Remember when Hurricane Katrina spurred Kanye West to say that George W. Bush didn't care about black people? Well, this is kinda like that—except it involves a reporter, not a celebrity. Seems a hot mic caught Yahoo News Washington bureau chief David Chalian saying today, during a webcast, that Mitt and Ann Romney are "not concerned at all" about the effects of Hurricane Isaac on African Americans. "They're happy to have a party with black people drowning," Chalian continued, apparently referencing the Republican National Convention. Not surprisingly, he was promptly fired, a source tells Politico.
A Yahoo News rep later confirmed: "David Chalian's statement was inappropriate and does not represent the views of Yahoo," reads the statement. "He has been terminated effective immediately. We have already reached out to the Romney campaign, and we apologize to Mitt Romney, his staff, their supporters, and anyone who was offended." Newsbusters was first to make note of Chalian's quote. (More David Chalian stories.)