained pictures of him in blackface dressed as a Hurricane Katrina victim at a 2005 party.
Secretary of State Michael Ertel, who had been on the job less than three weeks, resigned just hours after he testified about election lawsuits before a state legislative committee.
The Tallahassee Democrat obtained pictures taken at a Halloween party 14 years ago that show Ertel dressed in blackface while wearing earrings, a New Orleans Saints bandanna and fake breasts under a purple T-shirt with "Katrina Victim" written on it. The photos were taken two months after the deadly storm ravaged the Gulf Coast region and eight months after Ertel was appointed Seminole County supervisor of elections. The newspaper hasn't said how it got the photos or identified the source.
Ertel was the Seminole elections supervisor until new Gov. Ron DeSantis picked him last month to take over the department that oversees elections.
DeSantis said Ertel regretted dressing up in blackface, but he said that he was right to step down after the pictures emerged.
"I want people to be able to lead and not have any of these things swirling around," said DeSantis, who was in Marianna to discuss hurricane relief efforts for areas hit hard by Hurricane Michael in October.
Ertel was appointed Seminole elections supervisor by then-Gov. Jeb Bush in February 2005 and won four elections to keep the office.
Ertel played a role in DeSantis' decision to suspend Palm Beach County supervisor of elections Susan Bucher last week. Ertel recommended the governor take action against the Democratic official, contending that she had violated state election laws and was incompetent. Democrats have sharply criticized Bucher's suspension as being politically motivated.
DeSantis last year defeated Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who was seeking to become Florida's first black governor. Gillum questioned DeSantis' association with people seen as racially divisive. DeSantis also came under fire for a comment he made in late August where he said that Florida voters shouldn't "monkey this up" by supporting Gillum.
I dont know, maybe there's more context to this that would cast it into a different light?
Dunno. Obviously in poor taste, but the current trend of digging until you find something embarrassing isn't good either. Everyone has probably done something stupid in their life, and watch out if it was recorded digitally in some way. The vendetta crowd is brutal anymore.
Quote: @greediron said:
Dunno. Obviously in poor taste, but the current trend of digging until you find something embarrassing isn't good either. Everyone has probably done something stupid in their life, and watch out if it was recorded digitally in some way. The vendetta crowd is brutal anymore.
Embarrassing no. Racist yes. Because we now have a racist president, we have countless people no longer embarrassed by their bigotry. That's the biggest problem.
I mean even though it was 14 years ago. He's guilty of being a jerk. Say I didn't ever have aspersions of someday seeking office, which I sure don't. Something inside of me would have told me wearing blackface and mocking people who survived a catastrophic event was uncool. I know what that something is. I call it a conscience.
Quote: @suncoastvike said:
I mean even though it was 14 years ago. He's guilty of being a jerk. Say I didn't ever have aspersions of someday seeking office, which I sure don't. Something inside of me would have told me wearing blackface and mocking people who survived a catastrophic event was uncool. I know what that something is. I call it a conscience.
Yabbut it's not "uncool." It's racist. Why are we so afraid to call it what it is? Would you ever put black face on and go to a party mocking Katrina victims? Of course not, you're not a racist. That's something a racist does.
It reminds me of the Mel Gibson thing several years ago. He gets pulled over for DUI and starts ranting about Jews. His defense? He was drunk. Really, Mel? I don't know about anyone else, but I've never ranted about Jews or anyone else when I've had too many.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ suncoastvike said:
I mean even though it was 14 years ago. He's guilty of being a jerk. Say I didn't ever have aspersions of someday seeking office, which I sure don't. Something inside of me would have told me wearing blackface and mocking people who survived a catastrophic event was uncool. I know what that something is. I call it a conscience.
Yabbut it's not "uncool." It's racist. Why are we so afraid to call it what it is? Would you ever put black face on and go to a party mocking Katrina victims? Of course not, you're not a racist. That's something a racist does.
It reminds me of the Mel Gibson thing several years ago. He gets pulled over for DUI and starts ranting about Jews. His defense? He was drunk. Really, Mel? I don't know about anyone else, but I've never ranted about Jews or anyone else when I've had too many.
