Chertoff Claims ‘Zero Tolerance’ For Discriminatory Halloween Costume, Excuses Julie Myers’ Role
Chertoff Claims ‘Zero Tolerance’ For Discriminatory Halloween Costume, Excuses Julie Myers’ Role
Julie Myers, head of Homeland Security’s immigration division, has come under intense criticism for awarding “Most Original Costume” to an employee “who dressed in prison stripes, dreadlocks and dark makeup for a Halloween gathering at the agency.” Myers was part of a three-judge panel that awarded the prize.
Today, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff appeared on MSNBC and said that he had put the employee who wore the costume on “administrative leave.” He added that he has “zero tolerance” for discriminatory acts. But when it came to Myers, Chertoff refused to condemn her and indicated that she would face no punitive action:
CHERTOFF: First of all, I’ve directed that the individual who came up with this idea be put on administrative leave and we take some kind of disciplinary action. […]
We have to make it clear to our own employees and to the public at large that we are totally neutral when we enforce the law and we don’t tolerate any ethnic discrimination.
So that’s a very strong message I’ve reinforced. Assistant Secretary Myers apologized for the fact that the incident occurred and has contacted both people inside the department and outside the department to make amends.
Watch it:
Speaking to the AP, Chertoff also excused Myers’s actions, stating that she “was kind of caught by surprise by this.” “I know she’s mortified,” he added, “but I think she’s doing what she needs to do at the moment.”
Myers is married to Chertoff’s former chief of staff, John F. Wood, who is currently a U.S. attorney in Missouri. She is also the niece of former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers.
The agency has destroyed at least one photo of Myers with the costumed employee and has refused to let CNN see other pictures from the party. If Chertoff is serious about his “zero tolerance” policy, he should also discipline Myers for rewarding the employee’s discriminatory behavior.
Transcript:
MORALES: All right. Secretary Chertoff, I want to ask you about the controversy there at the Department of Homeland Security about a Halloween costume that an employee wore, wearing dark makeup, dreadlocks, and in a prison uniform to a costume party.
An assistant secretary voted that the costume was most original.
Are you concerned about the reaction to this and the response or the — I guess the image that this costume sends?
CHERTOFF: Well, I am, Natalie. Let me make a couple points clear.
First of all, I’ve directed that the individual who came up with this idea be put on administrative leave and we take some kind of disciplinary action.
Second, I’ve made it very clear that we have zero tolerance for intentional or unintentional acts that appear to be racist or discriminatory.
We have to make it clear to our own employees and to the public at large that we are totally neutral when we enforce the law and we don’t tolerate any ethnic discrimination.
So that’s a very strong message I’ve reinforced. Assistant Secretary Myers apologized for the fact that the incident occurred and has contacted both people inside the department and outside the department to make amends.
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46 Responses to “Chertoff Claims ‘Zero Tolerance’ For Discriminatory Halloween Costume, Excuses Julie Myers’ Role”
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Why does Chertoff always look like a corpse?
November 6th, 2007 at 4:54 pmI doubt that anything will happen to Julie Myers. In this administration, one scapegoat has always been enough. And it’s always been the lowest ranking person they can get away with.
Remember Scooter Libby?
November 6th, 2007 at 4:57 pmHill’reh has great ideas on the carrot side of improving the automotive fuel economy standards, but her stick side about punishing oil companies will only mean higher gas prices for consumers.
http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=16577
I think the $20 billion bond issue to pay for alternative energy retooling is a great idea. Instead of a tax, she offers investors a fixed interest rate of return. This money is then loaned to energy, automotive and technology companies to develop products, the returns on which helps them pay back the loans.
The $10K tax refund towards buying green vehicles is also a great move.
November 6th, 2007 at 4:59 pmIt’s good to know the higher-ups at DHS are keeping us safe by taking the time judging Halloween costume contests. Did anyone dress up in the Emperor’s new clothes?
November 6th, 2007 at 4:59 pmROFL. Can you imagine how the employee who wore the costume, now on administrative leave, feels? One day you’re on top of the world and the next day, they throw you under the bus. That’s got to hurt. LOL
November 6th, 2007 at 5:05 pmThat’s why no one ever turns on this administration… they know that they could be next one to get the tire tracks up their a**, so always keep to the party line and smile smile smile.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:12 pm“The Skull” Chertoff claims ‘Zero Tolerance.’ LOL! I’ll look for Myers toquietly move to another high paying position once this piece of news dies down.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:14 pmTotally OT. Sorry.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:16 pmI’m rarely able to be online when these threads are active so I have to grab them when I am able.
