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Davis calls on county party chairman to resign after “inane and asinine” rant

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* Montgomery County Republican Party Chairman Jim Allen fired off a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic and disgustingly hateful e-mail to conservative blogger and GOP activist Doug Ibendahl this week. Allen supports Congressman Rodney Davis against Erika Harold in the Republican primary. Harold, who is black, lost out to Davis last year when county party chairmen picked retired Congressman Tim Johnson’s ballot replacement. Ibendahl backs Harold and he posted Chairman Allen’s e-mail on his blog. I’ve edited one word by blocking out a letter…

From: Jim Allen

Sent: 06/18/13 10:59 PM

To: dibendahl@mail.com

Subject: 13th Congressional District reply

Rodney Davis will win and the love child of the D.N.C. will be back in Sh*tcago by May of 2014 working for some law firm that needs to meet their quota for minority hires.

The truth is Nancy Pelosi and the DEMOCRAT party want this seat. So they called RINO Timmy Johnson to be their pack mule and get little queen to run.

Ann Callis gets a free ride through a primary and Rodney Davis has a battle.

The little queen touts her abstinence and she won the crown because she got bullied in school,,,boohoo..kids are cruel, life sucks and you move on..Now, miss queen is being used like a street walker and her pimps are the DEMOCRAT PARTY and RINO REPUBLICANS…These pimps want something they can’t get,,, the seat held by a conservative REPUBLICAN Rodney Davis and Nancy Pelosi can’t stand it..

Little Queenie and Nancy Pelosi have so much in common but the one thing that stands out the most.. both are FORMER QUEENS, their crowns are tarnished and time has run out on the both of them..

And the Republican Party wonders why they have problems with women and minorities?

Sheesh.

They have far too many yahoos like this clown in power.

* Davis pulled Chairman Allen’s name off a list of supporters on his campaign website. And Allen apologized. From the Champaign News-Gazette…

“The words in the commentary I wrote were completely wrong,” said Jim Allen, the Republican Party chairman in Montgomery County. “I apologize to Erika Harold, her staff and her supporters.”

With that, Allen hung up.

OK, not a bad apology, but have the stones to at least answer a question before hanging up on the reporter.

* Davis disavowed Allen…

“Mr. Allen’s comments are misguided and wrong and certainly do not reflect the views of Congressman Davis or his campaign. Our hope is that supporters for all of the candidates conduct themselves in a positive manner and focus on the issues facing our country as the campaign moves forward,” said Andrew Flach, a spokesman for the Republican congressman.

* Congressman Davis said on a conference call with reporters this morning that Allen should resign his party position.

Davis said Allen made “inane and asinine comments,” but said he hasn’t yet talked to him about the e-mail.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 9:44 am

Comments

Haven’t heard anything that stupid and rascist since the day before when Karen Lewis said something equally stupid and rascist.

Comment by Meanderthal Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 9:49 am
Classy.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 9:49 am
I love this new Republican “re-branding” campaign. The conversion from the Grand Old Party to the Party of Stupid is really gaining some momentum.

Comment by Deep South Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 9:52 am
Par for the course for republicans. I find his rant less offensive than the fact that republicans say things like this daily, yet they are still elected. In fact, they make comments like these and force more moderate republicans to follow suit to avoid primary challenges. Kudos to gents like Ed Sullivan and Ron Sandeck for having the political courage to stand against the bigotry and intolerance that is infecting their party by supporting marriage equality.

Comment by anon Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 9:55 am
–“Mr. Allen’s comments are misguided and wrong and certainly do not reflect the views of Congressman Davis or his campaign.–

Seriously? That’s the best you can do?

Let’s try to punch that up a little:

Instead of “misquided,” why don’t we try “racist and misogynistic?”

And instead of “wrong,” how about “vile and despicable?”

And Rep. Davis, the comments were not “inane” or “asinine.” Those are very weak, milquetoast words.

If you can’t get call a racist a racist you shouldn’t call yourself a congressman.

What is wrong with these people?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 9:59 am
These days it seems that there is little left to distinguish between a Republican or Democrat, but such behavior cannot be tolerated regardless of affiliation.

Comment by cod Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:02 am
–And the Republican Party wonders why they have problems with women and minorities?–

And moderates… some people got tired of being called a “rino” and being associated with nut jobs like Jim Allen. The Republican party is closer aligned to a tinfoil hat society than a legitimate political party.

I feel sorry for Davis because he has to come out and condemn this guy without loosing the base of the republican party, which is closer aligned with the Jim Allen’s of the world than they want to admit. It’s not going to be long before the Republican’s can find good candidates to run.

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:08 am
Stay classy Jim Allen.

