California Republican refuses to resign from post after sending picture depicting Obama as ape

Orange County Republican party member Marilyn Davenport is refusing to resign from the party after having sent out a racist email depicting President Obama's head on the body of an ape, according to the Orange County Weekly.

Davenport, a Tea Party member and elected official of the County Republican party, sent an email to fellow party members in which Mr. Obama's head is pasted on the body of a baby ape. The image also depicts two adult apes wearing human clothing - presumably referencing Mr. Obama's parents. "Now you know why no birth certificate," reads the accompanying text.

Davenport later apologized to recipients of the email in the event that she had offended anyone with the image, and denied the implication that the depiction was racist.

"I simply found it amusing regarding the character of Obama and all the questions surrounding his origin of birth," she wrote in an email. "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," she added. "I received plenty of emails about [former president] George Bush that I didn't particularly like yet there was no 'cry' in the media about them."

When contacted by a reporter about the incident, Davenport brushed off the incident.

"Oh, come on!" she told the Weekly. "Everybody who knows me knows that I am not a racist. It was a joke. I have friends who are black. Besides, I only sent it to a few people-mostly people I didn't think would be upset by it."

Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh has reportedly entreated Davenport to resign from her position, as he has determined that the group's bylaws prevent its members from voting her out. He told the Associated Press he hopes to have an ethics committee investigate the incident.

But Davenport said she had no plans to resign.

"I will NOT resign my central committee position over this matter that the average person knows and agrees is much to do about nothing," she wrote in her follow-up email.

Baugh told the Weekly he thought Davenport's email was "despicable" and "dripping with racism."

"When I saw that email today I thought it was despicable," Baugh said in an interview over the weekend. "It is dripping with racism and it does not promote the type of message Orange County Republicans want to deliver to the public. I think she should consider stepping down as an elected official."

Michael Schroeder, former chairman of the California Republican Party, said in an interview that based on this incident, Davenport should either resign from her post or be removed from it.

"This is a three strikes situation for Marilyn Davenport," he said. "She has disgraced herself and needs to resign. If she doesn't, the Republican Party must remove her."

This is not the first time the Orange County Republican party has made news for having issued controversial, race-driven statements about the president: in 2009, the Republican mayor of Orange County's Los Alamitos sent around an illustration of a watermelon patch at the White House. The county is also home to Orly Taitz, one of the nation's most vocal members of the "birther" movement.

[MDavenportPhoto]

S-T-O-P!!!

Hey YOU, And all the Marilyn Davenport Bashers out there, Please remember there is more than one Marilyn Davenport on the Planet. I wish everyone would please REFERENCE which Marilyn Davenport they are talking about. Including the Huffington Post which was showing my commercial photography as some how connected with the GOP woman in ORANGE COUNTY. Details DO matter.

I am a registered Independent in another part of the country and the verbal abuse (direct and indirect) I've incorrectly received, may sway my vote! LOL!

Perhaps I should start up some lawsuits for defamation of character, liable, slander, personal injury, damage to my business??? Just put yourself in my shoes (and all the other Marilyn Davenports out there) add GOP, ORANGE COUNTY PLEASE - Thank you.

[rationall7]

Here's a famous Bushism!!!

1) "There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." -Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002 (Watch video clip; listen to audio clip)

Bush isn't a chimp he's a Chump (you can't get fooled him again)

[mary-miami]

The Republican party represents the wealthy and is composed of greedy, cruel people. They bred the Teaparty which is full of nazi sympathizers. They are racist, bigoted and think they are a superior class of being. The rightwing has been acting like spoiled brats ever since they lost the presidential election. They have never tried to work together with the Obama administration as "team USA". All the "new stuff" the GOP propose to do, is not new at all; they simply want to go back to old Bush laws, which is what crashed our economy to begin with. The goal of the Repubicans and Teaparty is to create a two class system in society of just rich and poor. They want to eliminate the middle class because the middle is the ladder up out of poverty. Unless you are a millionaire now, you will fall into poverty under their command. The only party that has ever defended equal rights and opportunity is the Democrats. I will vote to Re-Elect President Obama in 2012.

[rationall7]

Working class republicans voted republican in 2000 out of fear of taking their guns away while their jobs got shipped out. In 2004 I have now idea why they voted for Bush again, but the working class republicans got screwed without any ky jelly along with the rest of the working class, correct me if I'm wrong.

