Both DeMint and Democratic opponent Inez Tenenbaum had been invited by the Central Savannah River Area Rainbow Alliance (CSRARA) to a town hall meeting to discuss "issues of interest to gay voters." Tenenbaum's campaign responded that a representative would attend, but DeMint's campaign did not reply, so CSRARA chair Lisa Hall sent a follow up e-mail inquiry. Ginny Allen replied to Hall, but apparently thought she was forwarding it to someone else in the campaign. The message was as follows:
“Come on, fag, give this dike a reply,” Allen wrote.
Hall was not amused by the faux pas.
The Congressman sent a written apology for the "extremely inappropriate remarks" to Hall:
“Mrs. Allen’s remarks do not reflect my beliefs or the character of the campaign,” DeMint wrote. “I am running a positive campaign of ideas, and that includes personal respect for others.”
He assured Hall that Allen had received been admonished, and DeMint's campaign director stated that Allen had been "written up," meaning that another problem would mean termination.
Given DeMint's adamant stances against gay-related issues and homosexuality in general, I don't find it a stretch of imagination to believe that had the e-mail remained in house as intended, it would have been met with a laugh. The following is from one of DeMint's Issues pages, highlighted on his Congressional website:
I have always opposed special contracts for homosexuals, homosexual civil unions and homosexual marriages because it is impossible for society to grant special rights to homosexuals without also legitimizing or endorsing the homosexual lifestyle.
The law is our protector, but it is also our instructor. Granting special rights to homosexuals, on the state or federal level, sends the wrong message to our children.
Sociological studies have consistently shown that homosexual unions are harmful to homosexuals and society as a whole.
Traditional marriage, on the other hand, produces more societal benefits than any other system or institution devised by man.
There's also his "Protect"ad on his campaign website, in which the first portion is about protecting America from terrorists, and the second part is about protecting marriage from homosexuals. Nice equation - can't understand where Ms. Allen got the idea that her e-mail was acceptable. Sounds like DeMint is modeling his political strategies after Tom DeLay's.
A copy of the original e-mail and the apology can be viewed at CSRARA's website. I should note that although the article about the incident quoted the e-mail as including the word "fag," the copy posted at CSRARA appears to have the word "farg," which I might guess is the uncapitalized name of the person to whom she thought she was forwarding the message. She still uses (the misspelled) "dike" in reference to Hall, however.
The apology letter reveals another mystery. Rep. DeMint issues a second apology for an e-mail that he sent:
I also apologize for the email that I sent. I was directing my campaign staff to act in a courteous and respectful manner in addressing the concerns in the email. However, I was responding on my Blackberry and did not see the original email and did not realize that the derogatory comment had been made.
I wonder what was in that e-mail? And why hasn't the Member of Congress or his staff learned two of the most important lessons in e-mail usage:
- Never put anything in e-mail that you wouldn't want someone other than the intended recipient to read. It can and likely will be forwarded to others, who will forward it to still more others.
- Alway check the address before you hit Send.
Oh yeah, and actually treat people with respect.