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Al Austin, a longtime, high-level Republican fundraiser from Tampa, today sent to his list of political contacts an e-mail containing a joke that refers to the assassination of Barack Obama.
When asked about the e-mail, Austin said it was a mistake and apologized and that he wouldn’t knowingly have circulated it. He said he planned to send an apology and retraction to the same e-mail list.
Al Austin/ Tribune file photo
The joke concerns a group of schoolchildren discussing the definition of “tragedy” as opposed to “great loss” or “accident.” The punch line comes when one child says that if an airplane carrying Obama and his wife, Michelle, “was struck by a ‘friendly fire’ missile and blown to smithereens,” the event might be a tragedy “because it certainly wouldn’t be a great loss, and it probably wouldn’t be an accident either.”
Austin acknowledged sending the e-mail to his list of political contacts but said he forwarded it without fully reading it and didn’t know what it said. That list included at least two reporters.
According to the forwarding history on the e-mail, it had gone through at least two other individuals before being sent to Austin on Tuesday.
Austin, a prominent real estate developer long known as one of the state’s leading Republican campaign fundraisers, has served in recent years as finance chairman for both the national and state Republican parties.
I grew up in Florida in the 50s and 60s. Whiule I may have listened to a “joke” such as the one Al Austin distributed in his email, I have moved beyond such phony politeness. Al Austin should be held accountable in the court of law in Tampa. Distributing jokes and then saying he had not read all of what he sent is lack of judgment. But, to distribute information about the death of anyone, especially a contender for the presidency of this great country, is a felonious offens. Where is the FBI? This man should be arrested.
Sharon Jones Allworth
This is my right Email That is problely why I getting such hateful replies.You got the wrong EMail address on me please correct this
racist, ethnic and sexist jokes are just not funny--period! when i ran crew i had a strict rule against such humor. they only reinforce bigotry in a bigoted society. jokes that make fun of people for things they have no control over are never funny. they are designed to run power trips at the expense of the butt of the joke. these so-called jokes are at the expense of a person who had no choice in his racial genetics. further, they are vicious in nature designed to rile people into a rageful frenzy. they are literally a call to violent action. and the so-called leadership did it with absolutely no reserve.
i think the leaders need to be arrested and charged.
This fool should be convicted and placed in prison and the key lost. This is a crime against a standing Senator and the penalty should be severe.
People get a grip. The only thing wrong with this joke is that it was made personal. It is basically the same joke that has been around for years about the bus load of lawyers who ran off a cliff. It was a tragedy because there was one empty seat.
Are you really looking in the mirror?
This seems to be a disease, especially by Republicans where they do or say something repugnant or just low-down toilet bowl trash, then say oops they made a mistake and take it back with a wink of an eye. Look at the crowd McCain has been whipping up. Look at what General Colin Powell just said ab out these dirty tactics. This guy should be punished or made an example of by national media. Otherwise, this kind of bigot backwater no-brain trash will do it again and again just like all losers do. This goes for anyone in any party. When do we live up to real American Civil standards?
In my humble opinion.
my god, is this america?
For pete’s sake. It was a joke. Sarcastic and negative toward Obama, yes, but still a joke. Hardly racist or threatening by any stretch of the imagination. Political correctness and extreme liberalism is part of what’s went wrong with this country the past 40 years. Lighten up. Sticks and stones and all that.
Half of you that have commented have made a racial slur. And you have the audacity to get upset about this joke? Pure ignorance. Second of all google Mr. Austin and see how many great things he has done for his community instead of being pushed around by William Marsh, the political reporter and letting him tell you who Mr. Austin is. It is pathetic how Marsh has made a story out of something so misconstrued, take it from me. And now he is trying to do follow ups on people that the email was forwared to.Pathetic, he must need money very badly right now and have no spine at all.
Linda Garland, his name is spelled Obama. Stop watching TV and read a book. Or at least a Newspaper.
