Rick Gale Resigns

That didn't take long.

Rick Gale has resigned.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Rick Gale, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, resigned Tuesday from the union post amid mounting criticism over reports that he made a racial slur against President-elect Barack Obama.

Gale, a lieutenant with the West Allis Fire Department, also resigned from all public and government boards he served on, according to his resignation letter, which was included in a union statement announcing the resignation.

In the letter, Gale apologized for using a "single racially charged word in connection with our President-Elect."

"The word has no business in my vocabulary and I should not have used it - not even in private," Gale said.

Neither the statement nor Gale's letter states specifically the word he used during what the letter describes as a "casual conversation" among several PFFW board members having drinks and watching the news the night after Obama was elected the first African-American president of the United States.

Others, however, have said Gale used the N-word in describing how he would address Obama.

"Rick's comment was offensive, inappropriate and racially insensitive, and does not reflect the views of our union," the union statement said.

Gale, who did not return telephone messages Monday or Tuesday, worked on Obama's Wisconsin presidential campaign. He was appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle to the Wisconsin State Fair Park board of directors in 2004 and the Wisconsin Retirement Board in 2006.

He was elected chairman of the retirement board this year; his wife, Karin, served as Doyle's campaign treasurer.

A spokesman for Doyle said Tuesday that Doyle was out of the state and he did not know if the governor was aware of Gale's resignation.

Would it be too much trouble to inform Doyle and get a statement from him?

He's out of the state, not unable to be contacted by phone.

...In a statement issued Tuesday, International Association of Fire Fighters general president Harold Schaitberger called Gale's remark about Obama "inexcusable."

"If we have learned anything through our organization's 90-year history, it is that we are stronger, smarter and wiser because of our diversity and commitment to one another in pursuit of better lives and safer jobs for our members," Schaitberger said.

Originally, the PPFW intended to stand by Gale.

From a letter on the matter: "[PFFW] Board members condemn the insensitive comment President Gale made, however, we support President Gale and his continuance as the president."

Once International Association of Fire Fighters general president Harold Schaitberger made a statement condemning Gale, it would have been impossible for Gale to remain as president.

It's amazing how one word has changed Gale's life.