Racist emails about Barack Obama found circulating on Alaska state accounts

[Fluffy]

AP NewsBreak: Alaska investigates racist e-mails

By RACHEL D'ORO / Associated Press Writer
Published: December 17th, 2008 05:26 PM
Last Modified: December 17th, 2008 05:31 PM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska officials are investigating racist jokes about President-elect Barack Obama that have been circulating on state government e-mail accounts.

One of the five e-mails obtained by The Associated Press asks about the outcome of the Democrat's victory after all the time and money invested and concludes: "Another black family living in government housing!"

State officials were unaware of the e-mails until asked about them by the AP.

Three of the racist messages were confirmed by the state's information technology division after an electronic search of the government's e-mail system, Administration Commissioner Annette Kreitzer said Wednesday.

"It's embarrassing to the state," she said.

Kreitzer said she alerted the office of Gov. Sarah Palin - the failed Republican vice presidential candidate - about the e-mails.

Bill McAllister, Palin's spokesman, said in an e-mail that the matter concerned individual actions taken by a handful of state employees among thousands.

"My understanding is that the Department of Administration is following up on this with the individuals who took action to forward the offensive e-mails," he said. "This is, of course, a confidential personnel and disciplinary matter that has nothing to do with the governor's office."

The Rev. Alonzo Patterson, state chairman of the Alaska Black Leadership Conference, encouraged Palin to address the e-mails.

"They're doing that in a state setting," he said. "She should condemn it."

Officials were not releasing the names or positions of workers involved.

It appears the original e-mails were sent to state employees from outside the state system, but some state employees forwarded them.

One e-mail, with the subject line of "Night Befo Crizzmus," was forwarded dozens of times, Kreitzer said.

It was not immediately clear how many workers were involved in forwarding the e-mails.

The personnel files of state workers who circulated the jokes will be examined for a pattern of similar behavior, Kreitzer said. Discipline will be determined by past behaviors and could range from diversity training to letters of reprimand, she said.

The state was investigating whether the two other e-mails given to the AP also were in the state system, Kreitzer said.

AP NewsBreak: Alaska investigates racist e-mails: Nation | adn.com

[Aella]

Man, the whole state of Alaska has just been covering itself with glory since they unleashed Palin onto the unsuspecting world.

[kingcap72]

I'm sure if somebody hacks into Palin's Yahoo account AGAIN they'll probably find out that she and the First Dude are behind the e-mails.

[msdeb]

it was just a matter of time until something like this surfaced. i'm sure it will get worse.

[sputnik]

Man, the whole state of Alaska has just been covering itself with glory since they unleashed Palin onto the unsuspecting world.

seriously.
it went from a cold, faraway place no one ever talks about to meth capital of the US, pregnant teenagers, witchcraft fundie churches, first dudes, hick accents, kids named trig, oil, chronically corrupt old senators and amateur dirty political practices.

[Mariesoleil]

seriously.
it went from a cold, faraway place no one ever talks about to meth capital of the US, pregnant teenagers, witchcraft fundie churches, first dudes, hick accents, kids named trig, oil, chronically corrupt old senators and amateur dirty political practices.

[lurkur]

Alaska always seemed like it would be a cool place to visit someday, but after 2008, I certainly don't want any of my dollars going there.