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

[jnah]

38 is young to republicans and bigotry doesn't even make them blink? i cant believe their still a national party

[jdevans]

Yeah, 38 is "young" to Republicans. They don't call it the "Grand Old Party" for nothing.

[jrfunkenstein]

Audra Shay Wins Young Republican Race Despite Facebook Racism Controversy

The headline should have read 'Audra Shay Wins Young Republican Race BECAUSE of Facebook Racism Controversy'

NOTHING stirs the GOP base like good ol' fashioned prejudice.

[Veeve]

This is so unsurprising, I'm yawning. The Republicans have been employing the 'Southern Strategy' since the days of Nixon. You can't employ race as a wedge issue for 40 years and be surprised when you end up with a party full of 'racial grievances'.

[politicalgenius]

I don't feel sorry for the Republican Party. They want so badly to bring up being the "Party of Lincoln" who freed the slaves, the problem is that was out of necessity not out of any personal conviction. Additionally, how can you be an inclusive party when you elect/select blatant racist as leaders. Having Michael Steele as the RNC Chair was a ploy - almost a "we need a Black-face out there because the Dems have Obama" (see John Stewarts "Giggle Me Almo" analogy).

While it's not fair to say that all Republicans are racists, uneducated, hypocritcal gun-tooting Christians, it is true that the there a substantial number of Republicans fit that description and by extension so do their leaders.

You can't call yourselves progressives and still elect/select Racists to lead. It's like trying to dip cyanide in chocolate and calling it candy.

[PDinCA]

Yup, Steele was a ploy, just like Palin. Having blacks and women in high positions might make them look relevant, if they didn't pick such stooges.

[PWM]

Post Ike republicans are racists, the party has been going more racist by the month. Why would this party punish a racist?

[PeterGSW]

Heh. More power to her! May the young republicans wither under exceptionally poor leadership until they are no more. Heaven forbid a thoughtful, reasoning person should come forth. Persons like this Audra should help pare away the other reasoning people until the young republicans resemble the GOP now, a shriveled core of confusion, racism and hypocrisy that can be ignored.

Heck, I was almost concerned these 'young' folk could breathe life back into the stinking elephant carcass. I'm glad to be wrong.

[Foxnewsisajoke]

Ditto.

[TheGuide]

And from this group they expect to get new leaders? Looks like the Dems are going to be in powere for a mighty long time, because what minority racaial group would trust them?

[protagonia]

Seconded!

[Shwazy]

The country as a whole is not well served by one of the two major political parties being in disgrace and shambles.

We need a rational and competent republican party to keep our side honest. Don't ever forget the lessons of history.

[NeoStar9]

Not a surprise she won. I don't think conservatism in general is bad. However I think there is a difference between conservatives and Republicans, with those left in that party being either self-hating or racist trying to disguise their true feelings. When stuff like this comes out and the person still wins it shows what they as a group value and don't have problems with.

[asta1968]

I agree.
I was raised in a republican home(crazy and Catholic). These conservatives are nuts, not just normal nuts, but exceptionally NUTS, nuts! They have so warped their party/mess­age/leader­ship that even my dad (who goes to mass daily) can't vote for them. He didn't vote in 2004, and I don't think he voted in '08 either.
Of course I voted and given the mess that was left him, I think it's gonna take Obama 1/2 his term to put the country where it should be, not a moment less.

[mbillot]

I believe in Conservative principals as well.... smaller govt, less taxes, personal freedoms, etc. This is why I LOATHE the republican party.

[ScrappyGal]

True. Very true indeed....

[miketothad]

And they lived happily ignorant ever after...

[Cakey4814]

LOL..exact­ly..

[Dawgnme]

As a recently inducted member of the 40 club, it's good to see 38 is still considered "young"

[Dawgnme]

The real shock here is that some of you are - birds of a feather...

[protagonia]

Which bird?

[mitsie]

Where is the outcry from the RNC to denounce the racists comments by this woman? Where is the outcry to denounce her remarks from the Republicans? Keep this up and all they have left is the old white males to vote for them. I hope that one of the black activists groups take these statements and run with it. It's disgusting she would ever be appointed or elected.

[zanzig]

Between this one and Palin, it will be only the old white males voting for them. I wonder about the 2 Republicans she "defriended" for calling her on her racism. How do they now feel about their organisation?

[LiberTLover]

Of course she won. She has demonstrated that she has the exact qualities they are looking for.

[northsongs]

Exactly my thoughts, LiberTLover! She fits right in with them...

[ScrappyGal]

Exactly.

[LiberalForever]

the rethugs, regardless of age, are several things. racists, for one. they are also homophobes. they also detest and ridicule anyone who supports protecting the environment. they are totally supportive of huge tax cuts, but totally in favor of HUGE military spending, waste, and corruption.

she looks like a young republican's mom

[Fromageball]

Why is a 38 year old part of the "Young" Republicans?

[take10]

Al-Craquer in America! The rise of an intellectually challenged group whose task it is to double down on the dumbing of their political future in this country! They loved Bush because he was as unintelligent as they are. The mistake they make is assuming that he was as racist and big oted as they are. I don't believe that! However, he gave them hope by not addressing the innate hatred and rac ism the base of his party use as a rallying cry for recruitment. Once she stepped up the ra cism assa ult, she was destined to be elected. I really don't believe republicans care about winning. They seem more engaged when they can use race as a feel good, as in, "I may be poor, uninsured and toothless with a mouth filled with snuff and a trailer full of crying babies, but at least I am not a N word!" I know it sounds crude, but this is how they think. Rac ial ha tred is so embedded in their psyche that they fore go all other human kindness to prove it!

[larmarch5]

Yup, you know the same people Sarah and I know.