I just just ran across this in the news and am going to call it the way I see it. If the GOP really wants to attract, younger, moderate and minority voters this is not the way to do it. Mr. Chip Saltsman is really a sad case because people are not laughing with him but at him. The case is even sadder because odds are Mr. Saltsman doesn't understand the concept of someone laughing with you as opposed to at you. There is a big difference.
Most readers know that I'm African American but at this I'm not offended at all. You just have to consider the source and keep moving forward. It looks like Mr. Chip Saltsman and others like him are just analog in a world that's digital.
GOP chair 'appalled' by 'Magic Negro' CD
Mike Allen Mike Allen
2 hrs 38 mins ago
Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan issued a statement Saturday distancing the party's leadership from one of the GOP's best-known operatives, Chip Saltsman, who distributed a CD containing "Barack the Magic Negro" as part of his campaign to be elected chairman of the Republican National Committee next month.
Duncan, who has served the campaigns of five presidents dating back to Richard Nixon, is seeking reelection as the party's 60th chairman in a hotly contested race that includes Saltsman and several other viable candidates.
Saltsman, 40, was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's campaign manager during the Republican presidential primaries.
Saltsman sent Republican National Committee members, who will choose the next chairman, a CD by conservative political satirist Paul Shanklin, "We HATE the USA." It contains the controversial track, which was popular on conservative radio. Shanklin's Web site promises "absolutely the best parodies in talk radio."
Duncan's statement, in full: "The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party. I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate as it clearly does not move us in the right direction."
Saltsman's candidacy for national party chair is endorsed by Huckabee and fellow Tennessean Bill Frist, the former Senate majority leader.
Saltsman defended his song selection to The Hill's Reid Wilson, who first reported the gift.
"Paul Shanklin is a longtime friend, and I think that RNC members have the good humor and good sense to recognize that his songs for the Rush Limbaugh show are light-hearted political parodies," Saltsman told The Hill.
Saltsman's marketing campaign comes as Republicans grapple with ways to offer a counterpoint to President-elect Obama at a time when the country is largely supportive of his appointments and policies.
The national GOP ticket lost badly in November among many growing voter groups - including young people, Hispanics and suburbanites. Party officials says that a voter base consisting of the South plus social conservatives is not a dependable way to win elections.
In the "Republican Plan for Victory" that is Saltsman's platform in the chairman's race, he writes: "I believe that countering an emboldened Democratic Party, led by the Obama-Reid-Pelosi troika, requires an aggressive national strategy. This campaign's message cannot depend upon traditional media outlets or communication methods. It will require building upon new media and developing and mastering new tactics."
The disclosure by The Hill was met with an odd silence from Republican leaders. The story was posted at 12:10 p.m. on Friday, was quickly picked up by Talking Points Memo, and for a time was the banner headline on The Huffington Post, later replaced by Israeli's strikes on Gaza.
Duncan issued his statement after Politico noted the party's 22-hour silence.
Politico has exchanged e-mails with an aide to Saltsman, and will post a response when it arrives.
Saltsman is a former development director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and was elected chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party in 1998.
Update I went ahead and posted a few images for those that feel this type of activity is in keeping with the times.
Here is the latest in tech for them- the 8 track tape player
Let's not forget the latest fashion either for these folks
Finally lets' provide the latest in home entertainment for those that feel such songs that I've stated in this article are in keeping with what is soon to be 2009.
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Comments: 44
Understand the game and be smart enough not to play it with him.
I certainly hope the RW keeps up with this racist slur. Every hour, every day. Too long they have hidden behind "created reality." This type of stuff is the bones and marrow, muscle and sinew of the Republican party 08. America NEEDS to know it by heart. Keep it up.
This is the type of stuff that backfired on the GOP in the last election many of them don't understand why and it's because they are analog in a digital world.
This is one of the reasons why African Americans are so skeptical of the Republican Party.
It says to me that they don't respect us or take us seriously even if an African American achieves the highest office in the land.
I've never mentioned this before, but I remember looking at the Republican Presidential Convention and saying to myself that it didn't represent the growing diversity of our country.
And to think that a parody calling Barack Obama, the "Magic Negro" would have any republicans chuckling tells me that I supported the correct party and candidate in this past election.
Where do these people get their sense of humor from? Why does the humor ever have to be at the expense of a particular racial or ethnic group?
I'm sure you remember Senator George Allen's "Macaca" moment. It basically derailed any attempt at the presidency that he had.
Will these people ever learn? Or better yet, will they ever change?