Al Austin is a creepy old racist and hopefully a dying breed.
Should assassination or any harm come to Senator Obama, all of the idiots making these comments should be charged as accessories to the crime, and locked up FOREVER!!!
He made a joke, and people want him thrown in jail. What about the people that made the movie showing President Bush actually being shot and killed? They were praised as putting together a great piece of art. Come on people - there are two standards here. Either one, though, is protected under “Free Speech”
This type of ignominious “joke” shows how truly perverse, disgraceful and psychotic the GOP have become and unfortunately the Florida wing are close to having to be institutionalized to protect the public. They are dangerous lunatics, members of the largest criminal organization in America. Who else could have brought the most powerful country to its knees in eight short years (although they felt like a hundred?
I love how republicans and racists always turn their defective defaults around to blame the other guy. Whatever they do, they twist the fault to their opponent. So typical of them. No longer will they get away with wih their tricks and lies. So if you are a racist stop calling Obama one we know what you are all about. A Racist Lier!
I shall give you here a verse from a song that Joan Baez used to sing and that I am beginning to sing again, from a time like this:
On Birmingham Sunday, the noise shook the ground
And people all over the earth turned around
For no one recalled a more cowardly sound
And the choir kept singing of freedom.
Now go look up Natty Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Cynthia Webley, and Carol Roberts, and pray that Barack Obama’s name isn’t added to that list.
This comment was wrongfully attributed to the author noted.
"Al Austin, a longtime, high-level Republican fundraiser from Tampa, today sent to his list of political contacts an e-mail containing a joke that refers to the assassination of Barack Obama.”
I reported this man to the FBI today and I hope the FBI follows up with an investigation and places this hateful man in prison for the rest of his life.(Many black men/women have been incarcerated for much less.)
Violence is unacceptable in any form especially with our country’s history concerning hate crimes against African Americans. My God, will we ever learn? I have not seen a picture of this man, but I am guessing he is very old and very white.
God Help us all,
Julie Freter, Columbus, Ohio
I’m not surprised. Austin built his mansion behind my childhood home on San Rafael, back in the 70’s. Not content with spoiling the block-long wooded area behind our street, Austin coerced the City of Tampa to grant him a ‘buffer’ area of our back yard, as well.
Austin may not go to jail for intent to murder Obama, but I hope he ends up in hell, if only a hell for bad neighbors.
It amazes me that prominent officials have the gall to display and incite racism; then attempt to lie about it. Positive Leadership does not stoop to this level of lowliness.
The presidential race has truly shown me, an African American, that racism is alive but is dormant until racists choose to act on it.
It’s freighting to think Mr. Racist found humor in this joke and had the audacity to forward email to his cronies; who probably share his views on minorities.
I pray he will take the time to read the bible and see what Jesus’ views are regarding inclusion. I certainly will pray he change his views and attitude.
Thank You!
It is absolutely disgusting that any political figure would joke about such a horredous occurrence. Austin ought to be fired immediately and assigned community service, if not jailed for making terroristics threats. If a child in a school passed a similar “joke” about a school mate, there would be outrage and all manner of interventions.
I’m 77 years old, caucasian, and I can tell you Mr. Austin knew EXACTLY what he was doing. He should be fined and/or prosecuted for his actions. As someone said, if it were a Democrat, they would receive a penalty. Mr. Austin should also. If he’s a top GOP figure, then he should be taken down a few notches. The Tampa folks should insist that this man be admonished. Shame on you, Mr. Austin, but your ignorance is showing. GA Granny
Oboma is one of the most racist people there is. LOOK at his ADs. You never see a black person in them.!
....what else can you expect to dribble from the mouth of one who dwells in the shadow of a snake????
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Posted by Patricia Hill, Florida on 10/23 at 11:00 AM
Barack Obama is not a racist, how could he be? His wife is BLACK!!. I don’t know what ADS you are watching because there are BLACKS in his ADS, so get your facts straight before you start ranting erroneous information.