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

[BryantG]

I guess they plan on importing a fresh crop of whites from Europe to get through future elections.

[naijaman]

This is wonderful news...I pray this clown gets the job. It will be another huge nail in the GOP coffin.

[libbyrale]

hear! hear!

[Rog49Thomas]

To be successful in an election, you have to understand your constituency.

You don't get elected Grand Wizard by touting your membership in the ACLU.

[BryantG]

What was it that Wright said "US of KKKA".

[FrogLips]

This is just another in a long list of reasons why the Republican Party will soon become known as the Confederate Party.

[BryantG]

I starting calling them the "American White Peoples Party" after watching their convention.

[jazzycafe]

There was not a lot of color variety, was there. It's a very small tent that they have.

[jazzycafe]

Funny. There was sure a lack of variety out there in that crowd. They have a mighty small tent.

[democracy7]

It was interesting to me that when Mccaine gave his concession speach there were almost no people of color, when PE Obama gave his speach, I was struck by the multitudes of the racial raibow that attended Grant park. It was truly an awe inspiring moment.
The republican party keeps shooting itself in the foot. They seem incapable of doing any thing else.

[Amalek]

Please let this man win and become the face of the republican party.

[rosal]

"Members will discuss their ability to reach out to minorities" With this kind of action I doubt they will reach ANY minority in this country. Repbs are really confused and lost. No voices of reason in that Party.

[WhiteDelyte]

This is great news.
RNC and their zealous followers still dont get it.
This is proof that they are falling further behind.
Keep it up Limp-augh, soon you and your party will be completely irrelevant.

[Debanne]

Another fine example why the Republicans did not win the election.

[jneuman771]

How low can one go? Each time it gets better. Such sleezes.......Republicans keep "mining" new lows. Why would any person of diversity want to find themselves associated with this crowd?

[YankeeCanuck]

No one that ignorant should be able to hold public office.

[qdog112]

I give you George Bush and Sarah Palin.

[Sseb]

...and Michael Brown and Donald Rumsfeld.

[donbrown]

The people claiming this is good for Saltsman and the GOP are the SAME ones claiming Palin was McCain's savior in the 2008 election when she was nominated.

They will all go down in flames.

[nomobull]

DANG BEAT ME TOO IT.

[dixiekiwi]

Does the Republican Party today remind anyone else of the overtures related to the Dixiecrat split from the Dems in 1948??

[Bacchus]

LOL, did you read the last sentence of the article?

"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."

Idiots, however, I say republicans, stay the course, I would like to see you defeated again in a third election.

[diogenes1967]

I did, Just did not know how to respond to this article after I read that. Left me simply speechless.

[Shieldmaiden]

As if I needed another reason to NEVER vote for a Republican.

[jmpurser]

Every time I think the GOP has hit an absolute bottom they manage to tunnel out.