Racist Republican (CA.) Official Sends E-Mail Depicting Obama as an Ape

From [HERE] and [HERE] A Southern California Republican Party official was under fire Saturday after allegations she sent an email that included an altered photo depicting President Barack Obama as an ape.

An e-mail reportedly sent by party central committee member Marilyn Davenport shows an image, posed like a family portrait, of chimpanzee parents and child, with Obama's face artificially superimposed on the child. Text beneath the photo reads, "Now you know why no birth certificate." It was sent to fellow conservatives, one of whom then leaked it to the press.

Davenport, when reached by The Associated Press, said she would provide a written statement with her response, but several hours later she had not issued one.

The alternative newspaper OC Weekly first reported the story, and was told by Davenport that the e-mail was "just an Internet joke." She also asked the Weekly, "You're not going to make a big deal about this are you?"

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.'

She was a passionate defender of former Newport Beach city councilman Dick Nichols who stated that he was voting against putting in more grass at Corona del Mar's beach because, he said, there were already "too many Mexicans on the beach."

'She was also on the wrong side of the fence with the Los Alamitos mayor and his White House watermelon patch picture. 

'I think she should consider stepping down as an elected official,' he added.

Michael J Schroeder, an Orange County resident and former chairman of the California Republican Party, was also not amused.

'This is a three strikes situation for Marilyn Davenport,' Mr Schroeder told the paper.

'Now, she has managed to top both of those incidents by comparing African Americans to monkeys. 

'She has disgraced herself and needs to resign. If she doesn't, the Republican Party must remove her,' he added.

The Watermelon-gate email, which depicted a watermelon field in front of the White House, was sent by Los Alamitos Mayor Dean Grose, another Orange County Republican, in February 2009 - just in time for President's Obama's inauguration.

He later apologised.