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Bob Schaffer's Son Apologizes For Obnoxious Facebook Page

The son of Colorado GOP Senate candidate Bob Schaffer is causing his dad a little embarrassment on the campaign trail this week.

Nineteen-year-old Justin Schaffer publicly apologized for putting up posters on his Facebook page including one declaring "Slavery Gets Shit Done."

Among the Facebook page additions are a plethora of images that mock Barack Obama -- painting him as Muslim, elitist, homosexual and a terrorist. One even goes so far as to compare the presumptive Democratic candidate for president to the cereal-box character "Count Chocula."

The page also includes several pro-gun images. One "bumper sticker" shows an image of Jesus holding an M-16 in front of a Confederate flag, with the words "What Would Republican Jesus Do?" Another features a bevy of different kinds of guns with the words, "Celebrate Diversity" underneath.

Schaffer, an economics major at the University of Dayton, issued an apology to a local news station in Colorado that first reported the story:

"I do not agree with the sentiment or content of the offensive material, especially the 'bumper sticker' that references slave labor. It is clear that my actions were juvenile, disrespectful, and a mistake on my part.

"The offensive materials directly contradict the values that my parents taught me and are forbidden in my parents' home. My Facebook page is solely my responsibility, and I am saddened that my actions have reflected poorly on my sisters and parents."

His father spoke to 9NEWS on the phone after an event in Glenwood Springs Monday evening and said, "My wife and I have initiated a process of firm and severe discipline with our son."

"Cap'n Bootyplunder," as one friend referred to the younger Schaffer in a wall post, is just 19, yet a number of his "bumper stickers" refer to drinking games and alcohol. His interests include "being cool, girls."

The images come from a website called www.schafferfamilyvalues.com, where an unknown party mirrored Schaffer's Facebook page so it could be displayed publicly.

A few highlights from "Justin Schaffer's Adventures in Facebook" after the jump.


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Apples don't fall far from the tree, nor do "nuts."

From members-in-good-standing of the "Family Values" party......

Apples don't fall far from the tree, nor do "nuts."

Well said. No one's fooled.

What a vile piece of work.

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Way to live up to all of our stereotypes of privileged Republican rich kids, Justin Schaffer!

No wonder they shipped him off to Dayton, Ohio for college! (Fine school but a random destination coming from Colorado.)

Minor point here, but Schaffer grew up in Dayton. It's likely he still has family there, so it's not totally off the wall.

"My wife and I have initiated a process of firm and severe discipline with our son."

My suggestion is that this kid get his discipline and be placed on the fast track to maturity at Parris Island where there are quite a few instructors who know the meaning of "severe".


This stuff is actually kind of funny. Nothing more extreme than what you would find at Hot Topic or Spencers gifts.

Cue the outrage!!!!

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"I do not agree with the sentiment or content of the offensive material, especially the 'bumper sticker' that references slave labor. It is clear that my actions were juvenile, disrespectful, and a mistake on my part."

I wonder who wrote this statement for him?

I hope that even the gullible aren't fooled by Justin's disclaimer. He may not even completely understand the full meaning of the things that he posted, but if he thinks they're "cool," then he embraces them on an instinctive level.

Maybe we need to start worrying about the next generation of Republicans, who have such a deep sense of entitlement the rest of the country will be even worse off than we are now, they're ever allowed to take power.

I think the point is this: He "apologized" because he had to. Maybe Daddy offered to kick the shit out of him if he didn't, maybe some other reason - doesn't matter much; this crap isn't intended to fool anybody.

The wing-nuts know he's really one of them. He's writing "I will not fart in church" 1,000 times - while cooking up the next batch of chili.

Intelligent people (the other 86% of Americans) don't buy it because they know this dumb-ass little punk is too brain dead to actually understand this stuff really is, you know... juvenile.

At the end of the day, Daddy's career is on the rocks. Junior's career is, thankfully, stillborn.

"kick the shit out of him"? More likely stop paying his college tuition and expenses. Probably same thing in this case.

