Republicans: "Magic Negro" Song Good For RNC Candidate

Politico reports that RNC candidate Chip Saltsman's distribution of a song called "Barack the Magic Negro" hasn't killed his chances -- in fact, the scandal "might have inadvertently helped" him win. Most of Saltsman's rivals for the chairmanship have condemned his actions, but other party members are rallying to his side.

Four days after news broke that the former Tennessee GOP chairman had sent a CD that included a song titled "Barack the Magic Negro" to the RNC members he is courting, some of those officials are rallying around the embattled Saltsman, with a few questioning whether the national media and his opponents are piling on.

"When I heard about the story I had to figure out what was going on for myself," said Mark Ellis, the chairman of the Maine Republican Party. "When I found out what this was about I had to ask, 'boy, what's the big deal here?' because there wasn't any."

Alabama Republican committeeman Paul Reynolds said the fact the Saltsman sent him a CD with the song on it "didn't bother me one bit."

Republicans say current RNC chair Mike Duncan is only hurting himself by denouncing the song, while Ken Blackwell improved his position by defending Saltsman:

Indeed, in a fluid race in which six candidates are vying for the votes of 168 members, both Blackwell and Saltsman stand to benefit from a backlash to the flap.

Most observers expect Duncan to lead after the first ballot, but few expect he or any other candidate will be able to secure election on a first ballot. For either Saltsman or Blackwell to win election they will likely need the votes of the other's supporters to break in their direction, along with any other committee members who are not enamored of Duncan's leadership.

In calls to committee members in recent days, both Saltsman and Blackwell have been reminding Republicans of how both Duncan and [Michigan GOP Chair Saul] Anuzis reacted to the story.

Mike Huckabee defended Saltsman, his former campaign manager, on his blog.

"Chip should have been more careful in his selection of Christmas gifts, but no one who knows him would ever suggest that he in any way would purposely disparage other people," Huckabee wrote. "Chip knows how sensitive such issues are. It shouldn't be the main factor in the RNC race."

The Republican National Committee is holding a series of debates in January where members will discuss their ability to reach out to minorities and expand the party.

Comments

[TimRivers]

Is there any wonder why the GOP is in such dissarray? They can't even recognize when they've f**ked up! Then they wonder why people say they have lost touch with the country....Hmmmm, I wonder why....

[keepemhonest]

It figures ... only in the RNC could THIS song help a candidate win ... ONLY IN THE RNC.

[LWkcma]

WTF

[drsmc41]

I cannot believe they would actually think WE are stupid believe this irrational thinking.

[bubbuh]

Dubya got reelected. Enough said.

[LMPE]

It's helped him? Well, that says something about the GOP.

[DMSmith]

It says EVERYTHING about the GOP.

That they think this is ok, and don't realize what the problem is, is stunning in the extreme.

Flat out amazin!!

I think Rev. Warren was wrong - It's not gays who prove evolution to be false...it's Republicans!

[berrycooda]

Made a fool of himself because there is still a lot of racism out there.

Heard a black man on CNN last night....he said it wasn't that bad and he brought up
all the racist remarks said by democrats that nobody made comments about.

I guess it depends on which foot the shoe is on.

There are many black republicans and many black democrats....and just as many white for
both sides. The election was almost a tie, so there are too many comments that keep
making it a racial thing.

It is a good thing that P.E. Obama is BI-RACIAL so both sides can relate to him
He is already getting criticism from both sides about the choices he has made.

So...you can't please all the people all the time..... And the Magic song should not be
blamed on all the Republicans....that is just as stupid as the song is.

[jesuslovesObama]

Except that these people represent all Republicans to the public.

[some-realtalk]

Well the CD also had insulting songs about hispanics as well.

[Girl28]

Ok. last comment is pending, I'll try again.

I have no words for the likes of Ken Blackwell or Mike Huckabee.

[democracy7]

Oh, I have alot of things to say about those two,but it would be slightly off point. What is the point is that the song is prety mean spirited. If they can't even recognize where they crossed the line and some of the REpublican elite fails to recognize it, then its symptomatic of a diseased party.
Euthenasia is the only 'cure'.

[jazzycafe]

So a couple of republican committee guys who received the CD think it's no big deal.
What about some well known republicans? Why aren't more of them coming out to comment on it?
Come on, defend it or condemn it, take a stand. I wonder how many of the recipients thought it was funny.

[diogenes1967]

I swear you cannot make this up!

[pir anha]

"Chip should have been more careful in his selection of Christmas gifts, but no one who knows him would ever suggest that he in any way would purposely disparage other people,"

oh, so he's "just" an unconscious racist? that is SO much better!

thanks for clearing that up, huckabee. but it seems that others in your party would like him to be a more conscious racist. GO, republicans, GO!

[Lauramae]

It's no wonder Black people tend to shun the GOP.

Gee whiz republicans, buncha racists.

[Promisin1]

I agree!

[democracy7]

The republicans have proven by this action that they are more than capable of leading. Leading us down the same tired path that we as a nation travelled 50 years ago. God help us all.

[democracy7]

It's not just the Black people, its the Latinos, Indians and some Whites. Mmm, perhaps its all thinking people that morally understand the nuances of racism and abhore it.

[whatawebb]

And a whole lot of other ethnic groups shun the GOP/RNC too - including Whites

[qdog112]

t's in the GOP -- DNA.

Best said by former football coach, Denny Green, "THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!"

[levelshot]

ROFLMAO!!!

[connski]

These guys just want to prime the racist pump so that if policy gets
difficult for President Obama, they have advance traction on
one angle of blame.

[BryantG]

Reaching out to minoriries is a no-brainer. Minorities vote democratic because in their view the party's platform and issues best addresses their needs. A repeal of the inheritance tax does little to address the immediate needs of poor and working class people, who are disproportionately minority. The same can be said, though to a lesser extent, regarding capital gains tax cuts. The republicans profess a distain for the federal government and celebrate states rights, but in African-American living memory it was state governments that fought against racial equality, and federal troops that were marshaled to escort little black girls to school. In that regard I believe in the mind of most African-Americans, the Federal government, with all its inefficiencies, is still perceived as the champion of last resort. While socially conservative on the whole, economic needs tend to be more critical for minorities. So issues like abortion and same-sex marriage take a back seat to healthcare and effective public education (an institution which many died just to be able to attend). Republicans proclaim that policies enacted to redress inequities resulting from historic discriminatory practices are themselves discriminatory. A position, I submit, that is much more palatable to those not living the negative results of historic discrimination. The list goes on but suffice it to say that like all Americans, minorities select the party or candidate that is most likely to address their needs. Oh, and one more thing, racially insensitive songs don't really help your case.

[lis60]

They are total idiots and I hope they keep going.