* Lynn Sweet…
The Illinois Republican Party on Wednesday revoked the convention credentials of a Donald Trump delegate from Chicago “for publicly-made racist comments and threats of violence” on a Facebook posting.
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider told the Sun-Times the party, “has zero tolerance for racism of any kind and threats of violence against anyone.” […]
The Republican National Convention welcome party was thrown Sunday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. [Fifth Congressional District delegate Lori Gayne] wrote, over a photo of law enforcement officials on the roof on the iconic building on the Lake Erie shore:
“Our brave snipers just waiting for some “N—- to try something. Love them.”
She used an abbreviation for the racial slur.
* From Gayne’s statement…
The statements do not reflect my character or feelings toward minorities.
Oh, please.
* From a May 19th Tribune story…
One of Gayne’s social media handles is “whitepride.”
“With all the racism going on today, I’m very proud to be white. Just like black people are proud to be black and now, as white people, whenever we say something critical we’re punished as if we’re racists. I’m tired of it. I’m very proud,” Gayne said.
“I’m so angry I don’t even feel like I live in America. You can call me a racist. Black Lives Matter? Those people are out of control,” she said.
The oldest line in the book is “I’m not a racist, but…” As a white man, I’ve heard it countless times.
* Tribune today…
State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, co-chair of the Illinois delegation and a major Trump supporter, said he supported free speech but said Gayne had crossed the bounds to be a representative for Illinois Republicans.
“I don’t believe her voice is one we want in the party,” Cabello said.
Coulda thought about that before the convention even started.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:08 am:
They don’t have a problem with her feeling that way, just that she got caught saying it publicly.
- kimocat - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:13 am:
That is right. After watching this GOP mob circus, I’d say she fits right in.
- Way Way Down Here - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:17 am:
I’ll bet the police in Cleveland REALLY appreciate being called “snipers”.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:18 am:
While there is some merit to her contention that the term racist is used too liberally these days and that a double standard does exist to some extent, her use of the slur does make her racist in my opinion. To then try to walk it back with that ridiculous statement is absurd. Yet another reason to be embarrassed for my state. *sigh*
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:18 am:
It’s not surprising this individual has decided to continue to speak her views in this manner.
As an individual, she has made it clear well before that social media “posting”, and if anything, her remarks only continue to reflect what she has already made clear.
Individual responsibility and choices do not reflect a complete picture of any group, especially when remarks are consistent with one individual’s online persona.
What is disappointing is that the Delegation will be faced with the stigma of one individual’s choice and one individual’s personality that could stain the Delegation itself that does not subscribe to her hatred and racism.
Too little too late, as her known sickening views were on display before this week. But how the ILGOP reacts now, and they have, and how the ILGOP responds to the fallout is something the ILGOP can control and I know we as a Republican Party are better than her and better than what she thinks the Republican Party represents.
We are not her, as she thinks she is us.
Nope. Sorry.
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:20 am:
== “I don’t believe her voice is one we want in the party,” Cabello said. ==
I would like say something witty in response to such hypocrisy, but I nothing can come up with quite matches the order of magnitude of State Representative Cabello’s cognitive dissonance.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:21 am:
–The oldest line in the book is “I’m not a racist, but…” As a white man, I’ve heard it countless times.–
A corollary, also heard over a lifetime is, “he’s a n-, but he’s okay.”
Usually reserved for popular athletes and other entertainers.
–* From Gayne’s statement…
The statements do not reflect my character or feelings toward minorities.–
No, they reveal them.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:23 am:
Really have to wonder how thorough the vetting was (if any) for some of the Illinois delegates.
“The traditional Chicago political joke is we don’t want nobody, nobody sent, and frankly these are the nobodies that nobodies sent,” said Kent Gray, an attorney who helped the Trump campaign find potential delegates in Illinois.
“I had some that I had to make sure they were still registered to vote or they had to get, they had moved and we had to make sure they had re-registered to vote,” he said.
http://www.npr.org/2016/07/14/485911005/some-trump-rnc-delegates-surprised-about-paying-their-own-way-to-cleveland
- Soccermom - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:25 am:
You left out the best part: Gayne offered her “deepest apologies” in a statement, saying, “I strongly regret the offensive statements I recently made on social media. While I in no way intended to make racist or threatening statements, I now realize that they could be interpreted that way.”
