After nearly a year of watching Dave Agema, a Michigan Republican, continually endorse racist and homophobic writings on his Facebook page, the Republican Party has now apparently had enough.
Agema, you might recall, represents Michigan in the Republican National Committee. The former state representative has a tendency to issue and endorse rambling, fear-mongering statements on virtually all minorities that are so devoid of fact, it truly is remarkable he maintained his position on the RNC for so long.
In his most recent disgraceful blunder, Agema posted a quote from an article in a white supremacist magazine called American Renaissance on his Facebook page that said the following:
[B]lacks are different by almost any measure to all other people. They cannot reason as well. They cannot communicate as well. They cannot control their impulses as well. They are a threat to all who cross their paths, black and non-black alike.
The article, written by a supposed "public defender," was praised by Agema who — for context — added: “Very interesting article by a public defender. We are in a cultural battle. Very enlightening for anyone who is concerned about crime in America …”
Some incredibly racist stuff, right there.
Like we said, though, this isn't exactly groundbreaking territory for Agema. As MT's Jack Lessenberry recalls this week:
And that's not all Agema believes; exactly a year ago, he posted another article attacking Muslims, and asked "Have you ever seen a Muslim do anything that contributes positively to the American way of life?
Before that, it was gays. Agema, who must subscribe to some truly bizarre hate-oriented news service, posted an even crazier article about "homosexuals," which claimed that they committed up to half the murders in large cities.
Four-fifths of them have sexually transmitted diseases, the story continued, adding that gangs of lesbians march through the streets chanting "recruit, recruit, recruit."
Later, in a speech to the Berrien County Republican Party, Agema claimed that gays wanted "free medical [care] because they are dying between 30 and 44 years old."
After all that, now the RNC wants to take action. For months, they've blabbered on about not having the means in the committee bylaws to rid themselves of Agema. But this week, the RNC is expected to cast a vote to expel Agema, following calls from lawmakers across the nation.
In a letter to his colleagues, Virginia Republican Party Chairman Pat Mullins, the apparent ringleader in the snails-pace Agema rebellion, wrote: “It is time for us to take a stand against Dave Agema, the national committeeman from Michigan, who continues to disgrace our Republican Party.
Still, observers continue to scratch their heads wondering if Agema can actually be removed — an odd question to consider since the RNC bylaws reportedly don't have a provision on how to remove a member. (Hint: They can probably hold a vote to add such a provision!)
With all that in mind, it's worth recalling that, just under three years ago, Agema ousted Saul Anuzis, the former Michigan Republican Party chairman, for his current RNC spot. In turn, Anuzis told his following to support Agema. Not even a year later, Agema posted a homophobic article on Facebook and — again, for context — described gays as living a "filthy" lifestyle.
The RNC begins a three-day meeting today in Colorado for the committee's annual winter meeting.