Saltsman is trying to provoke outrage for his own good. That's why I say stay cool, think about a proper response. Let Saltsman and his cronies be analog in a digital age and thus self-destruct. This is the type of stuff that will cause them to crash and burn, hand them a shovel and watch them dig their own grave.
In other words, Carl Rove's strategy of keeping Americans divided, is no longer effective. The American people have seen the results of that strategy and won't be fooled by it again.
First of all people are genetically coded as to whether they are conservative, liberal or in between. That's my opinion at least. Second of all that magic negro song came from a headline from the L.A. Times around the same time Sharpton was questioning whether or not Barack was an authentic African American and around the time Joe Biden was expressing how shocked he was that Obama was the first clean articulate African American he ever saw. The song was mocking the media and everybody talking out of their collective @$$es at the time. None of you thought the weekly disparaging parodies of Sarah Palin were appalling so grow some skin and quit feeling sorry for yourselves. You actually should know what you are talking about instead of just always breathlessly searching for a reason to be offended. Grow up.
"""But it's clear that Obama also is running for an equally important unelected office, in the province of the popular imagination — the "Magic Negro."
http://www.afro-netizen.com/2007/03/obama_the_magic.html
""""I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man." """"
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/31/biden.obama/
Like I said. Get over yourselves.......
I doubt if a conservative is one because of the genetic code, Jeff. It usually takes a certain amount of disdain for anyone less fortunate to adopt the current conservative view. It is amazing to me how many conservatives will rant and carry on about the cost of an employee, the whole time insisting that giving tax breaks to the wealthy creates more wealth. That takes gall.
I'm quite sure that most Republicans will reject this type of thing.
But the fact of the matter the world is a changing place, no one is going to go back to the horse and buggy or 8 track tape player anytime soon.
For those that try to defend this or think it's funny in today's age these modern day Don Quixotes may want to re-read Don Quixote. They want to be knights and fight dragons but era of and knights and dragons is long passed and doesn't exist.
Joe, I don't have disdain for people less unfortunate that's where you start inserting your bias and stereotype that you cling to so hard. I have disdain for the politicians who keep coming back with failed solutions that have turned once thriving beautiful cities like Detroit into barren wastelands of poverty and despair. 50 years of democrat rule in Detroit and look what it has gotten them. That's just one of many examples. And Joe I have told you before, There is plenty of room for all races, genders, and sexual orientations for those who go get it. The examples are endless. As far as genetic code, I think it has been proven that almost everything that stimulates our intellectual curiosity and visual preferences are rooted in our genes. If you can believe scientists who tell you what the weather will be in 50 years surely you can believe this.
Brian, I gave you links to actual stories that inspired the mockery of stupid people saying stupid things which was the whole inspiration of the satire. It even has Al Sharpton singing through a bullhorn if you can remember the good old day's of his running around New York City, in a jogging suit, stoking racial tensions. It has actual quotes from the liberal who said the magic negro comes from white guilt. It has elements of Biden never dreaming of a day that he would meet an articulate Black person.
All good comedy has an element of truth to it and this song nailed it. I am sorry that Brian is still too hung up on words like negro for him to see the humor in it. Don't blame the song, blame the liberals who inspired it. You can keep saying this humor is from the dark ages but liberals have said everything in that song over the passed 2 years. And you admire them. Perhaps they have to quit living in the fantasy that everything Blacks have came from the hand of a white liberal. Talk about "olden times"......
That being said I'm sure that those that find humor in such a song are going to put on their leisure suit, crank up the 8 track and take a Sunday cruise. Nothing like being in tune with the times!
This last election was DIRTY on both sides.
And if you ask me Sarah Palin got the worst of it. The New York Times ran three front page stories about Palin's pregnant teenage daughter. Even the National Enquirer never sank so low.
The African Americans are owned by the democrat party despite all the solutions and promises African Americans still think that they need democrats but have done nothing but make things worse. I suppose promises of free stuff beat results but who cares. If Blacks like their life in Detroit they should continue to vote democrat. We get the governments we deserve.
Robert and Sam, You are the type of people that make the satire work. We love it when you get offended. Thanks:)
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Brian I voted for Obama in the primaries for two reasons.
1.) I thought he was the weaker candidate.
2.) If the democrats won I would rather it be him.
I think Obama was the better candidate in this election. I think he is on the right track. It doesn't mean that I think like moonbats and assume every satire and disagreement has some racial undertones to them.
Demagog:
1 : a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
You call people who disagree with you demagogs but I think it might be Saltsman and Shanklin who are the demagogs