Doug Mataconis · · 61 comments

Yahoo News’s Washington editor has been fired after he was heard over an open microphone during ABC and Yahoo’s live-streaming of last night’s convention proceedings making a racially charged comment about Mitt Romney:

David Chalian, the Yahoo News Washington Bureau chief, has been fired after getting caught claiming that “they” — Mitt Romney and his fellow Republicans — “are happy to have a party with black people drowning.”

The implication: that Republicans’ decision to continue with their convention despite the hurricane hitting New Orleans means they don’t care about black people.

(…)

“David Chalian’s statement was inappropriate and does not represent the views of Yahoo!. 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.”