Another day, another racist. This time it’s a cop, though, and that bothers me.
Let’s keep it short; I’ve had a long day. Brent Gobbell is a state trooper in Tennessee … wait, he was a state trooper in Tennessee. No, wait, he still is. He’s just not on the job right now, because he sent out a White Power email to almost 800 other Tennessee state employees who, like him, are paid from the public purse.
These folks found in their inboxes a stupid message from Brent that included nuggets like this:
- “You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member … you call him a racist.”
When he was confronted by his commanders, Brent scrambled for an excuse, and fell back on a classic: It wasn’t meant for other people to see. Gobbell claimed he forwarded an email he received at work — containing moronic racist squealing — to himself at home so he could print it off. However, he accidentally sent it to everyone in his address book.
This is stupidity + racism + internet illiteracy + blatant ass-covering. I know this because of this sentence in the email:
- “There is nothing improper about this e-mail. Let’s see which of you are proud enough to send it on … BE PROUD TO BE WHITE!”
Brent’s excuse doesn’t hold water; he wanted people to read these words. He wanted these words spread. Well, they did, but not the way he wanted, which likely involved bulk purchase of white sheets and tar.
Anyway, he’s been suspended. He should be fired. Sadly, though, his suspension is for just 15 days (unpaid) and he has to take diversity training.
This is too bad for the people of Tennessee. It’s clear Brent Gobbell can never “protect and serve” now when he’s made his attitudes so clear; I’d hate to be a minority who falls victim to crime and have that face turn up at my door.
