Texas GOP: stunned regarding racist button sold @ convention - it "was about unity and diversity"

[sabra]

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2008/06/18/obama_leader_says_republicans.html



<snip>

Hans Klingler, spokesman for the Republican Party of Texas, said party officials had no idea the button was for sale until they saw it blogged. He said that the party doesn’t review the content of booths during the convention, adding that there will be procedures put in place in the future to scout for objectionable items.

“We were stunned; the whole convention was about unity and diversity,” Klingler said. “It was heartbreaking.”

“We would never want anything offensive or overtly bigoted to be at our convention,” he said.

Klingler said the party plans to donate its $1,500 in proceeds from the booth rental to flood relief in the Midwest.

[Alter Ego]

1. Bull fucking shit.

They knew and they didn't care--and now that they've gotten caught they're sorry.

[malik flavors]

2. about unifying against diversity perhaps...

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. "Nothing overt, people.. keep it subtle!!"

[patrice]

17. Exactly! "We can have their 'cake' and eat it too." nt

[CottonBear]

4. The GOP's not stunned. They're just sorry they got caught. n/t

[jobycom]

9. Not even that.

They are snickering behind their hands, glad of the publicity and of the message to their voters, winking while apologizing.

[CottonBear]

32. True. Horrible, but true. n/t

[jobycom]

5. Glad to see them rejecting Reagan, or at least saying he shouldn't be at their convention.

I wonder, though, who would be left?

[PoliticalAmazon]

6. "overtly bigoted" is the phrase that shows their true agenda. n/t

[blondeatlast]

8. EXACTLY. "Veiled" bigotry is just dandy with them. nt

[jobycom]

10. Good point. nt

[NatBurner]

7. lol @ "overtly bigoted"

the republican party is moving towards a subtler, gentler racism

:rofl:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. Yes, the truck that runs you over

will not have a "stars & bars" in the rear window.

The "covert" racism is much better!

:hi:

[crankychatter]

11. kick them in the nads, then tell them they're "over-sensitive"

where have I seen THIS strategy before?

[alphafemale]

12. “We would never want anything offensive....at our convention,” he said.

uh...yeah.

[patrice]

19. We sooooooo totally NEED to be demanding McSame's complete Military Record!!! nt

[hisownpetard]

14. The GOP: zero tolerance for overt bigotry, or anything else 'overt'. COVERT BIGOTRY's the way to go!

Let's hear it for opaqueness, people!!!:applause: :woohoo: :applause:

[Blue_Roses]

15. we need to reel these comments in now

:mad:

[Lithos]

16. I doubt this one individual knew

Having been around people who are running large events, it's pure chaos. Besides, I do agree that they would have dealt with it mostly due to trying to prevent bad press such as this from happening.

No, what is telling is that NO ONE in the whole convention complained to the vendor or raised a big enough stink to the powers to make this an issue. It also says a lot that this vendor believed there was a market for this kind of hate. This silent racism was the bigger issue and which seems to be endemic to the GOP as a whole.

[yardwork]

22. Yep. You and I know that well-dressed conventioneers laughed when they saw those buttons.

They laughed, they pointed, they showed them to one another. Nobody complained. Nobody said, "This is wrong."

[blondeatlast]

26. Exactly--and the use of "overt" is very telling as well.

[demokatgurrl]

18. Stunned my ass. But I knew there would be denial. n/t

[Terran]

20. STUNNED!

STUNNED I tell you! We just can't BELIEVE that a republican would stoop so low! Oh the humanity!

[Overseas]

37. That's what I was going to say. Stunned I tell ya! Shocked, I say!

[Bluerthanblue]

21. subtle bigotry is so much more appropriate for building unity and diversity-

? ! ?

:nuke:


peace~

[Hugabear]

23. Their entire convention is "offensive and overtly bigoted"

If Hans wants to live up to his words, then he should call for the dissolution of the convention immediately.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

24. "I am shocked, SHOCKED! to find there are racists in the Republican party. "

[VolcanoJen]

25. Heartbreaking? Riiiiiiiiiight.

I'll bet that asshole had a nice big belly-laugh after telling that whopper to the press. :eyes:

[BlueGirlRedState]

27. My dad sent me a cartoon with this saying

plus all the other right wing lies -- Obama is a Muslim, won't say the Pledge of Alligeance, he's anti-Christian. I was so furious, I called my father up and told him in language he's never heard from me "don't send me any of this f'ing crap! It's all lies and you know it. And when you send it on to others, you're a liar and a hypocrite." My dad, who's 79, was stunned. I'm still angry about it.

The email had been forwarded over and over and I could just see this entire line of people snickering and rubbing their hands together, anxious to send out this "joke" and the lies.

This was the week before Father's Day and I was so angry I couldn't bring myself to do more than send a card to my Dad.

[Catherina]

31. Hang in there. People like you give me great hope.

:hug:

[Fleshdancer]

28. Great news!

I'm glad they got slammed for it. I'm glad they felt forced to apologize. I'm glad they donated money to the flood relief because of it.

This sends the message to republicans that this sh*t will NOT be tolerated and for their sake, I hope they get the message before their national convention because the entire world will be watching.

[PatGund]

29. Really?

"“We were stunned; the whole convention was about unity and diversity,”"

Soon afterwards a bolt of lightning came down and struck his still growing nose while setting his pants on fire

[NatBurner]

34. i laughed

[Arugula Latte]

30. Translation: "Oops! We fergot about them tubes of Teh Internets spreadin' informayshun an' such!"

[vaberella]

33. We need to send this to Keith Olbermann.

[Irishonly]

35. I emailed them and received this, today. LOL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Hans Klingler at 512/879-4062
Republican Party of Texas to Donate Proceeds
from Disgraced Vendor


Sends Message that Bigotry Will Not Be Tolerated

Austin - The Republican Party of Texas on Wednesday announced it will donate the proceeds from a vendor who attempted to sell a disgracefully insensitive button during the just completed 2008 Republican State Convention in Houston. The vendor RepublicanMarket.com is a Florida based outlet who sells political paraphernalia via the internet and at state conventions all over the nation.

“This vendor need not apply to another Texas G.O.P. State Convention. The proceeds from their booth space will be donated to charity. We will tolerate nor profit from bigotry,” said Hans Klingler, Texas G.O.P. Spokesman.

Dallas Morning News Journalist Christy Hoppe appropriately brought the issue to the attention of R.P.T. officials on Tuesday. R.P.T. officials will be alerting the vendor today via letter about their intent and suggesting they clean up their act.

“Our state convention was energetic, unifying and positive. We will not allow any dishonor to be brought on our hardworking grassroots leaders by the actions of a misguided few. The Republican Party of Texas is proud of its principles, record and diversity,” Klingler continued.



-30-


Paid for by the Republican Party of Texas
900 Congress Avenue, Suite 300, Austin, Texas 78701.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

I am not believing them.

[blondeatlast]

36. Telling grammatical error or just an error? You decide.

I taught eighth grade English for years, fwiw.

We will tolerate nor profit from bigotry,”

Don't you mean, "We will NEITHER tolerate nor PROFIT form bigotry..." because you said QUITE the opposite, Mr. Klinger.

[Irishonly]

38. Tellling Error I Think N/T

[blondeatlast]

39. So do I. That's REALLY poor grammar. nt