Yeah, it’s amazing how using a word that no decent person would use, and rooting for police murder, can be interpreted as racist and threatening.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:27 am:
It could almost be argued that our “party has zero tolerance for . . . threats of violence against anyone” and “knock the crap out of” protesters are inconsistent statements.
- Dee Lay - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:39 am:
“I don’t believe her voice is one we want in the party,” Cabello said.
I guess you haven’t been paying attention much at the RNC then?
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:40 am:
“I wrote something unprovoked and included in it a sentiment of love, but it does not reflect my feelings.”
- Amalia - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:44 am:
ah, ReTrumplicans…
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:44 am:
Why does it seem like Trump, more so than anyone in recent memory, brings these people out of the shadows? There is clearly something in his message that speaks to them and makes them think it is ok.
I don’t think she is a reflection of the Republican party, both major parties deal with these outlier issues to one degree or another.
- One to the Dome - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:48 am:
Good move by Illinois GOP. There is nothing wrong with anyone celebrating their heritage. She is entitled to celebrate hers, as blacks, Asians, Hispanic can too. What she fails to understand that black pride does not mean being anti white or anti police. It means fair treatment and equal protection under the law. There were both black and white officers killed recently. However the increase of the divisive language of us vs them has reignited this reterotic
- Aldyth - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:52 am:
Trump has given permission to any of his supporters to say anything they like, anywhere, any time. No matter how vile, offensive, or untrue it might be.
Congratulations, Republicans. You are winning the race to the bottom.
- Way Way Down Here - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:53 am:
JS Mill: Because Trump gave permission. As was famously said about Reagan, “He made us comfortable with our prejudices.”
- The Fool On The Hill - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:56 am:
Was it Jeanette Ward from the U -46 school board?
- Jon - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:59 am:
Wow, just wow on her statement, she thinks she is being sent home because of “safety” concerns, no you are a racist and are being exposed, again unfortunately, as one.
Quite the delay on the dismissal though, Sunday post, Wednesday dismissal. I’d have a little more faith in the ILGOP’s apparent disgust if the dismissal occurred prior to the nomination.
Not too strong of a statement from Cabello either, “I don’t believe” isn’t much of an attempt at disassociation. How about “her voice is NOT a voice we want in the party”. “I don’t believe” implies I don’t want it, but if that’s all I can have, it’ll work.
- Justin Observer - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:03 am:
I do realize that both parties have to deal with extremists. I am disturbed that this woman was “outed” for her blatant white-supremicist views back in April, May, and June — even nationally (in Mother Jones, Slate Magazine, Huffingon Post, and others) — and yet she still manages to find her way as an official delegate, to the floor of the convention, and announces how proud she is to be rooming with others who were similarly outed months ago. Something is wrong here — and I would say the same if an extremist from the other side makes it to the floor of next week’s Democratic convention. This woman’s views are scary, and full of hate — and she posted a long-running blog to espouse them.
- Doug Simpson - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Republicans have dreamed about this for years.
Remember Nixon and the Southern Strategy?
Reagan’s Welfare Queen?
The Federal Marriage Amendment?
And most recently….McCroryCare (Government Takeover of the Bathroom)?
The Republicans went to bed with Conservatives. And now reap what they’ve sown.
This country is Center Left and Center Right.
Founded on Equality and Liberty.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
For years Conservatives have vigorously sold the idea some men are more equal.
- Ghost - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Trumps canidacy alon with a spate of recent incidents with police has torn open a racial divide i must admit I did not realize was present still and so deep. I thought we had come so far from the 50’s…. but apparently not. It makes me worried formour future that we have such deep hate in our society and have learned nothing since WW2….
- Tommydanger - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:27 am:
When you are sowing seeds of anger, violent vitriolic rhetoric, resentment, fear and despair, you cannot be too surprised when the weeds of racism appear.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:46 am:
@Way Way Down Here- Yep!
- Northsider - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:50 am:
So, two months after her racist views came to light, IL Republicans decide she isn’t welcome after all.
The first commenter nailed it: their real problem with her isn’t the racism, but her being too overt about it.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 11:07 am:
The primaries are over and the poor gal didn’t ‘pivot’ for the general. It’s the same political sin committed by Trump when he was openly racist towards Judge Gonzalo Curiel after securing the nomination.
