The New York Times covers some particularly provocative commentary:
Carl Paladino, a western New York builder, one-time Republican candidate for governor of New York and political ally of President-elect Donald J. Trump, came under fire on Friday for racially offensive comments about President Obama and the first lady, who Mr. Paladino said should be “let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe.”
Mr. Paladino’s comments were published in Artvoice, a weekly Buffalo newspaper. They came in response to an open-ended feature in which local figures were asked about their hopes for 2017.
“Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford,” said Mr. Paladino, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2010, making an apparent reference to the Hereford cattle breed. He said he hoped the disease killed the president.
The title of this post is merely an attempt to give Mr. Paladino the benefit of the doubt, as it’s not entirely clear this is a racist comment; on balance, it’s far more likely that his only source of news is Fox News and sources closer to the fringe. He also claims he was merely trying to draw attention to President Obama’s “transgressions.” It may be time to consign him to a nursing home.
The Trump campaign disavowed his remarks.
