Indigo Journal, a liberal blog in South Carolina, reports that GOP operative Mike Green posted a racist joke about President Obama on his Twitter account over the weekend — and in a brief conversation with TPM, Green did not deny it. (Late Update: Green has now admitted it in a new set of Tweets, and apologized. See new section after the jump.)
Green posted this, then deleted it some time later:
JUST HEARD OBAMA IS GOING TO IMPOSE A 40% TAX ON ASPIRIN BECAUSE IT’S WHITE AND IT WORKS.
That post is not currently on Green’s actual Twitter page, but Indigo Journal has what purports to be a screenshot, documenting it from when it was still up. I called Green to ask if this was true. “I don’t know,” said Green. “Let me give you a call back.” I also asked Green if anyone else writes on his Twitter account, or if it’s just him. Again, he said he would have to call back. He has not yet called back.
Indigo Journal says that Green works for Congressman Gresham Barrett’s campaign for governor. However, Barrett communications consultant Jim Dyke told TPM that while Green’s firm, Starboard Communications, might do the odd bit of work for Barrett (who is on the client list), Green does not work for the campaign.
“I’m happy to make a personal comment about the statement, but he doesn’t have a relationship with the campaign,” said Dyke. “I have to believe that is something that he would like to take back. It doesn’t sound like something that was funny or intelligent or useful. That’s my personal opinion.”
Late Update: Green has now apologized in a new set of Tweets:
First this:
Correcting misinformation. I am not a Barrett aide, I have never been employed by Barrett nor do I work for him now.
Then this:
I sincerely apologize for the comments I made on Twitter yesterday. I made a mistake.
And finally, this:
I realize that my comments were hurtful, wrong and have no place in civil discourse.
