A senior Democratic adviser for Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell’s re-election campaign apologized last week for an insensitive tweet he made regarding Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna.<\/p>\n
At last month’s Asian Pacific American Community Summit in Tacoma, Wash., the adviser, Kelly Steele, snapped a photo of McKenna on stage as he waited for his comments to be translated into various Asian and Pacific Islander languages. Steele later posted the photo to his Twitter account, adding the words \u201cWHY AREN’T THEY SPEAKING ENGLISH? #ASIANS.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steele said his tweet was a satirical reference to a racist statement made by former McKenna staffer Kathryn Ehl in January. Before she joined McKenna’s campaign, Ehl tweeted \u201cshut up and speak english #asians.\u201d She resigned shortly after the tweet was discovered and reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that my tweet was passed along by the highly-respected group APACE seems to confirm this is simply a case of McKenna supporters upset about revisiting an embarrassing incident from their past,\u201d Steele wrote. He later apologized in a statement issued last week, saying his \u201cattempt at humor was insensitive and inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ron Chow, co-chair of McKenna’s Asian American Coalition, said he thinks Steele should be fired or forced to resign from his position.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Steele’s apology is insincere,\u201d Chow told The Daily Caller. \u201cHis apology is like, \u2018Hey, you folks started it, I’m just making fun of it.’ No. [There’s] nothing funny about making fun of Asians, I’m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chow also said Steele, given his age and experience, should have been wiser about mocking Ehl’s tweet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe young lady, Kathryn Ehl, is [in her twenties] and just got out of school,\u201d Chow told TheDC. \u201cMr. Steele has been the senior adviser to the democratic party in many states \u2026 he should have known better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steele came under fire in 2008, when the Washington Democratic party used the theme song from \u201cThe Sopranos,\u201d a movie about Italian-American mobsters, to accompany an ad against Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. Steele said they chose the song because \u201cit’s a catchy song.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a pattern for Mr. Steele to make offensive comments and get away with it,\u201d Chow said. \u201cIt’s appalling why he thinks it’s okay for him to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKelly Steele, as [an] Asian-American supporting Rob McKenna & Dems, I find your tweet offensive,\u201d tweeted summit attendee Suzanne Pak.<\/p>\n
Cantwell campaign manager Robin Brand could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
Read more: http:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2012\/10\/06\/democratic-adviser-apologizes-for-satirical-anti-asian-tweet-against-rob-mckenna\/#ixzz28dmyTLA9<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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