Email sent by Orange County Republican Party official Marilyn Davenport (April 17, 2011) |
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) -- An Orange County Republican official who sent out an email containing a doctored photo depicting President Barack Obama as a chimpanzee has issued another apology, this time during a news conference.
Marilyn Davenport, a tea party activist and elected member of the central committee of the Republican Party of Orange County (RPOC), claims the photo was a joke.
The caption accompanying the photo read "Now you know why no birth certificate."
At a press conference broadcast live on KTLA News, Marilyn Davenport said it was "unwise" to send the email and didn't realize how much it would offend people.
But she said she will not step down from her party position, as some officials have requested.
"Out of respect for my constituents, I will remain in office," she said.
At the press conference, Davenport also said she "offended the black people" and that "I humbly receive your rebuke.''
County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh has called for Davenport to resign.
Someone on the 73-member committee leaked the email to the OC Weekly.
Davenport issued the following statement to the OC Weekly over the weekend:
"I simply found it amusing regarding the character of Obama and all the questions surrounding his origin of birth," Davenport wrote. "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 [Scott Baugh, Orange County GOP boss, and this writer] tried to make this about race... I received plenty of emails about George Bush that I didn't particularly like yet there was no 'cry' in the media about them."
Davenport continued: "That being said, I will NOT resign my central committee position over this matter that the average person knows and agrees is much to do about nothing."
The California Republican Party issued a statement Sunday condemning Davenport's email, calling her actions unacceptable and intolerant.
"The California Republican Party believes the actions in question are completely unacceptable," Chairman Tom Del Beccaro said in a statement Sunday.
"We are supportive of our local Chairman's efforts so far and want to make it clear that we do not condone intolerance in any way. Our party has made a commitment to nurture its historical standard of opportunity for all, and we will not let the insensitivity of one person deter us in moving forward on that path."
Late Monday, Davenport issued another statement with a decidedly different tone.
To my fellow Americans and to everyone else who has seen the email I forwarded and was offended by my action, I humbly apologize and ask for your forgiveness of my unwise behavior. I say unwise because at the time I received and forwarded the email, I didn't stop to think about the historic implications and other examples of how this could be offensive.
I am an imperfect Christian lady who tries her best to live a Christ-like honoring life. I would never do anything to intentionally harm or berate others regardless of ethnicity. Everyone who knows me knows that to be true.
The Bible tells us in the Book of James, "For in many things we offend all, if any man (or woman) offend not in word, the same is a perfect man (or woman) and is able to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). Unintentionally I have offended many. Knowing what I know now I would not have forwarded the email.
The Bible tells us in the Book of Luke, "If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Luke 17:3). While I know many of you reading this may not be Christians, I want you to know I humbly receive your rebuke. I will not repeat this error. So I ask for your forgiveness, for I am truly sorry.
Marilyn Davenport
She still maintains she sees no reason to resign her position.
Davenport is not the first elected official from Southern California to ignite controversy with a doctored image in an email.
Shortly after Obama's inauguration, Dean Grose, the mayor of Los Alamitos, Calif., sent an email with the headline "No Easter Egg Hunt This Year" with an image of watermelons spread across the White House lawn.
Grose eventually resigned.
Marilyn Davenport, a tea party activist and elected member of the central committee of the Republican Party of Orange County (RPOC), claims the photo was a joke.
The caption accompanying the photo read "Now you know why no birth certificate."
At a press conference broadcast live on KTLA News, Marilyn Davenport said it was "unwise" to send the email and didn't realize how much it would offend people.
But she said she will not step down from her party position, as some officials have requested.
"Out of respect for my constituents, I will remain in office," she said.
At the press conference, Davenport also said she "offended the black people" and that "I humbly receive your rebuke.''
County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh has called for Davenport to resign.
Someone on the 73-member committee leaked the email to the OC Weekly.
Davenport issued the following statement to the OC Weekly over the weekend:
"I simply found it amusing regarding the character of Obama and all the questions surrounding his origin of birth," Davenport wrote. "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 [Scott Baugh, Orange County GOP boss, and this writer] tried to make this about race... I received plenty of emails about George Bush that I didn't particularly like yet there was no 'cry' in the media about them."
Davenport continued: "That being said, I will NOT resign my central committee position over this matter that the average person knows and agrees is much to do about nothing."
The California Republican Party issued a statement Sunday condemning Davenport's email, calling her actions unacceptable and intolerant.
"The California Republican Party believes the actions in question are completely unacceptable," Chairman Tom Del Beccaro said in a statement Sunday.
"We are supportive of our local Chairman's efforts so far and want to make it clear that we do not condone intolerance in any way. Our party has made a commitment to nurture its historical standard of opportunity for all, and we will not let the insensitivity of one person deter us in moving forward on that path."
Late Monday, Davenport issued another statement with a decidedly different tone.
To my fellow Americans and to everyone else who has seen the email I forwarded and was offended by my action, I humbly apologize and ask for your forgiveness of my unwise behavior. I say unwise because at the time I received and forwarded the email, I didn't stop to think about the historic implications and other examples of how this could be offensive.
I am an imperfect Christian lady who tries her best to live a Christ-like honoring life. I would never do anything to intentionally harm or berate others regardless of ethnicity. Everyone who knows me knows that to be true.
The Bible tells us in the Book of James, "For in many things we offend all, if any man (or woman) offend not in word, the same is a perfect man (or woman) and is able to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). Unintentionally I have offended many. Knowing what I know now I would not have forwarded the email.
The Bible tells us in the Book of Luke, "If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Luke 17:3). While I know many of you reading this may not be Christians, I want you to know I humbly receive your rebuke. I will not repeat this error. So I ask for your forgiveness, for I am truly sorry.
Marilyn Davenport
She still maintains she sees no reason to resign her position.
Davenport is not the first elected official from Southern California to ignite controversy with a doctored image in an email.
Shortly after Obama's inauguration, Dean Grose, the mayor of Los Alamitos, Calif., sent an email with the headline "No Easter Egg Hunt This Year" with an image of watermelons spread across the White House lawn.
Grose eventually resigned.
