David Bartholomew and the disappointing email
By JR Hoeft | Monday, October 18th, 2010 | Catch-All
We saw the Blue Virginia post early this afternoon, and the subsequent statements by Congressman Glenn Nye and Scott Rigell over the patently racist email fowarded in very bad taste by Virginia Beach Republican Party Chairman David Bartholomew.
Both Nye and Rigell have called on Bartholomew to resign. Rigell said:
“The email sent by Republican Party of Virginia Beach Chairman David Bartholomew is reprehensible. It stands in stark contrast to the core values of the Republican Party, the party of Lincoln, and my personal belief in a colorblind society. I call upon Mr. Bartholomew to immediately resign his position as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach.”
In our podcast tonight (recorded around 6 p.m.), which will be posted in a few minutes, Shaun and I offer our commentary on the subject.
In the interim, if you’d like to use this as an open thread…be my guest.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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32 Responses to "David Bartholomew and the disappointing email"
What an idiot.
JR does anyone know why it took till now for the email to be leaked and how had the email? Or is this the best October surprise out there?
Rumor (and you know how those run) says that it was a March 2010 e-mail issued to anywhere from 5-6 friends.
Of course, no one has seen a header or anything of the sort… but there it is.
Friends? Friends?! What kind of friend would send you something like that? Though you know, doesn’t it kind of make you wonder who sent to him in the first place? And who sent it to him? And who sent it to him? And who sent it to him? And who sent it to him? And who sent it to him? And who did they think it was funny enough to send it to?
How far does this rabbit hole go in the Republican Party?
JR: I would think you and BD would also call for his immediate resignation. Terming the email “disapointing” is condoning the content and racism that email contained. I am “disapointed” by your inaction…
William,
JR refers to it as “patently racist” and “in very bad taste”.
Aim your shot man, don’t just haphazardly throw that “racist” term around; it deters from the original argument, which is quite legitimate.
Well, I’m disappointed in David Bartholomew, but I’m impressed that Scott Rigell acted so quickly to condemn this blatant racism. I’ve met the gentleman who is running Scott’s business, Freedom Automotive, while Scott runs for Congress, and he happens to be African American. I also read a great letter to the editor by a young man that Scott Rigell helped start a business…he happens to be African American. And I’ve also heard that Bishop Courtney McBath has shared with his parishioners how Scott Rigell helped his new church obtain a van when they didn’t even have a way to pay for it. That shows TRUE commitment to our minority communities. I’ve heard Scott Rigell talk about how he wants everyone to “cross the finish line.” Scott Rigell’s ACTIONS show that he means what he says. David Bartholomew’s actions are deplorable, but voters will separate them from Scott Rigell.
IF this Blue Virginia poster is factually correct, this story will have legs and could be Rigell’s Macaca Moment. Fresh blood in the water … tight race … media sharks will circle and feeding frenzy begins around race story.
Rigell’s crocodile tears (0.00 / 0)
Rigell was caught with his pants down! This racist slur masquerading as a joke, has been circulating for over 2 weeks thanks to Mr. Batholomew’s widespread email list including top Republicans here in Hampton Roads and in Richmond at the state party level (and presumably top GOP politicians). The Rigell campaign and his key operatives were recipients of these emails days ago — yet, only after the news was published today and Congressman Nye denounce it, did the Rigell campaign come forward with a standardized press release …
Does this poster have any facts? Or is this more lets throw some mud at the wall and hope that something sticks so that we can try to look better? Before anyone starts to condemn Rigell for a comment that was made by someone who was not directly affliated with his campaign lets find out the facts.
Get a grip, William. Of course Bartholomew should resign. The story isn’t about us – and that’s the point of my trying to report what the key players are doing…not our opinion. That comes later in the podcast…which I’m still trying to finish if this story will ever let me go.
We also have a bombshell on who the sixth person in the email is. Let’s just say, they are a public figure.
I agree completely. “If” is the operative word above. I don’t have the facts.
My point: This is the kind of story the media loves. Consequently, it has potential for major damage to the Rigell campaign.