Nah. They'll REALLY hurt him.

Bring him back to Colorado, stick him with a mere used sports car and make him attend a tier three commuter college with no fraternities. Treat him like one of the peons. Except that he won't have to get a job at a fast food place to pay for it. That's TOO punitive.

If by hurt you mean take away his Titanium card and leave him with just a Platinum card.

I do not agree with the content or sentiment then why put it on your facebook page? And if you think this sort of stuff is edgy and/or funny then I question your upbringing.

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The pyramid sticker suggests that he learned all too well from his dad's escapades with the Northern Mariana's sweatshops.

Good one. You hit it.

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Yes. That pyramid sticker leaves a choice to be made. Either the Marianas conditions were a good idea, or, in context with the other crap, there is a really profound bigrotry being taught in this family.

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Ho. Lee. Shit.


I'll be curious to see how much play this gets in the Denver media.

Very brief article on the Denver Post web page, same for local NBC and CBS affiliates.

Nothing on Rocky Mountain News site or local ABC

All I have to say..CHARMING!

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Good ole Justin, laboring in the minor leagues of Republican slime for the moment but shows great promise....may be another Lee Atwater.

This should be the end of his father's career, and also his own career in politics. By their fruit, we shall know them.

I completely agree. this asshole was breed, nurtured and bloomed AT HOME!

This is way worse than macaca. You have to take affirmative steps to (1) register as a facebook user; (2) find objectionable content; and (3) post said content on the page. By any and every reasonable standard, this brat is guilty of intentionally promoting the worst kind of racism.

What did we do last time 'round to make sure Allen didn't get a free pass? We should do it again, whatever it was...

And while I'm at it, his "Jesus" pic is blasphemous, but I won't wait for those "religious conservatives" to condemn it.

So. Exactly what was papa teaching his boy?

Great to see those Republican Christian values at work!

Geez, do they even know what the word HYPOCRITE means?

Vote Smart in 2008. No More Idiot Presidents (or Idiot Senators)!

This IS colorado we're talking about here, folks...

there's lib/lefties in Denver, Boulder, and the rich ski towns. Pretty much everywhere else, it's a pretty red state--Colorado = "Red" mas o menos...

This might not hurt Schaffer at ALL...

Oh yes, this will hurt Schaffer, your analysis of our demographics is spot on but you forgot to mention that more than 50% of the population lives in those places too.

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"The son of Colorado GOP Senate candidate Bob Schaffer is causing his dad a little embarrassment on the campaign trail this week."

I didn't know that a politician who's knee deep in scandal and possibly facing indictment could actually feel embarrassment.

"Silly liberal, paychecks are for workers."

This from a 19 year old punk who is still suckling at his parents' teats (metaphorically, of course).

There are a lot of clueless college kids, though, so I wouldn't necessarily chalk it up to his republicanism.

that kind of mentality and attitude was accepted in that family. he was raised like that.

the gop criticizes obama for being in a church w/ rev wright as pastor? when obama hasnt done anything that is contradictory to his christian faith?

this kid is a product of a home where values of doing right by your fellow man was not encouraged at the very least. the schaffer family are hypocrites.

let the cynicism wash over you like a slurry of saccharin and rocky mountain oysters . . . . mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

He said he doesn't agree with his own sentiments.

Oh and he apologized.

That's good enough for me, I'm sure his family is very very very upset with him.

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Parents are not responsible for every action their children take, but they are responsible for raising their children with sound values. The values Schaeffer seems to have instilled in his son include racism, homophobia, sexism and did I mention racism, racism, racism. This is not some crossing-the-line bigotry, this is full-blown white supremacy, sheets-in-the-closet white supremacy. If this joker gets elected dog catcher, every voter in his district should be ashamed.

The idea of "firm and severe discipline" for a nineteen-year-old is at least as stupid as anything he posted on his Facebook page. Probably more so. Do his parents think he's ten years old????

And disciplining ANYONE for posting stupid pictures that are basically harmless, no matter how offensive? RIDICULOUS.