[AlFranken]

I guess what is really embarrassing about all this is that I'm a white guy that knows that G.W.'s level of intellect is closer to an ape than Obama's and yet the tea party's stupid little cronies find some humor in pasting Obama's head on a ape. tis --hee <whatever>

[DrAlanPhillips]

As I stated earlier in the April 19 Huffington Post, this type of conduct is ludicrous. These racist remarks should be condemned by every presidential candidate in the 2012 campaign. As s Republican candidate I insist that Davenport show the nation she is truly sincere in apologizing. The way she can accomplish this is by immediately resigning from the OCGOP until she has experienced the isolation she deserves from the political ethos. A letter of apology from her to the President and his family is in order as well. I call on all candidates to condemn this vitriol and racism immediately. Lincoln endured this type of behavoir but each of us should have a role in ending it.

AGP

[TruthAddict]

This is so typical of Orange County. I lived there for many years so I know. My brother (we are native American) received death threats from a white supremacist simply for being dark skinned. He had to go into hiding to keep his children safe.

Orange County is where the headquarters of the regional Neo-Nazi and KKK groups are. These people are a bunch of superficial, fake tittied, fascists who love to hate people who are not white.

Racists like Davenport are exactly what the tea party wanted in there. They are pissed that a black man is in the White House, and this is their answer. Racism, pure unadulterated racism.

You racist scumbags.

[AlFranken]

That's bull! Even Camarillo in Ventura country held that belief that it was a safe haven for the KKK.

What it is, is that Orange county is mostly white upper middle class and anytime you get that many white people with that level of income, they are going to be labeled racist just as how the blacks will treat a white person that is driving around lost at night near Nickerson Gardens in Compton.

No difference --- the racists will polarize the situation in either location.

In this case, we have a relatively low tolerance of "anything other than white protestant christian" tea party members that have to class or sensitivity --- that goes across all lines of every culture as well.

[careergrl11]

What is wrong with people? Where has respect for each other, especially, our President disappeared to? Shame on those involved. They are suppose to be our leaders and lead by example. What kind of example is that? Resign and use your time off to educate yourself on why this was wrong for you and your party to tolerate. America deserves better. God bless America.

[AttyFAM]

This is the Republican Party, the GOP, not its offspring Tea Party. The GOP parent is just as racist as the sibling. Children learn from their parents. Understand clearly. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was tolerated by the GOP because she was their president's woman. Where is she now? Do you see her pushed forward as a candidate for president? Absolutely not. The GOP is racist through and through. It would not elect that honorable statesperson to any post.

GOP racism is deep and abiding.

[RedDeath50]

Same to be said about Colin Powell, one of the very few righties possessing a brain.

[atomant59]

The photos of gw bush and his facial expressions next to a chimpanzee's facial expressions was meant as an indication of bush's lack of intelligence not that he was a of a lesser species. I do understand that photo cause quite an uproar in the primate community and hurt a lot of monkey's feelings.

George didn't get it....

[Bisk1]

George still don't ......

[majestic7usa]

OBAMA as APE????? Or Chimp??? Why insult monkies in such a manner?? You people are making monkies of yourselves going ape over this!
There is a difference between DISSENT and Demeaning someone!
But,this will NOT be ENOUGH.. Apology will Not be accepted. Resignation is Not enough either. What YOU WANT is B L O O D!!!
She must be drawn and Quartered... Everyone knows ANYONE can say or do whatever they like to Or about a White person, even IF he is president. BUT do N O T dare say A N Y dang thing or \ make a joke Or otherwise insult a black person in any way. O R You bring every black and the NAACP down on you like white on rice! Its a racist double standard. It smacks of ENTITLEMENT!!
You are playing the RACE card again. Jesse and Al would be PROUD!!
The people who are pretending to be outraged here are wearing there bleeding hearts out on their sleeves. And their "RACE" cards are proudly pinned to their Chest and Gleaming brightly. This was never news worthy! What does a monkey (Chimp) have to do with race?? And why would Obama be any more exempt here than G. W. Bush Or Bill Clinton? The ones screaming racists are the Real racists!! Its rediculous.