I never believed Senator Allen intended to call out Webb’s tracker using a racial slur (who ever heard of the word before this story?), but it caused a media firestorm of speculation, which took Allen out.
Sen. Jeff McWaters just released that Bartholomew is resigning.
But one major difference in these two happenings is Allen was the candidate and David is not directly affliated with Rigell’s campaign. Rigell called on him to resign very quickly, called and apologized to the head of the NAACP for the email. It should not reflect upon him. This should reflect badly upon David and whomever else was on that email list.
As far as we can tell right now Rigell’s hands are completely clean of this. So lets shine the spotlight on where it should go.
@Jay D: I saw an anonymous comment on a blog too that aliens landed in Las Vegas and that Elvis is still alive working the front counter of a motel 6.
I also saw another anonymous comment on a blog that Jay D was the second gunman on the grassy knoll.
Because, anonymous posts on blogs are SO accurate and truthful!
If you believe that, I have some beach front property in Arizona I want to sell you.
@ Bryan Stuart – Again, I did NOT say the poster was making a factual statement. I said IF the poster is correct …
And IF the poster is correct (and this email WAS received and forwarded by Rigell’s staffers OR close supporters) this will likely be a big news story.
My comments are not intended to decipher or report the facts surrounding the e-mail but rather to comment on the probability of a likely firestorm ahead. Period.
@ Matt: In my view, macaca was a silly story which should never have had the impact it did. However we all understand that whenever the media can target or paint a Republican candidate with the bigot brush, they will do so. Hopefully, Scott is no closer to this than DB, however I do not expect the major media to be understanding or give him a pass.
And IF you were the second gunman on the grassy knoll, you are facing serious federal penitentary time
And IF Elvis is still alive, it will be the biggest story of the decade.
And IF aliens landed in Las Vegas, it will be the biggest story of the century.
To even repeat what some anonymous moron posts on a blog is just as crazy as what I just posted.
Jay D,
No one from Rigell’s staff was involved. This email is nowhere near the Rigell campaign and, right now, you’re just reaching and attempting to fan a controversy where none exists.
Everyone’s reaction to this story is pretty straight forward and it’s quickly becoming a non-story.
However, there is a pretty damn good source telling me that another public figure outside the GOP did receive this email. We’re working on verifying the details.
I do not understand why who received the e-mail is important unless you are trying to find out who could have leaked it.
Look, somebody tells a joke in a room you are sitting in and you didn’t even laugh. Are you guilty because you only sat in the room when the joke was told?
I do not agree with everything that gets forwarded to me via e-mail. Spammers have me on their forwarding lists and I certainly do not agree with everything they send me either.
But balancing things, can you now understand why black citizens who might otherwise vote for your candidates keep voting Democrat?
Ladies and Gents, not sure what David’s status is at this point but he told me today the email did come from his computer and wanted to know if I had seen it or sent it out. I told him I had never seen anything like this and if I had I would have contacted him to remove it. Deidre Hernandez told me tonight I was on the header as well. Could be but I never saw it and Francie (my wife) told me she did and immediately deleted the racist joke. I saw it for the first time as Brian from Channel 13 brought me by a copy tonight. I didn’t tolerate that in my service or in my life and wouldn’t have in an email. I do not think David would have purposely sent anything like this out. He believes he accidently sent it out and I accept his apology. He has been a wonderful Vice Chairman for me and did more for outreach in the Republican Party than I ever did. I am deeply sorry he was involved in this controversy as I have never seen any racist tendencies in his conduct in my 6 years of knowing him.
@Shaun
You are correct. This is an old email. I don’t know the exact date. This email has been floating around for quite some time. Some individial out of his close group of Republican and non Republican friends more than likely sent it to DPV, DNC, or the DCCC with the intent of hurting Mr. Rigell’s chances of victory on November 2nd. This story was released at this particular time in a last ditch attempt to hurt Mr. Rigell’s chances of winning. Why do you think the photo posted to Blue Virginia and the Daily KOS had a picture of David with Scott, when they could have
used a picture of just David alone?
