David Storck, chairman of the Hillsborough County (Florida) Republican Party forwarded a really shocking email with the instruction "If you think it can help us win this election please pass it on. This election is now in our hands everyone can make a difference."
Here’s a few excerpts from the Tampa Tribune (sorry for trhe caps, that's how it was printed in the article):
THE THREAT:
HERE IN TEMPLE TERRACE, FL OUR REPUBLICAN HQ IS ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM OUR LIBRARY, WHICH IS AN EARLY VOTING SITE.
I SEE CARLOADS OF BLACK OBAMA SUPPORTERS COMING FROM THE INNER CITY TO CAST THEIR VOTES FOR OBAMA. THIS IS THEIR CHANCE TO GET A BLACK PRESIDENT AND THEY SEEM TO CARE LITTLE THAT HE IS AT MINIMUM, SOCIALIST, AND PROBABLY MARXIST IN HIS CORE BELIEFS. AFTER ALL, HE IS BLACK--NO EXPERIENCE OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS--BUT HE IS BLACK.
And
YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS THE POTENTIAL OBAMA PRESIDENCY PRESENTS TO OUR WAY OF LIFE. THE SUPPRESSION OF FREE SPEECH, INTRODUCING UNION INTIMIDATION IN THE WORKPLACE, INCREASED DANGERS TO OUR NATION BY TERRORISTS, CUTTING OUR DEFENSE BUDGET BY 25%, TURNING OUR TAX SYSTEM INTO A NATIONAL WELFARE SYSTEM AND ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT COULD DRIVE US INTO A DEPRESSION.
Of course, Storck didn't mean it. He was just trying to get out the vote!
Part of the statement from David Storck, chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party
Yesterday, I forwarded such a message, a message which strongly encouraged people to get out to vote. I sent it out after quickly skimming through it and focused only on the part which encouraged people to get out to vote.
I can certainly understand how the e-mail could be misunderstood. I should never have forwarded that message and sincerely apologize for sending it and to anyone that my action has offended.
I believe in a strong and diverse Republican Party and that everyone should exercise their right to vote and support the candidate, which reflects their values.
Didn’t another republican who forwarded an ugly email defend it by saying they didn’t really read it?
The response from the Chairman of the Florida Republican Party:
Florida Republican Party Chairman said in an interview a few minutes ago that he believes county GOP Chairman David Storck had no "racist or malicious intent" in passing on a controversial email about Barack Obama—but left open the possibility that Storck should resign.
Asked whether Storck should resign, as one prominent local black Republican has suggested, Greer said, "That’s a decision that is left up to him and local party leaders."
Greer said he has talked to Storck about the email and accepts Storck’s statement of apology. "I don’t think he forwarded that email with any racist or malicious intent," Greer said.
But then he added some tough language that seemed to suggest he wasn’t siding completely with Storck on the issue:
"It is my position that there is zero tolerance for any actions that would in any way be considered racist or do anything to hinder the minority outreach efforts the GOP and myself have worked on for the last two years," Greer said. He said he "doesn’t want it believed that any action would ever be condoned by myself that promotes perceptions" of racism within the party.
They're running scared - citizens have been inspired and mobilized and the Republicans can't intimidate with fear and smears anymore.