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."

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!