To: Jim Roddy, Allegheny County GOP Chairman

Calling for Allegheny County GOP Chairman Jim Roddey apology

Allegheny County GOP Chairman Jim Roddey should apologize for saying that people with Obama bumper stickers are "mentally retarded."

Why is this important?

It is always fine to have a difference of opinion. Every day, you have to work with others who have a different opinion than you. Being mature enough actually work through your differences, and that of the other person, or group, to get things accomplished is at the very foundation of our democracy.

So any person holding any office who represents any political affiliation, especially one of the major political parties, and resorts to calling a person, or groups of people, names are childish and should not be tolerated.

Here is the offense. Allegheny County GOP Chairman Jim Roddey said: "There was a disappointment tonight. I was very embarrassed," Roddey told the crowd, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I was in this parking lot and there was a man looking for a space to park, and I found a space for him. And I felt badly–he looked like he was sort of in distress. And I said, 'Sir, here's a place.' And he said, 'That's a handicapped space.' I said, 'Oh, I'm so sorry, I saw that Obama sticker, and I thought you were mentally retarded.'" (Copied from The Huffington Post.)

I am requesting that this person apologize in public and in print to the Republican Party, to all handicapped individuals, and to mentally challenged persons for using the derogatory comment to further polarize people and damaging the integrity of the electoral process.