How nice: Rapid City appears to have a racist birther representing Ward 1 on the City Council. Mr. Powers notes this disturbing RCJ report about Ward 1 alderman Bill Clayton apparently claiming President Barack Obama is not an American:

The complaints about racist comments were independently confirmed to the Journal in off-the-record interviews with four city council members. All four confirmed the complaint focused on whether Clayton told or implied to KOTA TV reporter Taisha Walker, who is black, that she should go back to Kenya with President Barack Obama. Clayton also reportedly questioned whether Walker was an American; neither Walker not Obama are from Kenya, a mostly black African nation [Aaron Orlowski, "Journal exclusive: Alderman Bill Clayton probed over possible racist comments and verbal attacks on a colleague," Rapid City Journal, 2013.01.13].

Clayton has also been investigated for alleged threats against fellow council member Charity Doyle while speaking to the local Wingnuts group (no, really, that's what they call themselves). The vile racism and false questioning of the President's nationality in Clayton's alleged comments may win smiles and winks before the Wingnut crowd, but they are unacceptable from a public figure elected to represent an entire community.

The City Council held a hearing on these allegations and voted last month not to take any action against Clayton. Clayton himself is playing rather coy on the racism charges, saying he and the reporter have "put this to rest." But the comments imputed to Alderman Clayton require more than that. Alderman Clayton has an obligation to explain to the public whether he believes a thoroughly refuted racist lie.