By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

 June 15, 2009 – A South Carolina Republican has apologized for posting a comment on his Facebook page he called a joke  suggesting the gorilla that escaped from a local zoo was an ancestor of First Lady Michelle Obama.

But no one is laughing. The comment was racist and unacceptable.

Rusty DePass, a former state Senate candidate, is a former chairman of the Richland County Republican Party and the former State Election Commission chairman in South Carolina.   DePass posted the controversial comment shortly after hearing of the gorilla’s escape, saying: “I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors — probably harmless.”

Following outrage over the remark, DePass removed the comment from the social networking site and apologized, claiming the comment was a joke and he was only referencing Obamas past comments on evolution. 

When the local news station WIS TV 10, caught up with DePass about his comment  he admitted it was a direct reference to the first lady, “I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone.”

The comment was clearly in jest,” DePass added.  “The comment was hers, not mine,” he said.  DePass contends the first lady made statements in the media that humans are all descendants of apes. 

So far no one has found a comment by Mrs. Obama.

Facebook decided to “un-friend” DePass and has removed his Facebook page from the site when I checked late Sunday night.  DePass’s comment struck a nerve among other Republicans in the state.     

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble released a statement saying: “You know, I don’t think there’s anything funny about that comment. That is the first lady of the United States. We’ve had a long tradition of wonderful first ladies, and I don’t think any of them deserve that type of comment.”

I think everyone would agree, DePass was way out of line.