The New Mexico Republican Party continues to compulsively disgrace itself. A month ago the chair of the Bernalillo County Republican Party, Fernando C de Baca, was forced to resign after telling the BBC that "Hispanics consider themselves above blacks. They won't vote for a black president." Not to be outdone, yesterday Otero County Republican Women Chair Marcia Stirman published a letter in the Alamogordo Daily News declaring that "Muslims are our enemies" and that Democrat Barack Obama is a "Muslim socialist".
"I agree with a two-party system, but Obama isn't a messiah or a Democrat. He's a Muslim socialist," Stirman wrote.
But that's not the worst of it. The chair of the New Mexico Republican Party takes the next step.
In an interview today with the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico Republican Party Chair Allen Weh responded to an avalanche of criticism by characterizing Sitrman's remarks as "uneducated".
"What she should have said is, 'I believe radical Islamic fascists are our enemies.' We're fighting them in multiple theaters in the war against terror today. (Obama is) campaigning with a tax policy that smacks of socialism," Weh said. "He's going to get labeled as a socialist. That's a logical conclusion."
Not exactly a resounding repudiation.
By the way, despite the link, you won't be able to read the entire Journal interview unless you're a paid subscriber. I haven't found it re-published anywhere else yet. The Journal quotes a local rabbi saying what the Republican chair didn't say, in the clearest possible terms:
Rabbi Joseph Black with Congregation Albert in Albuquerque said Stirman's comments went beyond ignorance. "I'm sickened," Black said. "History has taught us the dangers of mindless hatred based on religious affiliation. Absolutely — they're dangerous."
In a follow-up article in today's Alamogordo Daily News:
''Because these hate-filled remarks were made by a prominent Republican, it is incumbent on state and national GOP officials to repudiate her divisive and intolerant views,'' said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Was Sitrman moved by any of the criticism?
Asked for a response to Awad's concerns, she said of Muslims: ''I don't trust them at all. They've sworn across the world that they are our enemies. Why we're trying to elect one is beside me.''
And here's what she told the Albuquerque Journal:
"It's pretty strong, but it's exactly how I feel," Stirman said in the interview. "And it's exactly how a lot of people I know feel. They just wish they had been able to say it. People need to stand up and not take it anymore when they believe something else than what the media has portrayed. ... I've have had a lot of people say, 'Way to go.' " Asked if she believes Obama is the enemy, Stirman added, "I think so."
Clearly, Ms. Stirman is indeed ignorant, uneducated and uninformed. She is not a high-ranking official. But the chair of the state Republican Party -- who is a high-ranking party official -- could only bring himself to say, Well, what do you expect when Obama's tax policy "smacks of socialism".
So, the official Republican line is for this week appears to be that the progressive income tax, which as much as anything created the middle class in the United States, is really socialist. Of course, Joe-Six-Pack (or Plumber...) makes no distinction whatever between socialist and communist. You know, we're talking un-American. The Enemy. Clearly, this line of reasoning has worked perfectly with the likes of Ms. Stirman.
As a New Mexican, I call upon Allen Weh to resign. Weh's pitiful remarks go beyond desperation; they bespeak a complete abdication of responsible leadership. A state party chair who responds to someone who holds any kind of party position in his state and is spouting such complete, hateful garbage, with hardly a slap on the wrist, speaks volumes about how far and how low the Republican Party has sunk in New Mexico, and nationally.
: : : : : :
UPDATE 1: Thanks to the commentor about the story being carried on local ABC affiliate KOAT, I found a forum on the KOAT site where there are numberous comments from New Mexicans about Ms. Stirman's letter. Some go on at very great length defending her; I haven't done an accurate count, but a large percentage are vehemently supportive of her comments, going so far as to equate criticism with suppression of free speech. Very depressing.
: : : : : :
UPDATE 2: As reported on KOAT, Otero County GOP Chairwoman Sassy Tinling said Wednesday further action was being pursued. "The Republican Party of Otero County board will convene to ask for Marcia Stirman's resignation as chair of the Republican Women of Otero County," said Tinling. "Marcia Stirman's views and opinions in this matter are her own independent thoughts and opinions and do not reflect the thoughts and opions of the Republican Party of Otero County or the Republican Women of Otero County."
Once again, the New Mexico Republican party belatedly responds when embarrassed nationally.