Audra Shay Wins Young Republican Race Despite Facebook Racism Controversy

Audra Shay, 38, has won the post of chairman of the Young Republicans -- despite accusations that she endorsed racism on Facebook.

Shay's candidacy, supported by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, hit a snag in recent weeks when she responded to a comment made by a friend on Facebook saying "need to take this country back from all of these mad coons" with "You tell em Eric! lol." Other Young Republicans chimed in, saying the comment was racist and questioning Shay's response. Shay issued a statement saying she "was not aware of the racial comments until sometime later" and was only responding to her friend's other remarks.

I immediately deleted the derogatory and outright disgusting comments and subsequently posted a statement on my Facebook Status stating that in no way, shape or form are the comments posted by other individuals a reflection of me or my beliefs as an American, a Veteran, a Mother or a Candidate. I do not, nor would I ever, condone that type of language or behavior.

But more controversial comments from Shay were found by the Daily Beast. After an effigy of Sarah Palin was hung, she said "What no 'Obama in a noose? ... I am wondering if the guys with the Palin noose would care if we had a bunch of homosexuals in a noose." She's also written that President Obama "attacks white people" and posted a video claiming Obama believes he has to help African-Americans over whites to "ensure his own salvation."

Voters at the Young Republicans convention said the whole scandal was just politics.

"Elections bring a lot of emotion out of people," said delegate Katherine Miller, 24, Lexington, Ky. "But this controversy really is not the decisive factor for the majority of people voting here. There are so many important issues we are considering. It really has been played up a little bigger than it really is."

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Comments

[MBryant]

Hey, she looks pretty good. it's very sad, but whether it's Palin, Schwarzenneger, Crist, Bachman, or Obama in his swimsuit in Hawaii and leaping off of planes overseas - it seems we are Fox News Nation - you can say any garbage as long as you look good saying it...

[generationyes]

She won because of, not despite of, racism allegations.

[larmarch5]

Wasn't Karl Rove president of the YR once? Or was that just in on household. How old was he then, 45?

[PDinCA]

No.

[jimfl]

Good the GOP is going no where for a long time

[ScrappyGal]

Is this supposed to be a surprise for us that she won?

[serialcoma]

Republican = no values.

[mmgbizgirl]

That says it all.

[protagonia]

Republican are the less intelligent version of an American.

[cyclobenzaprine9]

What's funny is that they actually consider people who don't follow their backwards logic, anti-American.

[protagonia]

Inverted by the devil himself.

[stratdude]

What is shocking is, this is not shocking.

[publius1]

You know you're a dying party when you consider a 38-year old "young."

[becky16]

I thought i liked Jindal. I also thought the GOP was trying to reinvent itself.

[Turtleposer]

Despite? Probably more likely "because of."

[Douglas1966]

Ditto.

[Shifted]

DITTO! that is exactly what i was going to state.

[bluestaterepub]

How original. No one else in this thread has said that. Nope, not 20 other times.

[PDinCA]

63 times, by my count. Can we retire it soon, or is it still young in Repub years?

[politicalgenius]

Nothing says you're an inclusive party racism runs deep in the party.

[ScribblerG]

While the racist comment is certainly enough to ask her serious questions, I also think she should be brought to task by her own party for calling Obama a terrorist. It's exactly this kind of idiocy that has killed the Republican party (I am a former member). Once again the downside of turning the party over to a bunch of reactionary religious zealots turns out to be devastating. Name calling and personal attacks are not the tools for building a political party - as popular as they are on this site.

[mikerobjohn]

The election of President Obama has DESTROYED the Republican Party.

The GOP have never won an election based on their ideas and solution. Their STRATEGY for winning have always been based on RACISM and HATE!

Now, they all suffer from OBAMA DERANGED SYNDROME!!!

[alvdh1]

Let's not forget their fear and blame tactics. I am sure this story will be front page stuff with MSM.????

[jusasoldier]

well said I totally concur

[bluestaterepub]

Politics is cyclical. We'll be back. Once could easily have said the Democrat party was over in 2000 or 2004.

And I think you mean Obama DerangeMENT Syndrome.

[meronnotu]

Don't forget FEAR