The following is the official response from the Chairman of the Sussex County GOP Committee, in regards to the Position Statement issued by three Republican Women’s Organizations.
“To the Sussex County Republican Executive Committee, Republican Officials, and other interested parties:
This is in response to the public statements made recently concerning the complaints about alleged inappropriate comments made on a popular local radio station following the Rush Limbaugh show and Mr. Limbaugh’s comments about Donald Trump and Megan Kelly.
While I did not hear the show itself, I have since learned that the local portion of the show included comments that the leadership of the Republican Women’s clubs found offensive.
The Sussex County Republican Advisory Board at its last meeting, Monday, September 14th, unanimously agreed to examine alleged inappropriate comments and actions regarding the Women’s clubs in Sussex County. We voted to request that a cd copy of the radio show be made available and that a code of public conduct be established for members of the Sussex County Republican Party.
Individual Board members of those clubs which authored the letter requested that their letter of complaint and the issues it contained be kept private and that it not be released to the news media.
In our Executive Board meeting which is open to the public and the media, we stated that we had received a letter from the Women’s clubs and that we were taking appropriate action. We announced that we would establish a code of conduct as well.
However, since the State Chairman and the unanimous membership of the State Republican State Senate and State House of Representatives caucuses have made this issue public, I felt it appropriate to make our County response public as well.
The Sussex County Republican committee enjoys widespread support among all Republicans in the County. We will take whatever measures are appropriate to continue to have that support from individual Republicans as well as all elected officials and political clubs in the county.
No other Republican regional or County committee in the State of Delaware enjoys as much support and volunteer participation as we have here in Sussex County. The result of the good will enjoyed by all of our Republican clubs, committees and interest groups has resulted in unprecedented success for our candidates at the polls.
I am prepared to do whatever it takes to see that this controversy does not affect our elected officials, or our clubs and our committee.
If anyone has any questions they may call me at (302) 344-4639.
Sincerely,
William F. “Billy” Carroll
Chairman Sussex County Republican Party”
So let me break this down for you. Let me start with this, “This is in response to the public statements made recently concerning the complaints about alleged inappropriate comments made on a popular local radio station following the Rush Limbaugh show and Mr. Limbaugh’s comments about Donald Trump and Megan Kelly.”
First of all, to call the Duke Brooks Show, “popular”, leads one to question Mr. Carroll’s judgement right from the beginning. But more telling is his use of the word alleged.
When he says, “This is in response to the public statements made recently concerning the complaints about alleged inappropriate comments”. Alleged? Really? REALLY? WOW! So the audio has been posted here, played on The Susan Monday Show on 105.9, and still he hasn’t had a chance to hear it. Again, REALLY?
Also notice he seems to be speaking only about the Monday afternoon episode, which only contained the Fred Silva comments, Mr. Carroll seems to be ignoring the Friday episode which contained Bruce Fitzgerald and Tom Jordan, and the fact that both were hosted by Duke Brooks, all members of Mr. Carroll’s committee, and also was the episode in which he was in studio campaigning for the chairmanship of the committee, all while many of these statements were made.
“While I did not hear the show itself, I have since learned that the local portion of the show included comments that …the leadership of the Republican Women’s clubs found offensive.”
While I did not hear the show itself? He was a part of the Friday fest of female bashing. Notice also he says, “the leadership of the Republican Women’s clubs found offensive“. Not that he found it offensive, oh, that’s right, he hasn’t heard it yet. Right.
“The Sussex County Republican Advisory Board at its last meeting, Monday, September 14th, unanimously agreed to examine alleged inappropriate comments and actions regarding the Women’s clubs in Sussex County.”
OH MY GOD HE SAID ALLEGED AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!
“We voted to request that a cd copy of the radio show be made available and that a code of public conduct be established for members of the Sussex County Republican Party.”
How hard should it be to get a cd copy of the show? I mean how long does it take for Duke Brooks to edit the tape to release? Let me assure all concerned, while we put up audio cuts from the show, we have a complete recording of the show unedited. Go ahead Duke edit away friend.
“Individual Board members of those clubs which authored the letter requested that their letter of complaint and the issues it contained be kept private and that it not be released to the news media.”
I will not say one-hundred percent that this is not true, but I have it from a reliable source that this request was not made, Mr. Carroll simply was hoping to keep this behind closed doors. 
“However, since the State Chairman and the unanimous membership of the State Republican State Senate and State House of Representatives caucuses have made this issue public, I felt it appropriate to make our County response public as well.”
Translation? Since everyone else was condemning the behavior I had no choice but to issue some weak, noncommittal statement.
“The Sussex County Republican committee enjoys widespread support among all Republicans in the County.”
Can someone up Mr. Carroll’s meds? First of all, using the qualifier “all” when talking about the “widespread support” from Republicans within Sussex for that Committee, may not be the best choice of words if you want to be taken seriously.
“We will take whatever measures are appropriate to continue to have that support from individual Republicans as well as all elected officials and political clubs in the county.”
Really? Because I know quite a few Republicans within the County that expect the members of the Committee who said these things to resign, or to be voted out of the Committee, are you going to do that Mr. Carroll? Or is this just another attempt to placate the people upset by the language and behavior that you sat by and allowed to go unchallenged, while being interviewed as a candidate to be Chairman of the Committee?
“No other Republican regional or County committee in the State of Delaware enjoys as much support and volunteer participation as we have here in Sussex County. “
Mr. Carroll, just because you fill seats with fellow travelers for Committee meetings does not mean your Committee is successful. The Sussex County GOP Committee has donated $0.00 to Republican candidates since 2010. The Sussex GOP raised $0.00 last month. The Sussex GOP is spending $1,100.00 on average per month and will run out of money in about four months. So I guess all of that widespread support you were talking about does not equate into actual monetary support, now does it?
