Liz Garrigan has the story of another racist email, this time sent by the CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association.
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 Cheetah — that might stop even Michael Richards in his tracks.
The email was sent to 12 Nashvillians with the line “I don’t care who you are, this is funny.”
Included recipients, who indeed did not find it very funny, were The Nashville Post’s Ken Whitehouse and former Scene publisher Bruce Dobie.
If Baker is trying to get business to come to Tennessee, he’s doing a pretty bad job at it. He responded to the Scene saying basically people shouldn’t make a political agenda out of it.
Yeah, comparing the first lady to a monkey isn’t political? Alright Baker, we will call it what it is and that is racist. Either way, the bottom line is by him even defending it is as baffling and not very good business for the state.
From the Tennessee Hospitality Association’s website, you see this welcome.
Tennessee is known for its great hospitality, and we want to make sure you feel at home with your strongest resource in the Tennessee hospitality industry: The Tennessee Hospitality Association.
See how Baker’s email wasn’t that hospitable at Garrigan’s story is at Pith in the Wind where she also posts the email.
Have we not learned anything after the Sherri Goforth debacle?
[...] monkey, and then defended himself by saying, “It’s not a political statement.” As Trace Sharp says, “Alright Baker, we will call it what it is and that is racist. Either way, the bottom line [...]
[...] The Tennessee blogosphere is talking about Walt Baker, the CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association, who did this. [...]