Comments regarding Michelle Obama AIBU to feel like this is a bad dream...?

[Destinysdaughter]

"A West Virginia county worker was fired after penning a racist Facebook post calling first lady Michelle Obama an “ape in heels”.

“It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels,” posted Clay County Development Corporation’s then director Pamela Ramsey Taylor to Facebook following Donald Trump’s presidential win last week.

Underneath Taylor’s post, Clay’s mayor, Beverly Whaling, voiced her approval: “Just made my day Pam.”

The racist post, now deleted from Facebook, caused an uproar, with thousands of horrified voters calling on the local mayor to be fired.

Ramsey, a well-known figure in town, was fired from her role as head of the government-funded non-profit organization." ( The Guardian ).

So, my AIBU is am I unreasonable to feel both in shock and despairing that it's ok for a respected woman to say this publically and for another influential woman to agree with this? And this isn't a private conversation in a cafe, it's the fact that they feel so confident in their views to express them in a public forum! I feel embarrassed and ashamed for them. But also really fucking angry. How dare they talk about an intelligent articulate professional woman this way, just because she's black...?

[QueenOfTheNaps]

"How dare they talk about an intelligent articulate professional woman this way, just because she's black...?"

Because they are absolute scumbags. I'm so pleased they are being vilified in the press and losing their jobs. It makes my blood boil.

[steff13]

The woman lost her job and the mayor has resigned. I would think that implies that most people think it isn't ok.

[Greengoddess12]

Vile op just vile glad they shamed

[winterisnigh]

Op this is awful and so beyond words but I question putting this in the heading or I am not sure discussing it at all? Why give this air?

I find it offensive this is in the title....

[ageingrunner]

It's hard to believe that they apparently actually thought it was a reasonable thing to post. I'm assuming that they didn't think that they would both lose their jobs. There are some very backwards people in the world unfortunately. It's frightening how viciously racist quite a large proportion of people seem to be

[GogoGobo]

Repugnant views from repugnant people.

[Chippednailvarnishing]

I wish I was surprised.

[StealthPolarBear]

We have a racist, disablist, sexist man (about to) run that country who thinks the general public are stupid. This sort of crap will only get worse. Glad to hear they both loSt their jobs but really that should be the bare minimum

[StStrattersOfMN]

Me too Chipping, I fear it will be like Brexit here, and give people like that the confidence to feel their disgusting views are valid :(

[Stinkerbelle37]

It's breathtaking isn't it? I really can't believe people can think that, let alone say it?

I want to hope these awful women are the exception, rather than the very stupid tip of the iceberg.

[winterisnigh]

well stinker - the southern states esp w Virginia are actually still deeply racist.

[misson]

It's horrible. The far right and the nasty racist/sexist/homophobic fringe feel vindicated by recent political shifts. Its given them the impression that their views aren't just ok and tolerated but acceptable and mainstream. Makes me feel sick.

[Autumnchill]

Couldn't believe this when I read it but isn't it strange that I read the Mayors response more as a gloating that the person tweeting it was about to get into a shitstorm. I just didn't read it as her supporting the comment.

[Magicpaintbrush]

Disgusting individuals. They should be absolutely ashamed. >:-(

It really makes me despair that there are people with attitudes like this in this day and age.

[winterisnigh]

www.huffingtonpost.com/john-k-wilson/west-virginia-countrys-mo_b_101651.html

[TakeNoHeedSheReadsBooks]

Every time I hear of something like this, it just diminishes my faith in humanity. I never have (or will) understand why some people feel that it's acceptable to discriminate in this way.

As a woman of colour, raised in a religion that is often "othered", I cannot foresee a time where I will ever not be reminded that I am considered less than others.

Without wanting to sound frothy, it shakes me to my core, I will never be able to feel at home, my face will never completely fit, and whenever I begin to feel comfortable, some utter cunt will be along to remind me that I am worth less.

If one of the most intelligent, empowering, thoughtful women in the world is subjected to this bollocks, there is little hope for the rest of us.

[AddToBasket]

What on earth were they thinking?! Morons.

(Although, now I have read Jon Ronson's 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' I feel a teeny bit sorry for dumb ordinary types like these women who end up completely obliterated and shamed on social media.)

[Destinysdaughter]

Takenoheed as a white woman, I feel utterly ashamed that other white women can talk like this. It's utterly disgusting to me. I'm so sorry they feel it's ok to talk like this.

[Temporaryname137]

It is so fucking disgusting that anyone thinks like that. I wish I could have just 5 minutes to tell her what I think of her.

Actually, I'd probably only need 1.

[YuckYuckEwwww]

You know what I find worse? is that calling this stuff out is being shouted down with "don't meet hate with hate" and "it's all the left's fault that people are fractioned"

The extreme bigots were always there, it's the ones in the middle who don't want you to call out the bigotory who are new and scary

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

I honestly don't understand any of this. Disgusting attitudes like that, Trump being elected and the nasty racism that has come out of the woodwork since Brexit.

Hell in a handcart springs to mind.

[Cel982]

So, my AIBU is am I unreasonable to feel both in shock and despairing that it's ok for a respected woman to say this publically and for another influential woman to agree with this?

Well, clearly it's not ok. Mainstream opinion does not think it's ok, nor does this woman's employer, who summarily fired her. It's horrible, obviously, but it was met with pretty universal abhorrence.

[MakeItStopNeville]

I know several people who started a pro active campaign of encouraging people to call and email and demand that Taylor was sacked. The one good thing that is coming out of this election that people are ready to stand up, get involved and be heard. I hope that this feeling lasts.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Sorry op, but. Youre not having a nightmare. I wish to God you were
Horrible nasty racist bitch. If that were said in the UK on twitter She'd be arrested as well as sacked.

[TheWoodlander]

I saw this on twitter, and filed it away in the "oh my god, this is what Trump has unleashed" part of my consciousness (next to the Brexiteer wearing the Tshirt with "Yes we won, now pack your packs" on, incidentally).

Glad to hear she was fired. YANBU btw.

We are swinging to the right, and certain sectors seem to now think this is ok, and I'm grievously upset by it.