John Avlon reports on the contentious vote to elect a new chairperson of the Young Republicans. After eight hours of maneuvering, 38-year old Audra Shay prevailed, despite a record of making and tolerating racist comments. Avlon notes the nasty tactics (including gay-bashing and innuendo) used by Shay’s faction and the disillusionment of the losing side with the outcome of the vote. But he doesn’t report on why the majority of Young Republicans voted for someone who isn’t young, doesn’t like black people, and accused her opponent of being secretly gay.
The only hint is that the vote wasn’t secret (it was ironically, card check-style). But why one might feel pressured to vote for a 38-year old racist gay-basher is not discussed. A more probable explanation is that the majority of Young Republicans are actually in favor of calling the president a coon, joking about lynching, and suggesting that anyone who favors civil unions is obviously gay (and that there is something wrong with that).
There is talk of some kind of schism. The People’s Front of Judea or the Judean’s People’s Front?
