Battle For The West: Local Republican Leader Calls Obama The "Muslim Socialist"

What is it with local GOP officials in New Mexico? Last month, Bernalillo County Republican Party chairman Fernando C De Baca was forced to resign after saying "Hispanics consider themselves above blacks" and wouldn't vote for a black presidential candidate and today the chairwoman of a Republican women's group is in hot water after calling Barack Obama "a Muslim socialist."

In a letter to the editor printed Tuesday in the Alamogordo Daily News titled "Why I'm a Republican," Marcia Stirman, chairwoman of an Otero County Republican women's group, hits all the major (and some minor) talking points -- she believes in the death penalty, small government, spanking kids, gun rights, winning wars, etc. -- before calling out the "Muslim socialist" heading the Democratic party ticket.

After calls from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for state and national leaders to repudiate the remarks, state and national leaders did just that.

Otero County GOP chairwoman Sassy Tinling said she will ask Stirman to step down, and New Mexico state Republican Party executive director Matthew Kennicott said Stirman's comments don't reflect the party's beliefs and she doesn't speak for the party, according to the Associated Press.

Maybe New Mexico Republicans are frustrated that Obama continues to build his lead in their perennial toss-up state, and Democrats claim almost 220,000 more registered voters than do Republicans.

Maybe it's that New Mexico Rep. Tom Udall, Democratic nominee to replace retiring Republican Senator Pete Domenici, looks likely to cruise to a win over Rep. Steve Pearce.

Maybe it's that none of the New Mexico house seats are Republican locks. CQPolitics.com ranks the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, both currently held by Republican reps, as a toss up and leaning Republican, respectively. The 3rd district is considered safe for Democrats.

In the New West Politics "Diary of a Mad Voter" blog, Heath Haussamen writes that views like Stirman's are hurting the Republican party and could partly be to blame for states like New Mexico increasingly shifting blue. He writes:

It's a free country, and Stirman is certainly entitled to thinking that is ignorant, divisive, hateful and inciting. But if she chooses that path, she'll be part of the problem, not part of the solution... Thinking like Stirman's in the GOP is a primary reason for the shift to the left that promises to give Democrats a huge majority in Washington on Nov. 4. The GOP is going to have to do some soul-searching and redefine itself after the coming shellacking.

Indeed.

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Comments

[peacegurl48]

Republicans are quickly becoming the Party of Hate. Clearly people like Stirman, Bachmann, Palin, etc mistakenly believe that they speak for/to the majority of Americans.­..they are so worng.
I am so glad that CAIR stood up to the demonization of Muslims. Has there been any repudiation?

De Baca: wrong about Latinos! Obamanos, si se puede!

[taddles]

"Otero County GOP chairwoman Sassy Tinling said she will ask Stirman to step down"

PWND!

[flifishun]

Sassy Tinling has her hands full lately. Have the New Mexico Republicans been infiltrated by space aliens or what?

[one4obama]

Just let the GOP keep this up. For sure the Democrats will take more seats in both the Senate and the House.

The entire GOP - the gift that just keeps on giving.

[rssrai]

I don't think he has to say much, because this lady said it all. YUP!

[juzcuz]

Governor Bill Richardson of NM... where are you when you're needed? I certainly hope you're on the airwaves- shaking your finger of UNapproval at your misbehaved children who are blabbing on down there in blue-land. I haven't heard much from Richardson­... I've always admired the way he speaks his mind - I hope he doesn't disappoint us now when it counts!

[justoverit333]

He's all over on the campaign trail.
But he'll probably be speaking out
about this one.

GOP to do some soul searching?
um, if you say so.

[cobobs]

What is here opponent's website? For some contributions.

[PowerPridePinstripes]

Words bounce off...

It's the knowledge that they actually believe this garbage that's so sad... I feel sorry for them.

[night owl]

As a fervent believer in and supporter of Free Speech, I urge the Republicans to keep expressing their views. It shows their beliefs and the degree to which they are willing to slime the opposition, rather than to work together toward the betterment of the nation, their state, county, town.

Don't worry -- the Democrats who will be elected will not leave you in the lurch. We are inclusive and work for the betterment of all in our society. You're safe with us.