The White House. Still intact. Photocredit: LollyKnit http://www.flickr.com/photos/lollyknit/517753698/sizes/z/in/photostream/
What would you do if someone tried to shoot the president? Well, Lauren E Pierce, the President of the University of Texas College Republicans, has got some good advice.
The White House came under attack (sort of) earlier this week, as an AK47 sprayed bullets at it – even cracking a window close to the president’s bedroom. Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, has been arrested for the attack, close to Indiana, Pennsylvania. Police report that Ortega-Hernandez was “obsessed” with Obama, and thought he was on a personal mission from God. Luckily, the Obamas were out at the time of the attack.
After the attack, Lauren E Pierce sent an important message out from her Twitter account:
“Y’all as tempting as it may be, don’t shoot Obama. We need him to go down in history as the WORST president we’ve EVER had! #2012.”
She’s since apologised, according to Gawker, saying that it was a joke. She’s been asked to resign from her position.
In defence. [S]he’s made a positive statement in a way,” Vice-President of the group, Cassie Wright said, adding that it was “Just freedom of speech, you know?”, quoted on ABC News.
Violence is not an answer. On the other hand, John Chapman, PR director for the UT College Republicans, said that she should resign, because their organisation was meant to “foster professional and respectful discussion.” Implying that violence was an answer is not “positive, constructive or acceptable,” quoted on The Daily Texan online.
Good for her future? Just think about the assumptions behind Pierce’s comments, said the Editor in Chief of The Moderate Voice, perhaps taking things a little too seriously: It’s taken as a “given” that murder is a solution to not liking someone; it’s taken as given that people will also find that funny. Still, at least she might get a talk show out of it.
One good thing. “We’ll at least give her points for not being racist,” said Gawker. Unlike loads of other Republicans.