Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Yahoo News has fired its Washington bureau chief after he was caught on a microphone saying Mitt Romney and his wife were "happy to have a party with black people drowning."

Company spokeswoman Anne Espiritu said Wednesday that David Chalian's remark was inappropriate and does not represent Yahoo's views. She says Yahoo is apologizing to the Republican presidential candidate and his supporters, and has reached out to the campaign to convey the message.

Chalian made the remark during a "hot mic" moment before Yahoo began its live coverage of the GOP convention on Tuesday evening. Yahoo is streaming coverage in association with ABC News.

The remark is an apparent reference to the GOP convention happening as Hurricane Isaac hits the Louisiana coast.