This is a question for those with a lot more tehnosavy than I possess. If the thread is inactive, does it do any good to flag the trolls?
I’ve been going to town on Obigmouth,darryl, TCdon etc. Am I wasting my time? Well it at least lowers my blood pressure a tad to think I doing something.
Thanks.
This from the guy who dresses up like Skeletor every day.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:19 pmOMG. The hypocrisy is simply staggering…
These people just suck.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:22 pmWonder how hits will feel about this misuse of his tax dollars…?
*eyeroll*
November 6th, 2007 at 5:22 pmExactly, missmolly. It’s BushCo SOP — identify an underling who can conveniently take the fall, throw them under the bus, and then head out for cocktails with the department heads.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:23 pm7 - I’d answer you if I knew, Stormy. I’m rather a newbie myself - but I do report the trolls.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:23 pmYeah, Ralph - the Nazis always threw the kapos into the ovens in the end, didn’t they…?
November 6th, 2007 at 5:25 pmI’m rather a newbie myself - but I do report the trolls.
Comment by Leftside Annie — November 6, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
Thanks anyway. I guess I’ll just continue. My first computer was a vic20, but life intruded and I kind of got lost, more importantly, by oldest daughter moved to San Francisco and I don’t have my “encyclopedia” to lean on. But thanks.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:28 pmIt seems everybody in this administration is either married to or related to sombody else. I didn’t think about all of the incestuous (sp?) relationships going on there. No wonder they can’t accomplish anything - their gene pool is polluted.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:34 pmSo this is just another example of what they do.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:39 pmThey always punish the lowest rank, leaving the one in charge, still in charge.
The costume was entirely wrong on many levels, and the guy wearing it deserves to have “time off with no pay” but so should the person who posed with him, tacitly approving of such costume. The buck doesn’t ever approach the desk of the person in charge; the buck stops at the entry level.
The runner-up in the costume contest was wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt, red tie, an American flag lapel pin and screaming Islamo-fascists!
November 6th, 2007 at 5:39 pmThe judges decided he wasn’t frightening enough.
I gotta tell you that after working 5yrs in the DOJ back in the Nixon and Ford years, I can’t recall folks dressing up with costumes any time of the year. folks must have nothing to do in the Homeland Security Div. Oh thats right its the Bush years.
Not that I liked the Nixon or Ford years, but we did have work to do.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:41 pmHang in there, stormy. #7
November 6th, 2007 at 5:43 pmOver time, I have also learned not to lean on my children for tech help - not that I know what I am doing, I simply am not intimidated any more. As for your question, I don’t have a clue, but keep it up - you may be having an effect.
“They always punish the lowest rank, leaving the one in charge, still in charge….the guy wearing it deserves to have “time off with no pay†…
Comment by Marie — November 6, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
I couldn’t agree more. They find the most expendable “scape goat”. However, Admin. Leave is usually WITH pay. Gee maybe if I made fun of my boss’ limp I could get a few days off. I’m salaried, and a few days off wouldn’t be that bad. \sarc off
November 6th, 2007 at 5:45 pmJulie Myers will never be reprimanded for this. Heck, she was called in front of Congress and questioned about forceably drugging detainees with Haldol and nothing was done. ICE is a huge government organization and she is more incompetent than Gonzales was at DOJ. This is two huges mistakes in the last 30 days. What will it take to move on impeachment. Oh, I forgot, Schumer and Feinstein caved again and we will appoint a confirmed supporter of torture to be our newly confirmed AG. God, help us!
November 6th, 2007 at 6:06 pmShe’s surprised and mortified that she got busted. Typical criminal mind set.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:08 pmAG = Torture Czar
November 6th, 2007 at 6:09 pmThe employee that dressed in the costume and was put on leave was a black male ex-con with natural dreadlocks. His was not a costume but the outfit he had been forced to wear for five years. Who is the racist?
November 6th, 2007 at 6:13 pmIt did not occur to Myers the gravity of the situation and her behavior until it was pointed out to her. Someone should tell Myers her job is not to be president of the Red Hat club. This is a real job.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:22 pm“I have absolutely zero tolerance….for milk. That’s what we’re talking about here right? Nope, I won’t stand for it.”
November 6th, 2007 at 6:38 pmChertoff = CUA!!!
But, a top notch Facist scumbag!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 7:06 pmI could see maybe chastising the person who originally wore the costume - before they gave him the award. And maybe send him home to change. But if anyone is culpable for this, it is Myers and the other judges on the panel who were stupid enough to award a prize for what sounds like a pretty lame costume anyway. That’s the best they could come up with?
