Republican
Leadership Council Press Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Well
Friday, January 22, 1999
PHONE: 202-547-1700
RLC:
RNC COMMITTEEMAN WITH TIES TO RACIST GROUP SHOULD STEP DOWN
Republican
Leadership Council Says South Carolina RNC Member Buddy Witherspoon
Should Resign Party Post
Washington,
DC -- Saying that South Carolina RNC Committeeman Buddy Witherspoon
should resign his post because of his ties to the controversial
Council of Conservative Citizens, the Executive Director of the
Republican Leadership Council said today that the RNC should not
tolerate racist views within it's ranks.
"The
Council of Conservative Citizens, of which Mr. Witherspoon is
a member, clearly harbors racist attitudes that have no place
in our Party," said Mark Miller, Executive Director of the
RLC. "Mr. Witherspoon's continued presence on the Republican
National Committee is hurtful to South Carolina's reputation and
detrimental to our Party."
RNC
Chairman Jim Nicholson said earlier this week that the CCC "does
hold racist views," and urged Witherspoon to resign immediately
from the group. According to news reports, Witherspoon stated
he had no intention of immediately resigning from the CCC.
Said
Miller: "Because Mr. Witherspoon refuses to repudiate the
CCC and it's overtly racist agenda, he must resign from the RNC
immediately."
The
RLC Executive Director said material on the CCC's internet website
is "clearly racist" and noted that the Republican Party
-- much less its elected leadership -- should not associate with
groups of this nature.
"The
Republican Party must condemn racist attitudes and stereotypes
wherever they may exist -- particularly if those views are embraced
by a member of the Republican National Committee," concluded
Miller.