Controversy erupted in June 2008 after a campaign pin bearing a racist statement about presidential candidate Barack Obama was sold at the Texas Republican Party's state convention.
A Texas GOP spokesperson said the group would donate the $1,500 it collected in rent money from the vendor, Jonathan Alcox, to victims of the 2008 Midwest floods.The Associated Press: Texas GOP Cuts Off Vendor That Sold Racist Button (June 18, 2008) Alcox has been banned from the state party's future conventions.MSNBC: Texas GOP bans button vendor (Time: 2:30)
Quotes
"Obviously, it's been offensive to people. It was not meant to be that way. We're into humor—not racism."—Jonathan Alcox, pin vendorDallas Morning News: Vendor Who Sold Racist Pin Apologizes (June 18, 2008)
"This vendor need not apply to another Texas GOP state convention. We will neither tolerate nor profit from bigotry."—Hans Klinger, GOP repThe Associated Press: Texas GOP Cuts Off Vendor That Sold Racist Button (June 18, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Pin read
"If Obama is president…Will we still call it the White House?"
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Sold at Texas Republican Party's state convention in Houston from June 12-14, 2008
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Alcox says he has sold merchandise at both Republican and Democratic conventions for 17 yearsPostcards from the Lege (Austin American-Statesman): Vendor Apologizes... (June 18, 2008)
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June 14, 2008
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Alcox says he has "no agenda" and selling the pin was a "mistake"Dallas Morning News: Vendor Who Sold Racist Pin Apologizes (June 18, 2008)
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Texas Republican Party spokesperson says the group did not know about the pins being soldThe Associated Press: Texas GOP Cuts Off Vendor That Sold Racist Button (June 18, 2008)