You really have to credit the Right for their stellar cognitive dissonance, don't you? The young man says, one presumes with a straight face, "I do not agree with the sentiment or content of the offensive material," without even deigning to say why he posted it.

"I thoroughly disagree with everything I have said" is not an easy moral stance to take. He's a budding Senator already.

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The slavery poster will help with the black and Jewish votes.
Oh, right. They won't vote for his dad anyway.
Must have been fertile ground at home for this kind of thing to take hold in the kid's mind and creative output. He probably hangs out with a bunch of knuckleheads who agree.
Mistakes were made. He apologized. Anyone bringing this up with Bob is playing the race card.

And a little elitism, as well.

You guys are right. He is only reflecting what he has learned at home and from his friends. It speaks volumns.

I do not agree with the sentiment or content of the offensive material...My Facebook page is solely my responsibility...

I can't figure out if this guy's future is in Cable News ("Later tonight, so-and-so discusses whether Americans focus too much on trivia. After the break, we'll find out if Scott Petersen is trying to contact Lacy beyond the grave"), or as a PR flack.

The douchebag doesn't fall far from the tree, eh?

I'd say punish him by making him transfer to Berkeley, Reed or Antioch, but since he's at UDayton (and he posts stuff like this on Facebook), he obviously lacks the smarts.

Some other little nuggets from the facebook page:

"Justin wrote on the wall for the group Democracy Bad, Republic Good. 12:11am"

"Justin left the group Pole Dancers for Jesus. 12:08am"

One of his favorite TV Shows: I Love Tila Tequila

His favorite quote:
"The heart of the fool inclines to the left, while the heart of the wise inclines toward the right." (Its a passage from the Bible i forget which, but it proves God is a republican)

And dont tell me nobody saw this beauty: http://www.schafferfamilyvalues.com/index_files/01AwcAX3d_z2cAAAADAAAAAAAAAAA.png

Gotta love how swine like this swarm Facebook, and just yesterday I had my account terminated for god-knows-what after having it for 4 years.

I mean, this is off-topic, but even when a kid was making death threats against Hillary for months straight, Facebook never stood in to take care of the problem. Hate sites and those which advocate violence and even raise money for groups like Hezbollah are allowed to thrive, and yet you can be banned for showing a nipple.

Here, here! Long live the exposed nipple!

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"Silly liberal, paychecks are for workers."

I don't understand this at all. Anybody know?

liberal = welfare state = cadillac driving welfare queens

OMG, 19 yr-old makes obnoxious joke!!! Who cares. He is young and has a right to put up obnoxious jokes on his facebook site. Get over yourselves. You guys have no right to parent or censor someone else's son's facebook page. And some of that stuff is funny. I'll laugh at an obnoxious joke even if I don't agree with the underlying premise. I'll laugh because someone had the audacity to make a truly outrageous joke. Did Shaffer raise his son to be a racist? Doubt it. Did Shaffer's son grow up to be a rich arrogant a-hole? Probably. But, really, who cares? The only lesson here is: don't allow public access to anything on facebook that you don't want the public to see. Should be obvious by now. (anyone applying for jobs knows this well) Everytime it embarrasses someone famous it's a news story. Don't be that news story.

apparently you have no idea what the word 'censor' means.

the kid's a turd. nobody said he doesn't have a right to be a turd. everyone's just exercising their own right to make observations about the kid being a turd. and how his being a turd reflects poorly on his politician father (who is also a turd).

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Where do you think the phrase "common decency" comes from? These is our social morality being discussed and formulated, and in an ultimately democtractic fashion, WE are judging what THAT means.
Unless bozo gets slapped good and hard, HE becomes part of who we are at his level. I for one do not want that. He is truly free to say what he wants, but we as a society also have a right to make him an outcast.

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I'll buy this is a reflection of the kid's attitudes, but I don't think it's as big a deal as anyone's making it out to be. "Cap'n Bootyplunder"? Gee, a college sophomore drinking and chasing girls? Stop the presses! Really, folks... how many politicians, from either party, whether we favor them or not, have raised perfect little angels? (And how many of us were perfect little angels?)

