Tanner apologizes for saying he liked his coffee ‘Mary Frances Berry style — black and bitter.’
Tanner apologizes for saying he liked his coffee ‘Mary Frances Berry style — black and bitter.’
Earlier this week, the Justice Department’s inspector general and Office of Professional Responsibility released a report laying out former official Bradley Schlozman’s illegal and illicit activities at the department. In one particularly “horrifying” incident described in the report, Scholzman forwarded around an e-mail from then-Voting Section Chief John Tanner that contained a racial remark about an African-American colleague:
In that incident in August 2004, Voting Section Chief John Tanner sent an e-mail to Schlozman asking Schlozman to bring coffee for him to a meeting both were scheduled to attend. Schlozman replied asking Tanner how he liked his coffee. Tanner’s response was, “Mary Frances Berry style – black and bitter.” Berry is an African-American who was the Chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from November 1993 until late 2004. Schlozman forwarded the e-mail chain to several Department officials (including Principal DAAG Bradshaw) but not Acosta, with the comment, “Y’all will appreciate Tanner’s response.” Acosta said that when he was made aware of the incident, he required Schlozman to make a written apology to him for his role in forwarding the e-mail and that Schlozman did so.
TPMmuckraker reports today that Tanner has sent a letter of apology to Berry, claiming that he only used the phrase because he had recently heard an African-American customer at a coffee shop order coffee “black and sweet — like me.”
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Shorter Tanner: I’m sorry I got caught.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:47 pmWow. That was mi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ghty white of him!!
January 15th, 2009 at 5:48 pmMaybe if he was a little tanner, he might get it…
January 15th, 2009 at 5:50 pmhe only used the phrase because he had recently heard an African-American customer at a coffee shop order coffee “black and sweet — like me.”
– - Tanner’s “apology” is as half-hearted as putting a bumper sticker on the inside of the car.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:55 pmOh – so when he “apologizes”, he claims that he initially thought it was OK cuz he heard an African American order coffee without cream, but with sugar…
And his little mind, it was OK to say this until, as zooey points out, he was caught.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:55 pmI have three responses to this, all of which are irrelevant to each other.
1) The punchline is “Office of Professional Responsibility.”
2) You want some crackers with that coffee?
3) I like my coffee like I like my women: stuffed in a burlap sack and thrown over the back of a donkey by Juan Valdez.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:59 pmBerry, claiming that he only used the phrase because he had recently heard an African-American customer at a coffee shop order coffee “black and sweet — like me.”
And that’s supposed to be an excuse?!?! Are you kidding me????
January 15th, 2009 at 6:02 pmis this part of the repukeliscum’s plan to woo minority voters? if so, i say keep up the good work boys.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:03 pmFrom Tanner’s letter:
“The term bitter, of course, meant no sugar in the coffee, and was not meant as a reflection on you or your attitude towards a challenging situation.”
Sorry, Charlie, you got caught. Not buying the beans on this one. And Tanner is the same person who testified in front of Congressional committee for suppressing minority voting because he said that elderly African-Americans die faster white people. Tanner’s racist comment about coffee just caught up with him.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:04 pm(Tanner) claiming that he only used the phrase because he had recently heard an African-American customer at a coffee shop order coffee “black and sweet — like me.”
Other than being a total bull**** excuse, the fact that he has to include an excuse at all only underscores his lack of integrity and sincerity.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:04 pmI truly hope that the voting “irregularities” of 2000 and 2004 come to light, and the perpetrators of the fraud and deception, Tanner especially, do not go unpunished.
Our biggest error would be to let the corrupt and criminal players of the Bush administration scurry back into the woodwork like they did when Nixon got the boot.
We have paid dearly for the niceties and the hand slaps Gerald Ford let those vermin get away with.
substitute “condi rice” for mary frances berry and they’d be SCREAMING from the top of their lungs how hateful democrats are
January 15th, 2009 at 6:06 pmFrom Tanner’s letter:
“The term bitter, of course, meant no sugar in the coffee, and was not meant as a reflection on you or your attitude towards a challenging situation.”
I don’t buy it, either. If the reference to Ms Berry as “bitter” did not mean “without sugar”, then what did it mean? What else could he have possibly meant, other than to say that she was bitter?
Maybe she should write back and tell him, “Some day, if I ever find myself suffering from mental dementia, I might understand what you’re saying. Until then, I see no reason to forgive you.”
January 15th, 2009 at 6:09 pmZooey Says:
Shorter Tanner: I’m sorry I got caught.
That’s always the case with racists, Zooey. They’re not in the least bit sorry for what they said or did, they’re only sorry the reaction to them saying it was so negative. This incident was more than four years ago. If Tanner felt sorry for what he did, then why wait so long to apologize? What I’d like to know is how many times did he say something similar in the four years since?
