School Board Tries to Oust Politician Who Called Michelle Obama a Transgender Gorilla

The Buffalo Board of Education is trying to oust member Carl Paladino, the businessman and politician known across New York for his blunderbuss approach. His fellow board members petitioned the state to have him kicked off the board after he made racist remarks about then President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama to a reporter.

The formal cause of Paladino's fight with the board is that he talked publicly about closed-door contract negotiations with the teachers union against board policy. It's something school trustees usually play close to the vest.

But it is other stuff he said that ignited storms of protests at school board meetings and led his fellow board members to join calls for his ouster.

In late 2016 Paladino was asked by the western New York weekly ArtVoice about his wishes for 2017. He said he hoped then-President Barack Obama would have sex with a cow and die of mad cow disease and then-First Lady Michelle Obama would "return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.”

After the remarks went viral, Paladino responded to critics, starting by saying it wasn't about race, it was about "two progressive elitist ingrates" and ending, "tough luck if you don’t like my answer."

Paladino is famous in the Empire State for outbursts and outrageous opinions.

"He has a long history of feuds and flame wars, and a documented penchant for racist internet memes," BuzzFeed reported in an article after Paladino became co-chair of President Donald Trump's New York primary campaign in April 2016. His recruitment of New York Republicans was exemplified by an open letter that read, in part, "This is our last request that you join 'Trump for President' and try to preserve what's left of your pathetic careers in government."

He was nicknamed "Crazy Carl" by the New York Daily News during his 2010 run for governor. Recently he declared March "Stop Blaming White People Month."

After his remarks about the Obamas went public, protesters demanding his ouster began disrupting school board sessions. The board filed a petition for his removal, at first over the remarks but then about the policy breach. Paladino is resisting the school board's attempt to oust him.

Also, he's suing. The costs and documents are mounting, the Buffalo News reported.

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia is holding a hearing on the petition in Albany June 22.

There's a lot of public interest in the controversy, so state officials are setting up a live-feed and a viewing room in Albany, at Chancellor’s Hall at 89 Washington Ave. Doors to the viewing room will open at 8:15 a.m. each day of the hearing.

Want a seat in the hearing room itself? They'll be granted through a lottery. If you'd like to request a seat in the hearing room, email JuneHearing@nysed.gov by 5 p.m. June 14. Those granted seating through the lottery will be notified by email by 5 p.m. June 19. These seats will be granted for the duration of the hearing and are non-transferable. Individuals must show a government-issued ID and sign in to enter.

The hearing will not be recorded and no audio or video recordings will be allowed, even in the viewing room.