Newly appointed Fl. SoS resigns after blackface picture exposed

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

God damnit, only in this state

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https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2019/01/24/new-secretary-state-ertel-dressed-blackface-halloween-2005/2649161002/

[Fuzzy Bear]

From Wikipedia:

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I certainly don't sign off on his past behavior here, and people in public life need to think twice before they do things like this.  Whether they are truly bigoted or just incredibly insensitive is beside the point; things like this will be taken in a way where people will conclude that you, at best, can't be fair.  The irony here is that, as Supervisor of Elections in Seminole County, FL, Ertel appears to have actually practiced a great deal more fairness than the bulk of GOP Elections Supervisors. 

In a more reasonable time, we would accept a sincere apology for his being stupid, assuming that his actual record as Supervisor of Elections was what this says it was.  We don't live in reasonable times.  The irony of this is that DeSantis may appoint someone with a similar background will less propensity to be fair.  Given that FL's SoS will have a great say in how the actual implementation of the restored voting rights of former felons will go forth, it's possible that Ertel's replacement can be significantly worse than what Ertel's actual record suggests his record would have been.

[Dr. Arch]

Oh Florida...

[ProudModerate2]

[HAnnA MArin County]

Megyn Kelly must feel so vindicated!

[courts]

creepy

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Oh Florida...

[GP270watch]

Making fun of people who were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, one of America's worst disasters, compounded by one of America's worst responses. This really shows what's in a person's heart to me. Especially since we all saw and felt the racial divisions and disparity in the handling of Hurricane Katrina. So part of his "Katrina Victim" costume is blackening up, that's disgusting.

[DavidB.]

Really don't see why this would be a reason to resign. It's a joke, not a d**k - no reason to take it too hard!

[DrScholl]

If you are in a position that requires the utmost in neutrality and fairness then something like this is a problem.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Really don't see why this would be a reason to resign. It's a joke, not a d**k - no reason to take it too hard!

Commentary from the land of zwarte piet…

Anyway, it's obviously racist.

[DavidB.]

Commentary from the land of zwarte piet…

And proud of it. Went up north to my parents' village to watch the parade last Sinterklaas: lots of Zwarte Pieten and zero anti-ZP nonsense there. Loved it.

[Horus]

Really don't see why this would be a reason to resign. It's a joke, not a d**k - no reason to take it too hard!

If he'd been wearing a big fake nose and a kippah you'd whine about it for years.

[DavidB.]

Really don't see why this would be a reason to resign. It's a joke, not a d**k - no reason to take it too hard!

If he'd been wearing a big fake nose and a kippah you'd whine about it for years.

Nah.

[Mr. Reactionary]

What is it about Florida SoSs and wearing too much makeup? Im sure Harris is jealous.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Come on, people, show a little mercy for youthful mistakes! Who here hasn't made some bad choices at *checks date* 35 years old shortly after becoming an elected official.

[Fuzzy Bear]

If you are in a position that requires the utmost in neutrality and fairness then something like this is a problem.

That's the bottom line for Ertel.  The particular issues regarding voting in Florida cause him to appear to be an unfair abriter, based on the unfortunate photo and party behavior. 

Ertel's actual record in office suggests he would be able to be fair.  That's the tragedy.  But appearances matter. 

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I really hope he can recover from this and have a successful life and career but man oh man what an incredibly stupid and disgusting thing to do.  I don't know what could possess someone to think this was a good idea.

[Cold War Liberal]

To clarify, I do indeed consider Florida to be a Foreign Country

[Fuzzy Bear]

I really hope he can recover from this and have a successful life and career but man oh man what an incredibly stupid and disgusting thing to do.  I don't know what could possess someone to think this was a good idea.

How many future Presidents are having their 2048 campaigns derailed by what's going onto Facebook today?

A better question is this:  If THIS guy's political career is ruined (albeit, by his own stupidity), and if people are going to actively use this against him in any career he attempts, why, then, should Jesse Jackson deserve one more minute of positive regard in the public limelight?  Once an anti-Semite, always an anti-Semite?  After all, Jackson's  comments represent his own, unforced expression of anti-Jewish sentiment?  

