Florida Commissioner Apologizes for Racially Charged Obama Joke: Meant as 'Humorous Commentary,' Says John Sims
A Florida commissioner apologized publicly last week for his racially charged and divisive Facebook post after some town residents demanded his resignation. John Sims, commissioner of Cooper City, said that the post was intended as "humorous commentary" about President Obama's political policies.
The Florida commissioner stated Tuesday that he offered his "deepest apology" to anyone who was offended. "Rest assured that I will continue to serve our city well and continue to work equally for all people in Cooper City regardless of religion, ethnicity or social status," Sims added.
The Facebook post that caused so much controversy among Cooper City residents came Nov. 30 and was lifted from another website, Sims told The Sun Sentinel. It poked fun at Barack Obama's social and fiscal policy, but critics took offense at the racial undertones.
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"Just wanted to let you know ... today I received my 2013 Social Security Stimulus Package," Sims wrote. "It contained two tomato seeds, cornbread mix, two discount coupons to KFC, an 'Obama Hope & Change' bumper sticker, a prayer rug, a machine to blow smoke up my a-- and a 'Blame it on Bush' poster for the front yard. The directions were in Spanish. Yours should arrive soon."
"Those comments are 100 percent bitter and ignorant. I'm shocked that those offensive comments were written by a Cooper City commissioner," said resident Gabriel De Gedeon.
"The comment was vile, offensive — it reminds me of a Neanderthal comment because it's very backward. It was not in good taste," agreed Commissioner Lisa Mallozzi, adding that she had accepted Sims' apology.
However, not all believe that Sims' comment was racist. Christine Timmons, who is black, said that the commissioner was being blamed because of his race— Sims is white.
"Every time a white person opens his mouth, people say, 'Oh, he's a racist,'" Timmons said. "He can say what he wants to say. He's got a right to free speech like anyone else."
After newly elected Mayor Greg Ross was besieged with emails and phone calls demanding Sims' resignation— "I don't have the right to do that," he said, pointing out that Sims is an elected official— he had the commissioner apologize at the workshop meeting.
"The post was done as a humorous commentary," Sims explained Tuesday. "I deeply regret that I failed to consider that some might find it offensive."
