Racist e-mails fuel an inquiry in Alaska
Alaska state officials are investigating e-mail messages that included racist jokes about President-elect Barack Obama and were circulated on state government accounts by state employees.
Officials say that the messages apparently originated in a private account but that about 10 state employees appear to have "taken action" on them, like forwarding them to others.
Bill McAllister, a spokesman for Governor Sarah Palin, said yesterday that none of the 10 employees worked in the governor's office and that to his knowledge no one in the office had received any of the messages, which, he said, Palin condemns.
"They violate state policy - at least that's the prima facie view of things," McAllister said by phone. "They're not state business, and obviously they are offensive, and clearly she doesn't support that. And she does not support racism, and she does not support attacks on the president-elect."
The messages were first reported by the Associated Press. The news agency said it had obtained five messages with racist comments, including one that summarized the significance of Obama's election victory as "another black family living in government housing."
Annette Kreitzer, the state commissioner of administration, told the AP that the employees who forwarded the messages could be reprimanded but that it was unlikely they would be dismissed.
NEW YORK TIMES
The selection of Pastor Rick Warren brought objections from gay rights advocates, who strongly supported Obama during the election campaign. The advocates are angry over Warren's backing of a California ballot initiative banning gay marriage. That measure was approved by voters last month.
But Obama told reporters in Chicago that America needs to "come together," even when there's disagreement on social issues. "That dialogue is part of what my campaign is all about," he said.
Obama also said he's known to be a "fierce advocate for equality" for gays and lesbians, and will remain so.
Warren, a best-selling author and leader of a Southern California megachurch, is one of a new breed of evangelicals who stress the need for action on social issues such as reducing poverty and protecting the environment, as well as theological issues.
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights organization, said Warren's opposition to gay marriage is a sign of intolerance.
"We feel a deep level of disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an antigay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination," the group said in a letter to Obama, asking him to reconsider.
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