Loudoun GOP depicts Obama with bullet hole in his head

Virginia statewide Republican leaders are universally condemning a mass e-mail sent to members of the Loudoun County Republican Committee that depicts President Barack Obama as a zombie with a bullet hole in his head.

The e-mail was meant to encourage supporters to gather for a Halloween parade. The graphic was in the Halloween theme and also pictures House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as a zombie. (the full email can be found after the jump.)

The email was first shared on the right leaning “Too Conservative” blog, which accused the LCRC of going “too far”. Since the picture was first posted, Virginia Republican leaders have been forcefully condemning its use.

“Governor (Bob McDonnell) believes this email is shameful and offensive,” said spokesman Tucker Martin.  “He calls on those involved to apologize for their actions, and to immediately ensure that such imagery is never used again.”

McDonnell wasn’t alone in his criticism.  Noah Wall, the political spokesman for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said the picture was something the A.G. does not support.

“We clearly regret the choice of images used by the Loudoun GOP,” Wall said.

But perhaps the most forceful rejection can from State GOP Chairman Pat Mullins.  Mullins called for an immediate apology and claimed that he was in the process of informing Loudoun GOP leaders of his disappointment.

“The disgusting image used today on a mass email has no place in our politics. Ever,” said Mullins. “The Republican Party of Virginia condemns the image and its use in the strongest possible terms.”

Of course, Democrats were the first to pounce on the email’s revelation.  They demanded apologies from GOP leaders and called for the Loudoun County officials responsible for the picture to be removed from their posts.

“This is a disgusting and violent portrayal of the President of the United States,” said party spokesman Brian Coy.

So far the only person not responding for comment on the issue is the Loudon County GOP Chairman Mark Sell has not returned inquires for comment.

UPDATE:

The LCRC Chairman Mark Sell released the following statement:

“The Loudoun County Republican Committee yesterday sent an email to its members that represented a light-hearted attempt to inject satire humor into the Halloween holiday.  Apparently, some individuals have interpreted an image of Barack Obama that appeared within the email as intending to portray the President as a victim of a violent crime.  Nothing could be further from the truth, and we deeply and sincerely apologize to the President and anyone who viewed the image if that was the impression that was left. The LCRC deplores any effort to display, suggest or promote violence against the President or any other political figure.”

The full email from the LCRC and statements from leaders from both sides can be found after the jump.

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Loudon County Republican Committee email:

Halloween Parade
Republicans On The March

LCRC members and Republican candidates: We are going to vanquish the zombies with clear thinking conservative principles and a truckload of Republican candy. Join us at 5pm at Ida Lee Park to decorate our floats. Bring candidate / endorsee signs and help us show our colors and then pass out the candy to the 20,000 strong parade crowd. The parade starts @ 6pm. It’s fun and a great way to represent our candidates to a ton of voters (and their kids) just before the election.

Contact Us

P.O. Box 547
Leesburg, Virginia 20178
703-627-LCRC (5272)
info@loudoungop.com

Join Our Mailing List!

Authorized and paid for by the Loudoun County Republican Committee and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. http://www.LoudounGOP.com

(h/t Too Conservative)

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Statement from Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Office:

“The Governor believes this email is shameful and offensive. He calls on those involved to apologize for their actions, and to immediately ensure that such imagery is never used again. The Governor has long stressed the need for more civility and respect in our politics. An email like this one undermines those goals, offends all Virginians and discredits our entire political process. It will not be tolerated.” –Tucker Martin, Director of Communications

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Statement from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

“We clearly regret the choice of images used by the Loudoun GOP. That is not something that we support.“- Noah Wall, Cuccinelli Political Spokesman

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Statement from Republican Party of Virginia

“The disgusting image used today on a mass email has no place in our politics. Ever. The Republican Party of Virginia condemns the image and its use in the strongest possible terms. We are in the process of contacting those responsible for the image to demand that they cease using it and immediately issue an apology.”- Pat Mullins, Chairman

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Statement from the Democratic Party of Virginia

“This is a disgusting and violent portrayal of the President of the United States. Party leaders including Pat Mullins, Bob McDonnell, Ken Cuccinelli and Bill Bolling should condemn it, and the local Republican officials should apologize, if not be removed from their posts.”  – Brian Coy, DPV