‘Nothing to do with KSGOP’: GOP chair says of Biden effigy smackdown
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UPDATE: Kansas GOP spokesman, Dakotah Parshall, provided the following statement at 1:14pm on Monday.
The Johnson County Republican Party hosted a fundraiser on Friday, March 8th. After the event took place, it was brought to the attention of the KSGOP that an outside exhibitor in the karate/self-defense space rented a booth at the event. A disgruntled former member of the state party, who did not attend the event, saw an opportunity to capitalize on the poor judgement of the outside exhibitor. No one from KSGOP leadership or staff attended the event or had input on exhibitors.
“It’s unfortunate the events took place, and even more so the former state party member created a false narrative in order to spew rhetoric and capitalize on continued attempts to divide the party. The internal fighting and false narratives within the Republican Party risk 2024 election outcomes in Kansas and across America and they must end.”
Dakotah Parshall, Kansas GOP Executive Director
JOHNSON COUNTY, KS. (KSNT) – Controversy has emerged in the wake of a Johnson County Republican Party fundraiser that took place on March 8.
Video online of the Overland Park event shows attendees punching, kicking and swinging a bat at a mannequin dressed as President Joe Biden.
27 News spoke to former Kansas GOP chairman, Mike Kuckelman, regarding the incident.
“Taking a bat and beating an effigy or mannequin of President Biden I found very disturbing and troubling,” Kuckelman said. “I hope the public realizes most rank and file republicans abhor this conduct.”
Kuckelman was not at the event but says he received phone calls about it and immediately took to Facebook to condemn the behavior.
“This is not acceptable,” he said. “Violence in any form is not acceptable. What are we teaching children when we have adults who will take a bat and beat the head of a mannequin dressed up and with a mask making it appear to be President Biden?”
Current Kansas GOP chairman Mike Brown tells 27 News, “the event Friday had nothing to do with KSGOP.”
Sen. Cindy Holscher (D) of Overland Park and Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R) also weighed in on the event in statements given to 27 News:
“As an elected official who has received dozens of threats over the past few years from Trump supporters via social media, as well as to my email and voicemail, I can’t say I’m surprised by this display. This type of behavior is not only juvenile, but dangerous and has no place in politics or our society. This continuing growth of extremism in the GOP is why I left the party several years ago. The few remaining members with integrity have condemned these actions, yet, sadly, they are the ones who keep getting pushed out of the party.”
Sen. Cindy Holscher, (D) Overland Park
“I did not attend this event and can’t speak to the specifics but as a rule, I condemn political violence. I’ve personally received death threats in the past and was one of over 100 Republican lawmakers in Kansas who last year received terroristic letters containing white powder. In recent memory, Republican Steve Scalise and Democrat Gabby Gifford both suffered severe injuries as a result of deranged gunmen. In light of these events and those like them, it’s important that we use good judgment. Whether it’s Kathy Griffin infamously posing for a photo holding what appears to be President Trump’s severed head or pounding on a mannequin of President Biden, what may seem like a joke for many will be seen by some as an expansion of acceptable behavior with potentially tragic consequences. The people of our state have real issues that need resolved and these distractions only interfere with that process.”
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins
Johnson County Republican Party chairwoman, Maria Holiday, did not reply to a request for comment.
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