You'll Never Believe Which Party Is Associated with This New Racist Scandal (You Actually Will Believe It Very Easily)
Have you ever heard of Audra Shay, the Young Republicans' National Vice-Chair at Large? What, you're not friends with her on Facebook? Oh, you really should. From what I hear, there's some really amazing things happening over on her page.
Oh, I didn't mean amazing things. I meant horrible racist things. Sorry for my error…
At 1:52, a friend named listed as Eric S. Piker, but whose personal page says his actual name is Eric Pike, wrote "It's the government making us commies… can't even smoke in my damn car… whats next they going to issue toilet paper once a month… tell us how to wipe our asses…"
Two minutes later, Piker posted again saying "Obama Bin Lauden [sic] is the new terrorist… Muslim is on there side [sic]… need to take this country back from all of these mad coons… and illegals."
Okay, so one of Shay's "friends" is a stupid racist piece of shit. You can't really blame a politician because someone else wrote some bullshit stupid thing on her Facebook page. I mean, it's not like she was condoning — or even encouraging — it…
Eight minutes after that, at 2:02, Shay weighed in on Piker’s comments: "You tell em Eric! lol."
Oh. Well… That's… Hey, let's move on, okay?
Apparently, some actual decent human beings — including Sean L. Conner (chairman of the D.C. Young Republicans) and Cassie Wallender (a Washington Young Republican Federation committeewoman) — who had somehow mistakenly become friends with Shay were a bit put off by all this, and they made their opinions known on Shay's Facebook page. And, to Shay's credit, she did the right thing.
Shay was silent on this exchange, but soon word started spreading throughout the Young Republican circuit, open to GOP members under 40. Significantly, Shay then "de-friended" Wallender and Conner.
Oh, I didn't mean right thing. I meant worst possible thing. Sorry for my error.
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Honestly, they can call me whatever they want. I do not care about racist, prejudiced, prepotent people. They are mostly ignorants and complex handicapped rabble. What really pmeo (piss me off nicely written)is when they convert words into action and support wars, coup e'tat, murdering and other excess in the name of freedom, democracy and justice. Is just plain racism.
It's concerning to me that people who are elected officials, who should know better, decided to continue to support Audra, even after she made these racist statements.
People that not only supported her but continued to run on Audra Shay's Ticket such as:
Audra Shay's Treasurer Candidate – Kelly Arnold, County Clerk – Sedgwick County, Kansas
Audra Shay's Auditor Candidate – Dennis Cook, President, Consolidated District 230 Board of Education – Illinois (who is thinking of running for Statewide Office in Illinois)
I think it is unacceptable to have these elected officials continue to get elected after their support of such behavior from Mrs. Shay. They should resign along with Mrs. Shay.
Hi Cassie,
You sound like exactly the kind of decent, thoughtful, moral, responsible person we would love to have join the rest of us decent, thoughtful, moral, responsible people in the Democratic party.
Nah, she'll be a Republican candidate for President in a few years. Her campaign slogan – "Hate Those Who Are Different" THe Southerners will flock to her
If you think Audra is bad, you should see her opponent Rachel Hoff:
http://foodforblog.webs.com/
Open letter to Audra Shay
Audra,
I was searching the Internet when I came across an article in the Arkansas Times (www.arktimes.com) about racial comments you recently made on your Facebook page. As someone with Jewish heritage, and who has two biracial children (white/Latino,) I am thoroughly disgusted by your comments.
My grandfather fought in World War II against Nazi Germany. He was not only fighting for his country, but against intolerance based on race, religion and ethnicity. As a Jewish American, it took a lot of courage to step on German soil, but he knew he must stand up for what is right. I have thought long and hard about it, and I must also stand up against racial intolerance, by demanding that you resign your position as YRNF Vice Chairman-at-large. I watched scandal after scandal surround your campaign, but this is far too serious for any of us to sit back and tolerate.
Audra, you have embarrassed our organization, our party, and you have let down your friends by participating in bigotry. This behavior must not, and will not be tolerated.
Sincerely,
Todd Goberville
Florida National Committeeman
Members of the National Committee,
I am sorry to take your time with another email, but I feel I can add a fresh firsthand perspective to this situation and want to make sure everyone is fully informed as it is extremely important. If we do not thoroughly vet this situation it reflects very poorly upon Young Republicans (if you are not familiar with what I'm referring to, please see: http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2009/07/race_and_young_repubs.aspx). Audra Shay’s response to several media articles and blog posts which expressed concern regarding her remarks on Facebook have troubled me. Audra's response claims that she was “responding to the first post, to continue the fight against big government spending.” This is one of the worst attempted cover ups I have ever seen. Let me tell you why:
Firstly, Eric Piker’s first post, as you can see by this screen shot http://www.arktimes.com/assets/documents/audrashayfacebook.jpg, is not about big government spending. Secondly, Audra made her comments eight minutes after Eric's racist comment, saying, "You tell em Eric! lol". Also if Audra really did find these remarks to be “outright disgusting,” then why was her response to immediately de-friend those who made statements against Eric's blatant racism? I was blocked for stating that Eric’s racist comment was “NOT OKAY. And it is not funny.” Please take a moment look at the entire screenshot linked above, and ask yourself: which comment would lead you to de-friend someone, mine, or Eric’s?
If you look at the screenshot posted on HipHopRepublican.com, http://hiphoprepublican.com/wp-content/uploads/audrashayfacebook-21.jpg, you will see that more than twelve hours later, long after she removed me as a friend, Eric Piker was STILL posting racists remarks saying "…if your ass is black don't let the sun set on it in a southern town…" Even that comment didn't cause Audra to remove Eric Piker as a friend. It seems it was only after the media started calling the next day that she knew she HAD to remove him.
I also want to address one other very serious accusation in Audra's statement. She told the media that this was a “desperate” attempt by her opponent and painted herself as a victim. I can set the record straight firsthand, and this is why I felt the responsibility to email you. What happened did not come from Rachel Hoff or anyone on her ticket. The comments came from me and other offended people who were Audra's Facebook friends. No one told me to comment, nor did anyone force Audra to make her comments. I saw something that was morally wrong, and as a conservative I took it upon myself as an individual to stand up, and I do not regret it at all. I was attacked for wanting better for Young Republicans – in my lifetime of work for the Republican Party I have never been accused of being a "RINO", until now, by Audra's supporters.
I continue to hold that stating "You go get 'em" and "LOL" to racist remarks are not acceptable for YRs. Her continued inappropriate responses to the situation and utter lack of an apology are quite disconcerting. I do not want to see infighting as we are all on the same team ultimately, but this is unacceptable especially from any of our elected officers. Even despite the red flags of spin pointed out above, and giving Audra the benefit of the doubt regarding racism, at the very best this was extremely poorly handled by turning it into a political attack on people completely uninvolved and by showing allegiance to those making racist statements while choosing to squarely turn her back on those speaking against racism.
All in all, this is a plea to my fellow National Committee Members to look at how this was handled and decide in your own heart and mind if this was appropriate, and if this is how we want to be represented to our country.
Thanks for your time,
Cassie Wallender
National Committeewoman
Washington Young Republican Federation
I get the feeling Shay's going to wind up like Babs at the end of "Animal House."