Via Twitter

Chalian (via Twitter)

Yahoo News fired its Washington bureau chief, David Chalian, today after a conservative media watchdog organization posted audio of Chalian criticizing Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann.

Chalian, who was participating in a web broadcast from the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., was recorded accusing the Romneys of being blasé toward African-American victims of Hurricane Isaac, which is currently storming over Louisiana, while the Republican Party parties and venerates its newly minted nominee.

“They’re not concerned at all. They’re happy to have a party with black people drowning,” Chalian said in a hot-mic moment while video of the Romneys played on the webcast. The statement was caught by NewsBusters, a right-wing group that accuses news organizations of holding liberal biases.

Chalian, who previously served as political editor for PBS NewsHour, was dismissed by Yahoo earlier Wednesday afternoon, the company said in a press release.

Via Jim Romenesko, Yahoo immediately distanced itself from Chalian:

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.

But not everyone thinks Yahoo should have been so quick to react to NewsBusters’ criticism of Chalian. The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza, in particular, was quite disappointed in Yahoo’s decision:

Here’s the clip in question:

Filed Under: ann romney, david chalian, fired, gaffe, hot mic, hurricane isaac, mitt romney, republican national convention, yahoo, yahoo news,