Watermelon White House

Update II: Dave E in comments confirms that Mayor Grose is a Republican.

Update: Despite the work of my crack research staff (Tommy and Caleb) we have been unable to ascertain the party affiliation of the Mayor. The receptionist at the city office of Los Alamitos did not know.

It never ceases to amaze me how senders/mailers/posters/speakers of truly outrageous things are shocked, shocked(!) that people don't share their amusement.

The lastest entry in the "what planet do you live on" contest is from the mayor of Los Alamitos, CA, Dean Grose. Mayor Grose emailed the picture at the left with the caption "No Easter egg hunt this year". Among the recipients was African American businesswoman and city volunteer Keyanus Price. According to CBS News and the Orange County Register, Price demanded an apology:

I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes. I honestly don't even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin'-mayor - come on.

Grose claimed that he didn't know blacks liking watermelons was a racial stereotype and apologized to all concerned:

I am deeply embarrassed in receiving your email, and for any harm or hurt that it may have caused. It was poor judgement on my part and was never intended to be offensive to Ms. Price, your company or anyone in the African American Community. I have exchanged emails with Ms. Price in the past.

More of the apology here.

David Knowles is reminded of the time that one of Tiger Woods' competitors joked that he'd be ordering fried chicken and watermelon for his championship dinner. I'm reminded of a story we did back in October that had this picture:,

Nope, no shortage of idiots in this world...