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| Trump New York co-chair won't resign despite racist remarks about Obamas | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Trump presidential campaign New York co-chair who made inflammatory and racist statements about Barack and Michelle Obama says he will not resign from the Buffalo school board, which on Thursday voted to remove him. | The Trump presidential campaign New York co-chair who made inflammatory and racist statements about Barack and Michelle Obama says he will not resign from the Buffalo school board, which on Thursday voted to remove him. |
| Millionaire developer Carl Paladino last week told a Buffalo alternative newspaper he wanted to see the president dead of mad cow disease and the first lady living with a gorilla in Zimbabwe. | Millionaire developer Carl Paladino last week told a Buffalo alternative newspaper he wanted to see the president dead of mad cow disease and the first lady living with a gorilla in Zimbabwe. |
| Having first said the comments had “nothing to do with race”, he also said they were examples of “old-style humour” intended “to wake people up … to get people’s attention”. | Having first said the comments had “nothing to do with race”, he also said they were examples of “old-style humour” intended “to wake people up … to get people’s attention”. |
| The newspaper, Artvoice, included Paladino, 70, among a number of people asked what they wanted to see happen in 2017. | The newspaper, Artvoice, included Paladino, 70, among a number of people asked what they wanted to see happen in 2017. |
| “[Barack] Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Her[e]ford,” he said. | “[Barack] Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Her[e]ford,” he said. |
| “He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to [senior Obama adviser] Valerie Jarret[t], who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady [sic] cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.” | “He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to [senior Obama adviser] Valerie Jarret[t], who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady [sic] cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.” |
| About Michelle Obama, he said: “I’d like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.” | About Michelle Obama, he said: “I’d like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.” |
| In a statement, Paladino said he had spoken “about two progressive elitist ingrates who have hated their country so badly and destroyed its fabric in so many respects in eight years”. | In a statement, Paladino said he had spoken “about two progressive elitist ingrates who have hated their country so badly and destroyed its fabric in so many respects in eight years”. |
| He subsequently said his words were not meant for publication but were nevertheless “inappropriate”. | He subsequently said his words were not meant for publication but were nevertheless “inappropriate”. |
| At a special meeting on Thursday, the Buffalo school board voted 6-2 for a resolution asking the state education commissioner to remove Paladino, the ninth member, if he did not resign within 24 hours. More than 70% of the district is non-white, according to the resolution. | At a special meeting on Thursday, the Buffalo school board voted 6-2 for a resolution asking the state education commissioner to remove Paladino, the ninth member, if he did not resign within 24 hours. More than 70% of the district is non-white, according to the resolution. |
| The meeting was broadcast online. Some board members accused Paladino of acting like a bully and making remarks they would not tolerate from students. | The meeting was broadcast online. Some board members accused Paladino of acting like a bully and making remarks they would not tolerate from students. |
| “This level of hatred for African Americans cannot and should not set policy for the education of African American children,” said board member Paulette Woods. | “This level of hatred for African Americans cannot and should not set policy for the education of African American children,” said board member Paulette Woods. |
| Members of the audience stood up and cheered when the resolution was approved. | Members of the audience stood up and cheered when the resolution was approved. |
| Paladino, who did not attend, has said he will not resign. On Wednesday he told a local radio station: “I’m the agent of change. I’m the guy that exposed the underbelly of their corrupt and dysfunctional school system, and they want me gone from the scene.” | Paladino, who did not attend, has said he will not resign. On Wednesday he told a local radio station: “I’m the agent of change. I’m the guy that exposed the underbelly of their corrupt and dysfunctional school system, and they want me gone from the scene.” |
| The state education commissioner, MaryEllen Elia, is monitoring the situation and will review any removal request as quickly as possible, a spokeswoman said. | The state education commissioner, MaryEllen Elia, is monitoring the situation and will review any removal request as quickly as possible, a spokeswoman said. |
| Paladino’s comments about the Obamas were condemned by figures including New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, who beat Paladino in the 2010 election. A Trump spokesperson said the comments were “absolutely reprehensible, and they serve no place in our public discourse”. | Paladino’s comments about the Obamas were condemned by figures including New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, who beat Paladino in the 2010 election. A Trump spokesperson said the comments were “absolutely reprehensible, and they serve no place in our public discourse”. |
| Paladino visited Trump Tower earlier this month, telling the Buffalo News he spent an hour with the president-elect and key members of his inner circle. | Paladino visited Trump Tower earlier this month, telling the Buffalo News he spent an hour with the president-elect and key members of his inner circle. |
| Among those Paladino said he met were vice-president-elect Mike Pence, chief of staff Reince Priebus, senior counsel Stephen Bannon, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and nominated national security adviser Michael Flynn. | Among those Paladino said he met were vice-president-elect Mike Pence, chief of staff Reince Priebus, senior counsel Stephen Bannon, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and nominated national security adviser Michael Flynn. |
| “It was a wide-ranging conversation about all the people across the state who were on my team,” the newspaper reported Paladino as saying. | “It was a wide-ranging conversation about all the people across the state who were on my team,” the newspaper reported Paladino as saying. |
| “We talked about New Yorkers who might have a role, how we might structure appointments and who would get input. I think I will have an ongoing ability to make recommendations.” | “We talked about New Yorkers who might have a role, how we might structure appointments and who would get input. I think I will have an ongoing ability to make recommendations.” |