Some public officials keep making the same mistakes.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – A picture of a dog asking if he's eligible for welfare because, "He's black, lazy, and has no friggin' idea who his daddy is." An image of an Obama T-shirt with the message, "Hitler also gave great speeches too." A Walmart bingo card.
These are just a few examples from the hundreds of e-mails sent out between Springfield Public Works employees during work hours, on work computers, to other work staff.
according to a story today on KBOI, Boise Television.
They include chain letters, racist jokes, political cartoons and some sexual images that aren't appropriate to show on television.
City manager Gino Grimaldi said he was first made aware of the situation in February. The e-mails date back to January 2009.
"The e-mails are extremely offensive and disturbing to us," Grimaldi said.
When asked how this was allowed to happen for so long, he responded:
Some people did not follow the policies that were in place. And there was a failure to adequately supervise those people. The City of Springfield's attorney Joe Leahy compiled almost 250 pages of e-mails to and from employees Todd Thompson and Stacey Kintigh.
It's clear they knew this was wrong. In one e-mail, Thompson wrote to Kintigh, "take my name off this e-mail if you forward."
In another e-mail that includes a joke about Muslims he wrote, "You didn't get this from me."
Such transmissions make me wonder how much more such racist and sexist official misconduct with public resources goes on every day.
For example, in December of 2008 a county commissioner near Boise sent a racist email about Michelle Obama, using his official county computer and email account.
Fortunately, someone who received the email reported it, earning Canyon County Commissioner Steve Rule a not-so-glamorous spot on national television.
Predictably, the insiders and other "good 'ol folk" responded:
What's the big deal?
Ya'll need to lighten up.
***
Where was the training?
In another Springfield, Oregon email, sent out to several people including maintenance manager Brian Conlon, Conlon responded, "Hey guys, please use discretion and take this one off line ... this is public record!"
"That's totally unacceptable," said Grimaldi about Conlon. "That's not what a supervisor in this organization should be doing." Grimaldi said Conlon should have put a stop to this behavior.
Further, the definition of a public employee or public servant can extend further than many realize.
In Texas, Buck Burnette managed to add new meaning to the term: offensive lineman.
In November of 2008, after being dismissed from the Texas football team for making a racial epithet towards president-elect Barack Obama, the back-up offensive lineman received attention from coast-to-coast (and probably received a call from the Secret Service).
In addition to no longer being on Texas' roster, Burnette's Facebook page no longer exists.
This is why:
Burnette's dismissal is the result of him posting to his Facebook page an extremely immature, intolerant, and hateful remark about President-Elect Barack Obama. Upon learning of what he posted, coach Mack Brown dismissed him from the team.
I have a tip and an alleged quote on the vile remark -- involving hunters and racial epithets that I can't reprint -- but nothing that absolutely confirms the exact wording. There's no question about the sentiment, though. Burnette wasn't booted from the team based on idle speculation, and the latest status update before his profile went down (above) includes an apology that leaves no doubt about the nature of Buck's initial reaction to the thought of President Obama.
Burnette, who (in his own words) hailed from a small town where he said such racism is the norm, is reported to have written: "hunters gather up, there is a nigger in the White House," on his Facebook page.
Is there light on the horizon?
Burnette issued this apology:
"There are a lot of false statements and quotes on the internet attributed to me, but regardless, what I did post is indefensible. I made a very bad decision to post on my Facebook a text message that was sent to me in reference to the election. This posting has caused embarrassment and distraction to the University of Texas Football Team. I was allowed to apologize to the team and part of what I said is listed below:
"First of all I want to say that I apologize for causing a distraction from what this team is trying to accomplish. What I wrote was hurtful not only to people individually but also to the chemistry of this team and the "big picture."
What I wrote was totally inappropriate and immature of me and is not a reflection of how my parents raised me, what I believe, or what this team stands for. I sincerely apologize for offending and or causing any pain by my hurtful comment. I apologize to you coaches for being a distraction and stupidly drawing negative attention to myself when the success of the team is the goal at hand. I apologize to you my teammates for letting you down, not being accountable, and causing dissention among us. Coach Brown I apologize to you for being a distraction and possibly throwing away the priceless opportunity to play football at the University of Texas.
"This football team has become my life and my family. I think of ALL of you as my brothers and I don't see color as the measure of a man. A man's heart is the true teller of his character and I see nothing but my brothers around me when I walk out on the football field with you."
"I sinned against man and God posting what I did. That statement breeds hate and it was never my intention to cause those controversial feelings. The people who know me and know my heart will know this to be true. I have received tremendous support from both black and white players on my team and for that I am truly grateful. For those that remain offended, I hope that over time you will be able to forgive me."
What I wrote on Facebook was a horrible immature mistake. I have no racial feelings towards anyone especially the President Elect of the United States of America. I am proud to call myself an American and I look forward to the progress that President Obama will bring to the people of this great nation. I wish and pray for President Obama to have tremendous success as our president."
***
Maybe he learned something.
Maybe?
But one critic said Burnette's letter above
... reeks of lawyer. These aren't the words of a contrite sinner, they're the words of a public relations firm.
Is there hope?
Back to Oregon:
Grimaldi said they've been working with people in the University of Oregon's diversity department. He plans to make some sort of change to their training process.
He has spoken with the employees involved and said, "they feel they let the community down." City officials are working to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
Let's hope so.