Virginia GOPer Writes Racist Anti-Obama Column

The LA Times reports:

A local newspaper columnist, in a spoof of Obama's platform, wrote in one recent piece that the Democrat would hire the rapper Ludacris to paint the White House black (a reference to a pro-Obama song by Ludacris), and divert more foreign aid to Africa so "the Obama family there can skim enough to allow them to free their goats and live the American Dream." He joked that Obama would replace the 50 stars on the U.S. flag "with a star and crescent logo," an Islamic symbol, and that his policy on drugs would be to "raise taxes to pay for Obama's inner-city political base."

The columnist, Bobby May, is also treasurer of the Buchanan County Republican Party and was listed in a July news release as the county's representative on McCain's Virginia leadership team, though he said his column reflected his views alone, and he denied it was racist.

Comments

[AngryC]

I am a citizen of Buchanan County. We are all well aware of the ignorance of Bobby May. Unfortunately, the rantings of prejudice cast an ugly shadow on the good people here who are educated and civil enough to recognize hatred and bigotry for what it is. Several posts have alluded to the intelligence, or lack of, of the "backwoods hicks" of this area. Bobby May has thrown fuel on the fire of stereotypes and added to the notion that we are all like him. We are neither amused nor entertained by this disgraceful behavior. For those of you reading this now, please direct your comments toward him and the party he serves and not the many good people here who are appalled by this action.

[jrrs]

I too am a citizen of Buchanan County. Bobby May is an embarrsment to us all. We all here know he is nothing but a trouble maker. I personally wish we could kick him out of the county the way his so called party kicked him out, I hope and pray the rest of the world does not judge us because of him. one thing I can say he has finally got what he wanted--o be center of attention. I personally would not vote for a person because of the color of his skin...if I did I wouldn't vote for the white---I see what kind of mess they have got us in.
Go Obama and God bless America

[Rog49Thomas]

A racist in the GOP?

Hard to believe.

Well, I'll bet he's being kicked out the party right now as I write this post.

[zenobiadarcy]

This is not the only voice of this local paper. My second cousin Ron Coleman is the voice of reason and is an Obama supporter. He has written an article in this same publication endorsing Senator Obama. I am proud that this Bobby Lee May is not the only representative of Buchanon County. My mother and her entire extended family are from Buchanan County and as one of her children, born and raised in New Jersey, I and am proud of my Appalachian roots and my mother's cousin Ron Coleman. Obama 2008.

[Icantbelieveher]

Raci sm is born of ignorance and fear! Educated people do not feel this way!! What an a$$!

[MadOzbo]

Quite true. But the question facing ALL of us as November 4th approaches is:

WHICH IS THE MAJORITY IN THE UNITED STATES, the Ignorant and fearful, or the Intelligent and Hopeful?

November 4, 2008, the United States National IQ test...Don't be left out, and don't be on the wrong side...

[ensure]

GOP to File Fundraising Complaint Against Barack Obama: http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/10/gop-to-file-fun.html

[GrainOSand]

I am far from a single-issue person. I oppose the Iraq war. I want Bush and his cronies to be prosecuted. I want the protections of the constitution, eroded by Bush and Co. to be restored. I want transparency and fairness in government and all corruption to be rooted out. Education is a real concern for me. I fear for the youth that are dropping out in record numbers. I am concerned about teenage pregnancy rates, fatherless homes, and incarceration rates of people who use drugs. The makeup of the Supreme Court is of great concern to me for that will be the mechanism by which democracy is stolen in broad daylight. I have great concern for the elderly, the homeless, the sick, and the impoverished. I think about domestic violence and spousal abuse and wonder, will it ever end. The economic engine of America is more than a passing concern.

In short, it is about more than race for me. I desire a unified country. If that ever occurs, we will truly define what it means to be a great nation.

I often consider retracting my voice tortoise like and returning to the comfort of my shell. I ask myself, what good my involvement is really doing. When I read a story like this, I feel my efforts are just a pebble in an ocean of hate. God will test America on righteousness before God blesses America. Stories like this suggest we are failing that test.

[ObamaProud]

I'm actually quite surprised that the republican party has been so well behaved so far. I was fearing a country littered with this kind of hate speak. Thankfully, the blatant racism has been largely unvoiced. Sadly, it is the unvoiced racism that makes me so sad... there is no reason in the world why John McCain should be even close in the polls.

[lw1899]

The racism may be more unheard than unvoiced. I suspect a lot of that kind of talk goes around the GOP and their good ol' boy circles when they're amongst themselves. Especially in less enlightened parts of the country.

[Kevins]

Disgusting.
Without a sense of American decency, and disgusting.

[Douglas1966]

I received a response from Gerry Scimeca of the Virginia Republican Party to my protest about this article. The GOP has decided to distance itself from it. Here is the response:

"We have made a renouncement of his comments in the strongest of terms, and he is no longer part of the McCain-Palin team. Our disagreements with Obama and the Democrats are solely based in the political arena of ideas, philosophy, and the merits of each man’s individual experience and judgment to be President. We have a thriving minority community within the Republican Party and believe that race is a completely illegitimate means to judge a person, let alone a candidate for office. We Republicans were just as offended when racial slurs were used by Democrats against our candidates in recent elections, such as Michael Steele in Maryland and Lynn Swann in Pennsylvania and eagerly await the day when all hurtful and demeaning racial comments disappear from politics."

[curocat]

I don't believe anything that the GOP say.....PERIOD

[Icantbelieveher]

Just like they distanced themselves from the lobbyists for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac! Believe me, they love this article.

[ThinkCreeps]

Headline: "Virginia GOPer Writes Racist Anti-Obama Column". Now, OK, the Virginia bit locates it, and in 2008 surely hardly any GOPers are racist, but as the first post says: "Sky is blue, trees are green" isn't going to get picked up the Tashkent Tribune is it?

[nellie]

Obviously this guy's cognitive development stalled at age 10.

[rosal]

I pray there are not a lot of people with this kind of mentality. I am a firm believer there are a lot more decent, intelligent, sensitive, people in this country. When Obama win, I will be proved right.

[wideout179]

WOW. That was the single stupidest thing I have ever read (and I've read YouTube comments). How did this drivel get into an actual newspaper?

[ChiGuy]

Is anyone actually surprised at the m'oronic antics of this Republican?

[naijaman]

Dunno about the column being racist, but it damned sure was idiotic and ignorant.

[AKAchip]

Racist??? You betcha!!! and morally reprehensible. How sad and pathetic it must be to call oneself a Republican if this is the kind of trash you write.

[AKAchip]

How about stupid and morally reprehensible???? How sad and pathetic if this is the kind of trash so called Moral Repubs can write.

[reverendadam]

Saying the black candidate would paint the White House black? How is that not racist?