Marilyn Davenport Allegedly Sent Email With Altered Photo Depicting Obama As An Ape

LOS ANGELES — A Southern California Republican Party official was under fire Saturday after allegations she sent an email that included an altered photo depicting President Barack Obama as an ape.

An e-mail reportedly sent by party central committee member Marilyn Davenport shows an image, posed like a family portrait, of chimpanzee parents and child, with Obama's face artificially superimposed on the child. Text beneath the photo reads, "Now you know why no birth certificate."

Davenport, when reached by The Associated Press, said she would provide a written statement with her response, but several hours later she had not issued one.

The alternative newspaper OC Weekly first reported the story, and was told by Davenport that the e-mail was "just an Internet joke." She also asked the Weekly, "You're not going to make a big deal about this are you?"

Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Scott Baugh told The Associated Press on Saturday that he wants an ethics investigation into the incident.

"It's just highly inappropriate, it's a despicable message, it drips with racism and I think she should step down from the committee," said Baugh.

Baugh said it could be several days before it's known whether the ethics committee will agree to investigate Davenport.

At the very least, Baugh said, Davenport should be apologizing for what she's done rather than attacking whoever leaked the email to media, referring to an email Davenport sent after the story broke calling on "the coward" who leaked the email to come forward.

Davenport, a tea party activist, represents the 72nd Assembly District in Orange County on the central committee.

She represents Brea, Placentia, Fullerton and portions of other Orange County cities to the county committee tasked with fundraising, campaigning and debating policy for the Republican Party.

Comments

[Marylou Dudley]

08:31 PM on 04/22/2011

Marilyn Davenport will end up in the "hot" place for making fun of Obama, animals, and blacks.
Marilyn is not a Christian. She is without any religion unless it is voodoo.

[noteaforme]

08:15 PM on 04/22/2011

Racists. There's nothing they enjoy more than announcing that racism no longer exists.

[Linda Noblest]

09:10 AM on 04/20/2011

The reason racism continues in this country is highlighted on this comments board. People are unwilling to talk about it.

[RainbowPhoenix]

12:54 PM on 04/20/2011

Because racists like you keep insisting things like this aren't racist despite all evidence to the contrary.

[Linda Noblest]

10:46 PM on 04/20/2011

Where did I say anyone was being sensitive? And I would really love it if you could tell me which part of the Terms of Service I am violating. I read every one of them (including the one about not being able to post the same comment over and over, but your repeated comments seem to still be here).

Please let me know which part of the TOS my comments that have been removed or not even posted have violated.

Better yet, rather than claim my posts are filled with racism, please show me the ones that are.

[RainbowPhoenix]

11:24 PM on 04/20/2011

Typical. Can't come up with an argument so you attack others.

[Patreva Arties-cotton]

01:54 AM on 04/20/2011

She Super Sucks, No Comment, It is What It Is!

[Linda Noblest]

11:46 PM on 04/19/2011

Testing, testing...is this thing on? Bueller? Anyone?

[RainbowPhoenix]

12:11 AM on 04/20/2011

Racists, trolls, and racist trolls are not welcome.

[RainbowPhoenix]

11:02 PM on 04/19/2011

Pay no attention to historical context. It gets in the way of your victim complex and your attempts to create false equivalency.

[NanDarien]

08:16 PM on 04/19/2011

More evidence that California is the New "Old South," racist, closed-minded, and homophobic.

[tearose2750]

01:18 PM on 04/19/2011

Another example of Sarah Palin and her bunch of under-educated, ignorant and racist buddies. Davenport is so ignorant that she thinks a contrived a insincere and contrived apology will make everything good. There is nothing worse than dealing with ignioance and it is even worse when that ignorance is dysplayed by by someone like Davenport. Hey, Marylyn maybe you should tink about doing some sensitivity training or better yet it may be time to retire to the desert. Shame, shame on you...very pathetic!

[DJHALL]

01:17 PM on 04/19/2011

This shows the ugly state of ignorance that we are in. Someone with so little respect for the leader of her country has no place "serving" as a representative. It's sad and scary that she (though there is nothing ladylike about her behavior) has not been censored by the republican party. As a republican, I must say that between her and Trump; this is not the type of unsubstantial BIGOTRY that I would support in party politics.

This needs to stop. They are making Americans look like toothless (and hairless in Trump's case) hillbillies with no social etiquette or tolerance for human diversity. Would it be fair if President Obama sent out pictures of Davenport and Trump that look like pigs? I must say that he has shown that Obama has a lot more class than many of his undeveloped critics. This type of bigotry is -if anything- a sign of degenerate regression not evolution.

[Amalo Trd]

12:45 PM on 04/19/2011

There is not chimp so stupid, how this woman made ​​stupid herself.
In normal country this woman will be politically dead after that.

[panamarine]

11:34 AM on 04/19/2011

The world is seeing a nasty display of overt racism just oozing from this segment of our society. The utter disrespect for the President is so strong within their ranks that it seems that they are just biting the bit to release the "N" word at him. These folks are embarrasing the country.

[kurios]

09:12 AM on 04/19/2011

if republicans are going to make religious affiliation a prereq for office i think a psychological test as well...If you show ANY form of racism or other bigotry, you are disqualified...government officials that don;t support Liberty and Justice for All?..indeed

[liberalbull15]

08:46 AM on 04/19/2011

If the ethics committee refuses to investigate her and/or she does not step down from her position, this just furthers the social acceptability of racism in America. There used to be a time when the president didn't have to suffer such indignities, but I guess after all this is the new age of the media...and ignorance. We should be ashamed as Americans that this is one of our elected leaders and public figure...

[jmundstuk]

04:57 AM on 04/19/2011

How does "alleged" get into this? Davenport has said she sent the e-mail.

[onionboy]

01:34 PM on 04/19/2011

I think they're leaving room for the potential that she's taking the fall for someone. I don't think that's the case, but it's the only rationale I can think of.

[Godweiser]

04:45 AM on 04/19/2011

The double standard:

A Republican gets offended, as is the case of the NPR thing, and suddenly people's heads roll.

A Democrat gets offended, and the Republicans laugh it off.

Maybe we should start observing the golden rule and use the Republican response of laughing it off as the standard.