I DO know that someone claiming to be a constituent, who later admitted to being from out of state, called to RPVB about this yesterday morning. The individual in ques
@Kenny. Huh? Your WIFE deletes YOUR email? David doesn’t remember sending it out, and it was an accident, with your name on it? Methinks you doth protest too much.
@Shaun
My apoligies. Technical error. As I was saying, the out of state individual is a Democrat. Shocker.
@Kenny
I don’t believe you for a second. #1: Why are you publishing on BD. #2: I doubt you deleted it. Seems to me that you would have something to gain by connecting David and Rigell. Come to think of it, you and Glenn Nye both would. I wonder @Kenny if you really deleted it or if you forwarded it to Glenn Nye and DPV yourself. You have said some nasty things about Scott and RPV. I have heard you make such comments myself. As I said@ Kenny, I don’t believe you deleted it for a second. I believe, more than likely, you forwarded it.
Ben,
Do you have any proof that Kenny gave this to the media?
And, I think Kenny knows that this does more harm to RPVB then it does to Rigell.
The real target is Scott Rigell….. this is nothing. When is someone going to write about the boy he brought to America from Nicaragua? He forced him to sign a contract that requires him to work for him for so many years for a poverty level salary for bringing him here and educating him.
Sounds like an indentured servant to me…..isn’t that illegal?
This is the stuff the paper won’t print and the public never hears.
INDENTURED SERVANT:•An indentured servant was a worker, typically a laborer, under contract to an employer for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for their transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities.
“overpolitics” – hope you were careful with your tracks. If I know the guys at BD, they’re checking your IP now. They’re pretty good about making sure outrageous claims are backed up with proof – so you can’t make a statement like that without evidence. Otherwise, it’s libel.
@ JR – “fanning the flames” was not my intention. I went to the link provided in your story, read the story, read the comments, and made no conclusions about Rigell, his staff, or Bartholomew. My comment was intended to strictly address the potential , and likely media response.
The amount of activity late last night (including yours) plus rapid action from the Nye, Rigell and Golden campaigns (and Senator McEachin’s call-out to state party leaders) clearly demonstrate that campaign staffers, the candidates, and the parties recognize the potential damage. At the very least, Rigell and Golden will be forced to go off message to convince voters they are not racist… NOT where any campaign wants to be in the home stretch.
The sorry part is the Republican party, because of our majority-white constituency, is presumed to harbor and tolerate racists. Bartholomew’s receipt and consequent forwarding of this message reinforces this stereotype.
Again I say, there is blood in the water; the media sharks will circle. The Washington Post and WTKR were on this story last night. Note the picture choices used –selection and manipulation – tone, “breaking news” urgency … and tell me I’m wrong.
http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-rpvb-email-oct18,0,3120312.story
Of course the e-mail is despicable, however, knowing David’s complete and utter computer illiteracy, (it’s a long standing joke within the Republican Womens Clubs), I wonder the real truth. Did some young intern helping David think it would be funny to forward? I don’t know, however I do believe David. I also know he was and is very excited over Tanya Bullock’s campaign, that’s not racist is it?
Ben, Kenny Golden is too much of a gentleman to use information to hurt someone he cares about. I have no doubt he cares for David. And, by the way, Kenny Golden has never been a liar. You may not like his choices about leaving the Party, but you have to respect his truthful character.
I’m glad to see how quickly this moved, and I’m glad that Bartholomew recognized he screwed up and was willing to accept responsibility for his actions.
A refreshing breath of fresh air after Jeff Frederick and others who have redefined wearing out ones welcome.
The boy was adopted from Casa Bernabe’ Orphanage
@overpolitics…The boy was adopted from Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Nicaragua
@overpolitics is wrong, knows he/she is wrong, and therefore requires no response here
@LittleDavid’s “sitting in the room” analogy is well-taken in terms of who received the abhorrent email
I’m sure Scott Rigell- who isn’t connected with this at all- penned his own press release and is as sick about this as we all are.
@overpolitics. No “contract” signed by a minor is valid in any court. I don’t think you have your facts together at all. I don’t think there was any contract. He was adopted. You’re a real class act alright. And a jerk.
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