Raymond Cote, an attorney in New York, has resigned not only from his position as board president but withdrawn from his campaign to be re-elected to the Mahopac Board of Education. The reason? An open mike caught him referring to a parent during a meeting break as a “chubby wubby.”
Cote is speaking with another individual during the break in the upstate New York school board meeting when the mike caught him saying “Oh I know, I know. This one here, ‘Chubby wubby.’ She gets fatter and fatter at every meeting. She really does!”
Cote was referring to an unidentified mother of six and PTA volunteer and produced outrage and calls for his resignation. After resigning, Cote emailed a statement to parents: “I would like to apologize for my choice of words after the close of the board meeting on April 8, 2014, which are regretful. My words were inappropriate and do not reflect my feelings or attitudes. I will strive to regain the trust and respect of the community.”
Do you believe that a resignation was warranted for such a remark (as opposed to a public apology) that Cote thought was private? It raises similar questions to the Sterling controversy over private comments that are accidentally or unintentionally made public.
The fact that he resigned was a blessing for his community. Stupid is as stupid does.
I have rethought this and I was first fine with his quitting. However, considering the number of people caught on an open mic that had to do no more than apologize, I think I have come back to that as a solution.
At the jukebox in my favorite bar there is a song titled Short People by Randy Newman. Some of the folks in the bar insert the word “fat” for “short” and do a sing a long. This rags the barkeep who is a bit chubby wubby. His name is Caloric. Here are the lyrics:
Short People”
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live
They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin’ great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
`Round here
Short People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It’s A Wonderful World)
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love
They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick ’em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin’ peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They’re gonna get you every time
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
‘Round here
It was indeed his choice and probably based upon experience, a good one.
Ooyee Gooey, was a worm.
Ooyee Gooey liked to squirm.
Ooyee Gooey crossed the street.
Ooyee Gooey!!!!
what, i thought chubby wubby was a bear?
no, i was wrong, fuzzy wuzzy was a bear
never mind
Afterall Al, you know you’re not a spring Cock-a-doodle-doo anymore.
Al,
Well, bless your…er…um…little heart. Don’t hurt yerself now.