RNC Candidate Distributes 'Barack The Magic Negro' Song

***UPDATE*** 12/27 4:45PM Reaction on the right to Saltsman's distribution of a song called "Barack the Magic Negro" in his quest to become the new chairman of the RNC has been mixed. One of Saltsman's rivals in the race for RNC chair, Ken Blackwell, an African-American himself, has defended Saltsman, dismissing the criticism as "hypersensitivity in the press":

"Unfortunately, there is hypersensitivity in the press regarding matters of race. This is in large measure due to President-Elect Obama being the first African-American elected president," said Blackwell, who would be the first black RNC Chairman, in a statement forwarded to Politico by an aide. "I don't think any of the concerns that have been expressed in the media about any of the other candidates for RNC chairman should disqualify them. When looked at in the proper context, these concerns are minimal. All of my competitors for this leadership post are fine people."

However, the current chairman of the RNC, Mike Duncan, has issued a statement saying he is "shocked and appalled" that Saltsman could have thought this was appropriate:

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."

EARLIER: The Hill reports that a Republican operative seeking to be the next chairman of the RNC has invited controversy by distributing to committee members a CD filled with songs poking fun at liberals, including one called "Barack the Magic Negro":

RNC candidate Chip Saltsman's Christmas greeting to committee members includes a music CD with lyrics from a song called "Barack the Magic Negro," first played on Rush Limbaugh's popular radio show.

Saltsman, a personal friend of conservative satirist Paul Shanklin, sent a 41-track CD along with a note to national committee members...

...The CD, called "We Hate the USA," lampoons liberals with such songs as "John Edwards' Poverty Tour," "Wright place, wrong pastor," "Love Client #9," "Ivory and Ebony" and "The Star Spanglish banner."

Several of the track titles, including "Barack the Magic Negro," are written in bold font.

Comments

[TangoCharlie]

Why can't people be offended anymore without litigiousness? The land I grew up in forgave people their trespasses. IMHO, if you can't laugh at yourself, someone else will gladly do it for you. Grow a pair or some thicker skin, but ease up. I don't think Don Imus should have been canned, either. That's an abrogation of the 1st Amendment, if I'm not mistaken. Socialism and Poltical Correctness will be the downfall of this great country.

[Kenny G]

Give me a freaking break!!! We make fun of all our presidents... Why is it suddenly so "bad" to make fun of this one? If we have to stop making fun of him simply because of his race then that in itself is the truest form of racism. Get a real life and learn to laugh at yourself.

[Metalhead]

The Republican Party is nothing more than a group of psychpathic religious fanatics who are Klan members and should therefore be banned; its members arrested and given a choice:leave public life or LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

[goldiekins]

I'm sure glad I voted for Obama. The Republican party will never get my vote again as long as they do childish things like this. they better wake up and smell the coffee.

[imfedup]

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: Repubs are never funny when they're trying to be. When they are trying to be serious, they're HILARIOUS.

[newzworthy]

Ken Blackwell needs to give his head a shake. This is not hypersensitivity. I think this song was cleverly written. Bloggers on this blog and other blogs about this topic are making a big deal that the song references an article published in the LA Times, by the liberal, David Erhenstein. So the song includes a reference to a liberal's comments, so what? Now liberals can't take offense? I seriously question Chip Saltsman's intentions. Republicans tried to play on people's racism during the election, by saying things, like "That One" and "Real Americans" and they were called on it by the press and the public. This song is just another attempt to appeal to racists, but it is cleverly disguised as a parody of Al Sharpton.

[bbfmail1]

I THINK THE LYRICS ARE HILARIOUS. Is it on YouTube yet? Very funny and very true. Have had a nice laugh about this.

[user168]

An erratic, bitter, angry, hostile old man once hid racism behind "that one", and an ignorant, cruel-natured, no-blink-a­nd-no-thou­ght, naive but very aggressive woman once provoked hatred with "he's not one of us". Now, what kind of evilness is causing someone to turn a full-of-lo­ve-and-kin­dness-chil­dren's-son­g into a mindless-h­eartless-a­nd-soulles­s resentment of one's own bitter-and-pitiful life? Stupidity?

[Beyonder]

It sounds like Ken Blackwell is just playing good politics. If he is one of Saltsman's rivals in the race for RNC chair, it makes sense to keep a wounded opponent in the race.

[fancynancy1984]

Proposed new psychiatric disorder "Clinically Stupid"

Diagnostic Criteria: Engaging in spectacularly obvious self-defeating behavior with a high probability of a) public humiliation b) career suicide c) death of dismemberment.

Epidemiology: Most common in affluent countries in which people have an abundance of free time and access to technology. A striking increase in prevalence has been observed since the advent of cell-phone cameras and Youtube.

Course specifiers: Juvenile Clinical Stupidity is common and onset coincides with adolescence. Full remission is common after the frontal lobe is fully developed, in adulthood. Adult Clinical Stupidity can occur at any point during the lifespan, but is most commonly triggered by stressors such as divorce, sudden wealth and fame (e.g., Britney Spears), or unconstrained power (e.g., Bill Clinton). The disorder is particularly common when people are forced to act in ways that conflict with their underlying beliefs (e.g., unrepentant racists forced to feign friendship with African Americans-see above), or sexual orientation or proclivities (e.g., Larry Craig, David Vitter, Eliott Spitzer, Mark Foley. . . . . )

[minty68]

This guy looks just like George Allen - macaca, anyone?

[shelobo]

I find it odd that the GOP is condoneing this B/S,considering he GOP was in it's early days so ANTI-slavery and so anti-racis­t.Republic­ans were once strongly identified as the party of Lincoln, the party that freed the slaves, and the party that won the war between the states. During their roughly early 60 years in power the GOP was anti-immigrant and anti-Catholics , which todays modern GOP still sticks to in SOME of it's views ,todays GOP has changed into the most biased ,hate party of our times.The so called "New Right " is still powerful within the Party, but has became unattractive to voters, especially the young. The more moderate branches of the party have made inroads in an attempt to reach out to a greater number of Americans. Maybe they have lost their true 'direction' in politics and are so desperate to have controll of this country they will STILL do anything to regain that power ,even to the point of endorseing and condoneing hate against other races ?So UNAMERICAN ...

[theplaintrutho1]

Thanks,
I made that same point, but seems like some Democrats are too young to remember or will-not-r­ead-about, the way it was/is.
At 58, of course I'm too young, but I love reading (documented) history.

[HaloGuy]

Coming from someone less than half your age: dont' worry, we are also reading.

[PostRacialBlackGirl]

This one incident does nothing to shake my great love for the evolved white people everywhere who helped make BO our new leader. I believe this form of banter from a dying breed of 'bigoted old heads' is about to come to an end...the transition to lasting racial unity has begun. Besides, check out the opposition! This white man is 100% fabulous and his words always make me cry. http://hakashamut.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/tears-of-joy-flow-the-age-of-enlightenment/#comments I am loving white Americans right about now - so glad to be alive today!

[LINY516]

There will always be blacks like Blackwell who will stand up for the worst racists. These people are like roaches, they have always existed and will always exist. We just have to squash one at a time as they raise their ugly heads.

[UpstateNY]

As an American, I am deeply offended by the entire CD! I can't see how anyone would think it was ok for a member of our Congress to send this out as a 'joke' to other members. Can they really be so insensitive? Or so stupid?

[47songs]

Ummm. Yes, they can. Yes, they are.

[biskitdaddy]

It's Tennessee for cryin' out loud...why would anyone expect anything less?