Don Yelton made a series of racially incendiary remarks on 'The Daily Show.' | POLITICO Screen grab 'Daily Show' prompts resignation

Conservative activist Don Yelton has stepped down from his position as Republican precinct chairman of Buncombe County, N.C., following controversial comments that aired Wednesday on the Daily Show.

The remarks were made during an interview with Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi, during which Mandvi and Yelton discussed efforts to pass new voter identification requirements in North Carolina, a requirement that many critics argue will subdue voter turnout in the state.


“The law is going to kick the Democrats in the butt,” Yelton said. “If it hurts a bunch of college kids [that are] too lazy to get up off their bohonkas and go get a photo ID, so be it. If it hurts a bunch of whites, so be it.”

Yelton also made a series of racially incendiary remarks to Mandvi as they discussed the law.

“If it hurts a bunch of lazy blacks that want the government to give them everything, so be it,” Yelton added.

Following his controversial interview, the Buncombe county GOP Chairman Henry Mitchell vehemently distanced the party from Yelton’s comments.

“Let me make it very clear, Mr. Yelton’s comments do not reflect the belief or feelings of Buncombe Republicans, nor do they mirror any core principle that our party is founded upon,” Mitchell said in a statement released to the press.

“This mentality will not be supported or propagated within our party,” Mitchell added.

Still, Yelton stood by his comments on Thursday.

“The comments that were made, that I said, I stand behind them. I believe them,” he told Mountain Xpress, a local alternative paper.

During the Daily Show interview, Yelton rejected claims that he is racist.

“I’ve been called a bigot before,” Yelton said. “[And] as a matter of fact, one of my best friends is black.”