An insensitive “joke” about Nazis made by a Utah County GOP leader is prompting sponsors to withdraw their financial support for the county party’s annual fundraising dinner.
GOP sources with knowledge of the situation tell UtahPolicy.com that three major sponsors totaling approximately $15,000 in donations have pulled out of next February’s Utah County Lincoln Day fundraising dinner. Those sources say the withdrawal of support is a direct result of a story first published by UtahPolicy.com that Utah County GOP Vice-Chair Josh Daniels had made a Nazi joke in a private Facebook group.
The Utah County GOP was trying to secure sponsors well ahead of next February’s Lincoln Day Dinner to avoid a last-minute rush to find financial support. The three sponsors informed party officials over the weekend and early this week they were no longer participate in the dinner. A fourth sponsor has expressed concerns about being associated with the party following the publication of the story.
UtahPolicy.com first published the story of Daniels making the ill-advised post in the State Central Committee private Facebook group. Daniels suggested the Central Committee host a “Nazi-themed party” and bill it as “kraut my vote,” in reference to the Count My Vote citizen initiative.
When asked about the Nazi reference, Daniels said it was an attempt to liken the Count My Vote group to fascism.
“It’s common parlance for people to use the term ‘Nazi’ to reference fascism,” said Daniels, who later apologized for the post.
