Historical Keepsake Photo: Tennessee GOP Staffer Emails Racist Obama "Spook" Photo

UPDATE: A former aide to ex-Vice President Dick Cheney said on CNN Wednesday morning that Sherri Goforth should be fired for emailing a racist photo to colleagues.

Racism cannot be tolerated for those who have the public trust. This individual said that 'I sent it to the wrong person.' Well, she needs to be looking for a new job, she needs to be fired. It's a poor reflection on her institution that she works in in the state Senate in Tennessee, and a poor reflection on her member. ... Racism has to be stamped out. That's why I said this staffer needs to go. And I think the appropriate course of action would be for this staffer to be dismissed.

Watch, via ThinkProgress:

* * * * *

Sherri Goforth, an executive assistant for Tennessee State Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin), sent this picture out to other legislative staffers:

The email was headlined "Historical Keepsake Photo."

One staffer who received the email publicized it online:

I talked to my local rep, Mark Maddox about it, and described the picture to him at a recent fund raising event. I think he was as appalled as I was. I was going to post it last week but there was a death in my family and I had to think about it.

Because it made me mad.

But, you know, people need to know that this stuff is going on. I would be just as angry if a democratic staffer had sent it.

Dammit, Tennessee, haven't we moved past this kind of crap. I'm serious.

Goforth admitted to sending the email, but she apologized only for sending it to the wrong people.

"I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button," Goforth said. "I'm very sick about it, and it's one of those things I can't change or take back."

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Comments

[hurtecho]

10:01 AM on 06/24/2009

Well, I actually know this woman through the church I attend because she is the pastor's wife. Perhaps the media is blowing this out of proportion a little. Think about it for one minute, the email was forwarded to her, she did not even create it, and second, do you actually believe she would foward the email and send it to every political party democratic and republican. It was most likely a simple mistake made while going througout her busy day of sending and recieving emails. If anybody is wrong, it is everyone going off at the mouth and judging someone they know nothing about. There is only one person that will ultimately have the final judgement.

[Dothe ritething]

09:11 PM on 06/24/2009

Too bad the "Pastor's Wife" didn't delete the email instead of sending it out. That's what I would have done, but then I'm not a "Pastor's wife" or a GOP full of "Family haha values"!

[zeeshan809]

07:21 AM on 06/20/2009

There should be no room for racism in the world today.


My blog:
http://next-world-war.blogspot.com

[ywcachieve]

08:13 PM on 06/19/2009

I suppose this really hurts the feeling, of the president and his family.

It is just a disgrace we have such hateful people in our country.

[SusanStoHelit]

10:07 PM on 06/19/2009

I doubt it - I'm sure they know there are racists out there - and I doubt they think enough of them for anything they say or send to hurt their feelings. They just aren't worth it.

[sense11]

11:47 AM on 06/19/2009

This is the first smart thing Ron Christie has ever said.

[Larkinvos]

02:14 PM on 06/19/2009

Amen! I never thought I'd find myself agreeing
with Ron Christie.

[niesioa]

09:33 AM on 06/19/2009

Here is the article regarding the memo to Sherri Goforth

http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/tn-gop-sen-diane-blacks-strongly-word

[Alan Einhorn]

03:32 AM on 06/19/2009

I was a civil servant in PA for about 33 years. If I did anything like this, I expect I would have and should have been fired. If I dodged the bullit, it would have had to be because of PSSU (union) intervention. I suspect my union would have applauded my loss of pension. At the very, very least I would have recieved a written reprimand for using state property (the computer) to send the E-Mail in the first place. The internal investigation dept. would have had a field day nailing me for this one and I would have found myself in the strange place of supporting them. FIRE HER, she has no busness embarassing the President on taxpayers time and money. If she wishes to express her racism she has a first amendment right, but not on our dime.

[Rangergirl]

01:09 AM on 06/19/2009

She needs to be fired....Keith O on MSNBC read her repramand that was placed in her file from her boss....It was weak....and the woman at the end of the paragraph actually said she was looking forward to working with her in the future. Let us not forget the part of you have been an exemplery employee.........You call that a repramand? Lame........She needs to be fired...This kind of racism isn't exceptable.

[onepotatotwopotato]

01:01 AM on 06/19/2009

It is entirely possible that the joke was in partially questionable taste.

[msblkwidow]

11:27 PM on 06/18/2009

As an African American, I should be angry; but I'm not. I'm sooo glad I am save by God and I know that this woman must ask for forgiveness before she will be saved. I hope she realizes what she has done.

I know the Obama's are tickled to death. I have grown in my faith so much. I can look at the photo and laugh myself.

[gretcheno]

10:30 PM on 06/19/2009

IA she seems to be the one with the problem, Barack Obama is still the POTUS regardless of her mess.

[DennisMM]

08:49 PM on 06/18/2009

I work for the state of Colorado. No matter WHY I sent out anything along such lines, or to whom, I would be fired if it was discovered. Well, I can't be sure of that. But I'd face a lot more flat than a letter of reprimand in my file! This woman needs to be out of a job.

[Brado68]

08:20 PM on 06/18/2009

As a resident of the great state of Tennessee i would like to say were all not a bunch of neanderthal Knuckle dragging republicans.

[MacManLB]

09:05 PM on 06/18/2009

Well can you get some folks together and start a campaign to get rid of Sherri and Diane if need be. I have written the attorney general, Diane Black, and the NAACP. I need some people in Tennessee to stand up and say enough is enough!

[alarty]

09:17 PM on 06/18/2009

Being from Alabama, I understand what you mean. And I am a member of a minority group - white, southern, middle aged (well, a little past that), male democrat!

[2cntswrth]

06:05 PM on 06/18/2009

Ron Christie...PLLLEEEEEASE!

[widdles]

05:59 PM on 06/18/2009

Here is the letter of reprimand that Sen. Black wrote to Goforth:

"Dear Sherri,

This is a follow up to confirm our conversation regarding the state email policy. First, as we discussed, email communications are for state use only and should not be used for purposes outside of the guidelines established. Also, as we discussed, no communication that is derogatory regarding any minority should be sent from this office or that employee will be subject to termination of employment with my office. I know you take this policy seriously and I am confident that you will abide by the policy. Your service to my office and the legislature has been commendable with the exception of this incident and I look forward to working together in the future within these guidelines.

Sincerely,
Diane Black"

You can find the article here:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/17/goforth-letter/

[MarsAmbassador]

04:42 PM on 06/18/2009

Wow, so she's only upset because it got publicized, not over the content of what she sent? Sounds just like everyone about the torture photos. Everyone gets upset over who sees them, but not that they exist or what is happening in them. This country is a joke and is going to get PLOWED UNDER by China over the next 100 years. Why? Because of the arrogance that leads a person to think that whatever they do is alright, so long as the wrong people don't know about it. It's all about the image and the presentation, not the content or the morals or ethics behind the decisions. And the Republicans accuse Democrats of moral relativism on other issues. Freaking ignorant, racist hypocrites.

[The 13 Colonies]

06:54 PM on 06/18/2009

Why doesn't dickie boy just go away. He above all shouldn't open his mouth re: rasists. He is a classic example of the RETHUG line.

[angela828]

03:21 PM on 06/18/2009

To all my tweeters!!

Please RT #firesherrigoforth and pass it on!!!!

[niesioa]

09:54 AM on 06/19/2009

Consider it done