David Chalian, Yahoo! News reporter fired over racist Romney remark

The most signficant verbal gaffe mid-way through day two of the Republican National Convention didn't come from the mouth of a politician, but rather a journalist: Yahoo! News' Washington bureau chief David Chalian, who promptly lost his job. 

Like many before him, Chalian fell victim to a hot-mic, where he was caught making an off-colour remark about Hurricane Isaac during a live ABC News/Yahoo News webcast Monday night. Chalian said Mitt Romney and his wife Ann cared little for African Americans who might lose their homes and livelihoods as Isaac batters the Gulf Coast in the midst of the Republican National Convention.

"They're not concerned at all," he said of the Romneys. "They're happy to have a party with black people drowning."

 

Yahoo! fired Chalian on Wednesday.

"David Chalian's statement was inappropriate and does not represent the views of Yahoo!," the company said in a statement to Politico Wednesday afternoon. "He has been terminated effective immediately. We have already reached out to the Romney campaign, and we apologize to Mitt Romney, his staff, their supporters and anyone who was offended."