DeMaio Campaign Manager Apologizes For Black ‘Red Flag’ Tracker Advice

This photo taken June 23, 2014 shows California Republican congressional candidate Carl DeMaio speaking at the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill in Washington. DeMaio is one of three openly gay Republicans run... This photo taken June 23, 2014 shows California Republican congressional candidate Carl DeMaio speaking at the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill in Washington. DeMaio is one of three openly gay Republicans running for Congress this year, but he’s the only one who has managed to make political adversaries of both social conservative and gay rights organizations. He’s too open about his sexual orientation for some social conservatives, but too far to the right and too quiet on social issues to win over the gay rights groups. And that’s just fine for DeMaio, who stresses fiscal conservatism to try to attract voters in California’s 52nd Congressional District. DeMaio gives the GOP one of its best chances for winning a Democratic-controlled seat. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) MORE LESS
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The campaign manager for Republican Congressional candidate Carl DeMaio (CA) apologized for saying in newly reported emails that a good way to spot an opposition tracker is if they are young or African American.

Those comments, by campaign manager Tommy Knepper, were reported by The Washington Examiner on Friday. Later on Friday DeMaio’s campaign released a statement from Knepper where he apologized.

“I apologize for my inappropriate and offensive comments, which do not reflect me or my values or the values of this campaign. We value the support from all San Diegans in this election,” Knepper said in a statement.

Knepper, in the same email chain, also said other indicators that someone at a DeMaio event might be an opposition research tracker out to catch the candidate in an embarrassing moment is if they are young or overly talkative to staff or are young and present at a Saturday morning event.

DeMaio (pictured) said to strike the point that a person might be a tracker if they’re African American.

DeMaio is running to replace incumbent Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) in California’s 52nd Congressional District.

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Notable Replies

  1. “I apologize for my inappropriate and offensive comments, which do not reflect me or my values or the values of this campaign. We value the support from all San Diegans in this election,” Knepper said in a statement.

    But they do represent your values and the values of the campaign. They reflect your values because you wrote them, and they represented the values of the campaign because you weren’t fired when you initially wrote them.

    Bagger, puh-leeze!

  2. Message sent, message received, apology lodged, rinse, repeat.

  3. Inadequate. Fire him or take the blame yourself (preferably both, asshole).

  4. Anti​Sachet​De​The

    23m

    “I apologize for my inappropriate and offensive comments, which do not reflect me or my values or the values of this campaign. We value the support from all San Diegans in this election,” Knepper said in a statement

    Yeah, right. His boss is on video pledging allegiance to the Tea Party, and in a campaign ad says “it couldn’t be farther from the truth.” Hell, he gives politicians a bad (worse) name.

  5. Wait! What? We’re STILL not getting the negro vote?!?
    How can that be?

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