Attendees at a Republican fundraising event have been accused of “political violence” after footage emerged of people beating, kicking and hammering a mannequin made to look like Joe Biden.
The videos, posted to social media, showed guests at the fundraiser in Kansas’ Johnson County attacking the presidential effigy – a mannequin’s torso fitted with a mask of Biden and a “Let’s Go Brandon” t-shirt – with roundhouse kicks and a foam hammer, to varying degrees of success.
Attendees had paid to attend the event, which featured guitarist Ted Nugent and controversial former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, as well as the chance to ‘karate chop’ blocks adorned with more “Let’s Go Brandon” – code for “f*** Joe Biden” – slogans.
General admission prices for the event went for $100, while guests could upgrade to ‘premier’ seats, sold at $300 per head.
Attendees paid to hit the effigy, dressed in a "Let's Go Brandon" t-shirt, with foam bats at the event
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The footage soon went viral online – sparking a severe backlash from both sides of the aisle, but particularly from Republicans themselves.
Kansas GOP chair Mike Brown had advertised the event for weeks through official party emails, for which he also received significant criticism.
His predecessor Mike Kuckelman led online condemnation of the event, and said on social media: This conduct is shameful, and it is WRONG. Brown and [Johnson County Republican chairwoman Maria] Holiday must resign.
“Republicans, especially elected Republicans, must demand the resignations of Brown and Holiday. Silence is complicity in this case.
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Former Kansas GOP chair Mike Kuckelman (right) slammed his successor Mike Brown (left) for promoting the event
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“Hopefully, the only elected official in attendance was Johnson County Sheriff Cal Hayden. He was seated in the front row roped off VIP area. Hayden had deputies in attendance to provide security.
“Fellow Republicans, let’s not forget our outrage when Kathy Griffin engaged in similar shameful conduct against President Trump. We rightfully demanded she be cancelled. Please, we must speak equally as loudly in our opposition now.
“I don’t agree with President Biden’s policies, but he is a fellow human being. No one should condone or defend this horrific and shameful conduct.
“Please join me in condemning last night’s baseball bat beating of the effigy of President Biden, and join me in calling for resignations of Mike Brown and Maria Holiday.
Kuckelman pointed to the 'cancellation' of Kathy Griffin for posting provocative photos holding a fake severed head of Donald Trump
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“We are Republicans, and we are better than this.”
Replies to Kuckelman’s post labelled the event “despicable”, “juvenile” and “disgraceful”, while one commenter said attendees “make being Republican a dirty word”.
While Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Democrat from Johnson County, said: “Political violence of any kind is vile and wrong, and we cannot afford to brush it under the rug when others encourage it… This conduct is shameful and dangerous.”
Even John Altevogt, a conservative commentator – who just this month compared Biden to Hitler – said: “What should become brazenly obvious from this post is the wide range of Republicans who are disgusted by this behaviour… There are Trump people here and Principles First people here. And yet, here we are, joined together to rid the party of this embarrassing scourge.”