” The result of the good will enjoyed by all of our Republican clubs, committees and interest groups has resulted in unprecedented success for our candidates at the polls.”
Again, the Sussex GOP Committee has had nothing to do with that success, this is almost word, for word rhetoric that Mr. Carroll must have picked up from hanging out with Duke Brooks.
“I am prepared to do whatever it takes to see that this controversy does not affect our elected officials, or our clubs and our committee.”
I ask again, does this include asking for the resignation of those involved? Duke Brooks, Bruce Fitzgerald, Tom Jordan, Fred Silva and maybe even yourself.
And finally, “If anyone has any questions they may call me at (302) 344-4639.”
I suggest Republicans, “ALL” Republicans call Mr. Carroll and “TELL” him that these men most go, that the Republicans of Sussex County will not tolerate this behavior, and will not tolerate those who would protect those who perpetrated it.
I had hoped for more from a new Chairman, I hadn’t expected it considering Mr. Carroll’s associates, but I had hoped. This statement demonstrates, in my opinion, that he is willing to try and protect these men, to allow them to stay in the Committee. I hope that this will not be tolerated by Sussex Republican voters.
While I am on the topic of those who have been slow in responding to this issue, the Delaware House Republican Caucus has finally issued a response just today. I guess Sen. Bryant Richardson doesn’t look so slow after all.
“ To: Sussex County GOP Officers:
I was in my car the Friday that Duke had Billy on the radio. I was flipping stations and heard Billy Carroll was going to be on, so I stayed tuned. I stayed, because I was aware of the coming election, but did not know what Billy was all about. I learned very quickly.
The calls were coming in and Duke knew them all. referring to them as buddy and other knowing terms. Well, It was obvious that the boys got together and made a plan on how they were going to get their weakling buddy Billy elected. I say weakling, because Billy said nothing while these boys bashed woman. I wonder what happened to these poor lads that got them in such a fury over the opposite sex? Anyway, as they whined and complained about the Woman supporting a woman, because she was a woman, I wondered how these boys, supporting a boy, because he is a boy, came to the conclusion that the woman were just like them, sexist! I’ve been listening and reading and yet I find no evidence of sexist woman, only sexist boys.
So, why did the woman take a stand? My assumption is that because they are fed up with boys like Duke, Fred, Billy, Tom, and whomever else, Doing nothing while they hold the fund raisers, host debates, provide politicians platforms and give them money.
So, weakling Billy, what are you going to do? I as a voter want you to:
1. Hold a vote on getting rid of these little boys
2. Tell us what you’re going to do in your role to help the GOP (since you and your ilk have done nothing)
3. Do Good!
Kindly
Dale
Fantastic job dissecting this non-apology. The only thing I think you could have been more explicit about was that Carroll makes it blatantly obvious that the ONLY reason he is issuing this apology is to keep people from jumping ship. It’s implied in your analysis, but really needs to be brought home, in my opinion.
Thanks for tipping your hand with the knock on Ellen!
http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/4-12GOPconvention.asp
Dear Ha, your use of Ms. Barrosse’s first name and the link you chose demonstrates a certain closeness with her. Obviously it is you who has tipped your hand. You show that though you may be a person of some influence within the party, you choose to hide you identity. Maybe because like the men who actually said these things, you feel women should be demure, soft spoken housekeepers for their men.
My only knock on Ellen Barrosse is that as the Delaware National Committeewoman for the Republican Party, in an election year that could see one or both major parties with a women at the top of the ticket, it seems odd that Ms. Barrosse has not come out in defense of the Republican women’s clubs who were attacked.
But this is the problem with single issue people after all.
“… alleged inappropriate comments made on a popular local radio station following the Rush Limbaugh show”
Well, there you have it. The Rush Limbaugh who popularized the term “feminazi”, referred to a woman arguing for mandating insurance coverage for contraceptives as a “slut”, is on the same radio station as these gentlemen.
Wonder if Bill Carroll, Frank Knotts and the 3 Republican women’s organizations will go after the big tuna, once they catch their 3 minnows?
Alleged:
: accused of having done something wrong or illegal but not yet proven guilty
: said to have happened but not yet proven
His use of this word is interesting, no? Either he is saying it can’t be proved to have happened, or what was said hasn’t been proven to be wrong/inappropriate.
What comes through with his use of the phrase “alleged inappropriate comments” is that he doesn’t find the comments inappropriate. He’s acting as if there’s another way to view these comments that makes them… appropriate? That they haven’t been proven to be inappropriate?
Delacrat, you may find this hard to believe, but I have not listened to Rush Limbaugh for over three years or more. That is how you “go after” people who rely on ratings. Big tunas or minnows.
Good catch Pandora. Maybe he is waiting for the investigation. Or maybe he is wondering what was inappropriate about the remarks. Regardless, it is useful when folks speak their minds. It gives everyone a glimpse about what’s inside. Silva and Brooks were actually performing a public service by giving everyone insight into those dark recesses.
That press release was a carefully crafted document that really says nothing, admits nothing, acknowledges nothing, and was written by the offenders themselves. Political spin at its worst IMHO. I urge all R’s in the state who do not believe their ” follow 3 steps behind me crap ” to hold them and the EC to the fire!
WWPD
(What Would Priscilla Do)
She would stand proud with the Women’s Clubs and the Caucus’ too. That’s back in the day when we were a Party with leadership.
I wonder if there is any threshold of embarrassment in the party?