- Alex Miller called it “a disgusting essay, held up by the Brown County GOP as something to contemplate as a reasonable perspective.” He asked local Republican officials to speak out if it doesn’t match their views and to speak up for other Republicans whose opinions he says aren’t listened to by party leadership.
July 20, 2021. Letter: Does the local GOP exemplify conservative values? By Sherrie Mitchell
- The GOP “Black Dilemma” post on Facebook. What a gem this one is. “Probably because it was controversial to some people.” “Especially the negative people.” Is it a conservative value to believe that every Black American is “socially incompatible with other races”? Or maybe I just have “my panties in a wad.”
July 13, 2020 Letter: Response to letter about GOP post, other issues by Blake Wolpert. To the editor: At the risk of getting into a lifelong point and counter-point with Sherrie Mitchell, let me address her letter to the editor…
July 6, 2021. Letter: Does Brown County GOP respect elections?
- Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard a position from and a rebuttal to GOP precinct committeeman (PC) Ben Phillips and his vice-PC Jenni Voris regarding the disturbing article posted to the GOP’s now defunct Facebook page in April and the lack of response from party leaders on the matter.
- If you’re a Republican interested in running for office, but aren’t sure how to start, feel free to call me. I’d love to help you restore democracy to our party.
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Wolpert attacked the messenger. He called Ben Phillips and Jenni Voris mentally unstable because he didn’t agree with their opinion of Republican Party chair, Mark Bowman, and his wife, Robyn Rosenberg. He further stated that they should be pitied for their illness.
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These are the exact tactics that Phillips and Voris were telling you about in their letter to the editor regarding the leadership in the Republican Party. This is your proof of the ill-mannered behavior within the party.
June 29, 2021. Letter: Suggestion for a way to vet future candidates by Bill Austin
- The two letters I would identify were from Blake and Ben/Jenni. I think, from those letters, we could now say there are two positions. As we go forward with more elections, I think we should ask that candidates take a position on this: supporting Blake’s viewpoint or Ben/Jenni’s viewpoint. That seems like a fair question to me.
June 29, 2021. Letter: Response to letter about Republican Party members by Deb Noe, vice chairman, Brown County Republican Committee and vice precinct committeeman, Hamblen 3
- I asked several fellow Republicans about their thoughts on the matter. The few who saw it had no problem with it.
June 22, 2021. Letter: Unfair attacks directed by Republican letter-writers by Blake Wolpert
June 15, 2021. Letter: ‘A good start would be a bold and public apology’ By Randy Dillinger
- To the editor: We are Republican Precinct Committee members, and we are disturbed and angered by the actions of Brown County’s Republican Party leadership ...
New Facebook page: Republicans of Brown County Indiana – Not affiliated with the former Brown County Republican FB page or its administrators.
- A social club dedicated to promoting republican ideals, ethical and transparent government, thoughtful conversation, local candidate recruitment, and community leadership.
- List of Articles and Letters on the controversial post
June 8, 2021. BCD. Letter: ‘Act accordingly’ when leaders do wrong or do nothing by Bill Austin.
- In recent weeks the Republican Party has been caught up in some serious issues. I don’t intend to rehash those here. I think those of us who have been a part of the Republican Party need to watch now and see how this is handled by our leaders — those elected, appointed and self-proclaimed. You have chosen to be a leader. Think of it this way (I had to look up the exact quote): “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
May 4, 2021. BCD. Local Republicans say ‘disgusting’ post doesn’t represent them By Sara Clifford
- An essay titled “The Black Dilemma” was posted to the page on Saturday, April 24 and was no longer posted as of Sunday morning. … The essay, falsely attributed to a Baltimore Sun reporter, is about Black people’s economic and social disparities compared to white people
- Quotes from the article:
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“For almost 150 years the United States has been conducting an interesting experiment. The subjects of the experiment: black people and working-class whites. The hypothesis to be tested: Can a people taken from the jungles of Africa and forced into slavery be fully integrated as citizens in a majority white population?” one of the opening paragraphs reads.
“Through the years, too many black people continue to show an inability to function and prosper in a culture unsuited to them,” a later paragraph reads. “Detroit is bankrupt, the south side of Chicago is a war zone, and the vast majority of black cities all over America are beset by degeneracy and violence. And blacks never take responsibility for their failures. Instead, they lash out in anger and resentment.”
Further down it says: “The experiment has failed. Not because of white culture, or white privilege, or white racism. The fundamental problem is that American black culture has evolved into an un-fixable and crime ridden mess. They do not want to change their culture or society, and expect others to tolerate their violence and amoral behavior. They have become socially incompatible with other races by their own design, not because of the racism of others, but by their own hatred of non-blacks.”
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- Right under the name “Brown County Indiana Republicans,” the post starts with: “Just a perspective; the facts as presented by a liberal newspaper. Well worth reading.
- Democrat – Facebook Post of the article.
Apr 30, 2021. Indy Star / The Herald Times . Racist post on Brown County GOP Facebook elicits bipartisan backlash By Boris Ladwig
Apr 27, 2021. BCD. Post on GOP Facebook page prompts questions, By Sara Clifford – 4/27/21 5:51 PM
- Brown County Republican Party Chairman Mark Bowman said Monday that it was not a statement from the Republican Party, even though it was posted on the party’s page. … He knows who posted it, but would not share that person’s name. … “Once it was realized it was on there, it was taken down,” he said. … Asked why it was taken down, he said, “probably because it was controversial to some people, I would imagine.”
April 27, 2021. Letter: ‘Brown County GOP shares white supremacist fodder’ by Alex Miller
- I have reached a breaking point here. Every resident of our county should be aware of an inexcusable post that the Brown County GOP shared as a “very well written assessment” of U.S. race relations on their Facebook page on April 24 (link below). Since the group deletes all comments that are not praise, this is my last resort.
Independent Voters of Brown County IN 