It wasn't a gaffe. It wasn't a mistake. It was racist. Just like telling someone with dark skin to go back to Africa (or Mexico). Tommy Thompsons son is a nutbag who didn't fall far from the nutbag tree.
After a weekend of talking heads trying to explain away or ignore his hateful remark, Jason Thompson apologized. To his colleagues at the (Republican defending, secret redistricting) law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich. Yeah. Them. Look back on the horrible wrongdoings of the Wisconsin GOP and you'll find Michael Best & Friedrich.
Jason Thompson, the son of former Gov. Tommy Thompson, has apologized to colleagues at his law firm for saying at a Republican event over the weekend that voters had the chance to send President Barack Obama back to Kenya.
Michael Best & Friedrich, the firm where Jason Thompson works, issued a statement Monday distancing it from his widely publicized remarks.
"Over the weekend, one of our attorneys and the son of Senatorial candidate Tommy Thompson made a regrettable comment at a campaign event for his father," said the statement from the Milwaukee-based firm. "We want to make it clear that the comment made at the campaign event in no way reflects the views, beliefs or values of Michael Best & Friedrich."
His law firm has spent far too much time in the headlines and body of media reports since Scott Walker and his not-so-merry band of reverse Robin Hood buddies took full control of Wisconsin and turned it into FitzWalkerstan.
Please also note who else is connected with Michael Best:
Also attending the Kenosha event was Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who is a partner at Michael Best.
(bolding mine)
Oh, yeah. Him. The former head of the Wisconsin GOP who now is the national chairman.
The Madison public relations firm of Lindsay, Stone & Briggs issued the statement for Michael Best.
"Jason has apologized for the comment through the campaign (and to his colleagues at the law firm) and the matter is being dealt with between father and son," said the statement.
OK. So now they have a public relations firm, too. They're gonna need them.
Of course Tommy Thompson, behind in the polls in his quest for the US Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Herb Kohl, initially tried to deflect questions about his sons statement, then tried denia.
At a Sunday evening news conference in Wauwatosa, the former four-term governor - known for committing his share of verbal gaffes over the years - initially deflected a question from No Quarter about the video.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Thompson said.
After that didn't work, his campaign finally sent an email comment:
"The Governor has addressed this with his son, just like any father would do," said the campaign statement. "Jason Thompson said something he should not have, and he apologizes."
I love how they are trying to couch this as a misstatement. It wasn't. It wasn't birtherism either. It's pure racism and it should be called out as such.
The most important thing, in my opinion is that he never apologized to anyone but his work colleagues. The Thompson campaign issued an apology on his behalf.
It is unknown whether Jason Thompson will be doing any future appearances during the campaign.
Contribute to Tammy Balwins Act Blue account to help defeat this schmuck.
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