Rick Gale

Rick Gale, head of Wisconsin's firefighters union, is a Barack Obama supporter. He was an Obama campaign worker.

That makes Gale's comments about Obama more than bizarre.

Details, from WISN 12 News:

The incident occurred the day after the election.

WISN 12 News obtained a letter sent to members of the state firefighters union from its board of directors. It said an anonymous call to a union local prompted them to investigate reports the union president used a racial slur.

...According to the obtained letter, [Rick] Gale and fellow members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin board held a meeting at the West Bend Hampton Inn the day after the election. Afterward, several PFFW board members were watching news reports about President-elect Obama when Gale allegedly used a racial slur.

Word of the incident has made the rounds in firefighting circles across the country.

“I ran the gamut of emotion from shock to disgust to outrage,” Milwaukee Firefighters Union Chief Bobbie Webber said. He won’t repeat the comment.

WISN 12 News asked if Gale used the N-word.

“Yes, it did include the N-word. Yes,” Webber said.

...Webber is speaking out because the PFFW board plans to leave Gale at its helm.

"[PFFW] Board members condemn the insensitive comment President Gale made, however, we support President Gale and his continuance as the president,” the obtained letter said.

"I think they will miss an opportunity to make a clear statement that that kind of language, that kind of behavior, cannot and will not be tolerated,” Webber said.

12 News asked Webber if he thought Gale should lose his job.

“He should certainly not hold the position of a president of an organization of firefighters,” Webber said.

Will Rick Gale's apology to Gov. Jim Doyle be enough to contain the firestorm?

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The head of the state's firefighters union apologized to Wisconsin's governor last week after allegations swirled that he used a racial slur in reference to President-elect Barack Obama, a spokesman for Gov Jim Doyle said today.

Members of seven union locals representing the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin called for union President Rick Gale's resignation Monday night after reports surfaced that Gale admitted using the N-word the day after Obama was elected as the first African-American president of the United States.

Doyle appointed Gale to the Wisconsin State Fair Park board of directors in 2004 and the Wisconsin Retirement Board in 2006. His wife, Karin, served as Doyle's campaign treasurer.

When the spokesman was asked whether Doyle would take any action, he said it would be prudent to wait for the firefighters union to take action first.

"A lot of the commitments that Gale has are through his primary role as head of the firefighters union," said Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner. Sensenbrenner said he didn't know whether Gale was considering resigning from the pension board or State Fair board.

The spokesman said Gale expressed remorse for making an insensitive remark in his conversation with Doyle.

"The governor was surprised and saddened to hear what happened," the spokesman said. "What Gale said after the election was horrible and offensive."

I don't understand why Gale would use the N-word in reference to the man he wanted to become president. He worked on Obama's campaign.

It doesn't make sense.

Is Gale's apology adequate?

I doubt that it will be.

Jesse Jackson used the N-word in reference to Obama. He was forgiven, but he's not the head of a union.

According to 620 WTMJ, Gale "agreed that he would write an apology to union members for the comment. He will also have to undergo counseling."