I'm guessing some of you don't understand how Facebook applications work. So junior added the Bumper Sticker app. Now it lets his friends contribute small images to that box on his page--each one is identified with its sender. At worst, I see casual disregard for some disrespectful expressions. Obnoxious? Please, this couldn't be more routine.

The only news here is Justin foolishly failed to restrict his profile to friends only, and signed his name to an apology some political flack wrote for him. Move along, nothing else to see here.

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Yeah, Justin's an idiot that forgot what his daddy does for a living and as jlinquist notes isn't smart enough to restrict his Facebook page to his personal elite group of racists, bigots and general all-around jackasses.

Seriously, if this guys career is not ruined because of this then yet again I will be very sad for this nation. His comments are offensive, racist, historically inaccurate and whoefully ignorant. I Scheiffer has any integrity left in his body then he surely must quit the campaign trail.

I am totally appalled, and this is why I am angry every time I hear my friends and family who are Republican try to defend their party. If they had any sense they would understand that many Americans are really ready to look past our differences between R and D's to move the ball forward but their lack of leadership and integrity in situations such as these show their true colors.

You do realize that this is his sons facebook page right?

Shame,shame, shame. So much for family values. There ypu go James Dobson, that is what focus on the family is raising these days.

Not surprising that he would go under the moniker Cap'n Bootyplunder, cause his father is a General-Ass too!

I never understand how some people get all the wrong lessons from their own history. In the case of Schaffer Jr. was probably caused by taking too much drugs from his father's bathroom cabinet - stop that or you will end up offering your 50 something wife for a bikini "beauty" contester in front of a crowd who already got drunk with beers and hot dogs while all of their kids watching.

Am I the only Obama supporter who actually thinks the Count Chocula one is funny? Look at their chins! Almost identical.

Also, 19 year old son of politician is a douchebag and has an obnoxious facebook page: Film at 11.

I'm not surprised or outraged or anything. He's just not sly enough to be polite about holding his cards close to his vest yet.

i'm not an obama supporter but i did think the count chocula one was kinda funny. though not being a racist myself, the racial angle did not immediately occur to me the same way it probably would to actual racist pricks like justin and his facebook friends. it's not overtly or even necessarily racist in and of itself. but taken as a piece of a whole the picture becomes a bit clearer.

Those sure were tasteless, dumb jokes & they signal his "conservative" political outlook (and a reliably beastly attitude often shown by the entitled few). Slavery joke in particular is offensive, yet I'm certain our young man doesn't care one whit how obnoxious he appears.
Rather stupid for a college boy, too -- reminds me of Dan Quayle -- yet somehow I don't feel any outrage today...not always in outrage mode, I guess.

This guy's the same age as my daughter. Thank god she's a lesbian.

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“As for a spoiled life, no life is spoiled but one whose growth is arrested.”

Oscar Wilde

Not surprising coming from some well to do over privileged white boy who got everything he ever wanted in his life.

Just like the frat boys in "Borat", they have the whole world at their disposal, but yet it's the 'blacks and mexicans' that are getting all the breaks in life.

I deeply regret my behavior (because I got caught).

It was juvenial and disrespectful (once non-conservatives find out about it.)

The offensive materials directly contradict the values that my parents taught me and are forbidden in my parents' home (during campaign season).

I wonder what other self described Roman Catholics, as justin describes himself, think of the WWRJD picture of "Jesus with assault rifle." I guess this is the sort of stuff we should expect from "America's Next Generation of Conservatives."
Also the complete failure of Liberty Common School to instill its mission statement of "the development of mature literacy and critical thinking, for growth and communication in a diverse society."

Wow! I am almost speechless. He managed to smear Jesus, Obama, insult women, racial/ethnic minorities, gays. And he somehow doesn't agree with the sentiments expressed....yeah right. I hope Colorado now knows who they are dealing with in the elder Schaffer.

Yet further proof that the Republican Right is getting dumber each generation.