January 15th, 2009 at 6:12 pmNot nearly enough. A guy as racist as this one should not be let within 5 miles of any job that has anything to do with race.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:13 pmApologized? A year later? It’s OK then…
January 15th, 2009 at 6:15 pmThese types of remarks come out all the time from the right. Including the right wing talk show hosts. It is a daily thing. I certainly think the apology is not worth a thing. He is only sorry he got caught saying it.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:16 pm“black and bitter” matches his heart and soul…what a color scheme…
January 15th, 2009 at 6:17 pmAnother, “sorry if what I say offended you” apology. Is there a Republican anywhere who can issue a real apology. You know, like “I’m sorry for what I did. It was wrong”.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:19 pm#18 BHB,
And they should say,”And I will fight to stop others from doing the same racist sh|t.”
January 15th, 2009 at 6:22 pmWay too little, way too late, cracker-man.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:22 pmThank you, republicans, for all of the extra votes you are sending our way. Keep talking like this and someday the republican party will be a subject in an 8th grader’s history book – nothing else.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:29 pmStill they have to lie, even when they are apologizing? Can’t any member of the GOP tell the truth? Anyone? Bueller?
January 15th, 2009 at 6:29 pmTPMmuckraker reports today that Tanner has sent a letter of apology to Berry, claiming that he only used the phrase because he had recently heard an African-American customer at a coffee shop order coffee “black and sweet — like me.”
Oh yeah, that makes it so much better…
Sheesh. Don’t have a clue, do they?
January 15th, 2009 at 6:32 pmWhat’s that word the black rappers and standup comics use all the time? Starts with an N… that’s the only reason I always say it, I just overheard them and thought “hey, that’s catchy!”
Just watched Birth of a Nation the other night, and I decided to sew myself this neat horse riding costume out of some bedsheets!
Watched Amistad last night and decided to go buy me a boat!
January 15th, 2009 at 6:34 pm. . . and Karl Rove and other “conservative” pundits are left to wonder how they’re going to keep a hold of that ever-shrinking portion of Appalachia that seems to be all that’s left of the GOP. Republicans really have NOTHING for America, just ask Tanner.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:38 pmAnd didn’t I hear on Countdown last night that they guy is now working in Alabama (with his paycheck still coming from the DOJ) – on voter’s rights issues…?
January 15th, 2009 at 6:48 pmSorry – typo – s/b “this guy is now”…
I hate typos. *sigh*
January 15th, 2009 at 6:48 pmWhy is he still getting paid by our govt ?Should our tax dollars be used to support blatant racists.Shameful!
January 15th, 2009 at 6:56 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Sorry – typo – s/b “this guy is now”…
I hate typos. *sigh*
January 15th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
No worries, Annie. Most of us are fluent in Typonese. :)
January 15th, 2009 at 6:57 pmRepublicans – Winning minority supporters one racist comment at a time.
Hey, that’s a winning strategy, I say they should go for it.
January 15th, 2009 at 7:00 pmThis is why the Republican Party is being reduced to a Southern regional party with rapidly diminishing influence. As long as they continue to employ and promote racist and mysongenic idiots like Tanner and Scholtzman they will stay in the wilderness politically.
January 15th, 2009 at 7:34 pmHopefully for at least the next 20 years.
Don’t forget, Schneider and all of us, if we don’t for-
give, we won’t be forgiven.
About Tanner’s ridiculous comment re Berry, poor Tanner.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:00 pmHe should not speak if he doesn’t know how. He just
sounds dumb to me.
Bush. Meet the man who will send you to jail.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:00 pmIt’s just how white folks are.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:11 pmLooks like Tanner still has a lot to learn about making apologies.
-AF
January 15th, 2009 at 8:22 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
These people need to be marginalized, fired if possible, and vilified wherever we can. I am very encouraged by Holder’s testimony today.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:59 pmI swear repugs are a laugh a minute.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:04 pmAn apology you’re ordered to give is no apology at all.
What I’d like to know is why it took his superiors so long to make him do it. My guess is they’re as racist as he is.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:52 pmMust I say again? REPUBLICANS ARE NOT COMEDIANS, THEY CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT TELL ANY KIND OF JOKE. PERIOD!
January 16th, 2009 at 12:11 amI wonder what poor daryll, the self-proclaimed “dark-toned” troll would think of someone other than himself belittling an African American.
If only there were a “gay” in this thread…
January 16th, 2009 at 1:19 amAlthough I must say, I do prefer my Republiscum brethren “racist and ignorant”.
January 16th, 2009 at 1:21 amThe times I’ve seen Mary Frances Berry on TV, I’ve found her delightful.
January 16th, 2009 at 2:56 amHow was Bush able to find all of these very flawed people. Some, like Michael Brown, were also unqualified. It is like the vetting process only permitted flawed people through the process. Hate is hardly a passionate quality.
January 16th, 2009 at 7:57 amYeap, we should encourage the GOP to speak their minds and tell minorities what they REALLY think.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:08 amDallasNE Says:
How was Bush able to find all of these very flawed people.
It’s called the Heritage Foundation. They got racist imbeciles stacked to the cieling there.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:36 amEven the apology sounds like bullshit. No coffee shop I’ve ever been in sweetens your coffee. YOu put in your own figgin sugar so no one has any reason to order coffee “sweet and black like me.” But you can bet you bottom dollar he ain’t the first wing-nut the use that Marion Barry remark.
January 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pmI didn’t like his apology at all…
February 9th, 2009 at 10:12 pmfine
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