The Bullying Behind GOP Young Republican Chair's "Racist" Win

By GottaLaff

The story that just won't end. I've posted about Audra Shay's winning the Young Rushpublics chairmanship here, here, and here. Now we get some behind-the-scenes crasskerfuffletrashitude:

Perhaps less remarkable than the outcome–new Young Republicans Chairman Audra Shay bragged on her Facebook page that she had pledges from the majority of delegate going in–was how the vote played out. Yesterday’s election was closed to members of the press, but The Daily Beast has pulled together an account of the vote, and the runup to it, and the details are shocking. Some highlights:

• Shay’s opponent, Rachel Hoff, was the subject of an ugly sexual innuendo whisper campaign that questioned her reasons for supporting civil unions.

• Shay’s electoral slate, dubbed Team Renewal, battled desperately–some likened it to intimidation–and, ultimately, successfully to block a motion that would have allowed delegates to cast their votes by secret ballot, for fear they’d lose.

• Near-fistfights on the floor, and finally something of a boycott, as some of Hoff’s slate of candidates lower on the ticket chose to remove their names from the ballot after her defeat.

“They just took a vote that may have set the party back 30 years,” said the co-founder of HipHopRepublican.com, Lenny McAllister, speaking from the floor of the Hyatt convention hall. “They just voted for a candidate who has a demonstrated tolerance for racial intolerance. She has joked about lynching and then claimed to be a victim. As a black man, I still don’t see what’s funny about that.”

Classy bunch, huh?

Young Republicans Choose Hate

By GottaLaff

Chip Sommedevilla / Getty Images

Original posts here and here. Freedom of choice just took on a whole new meaning:

Audra Shay, the Young Republican leader accused of endorsing racism on Facebook, was elected head of the group for GOP members under 40 this afternoon.

Audra Shay, the Young Republican leader who became the subject of a national controversy after The Daily Beast uncovered racist comments she wrote on Facebook and other social networking sites, won the race to become head of the Young Republicans by approximately 50 votes (out of about 950 voting delegates) at their national convention this afternoon in Indianapolis.

Are we surprised? No we are not. Especially not in light of this big, steaming, racist pile of Commenters at Freeperland, we aren't.

According to George P. Bush, son of Jeb Bush, “Rachel’s professionalism, hard work, and leadership will well-represent the GOP.” Sarah Huckabee, daughter of Mike Huckabee, said, “Rachel Hoff’s approach to politics and life seems to be: ‘Stand Up and Lead.’”

Change you can gag at. So much for rebranding. Just ask Ba-ba-ba-Bobby Jindal:

She ran on the platform of “Restore, Revitalize, Reinforce,” which emphasized rebranding the Young Republicans as more hip through Facebook and Twitter, and spreading "our message of lower taxes and less government to these corners and let people know that we’re here and we’ll hold the Democrats’ feet to the fire.” She was endorsed in the election by her governor, Bobby Jindal.

And here's how she deals with controversy. Those accusations about her being a racist? Well, she would have none of that!

Shay responded that the allegations against her were “political attacks” which “proves that my opponents will stoop to the lowest levels to steal this election from the jaws of victory.”

How's that for young, hip, and change-y? Yup, she'll fit right in with them cool, edgy, youthy Partiers of No Way.

"Do NOT Elect A Racist"... by Meghan McCain

By GottaLaff

As the Young Republicans prepare to elect a woman on Saturday who has compared to President Obama to a terrorist and appears to have laughed at a comment calling blacks “coons,” Meghan McCain seeks to stage an intervention.

I use MegMac's Tweets on My Tweet Spot regularly. Why? Because, if nothing else, she always has something interesting to say, whether inane, serious, sensible, or provocative. Look! Here's one of her more interesting moments now!

If you remember, posted about this... this... "person", this "Young Republican" named Audra Shay the other day.

Now Meghan is taking her on, too:

You can probably guess how I feel about a woman who thinks comparing President Obama to a terrorist and referring to blacks as “mad coons” is funny.

The definition of insanity is repeating the same actions over and over again and expecting different results. What exactly do the Young Republicans expect to achieve by electing a 38-year-old woman who thinks racial epithets are acceptable? [...]

I understand that my place within the Young Republicans and the Republican Party is a controversial one, which is something I am still trying to get comfortable with. I am criticized almost daily for not being “conservative enough.” But the Republican Party needs to reach out to all kinds of voters. The last time I checked, most conservatives are already Republicans. It’s the independents that we need to sway. We need to make them believe we really do practice what we preached about less government, less spending, national security, etc, and we aren’t recruiting leaders who are old and out of touch. I am not saying I am that face, but Audra Shay certainly isn’t. She represents the same old stereotypes about “young Republicans”—apparently racist and more middle-aged than youthful. In short, disconnected from the real youth of this country.

::brakes screeching!:: 38 is middle-aged?

Oh, and MegMac? No matter how hard your team tries, Rushpublicans just aren't, well, cool. But I digress:

What Young Republicans need is a revolution.

And what they're getting is a civil war.

But we appreciate the sentiment.

H/t: Cody