GOP official who sent Obama chimpanzee email: 'I am not a racist'

An Orange County Republican Party official who sent an email that portrays President Obama's face superimposed on a chimpanzee with the words: "Now you know why -- No birth certificate!" apologized for her action but insisted she's not a racist.

The comments of Marilyn Davenport, an elected member of the party's central committee, marks a turnaround for the official, who over the weekend described the controversy as "much to-do about nothing."

County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh has called for Davenport to resign, saying the email was "dripping with racism and is in very poor taste."

"The California Republican Party believes the actions in question are completely unacceptable," California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro added in a statement Sunday.

In an interview with the OC Weekly on Monday, Davenport said: "I wasn't wise in sending the email out. I shouldn't have done it. I really wasn't thinking when I did it. I had poor judgment." She added: I am not a racist, but I do think I need to apologize again with different words."

In a statement over the weekend, Davenport had said "in no way did I even consider the fact he's half black when I sent out the email. In fact, the thought never entered my mind until one or two other people tried to make this about race."

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Comments

[Gallo]

Why is this broad trying to cover-up her racism. She is what she is. She meant exactly what she said. I don't care how she attempts to clean it up the truth ultimately brought her to the forefront. I am a true believer that its not what goes into the mouth of a person that defiles them, but what comes out of the mouth. For what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart.

[Charlie Jefferson]

Marilyn Davenport (R) should resign from her position. A reprimand would be a "slap in the face" to OUR Judicial System and to those she allegedly represents. County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh has called for Davenport to resign, saying the email was "dripping with racism and is in very poor taste." After making such an inflammatory comment against President Obama, how can she not say that she is not a racist. Her pseudo sincere, excuse filled apology is falling on deaf ears. Not only are her comments disrespectful to President Obama, but equally as such to me and the African American community. This leads to further inquiry of how she really feels about non-occidental Americans. Do us all a favor, RESIGN now, before you send via email or utter another thoughtless, heartless "accidental" hate filled sentence. Shame on you! Thanks once again Republican Party.

Charlie

[Jajadajade]

It's just a picture.

[longcatislong]

Bush was compared to a chimp because his face looked like a chimp's face. Find me a non-racist explanation for saying the same about Obama that is supposed to be understood without having to explain as was conveyed in the email. I dare you.

What I don't understand is, why are so many public figures who are obvious racists willing to act in all the ways that gets one branded as a racist, but afraid to come out in support of their own behavior? It's not being called a racist that makes you despicable. It's the things you're doing.

[Kyle E]

I have sent and recieved a million of those e-mails, even the one with the watermelons on the Obama bucks. Not one time did I ever think of these as racist...they are just Jokes about a guy who happens to be black...get over it there are far more things to worry about in this world then a couple of funny ass jokes!!!!

[BillyJoeBob]

Stupid is as stupid does. Why would any elected official in this day and age, make that anyone period, think they're invisible? If it weren't for Kobe and Tiger being worth mega millions they'd think twice before saying opening their mouths anywhere, the same applies to politicians, actors, and facebook nit wits.

[Lee]

Racist or not a racist, she's an moron that shouldn't be be representing any district in California.

[Jeff E]

I see that the moderator of this paper is a democrat because there are no comments by republicans...just sayin'

[jorge]

Why was calling the 43rd President "Chimpy McHalliburton BushHitler" patriotic, but anything you do in reference to the present person sitting in the whitehouse a racist act? Am I a racist because I point out to you that he cannot complete a complete sentance without the aid of a Teleprompter? If so why? Before you answer you should see if you can find out what my racial composition is.

[JOSEPH]

HOW MANY PHOTOS WERE CIRCULATED DEPICTING GEORGE BUSH AS A MONKEY??? I HAVE SEEN THEM PLENTY OF TIMES!!!

THIS WOMAN SHOULD BE FIRED FOR GIVING TRULY RACIST PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO USE THIS AS A CRUTCH, A NEW TALKING POINT IF YOU WILL.

JUST BECAUSE OBAMA IS BLACK A MONKEY PHOTO IS RACIST BUT GEORGE BUSH IS WHITE SO RACE PLAYS NO PART???

JUST WHAT DO SOME INDIVIDUALS TRULY THINK OF THEMSELVES???

[Mister Wu]

I like the George W. Bush Chimp pictures but they didn't have his parents as chimps.