Ertel's behavior was at a private party.  Jackson's behavior was on the campaign trail for President.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I really hope he can recover from this and have a successful life and career but man oh man what an incredibly stupid and disgusting thing to do.  I don't know what could possess someone to think this was a good idea.

How many future Presidents are having their 2048 campaigns derailed by what's going onto Facebook today?

A better question is this:  If THIS guy's political career is ruined (albeit, by his own stupidity), and if people are going to actively use this against him in any career he attempts, why, then, should Jesse Jackson deserve one more minute of positive regard in the public limelight?  Once an anti-Semite, always an anti-Semite?  After all, Jackson's  comments represent his own, unforced expression of anti-Jewish sentiment?  

Ertel's behavior was at a private party.  Jackson's behavior was on the campaign trail for President.

The President elected in 2048 clearly needs to be a mathematician or computer scientist.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I really hope he can recover from this and have a successful life and career but man oh man what an incredibly stupid and disgusting thing to do.  I don't know what could possess someone to think this was a good idea.

How many future Presidents are having their 2048 campaigns derailed by what's going onto Facebook today?

A better question is this:  If THIS guy's political career is ruined (albeit, by his own stupidity), and if people are going to actively use this against him in any career he attempts, why, then, should Jesse Jackson deserve one more minute of positive regard in the public limelight?  Once an anti-Semite, always an anti-Semite?  After all, Jackson's  comments represent his own, unforced expression of anti-Jewish sentiment?  

Ertel's behavior was at a private party.  Jackson's behavior was on the campaign trail for President.

The President elected in 2048 clearly needs to be a mathematician or computer scientist.

Something like that, yes. 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I really hope he can recover from this and have a successful life and career but man oh man what an incredibly stupid and disgusting thing to do.  I don't know what could possess someone to think this was a good idea.

It isn't even the crass 'blackface' that's the worst thing (understandable American racial sensitivities ignored for the moment), but the 'Hurricane Katrina Victim' as a joke. Yikes.

_{*It isn't strictly speaking blackface (as the stylised stereotypes involved in the colours used formed an integral part of the racial mockery) but there isn't a word for what he did so it'll have to do.}

[Badger]

I really hope he can recover from this and have a successful life and career but man oh man what an incredibly stupid and disgusting thing to do.  I don't know what could possess someone to think this was a good idea.

How many future Presidents are having their 2048 campaigns derailed by what's going onto Facebook today?

A better question is this:  If THIS guy's political career is ruined (albeit, by his own stupidity), and if people are going to actively use this against him in any career he attempts, why, then, should Jesse Jackson deserve one more minute of positive regard in the public limelight?  Once an anti-Semite, always an anti-Semite?  After all, Jackson's  comments represent his own, unforced expression of anti-Jewish sentiment?  

Ertel's behavior was at a private party.  Jackson's behavior was on the campaign trail for President.

And was Jesse Jackson elected to any office? Is he been remotely relevant in 30 years? You really really really really need to find a new scapegoat to whatabout every racist Republican.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I really hope he can recover from this and have a successful life and career but man oh man what an incredibly stupid and disgusting thing to do.  I don't know what could possess someone to think this was a good idea.

How many future Presidents are having their 2048 campaigns derailed by what's going onto Facebook today?

A better question is this:  If THIS guy's political career is ruined (albeit, by his own stupidity), and if people are going to actively use this against him in any career he attempts, why, then, should Jesse Jackson deserve one more minute of positive regard in the public limelight?  Once an anti-Semite, always an anti-Semite?  After all, Jackson's  comments represent his own, unforced expression of anti-Jewish sentiment?  

Ertel's behavior was at a private party.  Jackson's behavior was on the campaign trail for President.

And was Jesse Jackson elected to any office? Is he been remotely relevant in 30 years? You really really really really need to find a new scapegoat to whatabout every racist Republican.

Jesse Jackson was a viable Presidential candidate in two (2) consecutive election cycles.  He was the runner-up to Michael Dukakis in 1988; a whole night of the 1988 Democratic National Convention was dedicated to him.  He was a Democratic power broker for decades.  He was a Spiritual Adviser to President Bill Clinton (before his own infidelity was exposed).  He has been a figure in Chicago politics to this day. 

Stop kidding yourself.  You simply don't wish to acknowledge the leftist double standard here.  People have been un-honored, and run out of politics for far less than Jackson has done.