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

[truth to power]

The Republican party of today is sooooo far from what it was 35 plus years ago when it actually WAS a party of fiscal conservatives and stood for responsible and adult actions.
Sadly it has become the party of extremism and home to America's idiocracy.
As bad as the Dems are there are these clowns are even worse.

[FatBobRob]

Do not generalize the actions of one idiot to the entire party. You won't find it there. It was a repugnant thing to do; she should resign. If she doesn't resign, she should be dismissed. Either way, the party will distance itself from this moron and debate Obama on the merit of his policies and his performance in office, not his heritage.

[Frank]

That's one of the most racists things I've ever seen. Pretty sad and frustrating that these attitudes still exist.

[MollyH]

Last I remember - all humans were decedents of primates. How does it make her a racist showing Obama as a chimp?

You liberals really need to come up with different attack strategies. Your race card attacks are tiring.

[Frank Smith]

We all belong to the living God and there is no place in America or any where else for this kind of statement.

[Jayston]

Yes, it was a stupid move and easily bridges the gap from funny to racist.

But, this same picture did not receive one media outlet recognition when it went around the internet a few years ago when the baby chimp had George Bush face superimposed. I clearly remember this being sent to me then.

Media, political extremists, and race card shouters are always looking for ways to make President Obama's elected position about race and not about his politics (successes or failures) the issue.

[dee gee]

that's what happens when you're on drugs...you begin to think everything you do and say is OK and you're invincible

[Jeremy]

She's lying, and she is a racist and her email shows it. If she isn't a racist, and the fact that the President is black, and is not aware that a common racist insult is to refer to black people as monkeys or apes, then she is naive and ignorant, therefore unfit to serve. I cannot believe she tried to downplay it and now is trying to spin it with ignorance. Unbelievable, it's so sickening to know that people like her are still out there.

[Scott]

How can you say it is raciest. We have been taught from kindergarten that we came from Apes or monkeys. Mean maybe raciest not...

[KaraBoo]

As for Bush being depicted as a chimp, it was likely because many thought he was about as smart as a chimp and thus not able to make very good decisions; it reflected perceptions of his behavior/intellect. He was depicted alone as a chimp, not with his family also shown as chimps. But it did not, as this picture does, depict the President in question as being BORN a chimp, with chimps as parents. Her caricature suggests that President Obama is a chimp based on things he cannot control (i.e., his parentage), not based on his intellect or his behavior (although likely implying these are also chimp-like). Add that to the historic precedent for racists depicting Blacks as apes and thus as inferior to humans, as noted by many posting here, and it's horribly offensive. Basically, this image says that he is BY BIRTH inferior to humans and I am beyond disgusted by that. This is unequivocally racist, not "responsible free speech".

[Janice]

That email has been floating around for a year or more I have seen it several times. I am not a racist either but I have sent it out to some friends. It's stupid to make a big deal out of nothing.

[Chris_A]

Just another non-thinker involved in politics. I guess it is the new landscape of the US. Send out emails "Without thinking", and trying to mitigate any consequences to their actions. Next thing you know we will be reading on how she settled the matter privately, will retain her position, and do the same thing again, and use excuses. You were thinking, and you knew it would be offensive, and it is racist. Now do the right thing, own up to it, and accept responsibility. No wonder the countries a mess, same crap, different party, mitigating their responsibility, and acting it is ok because, well I said it wasn't really what it is.
As in the old saying "Walks like duck, talks like a duck, it is a duck".

[David]

What would Marilyn's African-American friends think of this?

[karen stine]

She is not A racist !!!!!!!!!! Why don;t Obama show his birth cetificate & his school records What is there to hide it is the democraps that are racist & liars out with Obama 2012>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[T.T.]

Everyone is racist to some degree or another. However, what makes this so stupid is that by sending this e-mail she was very unprofessional and inmature. Very similar to a teenager who just doesn't care what others say. For these reasons she should resign, not for being racist.

[Sylvia Ramirez]

Didn't we all come from apes? Really people don't give it any attention, I Don't. There are more important issues in life

[kugelmum]

I really wasn't thinking when I did it."

Is there a chance we could get an official who does think? If she doesn't think when she does something then she has no business being an official.
This is nothing but nasty. It is not racial. The bigger problem is the education level of a woman at this stage of her life. What hope is there for the future of the youth when the "educated" behave like this.
This is not political its scarey and a disgrace in civic behavior. She should be given a course of manners and some class. I hope she is not someone's granny.

[Lourdes Chu]

thats the problem with republicans...their actions continue to undermine our freedom of speech...im still wairing for an apology for all the filth hurled at Dubya during his time in office. Obama is worse than a chimp!!!!

[Borninamerica]

Atonement, mea culpa, no-one except Marilyn Davenport knows what was in heart and in her mind when she made the decision to characterize Mr. Obama through a caricature of an animal but it just seems her private thoughts were manifested publicly, breaching the public trust.

Maybe, her being a public steward, is not a good fit at this time.

[Alex]

Why does everything have to be racism!!! It was just a stupid picture. If you would have gotten that email, you would have passed it along too.

[raymo]

this is a prime example of the grand ol party,trying to cover its past by going under the new handle of tea party.they dont change, and they never will.they have obviscated and lagged on some good programs from the democratic (for the people) house,congress,and president. The government has had to shut down in the past and they are trying to shut it down again,just to make president Obama look bad. They want the presidency and they dont care what they have to do to get it. Donald Trump will not make a good president. he is more into reality tv than anything and we all know that reality tv is scripted and about as real as a 3 dollar bill. I am mixed race white/red. Some of my best friends are black or mixed race. I see it as all inclusive (americans) not the rich v/s the poor! the rabid repoes are out of line. They got away with ripping the country off and stealing the election,now they think they have established a precident for the future. Obama taking on the mess the gop left behind dubya, has done wounders. jobs are up,inflation is in check and we have good health care that is set up to get better. and etc etc etc......

[cook]

WOW. How quickly we forget. Just google (george bush political cartoon chimp) and see what you find. In fact, you could use almost any politicians name and find the same thing. Just funny cartoons, same as the one this lady passed along. I wonder what the responses here would be then. Most of the commenters here are SO SURE she is a racist. She may or may not be, but so are most of you. Get a thicker skin and get on with life.

[A.Maultsby]

I am disappointed in Ms. Davenport, everyone in this country knows that monkeys have been a signa for black people since slavery. What kind of message is she tryin to send? What is her intent? I don't believe her
apology, once you say these things, you can't take back. She just let's me
know she is not serious about her own work, is she not busy enough?
Donald Trump needs to start campaigning, what is he goin to do?
President Obama is in office now, why did'nt Trump investigate during
President Obamas campaign, why now & what difference does this make, what is his intent? What Does Trump stand for, what issues is important
to him other than President Obamas Birth??????????????????????????
If this is a part of his campaign,this is truly sad. Don't be sleeping people! who is going to pay for his $100,000 ballroom, the tax payers?

[Zap]

What is it with O.C. politicians and racism? Who is electing these nuts?

[Ronaldo]

In her defense, George Bush looked like a monkey, and that's not about race.