How do people with such thin skin and uncontrollable tempers get into politics in the first place?

Comment by Allen Skillicorn Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:09 am
Illinois GOP

Perfecting irrelevance since 2002!!!

train111

Comment by train111 Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:13 am
upper-middle-class, elitist white boy- Bobby Rush

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) may have been suffering from the aftereffects of the devastating stroke that nearly killed him — and sidelined him for a year — when he suggested the mass arrest of 18,000 Gangster Disciples,-Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), chairman of the City Council’s Budget Committee,
It happens on both sides Rich- The GOP chairman is from a small central Illinois county these two are powerful elected officials. The Republican will resign the Democrats will be forgiven

Comment by votecounter Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:15 am
He should resign or be forced to if necessary. These remarks are uncouth. With any luck he can take Ibendahl with him who is just as uncouth. We could live without both these clowns in the GOP. We’ve hit bottom. It’s time for a race to the top.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:15 am
I’d say that I would love to see Allen’s first draft, but we probably are looking at it now.

The old advice is best: write an angry letter by hand, stick it in a drawer, and look at it the next day to see if you still want to send it.

Comment by Colossus Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:16 am
Bernie notes in his column that Jim Allen has worked for the state since 1985 and is currently at the Secretary of State’s office.

That’s just swell, because he obviously is a real “people’s person.” I’m sure the people of ”
Shi*cago” are thrilled that their tax dollars support this guy.

Is it too much to hope that Allen sent this garbage from a state computer on state time? Could the IG at SOS check it out, please?

How did someone dumb enough to put something like this in writing get a job anywhere? Or a leadership position in the GOP (okay, that I understand, unfortunately).

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:18 am
–kids are cruel, life sucks and you move on–

She graduated from Harvard Law…so I guess you could say she “moved on”.

Apparently, grammar isn’t Allen’s strong suit. I’m guessing he struggled a bit in 7th grade English class.

Comment by Under Influenced Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:20 am
===upper-middle-class, elitist white boy- Bobby Rush ===

I covered that. There’s zero excuse for it.

But then Rush sat down with Kirk and worked it out. There’s a difference.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:22 am
Bobby Jindal is still right - Republicans have got to stop being the stupid party. Apparently, not gonna happen anytime soon.

Oh, and nice try trying to equate Karen Lewis with the Democratic party. Karen Lewis’ comments were shocking and despicable, but Karen Lewis is not a Democratic Party official and will never be. She sure as hell doesn’t represent me.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:25 am
–The Republican will resign the Democrats will be forgiven –

And the first Victim chimes in at 10:15 a.m.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:27 am
I don’t know why people claim republicans are incapable of being funny. I think they’re hysterical.

Comment by Mom Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:27 am
Sadly this is the kind of attitude that has been fostered by the old guard of the party and why we need candidates like Erika. She’s the future, Rodney and his friend Jim Allen are the past.

We don’t need a divisive primary when the answer is staring us in the face. Rodney Davis needs to resign or at least step aside and not primary Erika Harold needlessly.

Comment by joan Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:29 am
Glad he is being called out about it. But it is still embarrassing and stupid beyond all words.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:30 am
This wasn’t some snide crack with a drinking partner; it was written in an e-mail as if his local party honcho would agree with him.

It’s despicable and sad either way, but this projects his views on his audience as well.

The most racist comment I ever heard about a candidate was about State Senator Obama, whispered to me by a long-term Dem committeeman. We were talking about historic Irish pols in Chicago, and I guess that implied that I might share racist views. That person now has little influence anywhere in the party. I passed those comments along, with my outrage, whenever I could.

Racism runs deep in our society, (probably in any society), but is now often falsely denied. It is slowly diminishing as generations and cultural expectations change.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:30 am
votecounter,

I didn’t see anyone coming to Rush’s support when he said that. He went through the same scrutiny that Allen is going through. Both men should be ashamed of their comments and called to the mat for it.

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:31 am
Good Politico article on the problem Republicans are facing.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/gop-clueless-caucus-93029.html?hp=l22

Comment by WizzardOfOzzie Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:34 am
If no response has yet been issued, anyone want to take bets that Ms. Harold may take the high road and simply remind people that the words or actions of one do not reflect the words or actions of the entire GOP?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:38 am
Time for Jack Dorgan to make Mr. Allen an offer he can’t refuse.

And we should all limit ourselves to two or fewer Busch Lights while watching Fox News.

Comment by Quizzical Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:42 am
Does this extra press/name recognition put her on someone’s short list for Lt. Gov?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:44 am
Anon 10:38, that was more or less what Harold had to say. Use the Google and it’s right there!

Joan 10:29, say hi to Mark for me, k?

