Tea Party member in racist email showing Obama and parents as chimps

The email, which included a picture of the Obama family as chimps, was sent by Marilyn Davenport, a Southern California Tea Party activist

A member of the Tea Party has sent a racist email with a picture of Barack Obama and his parents as chimpanzees, it has been revealed.

The email sent by Marilyn Davenport, a Southern California Tea Party activist and member of the central committee of the Orange County Republican Party, was titled: 'Now you know why - no birth certificate.'
The attached picture showed a mocked-up photo of the President as a baby chimpanzee being held by his so-called parents - also chimps in human clothing.
It was sent to fellow conservatives, one of whom then leaked it to the press.
When contacted by Orange County Weekly Ms Davenport said the email had been a 'joke.'
'You're not going to make a big deal about this are you?' she said before adding: 'Oh, come on! Everybody who knows me knows that I am not a racist.
'It was a joke. I have friends who are black. Besides, I only sent it to a few people - mostly people I didn't think would be upset by it.'
But her fellow Republicans aren't seeing the funny side.

Scott Baugh, chairman of the OC Republican Party, told Ms Davenport that the email was 'tasteless.'
'When I saw that email today I thought it was despicable,' Mr Baugh told OC Weekly.

'It is dripping with racism and it does not promote the type of message Orange County Republicans want to deliver to the public.
'I think she should consider stepping down as an elected official,' he added.
Michael J Schroeder, an Orange County resident and former chairman of the California Republican Party, was also not amused.
'This is a three strikes situation for Marilyn Davenport,' Mr Schroeder told the paper.