I'm not going to disagree or say for sure he is a racist. It on the surface appears racist. *Anybody in public office shouldn't have a racial bias. That I can't prove by these actions. Just that is how it looks and therefore he should have lost his job. Resignation accepted. The sad part is we should all be comfortable enough in our own skin to not be totally offended by a distasteful Halloween costume. My uncool part has more to do with my feelings about any jerk who finds it funny to mock people suffering. Jerk might not be strong enough a word to describe him for that action.
*Edit: especially someone who is responsible for elections.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ greediron said:
Dunno. Obviously in poor taste, but the current trend of digging until you find something embarrassing isn't good either. Everyone has probably done something stupid in their life, and watch out if it was recorded digitally in some way. The vendetta crowd is brutal anymore.
Embarrassing no. Racist yes. Because we now have a racist president, we have countless people no longer embarrassed by their bigotry. That's the biggest problem.
ITs quite possible it's stupidity being in public office and all...
What are the chances it's both??? 
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ greediron said:
Dunno. Obviously in poor taste, but the current trend of digging until you find something embarrassing isn't good either. Everyone has probably done something stupid in their life, and watch out if it was recorded digitally in some way. The vendetta crowd is brutal anymore.
Embarrassing no. Racist yes. Because we now have a racist president, we have countless people no longer embarrassed by their bigotry. That's the biggest problem.
Your comment because we have a racist president is the answer to the question. Before Trump was President or even in politics at all he was given the Elis Island award along with Rosa Parks and Muhamadd Ali, the Tree of Life award by the Jewish Natioal Fund, the Muhamadd Ali entrepreneur award, the Algemeiner Award for contributions between the US and Isreal, he was Time Person of the Year (I doubt Time would give this award to a racist), in 98 Jesse Jackson praised Trump up and down at a Rainbow Push Coalition Convention and had him as a guest.
It was only after he became President that he became this racist, bigot piece of garbage. People have no common sense anymore. Racism has become the new destroy a person word. Want to destroy a persons reputation call them a racist and they are finished, it doesnt matter if its true or not. Im not trying to defend Trump or call you out for saying he is a racist but this is what I see as the problem now days. Trump is a racist, homophobe, biggot , why ??? What has he actually done to be considered a racist ??? Because of Charlottesville? Because he said this when commenting about the violence Approx. 3:30 p.m.
President Trump addressed the nation, condemning the violence "on many sides" and saying "We must love each other, respect each other and cherish our history and our future together."
That makes a person a racist ???? Really, again no common sense. Maybe people don't realize that the neo nazi scum bags marched in the streets the previous night as well. They marched through the streets spewing their garbage and all without incident, why ? because they were just ignored. It wasnt until ANTIFA put out a call to action and showed up the next day and confronted them.
Why is Trump a womanizer and a biggot ? Because he paid a porn star to go away years before he was ever a politician ? Why was never an issue when Clinton was nailing a young woman in the white house ? Why was this never an issue when Clinton paid Paula Jones $800,000 to go away and Jennifer Flowers $250,000 to go away after an affair. Once again no common sense.
The problem in the country has is not that people are no longer embarrassed by their so called racism or bigotry, the problem is with social media deciding what is racist and biggotted. The medias full blown haterd of this president just fuels the problem. The Buzzfeed story that NOT ONE news outlet fact checked, the latest story about the catholic kids supposedly being racist to a tribal elder turned out to be all false and the media ran with it for a couple days and some are still running it all started with SOCIAL MEDIA deciding these kids were yelling racist remarks at this guy so they are now racist.
Stories like this elections chief 's resignation are all about social media over reaction and the people reading this garbage not using and freaking common sense. I don't know maybe the guy is a total racist douchebag, but maybe he is just a good everyday person that made a poor judgement call 14 years ago, but we will never know because this guys professional career is now ruined because was called the R-word and once social media calls you a racist you are just that.
I realize and do agree that Trump should not talk, he does not know how to speak politically and leaves himself wide open for comments but somebody has to tell me what the guy ever did to be considered a racist.
I'm shocked this happened in Florida. Shocked I tells ya!
Full disclosure: I plan to retire in Florida
|
