Race and Young Repubs -- LOL

Thursday, July 02, 2009 4:40 PM

Jul. 2, 2009 (Arkansas Times) --

Those pesky Internet tubes.

Take Audra Sigler Shay, a Fort Smith native and former UA student who now lives in New Orleans and who s is running this month to be elected national chairman of the Young Republicans.

She has a busy Facebook page. As this screenshot shows, (click on image to expand it) she opened a comment thread recently by saying, "OK I think Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) just signed a death warrant in my eyes." This is a reference to Wal-Mart's joining with a union and a liberal think tank in endorsing mandatory employee health insurance. Sounds like a YR. As do many of her Facebook friends. For example, Eric Piker responded [all sic]:

.... obama is the new terrorist ... muslim is on there side ... need to take this country back from all these mad coons ... and illegals

Responded Audra Shay

You tell em Eric! lol

It's possible that Shay, who was born in 1971, didn't know that Piker wasn't talking about Gillett dinner fare in his use of the word coon.

The good news is that several others on Shay's page called down the use of the language, as did a Republican who sent the screenshot of the page to me. A Republican blog has picked up the thread. It said criticism of Obama is one thing, but "using racist words and seemngly to applaud such words is just plain wrong."

Arkansas YR leadership has endorsed Shay. To be generous, she seems, at a minimum, clueless.

(Source: iStockAnalyst )


7/4/2009 3:33:34 AM Florida National Committeeman by Todd Goberville 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 Reply Rating: (3) (2)

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

Rating: (3) (2)

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