Last week, attendees at a Republican fundraiser in Kansas were caught on video kicking and slapping a portrait of President Joe Biden, sparking a hailstorm of criticism. Associated Press reported.
Their target was a mannequin wearing a Biden mask and a “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirt, the paper said.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Image source: YouTube screenshot
The crazy kids at the Johnson County Republican Party fundraiser in Overland Park didn’t take kindly to Biden’s portrait either.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Image source: YouTube screenshot
“I think it reflects the idea that this is more than just a policy debate, and I think you can combine that with some policies.” [the] We’re seeing the language we’re using and the demonization of the other side,” said Matt Harris, a political science professor at Park University. He told KMBC TV.. “I think the combination of this kind of rhetoric and this kind of symbolic behavior can be dangerous.”
Former Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mike Kuckelman has asked for his resignation as state and county party chairman, the department said.
“As a lifelong Republican, I was appalled, sickened and disgusted that something like this could happen,” Kuckelman told KMBC. “We may disagree on policy, but we are all human beings, and disagreements will never lead to violence in this country.”
The Kansas Republican Party released the following statement on Monday, according to the station:
The Johnson County Republican Party hosted a fundraiser on Friday, March 8th. After the event, it was brought to KSGOP’s attention that external exhibitors in the field of karate and self-defense had rented booths for the event. The disgruntled former state party member did not attend the event, but saw it as an opportunity to take advantage of the poor judgment of outside exhibitors. No KSGOP leadership or staff attended the event or had any opinion on the exhibitors.
It is unfortunate that the incident occurred, and it is even more unfortunate that a former state party member spewed rhetoric and created a false narrative to capitalize on continued attempts to divide the party.
According to KMBC, the Johnson County Republican Party released the following statement:
The Johnson County Republican Party’s successful series of events last weekend was tarnished by a brief incident in which a mask depicting President Biden was added to an outdoor exhibitor’s interactive self-defense display. Unfortunately, I took off my mask. No one raised or asked for funds or donations in exchange for hitting the training equipment.
“What may seem like a joke to many, can have potentially tragic consequences to some,” said Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita), according to the Associated Press. “It would be seen as an extension of certain acceptable behaviors.”
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, also a Wichita-area Republican, added that “tasteless language of violence” would not appeal to voters.
The Associated Press also reported that Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mike Brown and Johnson County Republican Party Chair Maria Holliday have “distanced themselves” from the incident. The newspaper added that Johnson Country has become “bluer since then.” [Donald] Trump was elected president in 2016. This was key to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s victories in 2018 and 2022, and has become an increasingly difficult area for statewide Republican candidates to win. ”
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