One interesting effect of this horrid incident is that it pretty well flushed out the previously under the table support of the local GOP chair for Harold per local news stories.

More people than Tim’s Kiddie Korps must still be miffed about Champaign County not having its “own” Congresscritter.

AA also wonders what Allen’s boss, “Sh@tcagoan” A-A Dem Jesse White thought of that vile little piece.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:56 am
These comments make me glad once again that Erika ran.

The people of this district deserve to decide who their GOP nominee is rather than have it left up to the whims of party hacks if this is the kind of thought process that went into selecting Davis as the anointed one to begin with.

And I may not agree with Ms. Harold on policy but I thank her greatly for running despite all the petty b.s. women have to put up with in politics from clowns like this guy. Even if she doesn’t win her campaign accomplished something positive by exposing a bigoted party leader and marginalizing him and both the GOP and state of Illinois is better off for it.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 10:59 am
==Par for the course for republicans. I find his rant less offensive than the fact that republicans say things like this daily, yet they are still elected.==

The above comment plays right into the smear remark that Rich Miller made, i.e. “problems with minorities” and “far too many yahoos…in power”. It is an MSM meme that the entire GOP is racist and misogynist, and clearly commenter anon has been brainwashed by it. So either Rich is a willing collaborator in promoting the meme or is simply a lazy journalist defaulting to stock writing material.

Montgomery County is county with about 29,000 people. I would hardly call being the unpaid county GOP chairman as being a “power” position. To say this idiot’s rant is “typical” of Republican leadership thinking is a rank smear and is belied by Congressman Davis’s demand that the guy resign. I think you can find oodles of Democratic party hacks making 50K a year off the G who are just as racist and sexist. Indeed, we’ve all met them. The media just pays no attention to them.

I can’t tell you how many Republican functions I attend that have many women and minorities in attendance (I’m sure that’s true in Springfield too Rich) and that is ignored. Indeed, the smear that the Republican Party is racist and sexist is promoted because the Democrats fear losing those constituencies to political leaders who are not wholly owned subsidiaries of the public employee unions.

Comment by Conservative Republican Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:07 am
“asinine” is a milquetoast word? Really?

What do you want? For Davis to go to the Pentagon and ask that the guy be targetted by a drone strike? To be rendered to Guantanamo Bay?

Let’s see what you yahoo’s say about Karen Lewis’ weekly race-baiting and we’ll talk.

Comment by Merriam-Webster Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:13 am
If you’re fighting with Doug Ibendahl, you’ve already lost.

Comment by Whatever Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:19 am
Merriam Webster, according to Merriam Webster:

Asinine

1. extremely or utterly foolish
2. of, relating to, or resembling an ass

Given Allen’s racist and misogynistic comments, I’ll stick by calling Rep. Davis response:

Milquetoast

: a timid, meek, or unassertive person

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:22 am
=Anon 10:38, that was more or less what Harold had to say. Use the Google and it’s right there!=

Good for her then. She knew exactly the right thing to say without even having to use “the Google” or read CapFax. She must know about the high road.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:31 am
Ahoy
I put in the defence of Rush.
Word-
I support Erika not that I can vote there but i have known her since the O’Malley campaign. And I know Doug: this could very well be the 20th email between the two and Mr.Ibendal is not known for his moderation when attacking people. The chairman should have known better and has to resign.

Comment by votecounter Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:33 am
Allen’s outburst has given Harold’s campaign a real boost. Harold was already receiving national attention. This will give Harold an extended stay in the media spotlight.

A campaign cannot buy the positive media attention she is going to receive from this incident. It should also increase her donors, statewide and nationally.

Davis was already facing significant challenges and now this issue will carry with him throughout the campaign. It seems his challenges go beyond bad luck.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:42 am
= = And the Republican Party wonders why they have problems with women and minorities? = =

This is also what will make Illinois a one party state.

Comment by Ruby Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:44 am
@CR,

“Indeed, the smear that the Republican Party is racist and sexist…”

Your party went into overtime to earn this label the past few years. Own it.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:51 am
This is why I think the Republican’s won’t be able to capitalize fully on the Madigan conflict of interest attack. Someone - probably not the nominee - is going to say some really stupid stuff.

Comment by Century Club Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 11:59 am
@CR:

If you want to be told how the Republican Party is all unicorns and roses go read the Illinois Review. Sometimes the truth hurts. It’s time to deal with the truth and fix it not constantly complain about how people are attacking you (and rightly so).