The pundits tied themselves in knots asking why so many Republicans rebuked Trump for his comments about Judge Curiel after ignoring his previous, equally offensive, slurs about Mexicans (and Muslims, and blacks, and women, and…).
But the answer was obvious: Timing.
They’re fun to play with — and they can win you the nomination — but after the primary you gotta put away the racist dog-whistles and Confederate flags.
Naked racism repulses too many suburban moms.
– MrJM
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 11:14 am:
So maybe she’s just a yuge Golden Girls fan? I mean, who doesn’t love Betty White? /s
- JoanP - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 1:22 pm:
Oh, honestly, this is ridiculous. The GOP’s presidential candidate has been spewing racist nonsense for lord knows how long, and they dump this woman?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
I am shocked, shocked to hear that there is a racist and white supremacist element at the rnc.
- Federalist - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 2:05 pm:
I do not have a problem with her saying that. Let’s try it reversed.
“With all the racism going on today, I’m very proud to be Black. Just like White people are proud to be White and now, as Black
people, whenever we say something critical we’re punished as if we’re racists. I’m tired of it. I’m very proud,”
Of course, when it is reversed like this it would never get a seconds notice. When it is said as the original way all the pious PC people get their underwear in a wad.
And yes, I have no use for the vast majority of the Black Lives Matter group ( or at least what is reported in the media).
- FormerParatrooper - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 2:06 pm:
What a stupid statement for anyone over 3 years old to make.
I do not understand the “pride” of your racial identity. It is not anything you earned or strived for, so why the pride?
- Ron - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 2:10 pm:
I fear for our future. Trump is very dangerous.
- Federalist - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 2:11 pm:
I fear for our future also. As far as I am concerned both Trump and Clinton are very dangerous.
- Rasselas - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
Federalist - this false symmetry is one of the oldest ‘i’m not a racist’ white canards in the book. There is not a symmetry between the way whites have been treated in this country and the way blacks have been. One group has been the oppressor - one the oppressed. The oppressor does not get to throw on the cloak of ‘victomhood’ and pretend the last 400 years of American history never happened.
- Federalist - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
@ Rasselas
You have given the standard rationalization. As far as I am concerned it reflects bigotry at worst and an a very intolerant attitude toward those with a dissenting view at best.
But it is your opinion.
- Fairness and Fairness Only - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
How is this still a surprise to anyone? If you agree to join someone as joint representatives for the same cause, aren’t you going to at least look at some of their posted, stated positions? I don’t know this person but I doubt it’s the first blatantly racist post that she has proudly shared. Why would you chance finding out about that afterwards? Do these people know how to do a cursory google or facebook search??
She didn’t recently become a racist. She clearly made (another) racist post and someone brought it to their attention. She should have never made it to the convention unless that racist trash was the position that they wanted.
- CEA - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
@1:23 PM
“Your hood, Sir!”
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:10 pm:
Acknowledging the effects of our nation’s woeful racial history is bigotry or intolerance?
Nonsense.
– MrJM
- G'Kar - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:22 pm:
“Why does it seem like Trump, more so than anyone in recent memory, brings these people out of the shadows?”
It is not just Trump. I am friends on FB with a cousin who was a big Cruz supporter. He “befriended” hundreds of other “Cruzers” during the primary. Many of them are some of the most vile commenters I’ve had the displeasure to read on FB. They are racists, homophobes, and misogynists. Plus, they don’t like Trump!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:34 pm:
–Naked racism repulses too many suburban moms.–
From your mouth to God’s ear.
For crying out loud, did you read today how the guy just made the United States commitment to NATO conditional? Flippantly, shallowly?
Seventy years of keeping down the bear from Stalin through Putin, thrown out the window, in a soundbite?
For Christ’s sake, that outrageous, moronic, irresponsible comment just put Polish, Lithuanian, Estonian and Latvian divisions on alert.
Weeping Jesus on the cross — he’s a h-a tv personality. Kanye and Kim are better qualified.
America, respect yourself.
- lovecraft - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:39 pm:
We don’t want her voice, but we do want her vote.
- Federalist - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:17 pm:
Yes it is bigotry when it directed against those who have said nothing wrong and are put down in an attempt to silence them.