YCT condemns Burnt Orange Report
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2012
Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: [email protected]
Austin, TX—Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) condemned the antics of Burnt Orange Report, a heavily trafficked blog closely associated with the Texas Democratic Party and other leftist organizations in Texas, in relation to their reporting of an arson incident that occurred at the office of State Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) on Tuesday. It was reported on Tuesday that a “molotov cocktail” had been thrown at the Senator’s office door, sparking a small fire. In response to the incident, on Wednesday, Katherine Haenschen, a contributor to Burnt Orange Report wrote:
If this was a politically motivated attack — and it is hard to see how it was not a politically motivated attack — then it is easy to understand how State Senator Wendy Davis represents everything Republicans oppose: public education, women’s health, urban coalition districts, and Democrats in office. (emphasis added)
The post also included links to Senator Davis’s campaign website and encouraged readers to donate to her campaign and get involved in her reelection efforts.
According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, a forty year old homeless man named Cedric Steele has been apprehended in the investigation. Steele is accused of throwing several bottles of lighter fluid against the door, sparking the small fire. The newspaper also reported that Steele was suffering from mental illness and that he visited Davis’s office on Friday and left behind part of a dead animal, “stating it was a new species and wanted the senator to see it.” There appears to be no political motivation in the attack and there has been no reported connection between Steele and conservative or Republican groups.
“Young Conservatives of Texas condemn, in the strongest terms, the antics of Burnt Orange Report in relation to this incident,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “Before twenty four hours had even passed; when all fair-minded people should have been allowing the Fort Worth Police to do their job, these far left activists were busy politicizing the incident in an attempt to drum up donations and support for their candidate. In the process, they have spread fear, distrust, and hatred of Republicans and conservatives amongst their liberal readers with no justification.”
YCT also commented on the absurdity of the blog’s claims:
“I sure hope that the writers at Burnt Orange Report don’t honestly believe that Republicans would firebomb a Senator’s office over her position on ‘urban coalition districts,’” added Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “If they believe that, they need as much help as the poor fellow who committed the attack. But by their reporting, that’s exactly what they would like their readers to believe. Statements like the ones made by Burnt Orange Report sour the political discourse in this state and encourage fear, distrust, and hatred of Republicans and conservatives by liberals voters.”
The group is demanding that the writers at Burnt Orange Report apologize to conservatives and Republicans for their actions. They are also demanding that Senator Davis return the donations she has received through the blog’s link.
“Senator Davis shouldn’t associate herself with leftist fearmongering,” added McDonald. “She should return any donations she has received in the last 24 from the links on Burnt Orange Report.”
Finally, YCT expressed gratitude for the Fort Worth Police Department and expressed their joy that no one in Senator Davis’s office was harmed in the incident.
“We are grateful that no one in Senator Davis’s Office was hurt and glad to hear that the fine men and women of the Fort Worth Police Department were quick to apprehend a suspect,” added Morris.
Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org.
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