Rusty DePass, South Carolina GOP Activist, Says Escaped Gorilla Was Ancestor Of Michelle Obama (VIDEO)

South Carolina GOP activist and former chairman of the state elections commission Rusty DePass has apologized for saying a gorilla that escaped from a zoo was an "ancestor" of Michelle Obama.

The controversy started when FITSNews, a local politics Website, obtained a screengrab of DePass's comment on Facebook.

After an aide to state Attorney General Henry McMaster detailed the escape of the gorilla from Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo, DePass responded with a comment: "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."

DePass later admitted to WIS News that he was referring to Michelle Obama and said, "I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest."

DePass, who was a county co-chair for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 campaign, supported the push to impeach President Bill Clinton in the late 90s, writing in an op-ed for The State, "Do Republicans have higher moral standards than Democrats?"

Watch CNN's report on the controversy:

Comments

[Tippiegirl]

11:56 AM on 06/20/2009

I'm also from the South and not very proud of it right now. When will these politicians understand that they can not just say anything that comes to mind. I still believe in a word called manners. There are some things you just don't joke about.

[rainjustice]

05:35 AM on 06/19/2009

Oo-whee, that was some severe southern-fried-racism, Mr. Depass. That's the republican party now, isn't it? The changing ethnic makeup of America from lily white to everything but, has got the bigoted, powers that "were," losing their little minds. Same as always, right, Mr. Deepass? Most caucasian-americans have no idea what the term, "white privilege" means, let alone that they have benefited inestimably from it for their entire lives. We "enlightened" white folks; i.e. culturally sensitives, sometimes seem as rare as republicans (republic-in-the-cans) at a Michael Moore film. Mr. Dipass was just speaking in his "traditional," southern-racist style. I mean, how can there possibly be a Race War without whipping up the poor whites in the south, in the time "honored," racist tradition? Of course, Cheney and Wolfowitz, ET AL, are desirous of any war. Race war would be the most expedient. That, so they can then use their private military, Blackwater, and the religious zealots in our military, (who are now practically a scary separate branch!) to seize complete control of our democracy. As their German role models did. A race war would work SO perfectly for them. Just one more page from their "national socialist"(NAZI) playbook. They are following it to a tee. And, once again, the poor, the working class whites and the southern racists are just another, "pawn in their game."* It's the goddamn trick that never fails. -rainjustice.com *apologies to Dylan

[Minnehaha]

07:42 PM on 06/17/2009

This guy is a real piece of work! RACISM at it's most glaring transparency. That fair and balanced news group will make this guy their hero. He is really a leader of the Republican Party, right up there with Rush, Glenn and the great one Bill.

[Boboday555]

05:19 PM on 06/17/2009

Dear Confederate Traitor DePass,
If given the choice to have my genes mixed with those of a gorilla or some south carolinian chimp like Y'ALL...I'd chose the gorlilla's every day of the week and twice on Sunday!

Who else was shocked to find out this DePass chimp hails from one of the confederate states?
Me neither!

The south: America's own Middle East!

[carolp]

06:07 PM on 06/17/2009

You stepped on my toes, boboday,

I live in the South (a blue state, thank you).

Your comment about the South is as hateful and misguided as Mr. Repass'. Is there any hope for civility and people of good heart to influence this dialogue?

Carol

[roger37]

10:02 PM on 06/17/2009

I live in one of the Slave States, too, Carol. I've lived in the South for 35 years, about half my life. Boboday called it right. Most southern folks think these kinds of jokes are funny, I wasn't surprised at Rusty, either.

This is the Republican Party you're looking at, folks. White, Southern, and stupid.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

11:09 AM on 06/18/2009

"I live in the South (a blue state, thank you)."

I wasn't aware that there WERE any blue states in the South. Wow, you learn something new everyday!

[2Dark2Matter]

01:31 PM on 06/18/2009

From the South and hear this crap every day....disgusting.

[barrycourage]

04:49 PM on 06/17/2009

Rusty DePass is just one step away from being another James von Brunn.

I hope South Carolina voters trash the GOP in the next election.

[tpaige1967]

07:12 PM on 06/17/2009

Not gonna happen most of them feel the same way!

[jojojo]

03:50 PM on 06/17/2009

This will help turn any thinking person even further against the GOP.

What's unfortunate is that I need to include the word "thinking."

[bswell]

03:48 PM on 06/17/2009

Please do not paint all of South Carolina with the same brush. Charleston is one of the loveliest, and certainly most polite places, on earth (and I live in NJ). Just regard the source of the comment.

[lordjin]

05:03 PM on 06/17/2009

Yeah, where they politely ask Jews if they can see their horns, and where they politely liken black people to apes. You can keep your lovely South Carolina.

[IndependantGal]

03:16 PM on 06/17/2009

This makes me so angry I don't know what to do...

[StephCaster]

03:14 PM on 06/17/2009

Yes, your comment was in jest. The problem is that your jest was RACIST!

If you are looking for allies, just find anyone who is NOT offended by it, as they are a fellow racist and sure to come to your defense.

[myworld]

02:51 PM on 06/17/2009

Where's NAACP?Were the outrage?Why Is it Dem's always have to act grown up and takeshi* in stride?Circle the wagons on this jerk!!!!

[LisainNYC]

07:34 PM on 06/17/2009

NAACP has demanded a proper apology.

[jamaicalover]

04:49 PM on 06/18/2009

There on it!

[SpokenWurd]

02:37 PM on 06/17/2009

This clearly was "not" a good joke. He admits to targetting Michelle Obama, it's very clear.

Here's what he should have said ...escaped gorilla, ancestor of us "all" ...something like that.

It's just a joke right.

[PopulistPagan]

01:57 PM on 06/17/2009

Between this, the Palin uproar, and pretty much anything coming out of the Right Wings mouths I am thoroughly disgusted with the conservatives (whom I find are not really conservationists just asshats).

I tried to be aloof of their bile but they make it so difficult.

screw em

[cgracec]

01:50 PM on 06/17/2009

I would now like to see Hannity and the rest of the fox news loonies demanding an apology on Michelle's behalf. They have spent a week now going on and on about sarah palin's knocked up daughter who was the brunt of a joke about being knocked up. They have complained over and over again that only conservative women are made fun of, indicating a double standard. This is not the first time Michelle or any other democratic women (i.e. nancy pelosi, hillary clinton) has been ridiculed unfairly, and if hannity or anyone else wants to retain a shred of objectivity they will speak out against this.

[MsPeppy]

01:26 PM on 06/17/2009

eeuuww.

[katocat]

12:40 PM on 06/17/2009

Typical GOP.