Politics & Government

White Pride, Bullying and Threats: Trump Delegates Behaving Badly

Illinois delegate sent home for racist Facebook post; Utah delegate bullied in a restroom; and 2 others spoke of hanging, shooting rivals.

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CLEVELAND, OH — Donald Trump delegate Lori Gayne — booted out of the Republican Convention for a Facebook post praising the readiness of "brave snipers just waiting for some N----- to try something” — says she's sorry and now recognizes she was "ignorant."

Gayne is among a handful of Trump delegates who engaged in shockingly bad behavior during the GOP's convention week.

Gayne, from the 5th Congressional District in Illinois, took a photo of police on a rooftop near Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which hosted a welcome party Sunday night for delegates and other convention goers. She added her offensive caption and posted the photo to Facebook.

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By Wednesday, the leader of the Illinois delegation told Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times he had revoked Gayne's credentials. Sweet learned of the post and questioned Gayne about the matter. Gayne went to Tim Schneider, who is chairman of the Cook County GOP, and he sent her packing.

Gayne would have to watch Trump's acceptance speech on television.

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Gov. Bruce Rauner, Sen. Mark Kirk and other elected Republican officials decided to stay away from this convention and their fellow delegates, and no doubt are thankful they did so.

The Chicago woman later released an apology and explanation:

“I strongly regret the offensive statements I recently made on social media. While I in no way intended to make racist or threatening statements, I now realize that they could be interpreted that way.
“I have the deepest respect for members of law enforcement and know that they put their lives on the line every day. I made the offensive statements in my attempt to applaud their courage in the face of protests. But I now realize that my statements were ignorant and intolerant, and they cannot be justified.
“The statements do not reflect my character or feelings toward minorities. As a Jewish woman, I know that racism of any kind is unjustifiable and hurtful, even when it’s not intended. I also know that violence is never the answer to political disagreements. I respect the decision of the Illinois Republican Party and understand their concerns about my safety and that of the entire Illinois delegation. Please accept my deepest apologies.”

Apparently, she's also unfamiliar with the adage "actions speak louder than words." Except for these words: "white pride." Back in March, the Chicago Tribune profiled Gayne and other Trump delegates who were on the ballot and learned "whitepride" was her Twitter pseudonym.

She was unapologetic about that.

"With all the racism going on today, I'm very proud to be white. Just like black people are proud to be black and now, as white people, whenever we say something critical we're punished as if we're racists. I'm tired of it. I'm very proud," Gayne told the Tribune.

Gayne also said living in America with the attention black people receive for their grievances makes her angry.

Like Trump, Gayne is a newcomer to politics. Trump is running for public office for the first time. Many of the Trump delegates across the country are new to the political process as well.

On top of that, Trump's range of key issues — building border walls, deporting criminals, creating a Muslim database, refusing refugees — appeals to people who are suspicious, resentful and mistrustful of other races and ethnicities.

Or, like Gayne, angry.

"Racism and threats of violence have no place in the Illinois Republican Party. They have no place on this convention floor," Schneider told the Sun-Times. "They have no place in a civil society or in America. So we've taken action. Her credentials have been revoked and she's gone."

Other Trump delegates also "acted out" during the convention, too. The RNC dealt with a complaint from a Utah delegate that she was bullied in an arena restroom by a group of Trump delegates, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Utah led a "Never Trump" movement on the floor in a bid to get a floor vote and possibly direct the nomination to someone else. They were quickly shut down, however, though Trump delegates were enraged.

“I … came out of my stall, and there I was confronted by two women,” at-large delegate Kera Birkeland wrote on Facebook. “They yelled at me, called me names. They said I should die.”

Birkeland said the women told her Utah was "horrible and stupid."

Mean girls in the restroom picking on someone and calling names? Sounds like high school, not a national political convention.

“I came out of the bathroom crying," she said. And she wasn't even part of the "Never Trump" movement.

Trump's New York campaign co-chairman, Carl Paladino, had some unsavory words for another Utah woman.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Utah delegate Stefani Stone Williams received an email from Paladino suggesting she be "hung for treason." Paladino also wrote: "I'll be in your face in Cleveland."

CNN asked Paladino about the email, and he replied that Williams should not get her "underwear ... all bunched up."

Paladino, a Buffalo man who once ran for governor of New York, called President Obama a “raccoon in the basement" after appearing with Trump following his victory in the New York GOP primary this spring.

Also this week, a New Hampshire state representative went on radio and suggested Hillary Clinton should be "shot for treason." After Al Baldasaro's comments were aired, the Secret Service told reporters an investigation would be initiated. The Secret Service investigates all threats against presidents and presidential candidates.

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