Top Tampa GOP Figure (and McCain finance co-chair in Florida) Circulates Joke About K*lling Obama

[deminks]

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/top-tampa-gop-figure-circulates-joke-about-killing-obama/

Al Austin, a longtime, high-level Republican fundraiser from Tampa, today sent to his list of political contacts an e-mail containing a joke that refers to the assassination of Barack Obama.

When asked about the e-mail, Austin said it was a mistake and apologized and that he wouldn’t knowingly have circulated it. He said he planned to send an apology and retraction to the same e-mail list.

(snip)

Austin acknowledged sending the e-mail to his list of political contacts but said he forwarded it without fully reading it and didn’t know what it said. That list included at least two reporters.

According to the forwarding history on the e-mail, it had gone through at least two other individuals before being sent to Austin on Tuesday.

Austin, a prominent real estate developer long known as one of the state’s leading Republican campaign fundraisers, has served in recent years as finance chairman for both the national and state Republican parties.

(end snip)

via AmericaBlog

http://www.americablog.com/2008/10/mccain-finance-cochair-in-florida.html

UPDATE: He's raised over $500,000 for McCain.

Al Austin, he's a McCain finance cochair in Florida. Sending around jokes about murdering Obama and his wife Michelle. When does McCain put a stop to the murder comments, now that they're even coming from his own campaign?

(end snip)

KO was right, McShame should end his campaign now.

[Dangerously Amused]

1. That has "Hate Crime" written all over it.

Let's see if any Tampa-area prosecutors have balls.

[Me.]

2. Has The Secret Service Been Notified?

A world of hurt is a lesson these numbskulls could use.

[malaise]

11. Ditto n/t

[madrchsod]

16. they were notified when the combination of words came up on the screen

[last1standing]

3. This isn't some uncontrollable nut in the crowd.

This is an uncontrollable nut in the mcRacist campaign. mcRacist can't just fob this one off, he's going to have to make changes in the rhetoric or the M$M will slap his wrist. :eyes:

[onethatcares]

4. "he wouldn't have knowingly circulated it" IF

he thought there was a snowballs chance in hell of him getting busted for it.

Welcome to the reality of Florida.

[Alameda]

5. That is outrageous....and I can't imagine how anyone could

think it at all funny....sick....sick....sick....and yes they should be called up on this!

[islandmkl]

6. hit Al's hard-drive...let's see what kind of crap he's been spreading...

why can't a repuke figure out how to operate simple email?

how do these f***ers get over on us?

oh...and al, it's A-S-S-H-A-T, not austin...

[glinda]

7. DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE

It does not matter that it is retracted. What does matter is that he did it. Things like this should now be considered hate crimes and charges should be pursued. If this is not done than it will continue even after election. The mistake that is being made is that people now think that this is acceptable behavior and any other time in the last years, it would have been considered an actual threat. It should be viewed as an actual threat. That is what it is.

[Bubbha Jo]

9. I agree. This is showing approval from "authority figures".

[fascisthunter]

8. Wonder If He Thinks It's Funny When People Joke That Way about Him?

I wonder if right wingers and these Republicans understand what they are trying to start? Inciting violence has been tried by political leaders all throughtout history around the World.... it never really ends well. I believe with there being plenty of sources for historical reference on this subject matter, he must know violence does rsult from what he does. If not he is a dangerous fool that should be held accountable and taught a fucking lesson on history.

[tbyg52]

10. Of course not. I keep trying to tell you that there's one set of rules for them

and another set for us. :sarcasm:

[fascisthunter]

12. Sorry....

I don't know what has come over me.... ;-)

[tbyg52]

13. Hoping for a rational world, perhaps.......? ;->

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. !

[ColbertWatcher]

15. Guys, guys, guys ...

... whenever a GOPher pulls crap like this, we have to document it and make fun of them!

http://www.wikiality.com/Al_Austin

Go edit that link to your heart's content, just make sure that you register so your IP address doesn't become everyone's business.

Enjoy.

[marmar]

17. I hate to say I hate anyone, but I hate these putrid GOP assholes.....

:argh:

[liberal1973]

18. Typical republican traitor

The S.O.B. should be tossed out of America.

[deminks]

19. Kick one time for the morning.

In case you haven't seen because of the debate.

[Lavender Brown]

20. I don't know about you guys,

but my e-mail has a mind of its own. I mean, it's always sending out hate e-mails without my permission! Crazy computers. :crazy:

[4lbs]

21. Who the hell forwards an e-mail without reading it's contents first?

That's a lame freaking excuse from Al Austin.