Young Liberal in Barack Obama 'monkey' Twitter scandal to be expelled
By Alex Dickinson From: The Courier-Mail April 16, 2010 2:45PM
* Tweets appear while Obama on 7.30 Report
* Several references to "monkey"
* Sowden to be expelled - LNP
A YOUNG Liberals' member who called Barack Obama a "monkey" on Twitter during the US President's interview on the ABC will be expelled, says the Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP).
The tweets, from an account belonging to Nick Sowden, a medical student at the University of Queensland, began just after 7.30pm AEST last night, during ABC TV's 7.30 Report with Kerry O'Brien.
"I'm not sure why they paid kerry to fly to america (sic), if they wanted an interview with a monkey surely a ferry to Taronga would have sufficed," one tweet said, referring to Taronga Zoo on Sydney Harbour.
"If I wanted to see a monkey on TV I'd watch Wildlife Rescue," said another.
Mr Sowden this morning said his comments were taken out of context. He said it was a joke between friends.
"I think the people follow me know (it's a joke) and the people who are my friends know and the people on Twitter don't unfortunately," he said.
"I don't think Obama is a monkey. You can't be a monkey and be President of the United States."
When asked if he'd apologise, he said: "Yes, sure, why not."
"If people have been offended by it then I'll apologise but if people are going to be offended by that, I mean, there's so many worse things said about Obama and worse things in the world and I think people need to put their lives in perspective."
Mr Sowden said he shut down his Twitter account because he didn't want any more tweets taken out of context.
"I think the lesson I've learned is that if you're going to be on Twitter then use a fake name or keep the comments to friends," he said.
"If the internet and Twitterverse is going to be policed Stasi-style by people and taken out of context... it's a bit sad that that's happening.
"I'm not racist. A lot of my friends and people I work with would pretty assuredly say I'm not a racist.''
The LNP held a meeting today to discuss Mr Sowden's actions and found that he had brought the Party into disrepute. The party said it "resolves to expel him from the Liberal National Party".
Earlier, LNP Queensland director Michael O'Dwyer said the party did not tolerate such comments.
"I'm disappointed when anybody from the LNP makes comments that put the party into disrepute and of such a personal nature," Mr O'Dwyer said.
"As far as I'm aware he is just an ordinary party member - the party has standards and principles we stand by."
The comments sparked a harsh backlash on Twitter and by bloggers.
"It's amazing that in the space of one hour and 4 tweets @nicksowden's political career has probably ended before it even began,'' said one tweet.
Several comments ask whether the student's account had been hacked.
Read the Twitter buzz on Nick Sowden
Mr Sowden appears on a list of Liberals on Twitter. In 2009 he was UQ's student council representative on the National Union of Students.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/young-liberals-caught-up-in-barack-obama-monkey-twitter-scandal/story-e6frfro0-1225854398646
:roll:
THE FUCK? Unbelievable. The blatant disgusting racism exhibited by this fat jaded douchebag is going viral, along with his totally insincere apology. For someone who was apparently set on embarking on a political career in this country, this deluded asshole just committed political self-assassination in my eyes. This was a joke? Really? The only joke around here is your political future mate. Shame on you.
This asshole makes me absolutely ashamed of some people's views in this country. It makes me so angry that this apparently intelligent, educated individual is contributing to perpetuating this myth that Australians are inherently racist. I just want to state for the record, I do not believe this fucking meatball chump represents the views of majority of Australians. I watched this interview on the ABC with President Obama and I found him incredibly engaging and inspiring as a political leader.
OK, I'm done, I just had to have a rant over this absolute shameful fuckery .. 
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