Facebook, Twitter not the places for racist jokes

As is usual, when someone in the South utters something racist (extra points if they’re Republican), a brush fire ignites and national coverage ensues. Such is what happened with former S.C. Election Commission chairman Rusty DePass, who made a comment on Facebook saying, regarding the escaped gorilla at Riverbanks Zoo, “I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors — probably harmless.”

The reference to the First Lady went viral, leading even today to state NAACP president Lonnie Randolph to ask for a “proper” apology. As WIS‘ Judi Gatson tweeted Monday evening, DePass made another apology at the day’s Rotary Club meeting.

Then came the tweet/Facebook post from Starboard Communications associate Mike Green, who wrote, “JUST HEARD OBAMA IS GOING TO IMPOSE A 40% TAX ON ASPIRIN BECAUSE IT’S WHITE AND IT WORKS.” The kicker was that Richard Quinn & Associates associate Adam Piper gave the Facebook “thumbs up” to the post, saying he “likes this.”

For what it is worth, Green came out and apologized, writing, “I sincerely apologize for the comments I made on Twitter yesterday. I made a mistake,” and, “I realize that my comments were hurtful, wrong and have no place in civil discourse.” Piper has yet to respond.

Not to be outdone, a new account has shown up on Twitter, @scgopracism. While we immediately thought it was run by Democrats, a careful consideration of factors led us to decide that there is, or are, Republicans typing away. In our experience, there are a precious few Dems around here that have the thought to go online with this sort of thing or the tenaciousness to pound away at it. Or, heavens, maybe not. Your guess is as good as ours, since they seem to think that Jay W. Ragley is still SCGOP executive director.

It’s been non-stop over there, with tweets looking like this:

• @scgop Should DePass/Mike Green (@gopgreenhouse)/Adam Piper (@adampiper) racism stand? Plz respond. #sctweets @thestate @greenvillenews
  
• @adampiper is 3rd Vice Chair of @scgop He should have to address this issue of condoning racism. #sctweets @thestate @wltx
  
• #SCTWEETS Mike Green (@gopgreenhouse) apologizes for racist tweet but will Adam Piper (@adamper)? Will he resign? http://tinyurl.com/mfe7ow
  
• #SCTWEETS GOP operative @adampiper, who works for US House hopeful @RexRice, refuses to denounce racist joke. In fact, he “liked” it. #TCOT
  
• #SCTWEETS @scott_english But should @gopgreenhouse @adampiper apologize/resign for their racist jokes? #TCOT
  
• @WolfeReports do you think @gopgreenhouse should still work 4 GOP officials in light of his sense of humor? @ragley won’t respond. #SCTWEETS
  
• @ragley has condemned Mike Green @gopgreenhouse for racism but when will anyone else speak up? #SCTWEETS #TCOT

So, there’s that. But, let’s be honest, here. For anybody that’s a white Southerner, if you haven’t heard racist jokes like this your whole life, you’re lying. WR, living in relatively progressive environs around the South, thought most talk like this was gone (especially among those under 50 years old), and only encountered the odd racist or anti-Semitic joke (though gay jokes always seem to be in vogue). But, our three-year sojourn at Carolina proved that definitively wrong. It’s only that now, with Facebook and Twitter, what would once be uttered over beers on a front porch is now seen worldwide.

TWITTER/FACEBOOK BONUS
That’s right, kids. Coming right on the heels of racial insensitivity, we have an elected official advocating for drowning cats.

Yes, Rep. Tommy Stringer, after adopting a cat, couldn’t seem to care for it and is now bitching about taking it back. As one who adopted a shelter cat four years ago ($60 bucks for the cat — had all shots, spayed and litter box trained), we believe this says a hell of a lot more about the person adopting the cat than it does about the pet’s behavior.

UPDATE: We forgot this tweet from SCHotline‘s Jeffrey Sewell comparing President Obama to Curious George back in November of last year. Where was the Daily News when that happened?