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July 2, 2009 - Charlotte, North Carolina
North Carolina political and social activist Lenny McAllister is standing with other Young Republican leaders in denouncing the recent racial intolerant behavior by a major candidate for leadership of the Young Republican National Federation.
Louisianan Audra Shay, a candidate for chairman at this month’s national convention in Indianapolis, IN, was previously endorsed by her home state governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA.)
Ms. Shay’s recent public support of comments alluding to a need to “…to take this country back from all these mad coons...” and "...and if your ass is black don't let the sun set on it in a southern town (sic)" have touched off a firestorm among young Republican activists looking to move away from this trend.
Others speaking out in defiance of this include former RNC Communications and current DC Young Republicans Chairman Sean Conner.
McAllister’s remarks are released in the following statement:
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“I am appalled that Audra Shay, a candidate seeking the highest office available for grassroots Young Republicans nationally, could support and encourage antiquated, racist language and behavior that has aided in ripping apart the Republican Party and America for decades.
“The next leader of the Young Republican National Federation must be media-savvy, culturally-sensitive, and constitutionally intact. To be so glib with offering support of a sentiment displayed in a public forum (such as Facebook) that vilely uses hateful and racist language either shows inexcusable lack of insight to the impact of the sentiment or a shared valued system with the implied message therein. Either way, if the Republican Party is going to be built from its youth, its youth cannot be poisoned in any way by the toxicity of America’s troubled racist past. This is particularly so for the YRNF’s next chairman.
“Sadly, it seems as though one of the two major candidates for the highest post within the YRNF has failed this test miserably and publicly, especially as one belonging to a generation that understands the power and speed of new media.
“What is more tragic is that by failing to comprehend our new reality as Americans and as Young Republicans, the connectivity that we all share risks being corrupted as well. For example, Governor Bobby Jindal provided an endorsement for Ms. Shay, but I now question whether this endorsement would have been granted to her knowing that the candidate encourages “… (taking) this country back from all these mad coons…”
“Somehow, I doubt it. Further, I doubt that this sentiment could help to bridge the gaps between the Republican Party and young voters, urban voters, and minority voters.
“Leadership is an ongoing exercise that prepares for opportunities to exhibit its value during key situations. Audra Shay had an opportunity to show what Republicans truly stand for when facing a disgusting and hurtful sentiment. Instead, she merely continued the poor trend of what a minority of Republicans embarrassingly enact. This is not the mark of leadership.
“Rest assured, the Republican Party and its principles of equality, justice, freedom, and strength in unity will triumph. This will occur even as the Party continues to go through a purge due to exposures of hypocrisy of some elected officials and race-based verbal snafus by some party activists.
“Although I have not actively campaigned for a candidate in this race, it is clear that I do not advocate, support, or condone the failure of leadership recently exhibited. It is my ardent belief that the Party of Lincoln will return to its proud history of being avant garde regarding freedom, equality, and prosperity. I personally will not rest until the battle of conscience for what’s just within the Republican Party and throughout America has been won by the side of equality sans bigotry. I believe that there are plenty of Republicans and Americans throughout our nation that share this sentiment with me, one that strongly contrasts the one supported by Ms. Shay, especially as we approach our national birthday.
TCNGB (Take Care N God Bless)
Lenny”
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UPDATE
July 6, 2009 - Charlotte, North Carolina
North Carolina political and social activist Lenny McAllister continues to lead along with other Young Republican activists leaders in denouncing apparent cultural insensitivity by one of the main candidates for the head of the Young Republican National Federation.
McAllister had spoken to supporters of Louisianan Audra Shay, a candidate for chairman at this month’s Young Republicans National Convention in Indianapolis, IN, this weekend. He states that he received an written apology from Shay via e-mail. However, new allegations of continued insensitivities have rehashed the issue with McAlliste and others.
Shay was previously endorsed by several prominent Republican politicians in her home state, including Governor Jindal (R-LA) and Congressman Joseph Cao (R-LA 2nd).
Ms. Shay’s recent behavior address comments from her support stating a need to “…to take this country back from all these mad coons...” and "...and if your ass is black don't let the sun set on it in a southern town (sic)" have now been followed with comments stemming from October 2008 about then-Senator Barack Obama and a noose.
“People wonder why I am a Republican. I believe in the best of the party, not the worst of it. People such as Sean Conner, Kyle Suggs, Tony Leatherman, and Princella Smith understand that as Black Republicans, we have an obligation to ensure that the coming generations of the GOP reflect the best of the history of Lincoln’s America and his legacy within the GOP, not the worst of his times.”
Others speaking out also include former RNC Communications and current DC Young Republicans Chairman Sean Conner.
McAllister’s remarks are released in the following statement:
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“I was willing to move away from this unfortunate issue with Audra Shay, a candidate seeking the highest office available for grassroots Young Republicans nationally, upon receiving a personal apology from her late last week. However, what seemed like a terrible outsight unbecoming a leader within a national organization now appears to be a pattern.
“As a Christian, I forgive Ms. Shay and hope that others will fairly criticize her with kindness. At the same time, I know that I will critique her insensitivities with candor. For the sake of the future of the Republican Party and, indirectly, America, I ask other to do the same.
“If this newest round of new media coming out concerning Ms. Shay’s poor judgment concerning a horrific American past that included lynchings of African-American men is true, I find myself deeply troubled that the YRNF could be led by a person that has repeatedly been tied to culturally-insensitive remarks. At a time when the Republican Party needs to hold onto its conservative principles but also better reflect the melting pot of America, Ms. Shay’s comments serve to work against that end goal, thus disqualifying her as the best possible candidate to lead the YRNF starting in 2009.”
“As I mentioned previously, leadership is an ongoing exercise that prepares for opportunities to exhibit its value during key situations. Audra Shay again had an opportunity to show what Republicans truly stand for when facing a disgusting and hurtful sentiment. Instead, she merely continued the poor trend of what a minority of Republicans embarrassingly enact. Speaking lightly about nooses and overlooking racial slurs from friends in public forums: these are not the signs of leadership, especially in a world that is smaller because of new definitions of race, new media, and other forms of technology.”
“I will pray that Ms. Shay learns through this experience and that we all may become better people as a result. However, I cannot hide my disgust at this time after seeing another round of poor judgment by a current YRNF leader and chairman candidate concerning race. As a Black husband and father that receives physical threats as a public figure, the image of a noose hits home to me. If Audra Shay hasn’t been able to relate to this sentiment as a potential chairman over time, in my opinion, she is not suitable to be chairman at this time.
“TCNGB (Take Care N God Bless)
Lenny”
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From the album:
"House of Horrors - Halloween 2008"
Added yesterday
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Audra Shay (New Orleans, LA) wrote
at 9:43pm yesterday
What no "Obama" in a noose? Come on now its just freedome of spech, no one in Atlanta would take that wrong! Lol
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(Atlanta, GA) wrote
at 9:52pm yesterday
The neighbors across the street with the Obama signs might burn down my house if that happened. I know I would do the same to them if they had McCain or Palin. I'm thinking of a quick road trip to West Hollywood. Care to join me? ;)
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Audra Shay (New Orleans, LA) wrote
at 9:10am
Apparently I could not spell last night. I am wondering if the guys with the Palin noose would care if we had a bunch of homosexuals in a noose?
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<Facebook in July 2009 from October2008 pic.jpg>
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