But it’s par for the course with these guys. They define good as what they do and bad as what other people do. Therefore, there will never be any accountability ignorance, cupidity, incompetence or stupidity. Loyalty is all.
Peace out.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:11 pmBush cronies are untouchables.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:11 pmHechuva job Myersie!
He’s LIED about everything else, why not this???
November 6th, 2007 at 7:25 pmRepublican responsibility always stops at the lowest possible echelon.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:55 pmthey threw the little fish under the bus. But little fish have a way of talking. I don’t think this story is over.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:14 pmSounds a lot like what happened with the soldiers at Abu Ghraib and those who told them to torture the detainees. The soldiers are in jail and those who told them (or condoned what they did) are not even reprimanded.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:17 pmComment by missmolly — November 6, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Why does Chertoff always look like a corpse?
You mean he’s alive??? Can’t prove it by me!
November 6th, 2007 at 8:32 pmI’m just wondering what kind of world these folks live in that at least three of them would not even consider that there might be a problem with that costume.
Have they been living in seclusion for the past 30 years? At an all-white country club, perhaps?
November 6th, 2007 at 9:31 pmWhy does Chertoff always look like a corpse? — MissMolly
*********************************
Maybe because he’s essentially a mindless automaton entirely subject to the will of Bush & Co.? That sure sounds like a zombie to me — or at the very least, some variation on Frankenstein’s monster…
November 6th, 2007 at 9:43 pmToday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff appeared on MSNBC and said that he had put the employee who wore the costume on “administrative leave.†He added that he has “zero tolerance†for discriminatory acts. But when it came to Myers, Chertoff refused to condemn her and indicated that she would face no punitive action…
******************************
All this does is prove that Chertoff has absolutely no understanding of basic mathematics. “Zero tolerance”? As I see it, there were four people involved in this scenario — the nameless schmuck who wore the costume, Myers, and the two other people on the three-judge panel who thought the costume was “original”. The schmuck has been “placed on administrative leave” but at least one person out of the four is walking away without having to face any disciplinary action. After all, what about the other two people on the three-judge panel? What (if any) disciplinary action has been taken against them, I wonder? Nobody’s saying anything about them, so we have no way to know for sure (we don’t even know who they were) — but it’s by no means impossible that no action was taken against them either. Unlike Chertoff, I DO understand basic mathematics — certainly enough to know that 1 out of 4 is 25% and that 3 out of 4 is 75%. “Zero tolerance” should mean that zero percent of the people involved in this incident escaped disciplinary action — but at least one, and possibly as many as three, did.
The Bush administration is the only place I know where any percentage between 25% and 75% is equivalent to zero — but then again, increasingly, this administration also seems to think that two plus two equals five…
November 6th, 2007 at 9:59 pmChertoff looks just like my imagination of Vlad Dracul the Impaler.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:20 pmJulie Myers walks scott free because she is a well conected crony. We are no longer living in a democratic meritocracy but an authoritarian oligarchy. The difference between the USA and Communist Russia, or China or most other authoritarian regimes is diminishing if not entirely gone.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:25 pmThey always cover for their own, it’s not really a crime or anything if a repukian bush cultist does it.
Most companies don’t approve of croynisim, unlike fascist repukian lockstep brownshirter lemming pigs.
Buck Fush
November 6th, 2007 at 10:58 pmThere have been 40 posts, and not a SINGLE Troll. As I type this, I get this cold feeling in my gut, afraid that I might JINX us and summon up a troll to harrass us. Of course, I am ready to hit the “Report Abuse” link if one of them should happen to slither in!
Back to Topic: Even in the Reagan administration, this kind of outright discriminatory B.S. would never have been tolerated, and Ms. Meyers would already be GONE.
I NEVER thought I would see the day! This current, corrupt, criminal administration makes Iran-gate-Meister Reagan look OK?
Won’t that GAG a maggot?
November 7th, 2007 at 1:11 amSo what’s it gonna be, Beaker? Zero tolerance. or tolerance?
Sheesh…
November 7th, 2007 at 1:18 am.
#1… Because he is.
————————
It’s only intolerance of bigotry when it’s not your team. Otherwise, play on.
.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:53 amThat costume sounds pretty racially insensitive, but I don’t see how it discriminated against anyone.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:31 pmExcellent take on this story that I’d encourage all of you to checkout here: http://www.averagebro.com/ 2007/ 11/ i-blame-michael-richards.html
November 7th, 2007 at 1:29 pm