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:04 pm
Dear Republicans,

Ibendahl calling out Allen’s remarks as (only) racist is why women don’t love you, either.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:18 pm
“The words in the commentary I wrote were completely wrong,” said Jim Allen

An excellent example of how not to apologize. He doesn’t say he was wrong, just the words. Seriously? Those darn words, you can’t control them.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:29 pm
===It is an MSM meme that the entire GOP is racist and misogynist, and clearly commenter anon has been brainwashed by it. So either Rich is a willing collaborator in promoting the meme or is simply a lazy journalist defaulting to stock writing material.===

LOL

I try hard not to fall for lazy memes.

This story is posted here because it’s NEWS, man. Sheesh.

But when an Illinois Democratic Party county chairman makes such comments about a Democratic candidate for office, please know that I will do my utmost to highlight it.

And, as you should know, Democrats are routinely exposed here after they’ve said goofy stuff. Rep. Monique Davis, Congressman Bobby Rush and Sen. Donne Trotter are just a few recent examples.

Your victim card don’t play well here, man. Man up, deal with the problem and stop whining about how people are all picking on you and stuff. Poor little thing.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:46 pm
@Conservative Republican:

==“problems with minorities” and “far too many yahoos…in power”== those are smears? Are you trying to argue that the Republican Party doesn’t have problems with minorities or yahoos in power? This is the party that has to keep reminding its elected officials not to say ignorant and offensive things about rape, whose delegation to the House Science Committee includes at least one person who think science is the devil’s work, and that had several birthers speak at its national convention last year. You have a yahoo problem.

Comment by TooManyJens Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 12:50 pm
Pfft…why stop with Conservatives? We have Moderates who are more than capable of saying some really dumb things, too.

Damn shame we can’t all be Democrats.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:07 pm
===Pfft===

So you read that moron’s e-mail and that’s your reaction? And you still wonder why so many people think your party has a serious problem?

You’re actually more disgusting that he is. At least he kinda apologized.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:19 pm
Spend some time in the comments section at Illinois Review and you’ll read stuff like this. While it is poorly phrased, it is essentially what many rank and file conservatives believe.

Let’s see: Nancy Pelosi is out to get them. Check. Affirmative action gives benefits to “others” that “we” pay for. Check. There is a conspiracy of RINOs and Democrats that is hellbent on destroying conservatism in Illinois. Check.

I’ve heard the same things said many times before, although often more tactfully. To me this sounds like a poor attempt at snark that used too much vitriol and not enough humor. But it expresses pretty much mainstream Illinois GOP political thinking.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:21 pm
What was the latest thing Rhince Pheobus and the RNC came up with at their winter meeting? Paying people to go out and do minority outreach?

I guess Allen didn’t get the memo or wasn’t at the conference.

Further evidence of the shrinking, angry base of the Republicon Party. At least Brady recognized this and tried to change it - for which he was tossed.

P.S. Did you all notice Chicago is one of the top 5 tourist destinations in the United States? So, the constant Chicagohate might not be such a great idea.

Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 1:43 pm
–It is an MSM meme that the entire GOP is racist and misogynist, and clearly commenter anon has been brainwashed by it. –

No, it is a strawman you just put out there.

But the GOP has big problems with women, young voters, blacks, Hispanics, Asians and gay Americans, and loudmouths like Allen are a big reason why.

That is not an MSM meme. That is the report of the Republican National Committee.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/18/the-full-rnc-growth-and-opportunity-project-report/

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:03 pm
Yes, the Republican Party does have a problem with women and other groups but blanket statements saying Republicans in general should be grouped with statements like this is ludicrous. Rich is right, this is a news story, just like when a Democrat does something stupid 9How about bringing a gun on a plane?). We are equal opportunity skewerers here on CapFax.

But understand this, anyone who makes blanket statements about a group based on an individual incident is an idiot.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:18 pm
=But understand this, anyone who makes blanket statements about a group based on an individual incident is an idiot.=

Odds on whether this was intentional? Anybody?

Comment by Colossus Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:24 pm
This will be old news by Friday, tomorrow. Time to move on.

Comment by Downstater Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:26 pm
===This will be old news by Friday, tomorrow. Time to move on.===

Stater,

Wishful thinking on your part.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 2:47 pm
To quote Eric Stratton when he slugged Greg Marmalard: “Gosh, You’re Dumb.”

Seriously, Allen, you libel a person and email the defamatory message to an activist who supports that same person.

Not only are Allen’s remarks offense, but his behavior is beyond stupid.

Comment by Esquire Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:11 pm
The mind boggles–not just the sentiments he expressed, which are disgusting enough–but he put all that in an email to someone supporting the person he is attacking?

That kind of stupid is hard to find, even in IL. Wow. How did he ever become a county chair, they would have been better off with a vacancy.

Comment by Harry Thursday, Jun 20, 13 @ 3:33 pm