[Dwayne]

She'll keep her job, everyone will forget about it in a week, and it's politics as usual. No one ever gets punished except the poor and the powerless.

[Bob's Your Uncle]

Davenport said: "I wasn't wise in sending the email out. I shouldn't have done it. I really wasn't thinking when I did it. I had poor judgment."

Well, honey, you were elected to office to perform your job using wisdom and good judgment. Apparently, you can't do the job you were hired to do.

[djp]

I think this republican got it right! that idiot is a freakin monkey!

[SmartAssProducts.com]

Why is it that everything and everyone gets called racist if they're anti-Obama? I am most definitely NOT a racist, yet I get called that all the time since coming out [very] vocally against Obama back in 2008. Strange how for the decades prior to that, as a lifelong Democrat no one ever called me racist. But the instant I started speaking out against the WHOLLY UNQUALIFIED empty suit, bam!, I'm racist.

Sorry, but laughing at this Obama/chimp image doesn't make me racist. Guess what? I used to heavily promote--and LMAO at--the "Bush or chimp" pictures that were all over the web. Remember those? I've posted a collage here: http://tinyurl.com/3gzngpd Did you laugh at them? Come on, they were hilarious. Admit it. So was that racist?

Just because someone is partially black and people are against them, doesn't mean they're against them BECAUSE they're partially black. I'm anti-Obama because he's an unqualified dolt who stole the nomination from the qualified candidate, Hillary Clinton. Has NOTHING to do with being partially black. I have black blood relatives, by the way, and they know damn well I don't have a racist bone in my body. People really need to comprehend the difference being disliking someone because they're an unqualified moron and being racist. There's a huge difference.

[DavidY]

As an ex-employee of the California Repulican Party, I have to say that I am completely disgusted with Davenport's comments. Forget about firing her, she should be be terminated ASAP!

[Historian]

Presidents have long been unfairly compared to apes and monkeys. Lincoln was called "the Great Ape" by Southerners and Northerners alike during the Civil War. Tom T. Hall had a song in the early 1970s, entitled "The Monkey that became President," which was widely viewed as critical of Nixon. There is still a website about George W. Bush, popular among the political left, called "The Smirking Chimp."

When it comes to criticizing a president, what's good for the goose, is good for the gander ... or monkey ... as the case may be.

[Gary Sims]

The sad thing is, she probably doesn't know that it was racist. Clueless.

[Hyde]

Sorry, but you are a racist whether u like it or not...Obama has to be the most disrespected president to ever hold office. Its ridiculous what people are saying and doing. Showing their true colors....

[j]

and for 8 years, they called george bush a chimp, curious george, made movies about assinating him, claimed he blew up the towers...and the libs said nothing. In fact, they embraced nuts like michael moore and gave him front row seats at the convention.

they also called bush hitler and that was okay. but it is not okay if they say it about obama.

what a bunch of phoneys.

[Gerald]

Liberals and others who are so full of themselves have no idea what is racists! This to me was very funny, it may even be in poor taste, but it is NOT Racists! Where does he imply that one race is better than another or that all others are better than Obuma based on his color, NO WHERE! So it is not racists!
If this piece of trash Obuma would show his birth certificate once and for all, as required by law, this would not be going on! That fact is he does look like a chimp and his wife looks like an ugly version of a gorilla, that is not racists, just the truth!!!! The ones who are out of control and racists violent cowards are the Liberals, yet they accuse everyone else of being that!

[u r all sheep]

"oh heavens no!" someone caricatured the president as a monkey?

same thing happened to George Bush, but that of course isnt "racist" because he is white...

It is racist to caricature the president as a monkey because he is black?

http://www.google.com/search?q=george+bush+chimpanzee&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1490&bih=776

I think I might go draw a cartoon of Mohammed now.

[A. Hughes]

I feel she needs to resign.....If a Black person would have said something derogatory about Bush or Reagan they would have been thrown under the bus, fired and career ruined. Too many double standards in the US...Why is it that the US hates a straight lined President. The more corrupt a President the more He is liked.....JUST DUMB....

[Alex]

Hey, Marilyn! The phrase is "much ado about nothing."

[Jennifer Mims]

That was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Don't let them tell you that you are racist. You are not. They are just too sensitive for their own good. When any group of people start taking themselves so seriously, they are "barking up the wrong tree!"
Keep up the good work.

Jennifer