Fed: LNP expels member over Obama 'monkey' comment

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2010
Fed: LNP expels member over Obama 'monkey' comment

The Queensland Liberal National Party has expelled a member who called BARACK OBAMA
a "monkey" on Twitter .. during the US president's interview on ABC television last night.

The tweets .. from an account belonging to Griffith University medical student NICK
SOWDEN .. were posted during ABC TV's 7.30 Report with KERRY O'BRIEN.

In one of the tweets .. Mr SOWDEN wrote if he wanted to see a monkey on TV he'd watch
Wildlife Rescue.

LNP state director MICHAEL O'DWYER says the party doesn't tolerate such comments.

Mr SOWDEN says he's been notified of his expulsion via email .. following a snap meeting
of the LNP's president's committee.

The committee's decided Mr SOWDEN engaged in conduct bringing the party into disrepute
.. and in conduct severely harmful to the best interests of the party.

Mr SOWDEN's told AAP he isn't a racist person and the comments were meant as a political joke.







EDS clarifies in 5th par that it was a meeting of the president's committee, and adds
6th par detailing committee's findings



AAP RTV pjo/af

KEYWORD: OBAMA LNP REISSUING

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