Racist e-mail affecting Tennessee tourism

NASHVILLE, March 9 (UPI) -- A racially offensive e-mail comparing first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee is affecting the Tennessee tourism industry, officials said.

Walt Baker, the CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association, forwarded the e-mail Thursday to about a dozen people, including the mayor of Nashville and the president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development heard from several potential tourists saying they would not be visiting the state after hearing of the e-mail, the newspaper said.

"This is not what they expected from Tennessee," department commissioner Susan Whitaker said. "And I can't say I blame any of them. We certainly feel this was inexcusable and unacceptable."

"We found it offensive," Pete Weien, a member of the hospitality board, said. "It is not in any way, shape or form representative of our association."

The association terminated Baker as CEO Monday.

"I fully accept the board's decision," said Baker, who had apologized Saturday.

The author of the e-mail is unknown.