SC Republican refers to gorilla as one of Michelle Obama's "ancestors" (video)

A Republican activist in South Carolina is under fire for comments he made on Facebook about first lady Michelle Obama.

The story first hit the blog fitsnews.com with a headline reading "SC GOP activist posts remark disparaging first lady." The activist is Rusty DePass, a former state senate candidate and former state election commission chairman.

The article shows an entry DePass posted on Facebook commenting on the gorilla that escaped from Riverbanks Zoo today. It says quote "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors--probably harmless."

DePass told reporter Ben Hoover of WIS-TV that he was talking about first lady Michelle Obama. Bob Coble, mayor of Columbia and one of DePass' political rivals condemned the comment.

"You know I think the comment is inappropriate. It's a racist comment. I think Mr. DePass should apologize," says Mayor Coble

DePass stated, "I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest."

"You know I don't think there's anything funny about that comment. That is the First Lady of the United States. We've had a long tradition of wonderful first ladies and I don't think any of them deserve that type of comment," said Mayor Coble.

DePass tried to take his apology a bit further telling the reporter, "The comment was hers. Not mine"

He said he was referring to statements made by the first lady to the media recently saying we are all descendants of apes. A Google search of that topic turned up no news articles of the like.

"I don't know of any," said Mayor Coble of the alleged Michelle Obama statement.

The mayor says he wants a clear cut apology.

"Rusty DePass is well known in the community and I know he's done very good things in addition to his political work. I don't want a comment like that coming out of Columbia, SC for the world to comment on."

So far the Whitehouse has not commented on the posting by Rusty DePass.

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