The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
State GOP alleges racial insensitivity against Democrats
A social media post from Connecticut Democrats written in the style of a preschool story was called either racially insensitive or straight-up racist Thursday by the head of state Republicans, charging that it could be perceived as portraying a candidate for Congress as a monkey.
Democrats said the Wednesday Twitter post was strictly aimed at questioning George Logan's residency in the 5th Congressional District, where he is challenging second-term U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes.
The post, which includes a picture of Logan, a Black man who is a former state senator, standing in front of a “Don't Tread on Me” Gadsden flag replica from Colonial American, includes the text: “This is George. George doesn't live in the 5th District but wants to represent it in Congress. George's uncle lives in the 5th District. George says he's moved into his uncle's house. But has he? Just run where you live, George. Deceiving voters is no way to start a campaign.”
“If we put that out about Jahana Hayes, we would be called racists,” GOP State Chairman Ben Proto said Thursday afternoon. “At best it's racially
insensitive. At worst it's a racist tweet. There are a lot of legitimate political issues they could bring up. But stooping to this level is despicable and has no place in political discourse.”
While the child's classic “Curious George” starts with the same three words — “This is George” — Democrats said the tweet, which was retweeted by Hayes, who is also Black, was in no way hearkening to a book about the mischievous monkey, and that the style was like many books for young readers.
“It doesn't matter how it was meant,” Proto said. “They're
clearly attempting to tie the book into the tweet. I'm pretty sure if a Republican posted that about Jahana Hayes, we would be called racially insensitive.”
“Raise your hand if you live in the 5th,” Hayes posted while retweeting the Democratic post late Wednesday afternoon.
“The Connecticut Republicans have no opinion about actual racism in their ranks; about demanding that schools stop teaching the history of slavery, about the murderous violence incited by the persistent discussion of replacement theory,” said Nancy DiNardo, Democratic
state chairwoman. “But they are finding racism where there is none. We suggest the CT GOP get online and look up memes with stick people, and that George Logan live in the district where he's running for office.”
Logan, a longtime Ansonia resident, recently moved to Meriden in the 5th District. The Constitution doesn't require members of Congress to live in their districts.
Hayes, who like Winfield is Black, said on Twitter Friday that she interpreted the Democrats' tweet as indicative that
Logan would rather move in with a relative in Meriden that actually moving into the district. “The tweet itself used a cadence popular in millennial posts: e.g. this is Jane - don't be like Jane. I have seen the CTGOP use that same style in tweets about Joe Biden,” she wrote. “I did not see a racial overtone and was surprised when it was framed that way.”
But she planned to delete the tweet.
“I do however, understand perception and my opponent being offended is good enough for me,” Hayes wrote.