A Washington state mayor has refused to resign over a Facebook post that compared President Barack Obama’s family to gorillas and monkeys because he says that it would be conceding that he is a racist. Bennett says that as an elected official Rushing needs to hold himself to a higher standard.The City Council has asked for a resolution expressing its dissatisfaction with the mayor. “I owned up to my mistake”, Rushing told the Spokesman-Review.
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Rushing acknowledged he posted the comments to KHQ reporter Caitlin Rearden. “The woman is not attractive except to monkey man Barack”. Airway Heights Police Chief and Acting City Manager Lee Bennett explained why local leaders felt the need to take action. When you become a public figure I’m no longer Lee Bennett, citizen.
Earlier this year, Rushing resigned from his position as a school bus driver for the Medical Lake School District after he failed to immediately report that he rear-ended another auto on a foggy morning while driving an empty bus.
According to KXLY, the fact that Rushing is refusing to resign after making such controversial comments has outraged council members and residents alike.
“He will not resign”, Bennett said.
“I’m looking at the procedures of that process so I can advise council”, Schwartz said.
“When a figurehead makes comments such as these”, he said, “it sets us back and it’s hard to come back from”.
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[Image via YouTube screenshot].
