Most of us would assume that being the CEO of a hospitality association would mean one would have a talent for showing hospitality, or at the very least some knowledge of PR. The CEO of such an association would know how to make a potential visitor feel welcomed. I mean who would ever assume comparing them to a chimp wouldn't be funny? Well apparently the Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker thought doing this was OK.
The CEO of Tennessee's hospitality association is apologizing for sending an e-mail to a group of public figures that compares first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee.
The Tennessean of Nashville reports that Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker's e-mail compares the first lady to Tarzan sidekick Cheeta. At the bottom of the e-mail is a photo of Obama, caught in an awkward moment with her lips pursed, and one of a chimpanzee wearing a similar expression.
Baker apologized in an e-mail to Nashville Metro Council members Saturday saying the message was not intended to be malicious but meant as "political humor."
Also on Saturday, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau said it would drop its contract with Baker's marketing firm.
The fall out has already started as: The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau has decided to drop its contract with Walt Baker's marketing firm over the hospitality executive's email comparing First Lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee.
"On behalf of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, I want to publically apologize for the offensive email sent yesterday by Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker," CVB President Butch Spyridon said in a statement this afternoon. "As a recipient of the email, I am embarrassed for both my organization and myself. The content is deeply hurtful to all in our city and beyond. The attitudes expressed in the email are both appalling and unacceptable, and are not shared or condoned in anyway by the NCVB or by me personally.
"Nashville's hospitality industry has worked tirelessly to create a welcoming environment for our visitors and this behavior discredits the work done by so many. After serious consideration, the NCVB has made the decision to terminate its contract with Mr. Baker's marketing agency, Mercatus Communications. I have communicated this action and my deep regrets about the email to the Mayor's Office and other hospitality industry leaders."
Baker is CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association. He apologized in an email to Metro Council members Saturday, suggesting that he had been misinterpreted:
See he was merely misinterpreted, see there are all sort of interpretation of comparing the first lady to a chimpanzee, presumably some of them are even funny. Sadly Mr. Baker didn't offer any of these interpretations, which of course sadden comedians nationwide, and others who just like a good joke.
I won't republish the photo from the email, but I will include a photo of someone who I'm going to compare to an animal:
Tenn Hospitality CEO Walt Baker
Not really a diary but I thought the story should get out. It's one thing to attack the President it's another to attack the first. It's funny how only Democratic first ladies (Elanor, Hillary, Michelle) get attacked like this, from the family values crowd. Has the "left" ever gone after a Republican first lady like this?
UPDATE 1: Thanks for the Rec list for a short diary on a Saturday Night!
UPDATE 2: I wasn't going to post the images but this story got picked up by CNN so.... (PS thank you Scarce for the link)