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

[mickey4089]

Has anybody asked Sarah Palin what she thinks about this "joke"? Oh I just remembered - a comedian making a distasteful joke about a girl is far more significant (just tune in to Faux News) than a politician's staffer making a racist joke about the President of the U.S.

[parkerfly38]

Regardless of even the most tendentious connections between "jokes," I'm not sure there's ever a good time to seek Governor Palin's opinion on *anything*.

[RocknRollChef]

The FBI should investigate her for plotting against the POTUSA. Southern politicians have longed used this kind of behavior to encourage the kkk and white supremacists to do their dirty work for them. That's why she felt comfortable emailing it to those in government in tennessee. If they don't agree with her behavior they should fire her. It they don't fire her it will demonstrate to the world that they agree with her racist and egregious behavior.

[consultant55]

You can't teach an old racist dog new tricks.

Let's bury the GOP and move on. Maybe a new Party will form that is actually interested in governing and finding real solutions to problems.

[Gonzorunner]

Hey, it just humor!!!! Just like you other morons that thought Lettermans stuff was okay after he bashed Palin and her family.

[Rosy]

I actually thought Letterman's joke was in poor taste.
However, he is a comedian. He is not a paid government employee, working for an elected official.
If you can't see the difference, I suppose I am wasting my time trying to explain it.

[returnofthejedi]

I didn't think it was humorous at all. The difference being is that David Letterman's comments has no effect on the Government of Tennesee. Can you see me now?

[Kristen777]

No - this stuff is NEVER EVER EVER funny. I didn't laugh at Letterman's joke either BTW.

[zeezan]

It is NOT humor to disseminate a racial slur against the President of the United States. Letterman's joke about Palin's family was in bad taste, this is an affront against all people of color.

[GreatTruthsSeeker]

It's not "humor', it's propagated ignorance and racism thinly veiled as humor, and in our world, ignorance is not bliss, it's malignant. Obviously, the malignancy grows. You engage this malignancy by sharing the truth and by becoming outraged and active when circumstances call for it. To ignore it, you encourage the continuation of it's sequelae (residual effects of an illness or injury). Try to find the greatest truth.

[tgd]

I was certainly surprised Ron Christie came out against the email since he constantly makes excuses for the most outrageous Republican antics.

However, toward the end of the video he redeemed himself to the Republicans by claiming this incident "does not mean the Republican party is racist" and "does not reflect on the Republican party". Christie is in a constant state of denial.

[RuinedSaint]

Of all the Republicans I've known, many were not racists... But of all the racists I've met, all of them were Republcans.

[swpeace]

Republicans, the ugly face of racism and no matter how hard they try to re-brand themselves it still raises it's ugly head.

[returnofthejedi]

That is partly because the republicans have tolerated them instead of dismissing them. I think for political gain. Not that gain has turned into embarrasment and threatens to brand anyone with the "R" as racist or in association with them. When you have someone in as powerful a position as Governor of one of the United States threatening to leave the Union for,lt's face it, obvious racially motivated reasons it is a cause for really re-evaluating our so called progres when it comes to race relations. Even though this governor will never admit that his/her stance is racially motivated it is very easy to see. Especially for African Americans like myself who are familiar with the effects and tactics of intitutional racism.

[bilmardre]

Just illustrates the fact that to some in this Country the single most important attribute a President must have to earn respect is that he / she must be white. If they pass that test we can talk about competence.

[returnofthejedi]

Very true statement. That is also described as primitive tribalism, which definately has no place in a modern democratic republic, and surley not in the government and to levels of the republic.
Freedom of speech is not Freedom to hate and descrimminate.

[returnofthejedi]

top levels of the republic.

[Rosy]

I'll agree with you on the white part, but there is still plenty of misogyny in this country as well. Look at the hatred shown to Hillary Clinton. Too many people believe a president should be a white male, period.

[bilmardre]

I will have to agree with you as well.

[camaretta]

Everybody calm down. How about instead of firing her, educate her and have her do some service that would benefit all people, no matter what their genetic code? Do it in a way that she could see the benefit of her good work.

Don't get into a knee-jerk hate mode yourself.

[Wiseronenow]

Excuse me? Calm down? Yet, folks on this blog really took issue to a story yesterday on HP regarding another congressional staffer not liked being called "Liz" instead of Elizabeth. We all should be more upset with this story. Write the Senator and express your views on this where it will count.

[e-mail]

[kareemachan]

Thanks for the address - I just let Black know what I think of her assistant.

Rather ironic for her boss to have the surname of "Black", don'tcha think?

[ThinkPink]

How about when a rapist rapes a woman we just sit down and tell him that it's not a good thing to rape women, have him do some service and then put him back on the streets to frolic with other women as usual. THAT is how silly you sound.

It's not hateful to fire someone for racist views. It's appropriate.

[returnofthejedi]

That's what has held us back from moving on. Tolerate racism and ignorance in high levels of the republic, but destroy all avenues for people that are the victims of such behaviorss. We are seeing the results of your proposed theory....­...and it's not working. You are too easily fooled and the state of the republican party is an example.

[powergrid]

Camaretta, that's a peachey idea, trouble is some of the white people in Tn are still P.O'd they lost the war to them damn Yankee's. I should know I'm from TN. Although I live in Memphis, there are places in middle and east TN, African Americans, Hispanics and Jews simply aren't welcome. I strongly advise you not to eat the food in certain places. I actually saw one of them hawk and spit mucus in this guys spaghetti because he asked for extra salt. This person didn't seem to mind the guy was sitting at a table in the middle of a crowded dining room. He wasn't white. This was a while ago, but the basic mind set remains in some of them. Since the Republicans won the state they've passed a law allowing people to carry registered weapons in restaurants and parks all over the state. I suspect some of these good ole boys don't really plan on shooting rabbits. They're waiting for the revolution Sean Hannity and Limbaugh keep raging about. Now don't get me wrong there are a lot of good white people in our state, especially here in Memphis. But make no mistake' some these so called christian, conservative "great Americans "are absolutely enraged at the thought of that black/white man in the White House. I'll pray for Ms Goforth, but I doubt it will do any good.

[Wiseronenow]

[e-mail]

Write the Senator and express your views on this where it will count.

[felisa11]

thanks for the email. i have expressed my disgust. If she doesn't lose her job, the senator will have h&ll to pay

[Sandmanj]

God to Sherri: "Goforth and sin no more" And get out of town while you're at it."

[Wiseronenow]

Email State Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin and hat Sherri should "Go forth" into the night. .Fire her!!!

[Wiseronenow]

Email State Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin and state that Sherri should "Go forth" into the night. .F.i.r.e. her!!!

[Wiseronenow]

[e-mail]

[Wiseronenow]

Lot's of bloggs to that other story of political staffer not liked being called "Liz". In turn, many said they would email her and many did. I do believe our voices should be heard far more for what Sherri Goforth did and email State Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin and state that Sherri should "Go forth" into the night. Fire her!!!

[Wiseronenow]

B....l....­a....n....­t....a....­n....t....­..R....a..­..c....i..­..s....m..­....period­. F......i..­...r.....e­......her!

[Wiseronenow]

Blantant racisim, period. Fire her.