The city of Rome and Floyd County issued the following joint statement Friday, Oct. 26:
Statement from Floyd County Board of Commissioners and Rome City Commission by Irwin Bagwell, Chairman Floyd County Board of Commissioners:
On behalf of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners and the Rome City Commission, we want to voice our objection to the “Hate Statement” posted on the bulletin board of a local recreation facility. The inflammatory remarks concerning different racial and ethnic groups are highly objectionable and insensitive to our desire to have peace and harmony in our community. We join officials of both political parties in condemning the remarks. Local police have been asked to investigate.
Previously posted: The Floyd County Republican Party is denouncing a political flier headed “The Party of Hate” that appears to originate with a splinter group.
The text offers reassurances that “It’s OK to hate” immigrants, Muslims, homosexuals, public schools and other targets, and it calls for support of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to “make the White House white again.”
County GOP chairman Dan Hanks, released the following statement:
“The Floyd County Republican Party categorically rejects the contents of this despicable flyer. Such a message has not been authorized by the Floyd County Republican Party or any member of its Executive Board, PERIOD. Frankly we do not know the source of this disgusting flyer.
Obviously such a message of hate is not helpful to the GOP in the upcoming elections. We are offended that anyone would insinuate or imply that the Floyd County Republican Party had anything to do with this message or its contents. This election is extremely important to this country and should be decided on the merits of the candidates and their positions.”
On behalf of the Floyd County Democratic Party, I would like to loudly and clearly state that the kind of hate speech contained in the flyer reportedly written by the “Proud White Republicans of Floyd County” and posted at a county facility has NO PLACE in our community, and we emphatically condemn this effort to inject hatred into our electoral process."
Floyd County Democratic Party Chairman George Pullen released the following statement:
"One might hope that by 2012 this inflammatory language that is a relic of what should be our nation’s distant past would not be a part of our current political battles. Sadly, those who spew such hatred are still among us, and they choose to hide in the shadows with anonymous attacks. If we can find those responsible for this despicable tirade, we look forward to holding them accountable for their malicious intent.
Our elections and campaigns should be about the policies and character of our candidates. Our candidates and our Party join the Floyd County Republican Party in standing up against this vile and offensive attack."
The local GOP has their feathers all ruffled, but the flyer is no more offensive than the Obama movie that played this summer in local movie theaters.