"Unfortunately, there is hypersensitivity in the press regarding matters of race. This is in large measure due to President-Elect Obama being the first African-American elected president. I don't think any of the concerns that have been expressed in the media about any of the other candidates for RNC chairman should disqualify them. When looked at in the proper context, these concerns are minimal. All of my competitors for this leadership post are fine people."
I didn't want to do this, but the response from the RNC, so far, has been a denunciation of Saltsman from a strategic standpoint, and a defense of him. None of them think there's anything wrong with the CD itself. So, here are just 2 of the 41 songs on that CD. You tell me if I'm being "hypersensitive."
I wonder if Blackwell would be this OK with, say, a Democrat, white or black, calling him an "Uncle Tom?" I sure wouldn't do it, not even within the satirical construct of a triple-reverse ironical "parody song," but that's just hyper-sensitive me.
If Matt Lewis is right, and this moves Blackwell into the lead for chairmanship of the RNC, I will be the first to congratulate him. As current RNC chair correctly noted, the behavior that Blackwell validates here "clearly does not move (the RNC) in the right direction," and that's just fine with me.
"Unfortunately, there is hypersensitivity in the press regarding matters of race."
That statement reminds me of how so many people always say how the 50s were the best decade ever. My response to that has always been, yeah if you were a white male. This is gonna be a tough one Tommy. I totally agree with your outrage over the RNC's handling of this, but I do worry about crossing over to denying the asshole's freedom of speech. I just figure this will serve the DNC well in 2010 and 2012. By the way, heard your radio show--it is entertaining. Is Cube your new co-host? He needs to learn to use the mute button on the phone (lol). In some countries, now that we have all heard him relieve himself--we're all married to him and must bear his children.
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Tommy Christopher
2:29PM Dec 28th 2008
PCL,
glad you tuned in! You should have called, if only to drown out Cube's sound effects.
I think you're right, this is an indication that the RNC plans to continue to carry out its recent mission of shrinking the party's membership.
On the other hand, recent reasonableness from McCain and Gingrich might portend a fight for the soul of the party.
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PCL
2:44PM Dec 28th 2008
Tommy, Hey I heard and saw on the chat how poor Sarah got treated, and you want me to call in??? Just kidding. I will consider calling in sometime or going on the chat.
McCain and Gingrich's 'reasonableness' is just a cry for help from two old guys looking for their last hurrah.
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RIChris
2:52PM Dec 28th 2008
Where was your outrage over Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, Khalidi, Rezko, Father Pfleger and Obama's blind eye to the misogyny and sexism portrayed by his followers??
As far as how Democrats have portrayed black Republicans? Check out the National Black Republican Association's website. Powell as Uncle Tom, Condi Rice as the mammy in 'Gone With the Wind'. Outrageous enough for you??
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Cube
2:52PM Dec 28th 2008
I was streaming online! Thanks for listening PCL and Tommy for having me.
What's this article about? Oh yeah, the faux defense of "Puff The Magic Negro." The "Uncle Tom" play would not work with a triple reverse. Statue of Liberty "Uncle Tom"... maybe. Why can't one Republican official call it for what it is? Wrong. I don't care if a green alien from Trek says it. "Puff The Magic Negro" is indefensible because it is racist no matter how ya slice and dice it.
Plus, Puff is still subject to debate whether Peter, Paul, and Mary intended it as a metaphor for marijuana. I am opposed to this use for it is a distraction on that ground. It is racist and a smoke screen for the smoke urban legend.
Who cares what you obama lovers like or think. You now own your magic negro and you better get used to lots of critizises and bad rough talk from alot of people that didnt drink that foul kool-aid. Whats the matter ? You people talked bad about Bush, McCain, Hillary and Palin and now you cry and play that race card again..... f.u. Barack the magic negro....ha ha ha ....too effing bad.
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brntrewesl
2:59PM Dec 28th 2008
PCL
Name calling, even in jest, is unspeakable. It’s particularly true if a conservative Republican makes the comment. “Whitey” and “Honky” are simply ways of expressing years of outrage resulting from slavery.
The “Magic Negro” song (to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon) began on the Rush Limbaugh show, and it really only half applies to B.O. So instead of anger, maybe you and Tommy should only be mildly irritated.
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Get Real
3:04PM Dec 28th 2008
Bunch o' crybabies
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Cube
3:09PM Dec 28th 2008
@ brntrewesl: So the defense to "Puff The Magic Negro" is twofold: 1) It was directed at Obama; and 2)It's O.K. because Rush played it.
Hmmmmmm... So basically, Saltsman is in the clear because he directed his racist vitriol at The President Elect and a radio host played the song. You know, maybe we should all set our moral compasses to a bearing towards the Bermuda Triangle and Rush Island.
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Get Real
3:18PM Dec 28th 2008
Is it possible that the leftists became even more whiney and angry after a victory?
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PCL
3:23PM Dec 28th 2008
Get Real3:18PMDec 28th 2008 Is it possible that the leftists became even more whiney and angry after a victory? ------------------------------------------------------------- Wouldn't know, I don't label myself so easily--but let me guess, you're on the right? And you are getting all whiney and angry over the leftists getting all whiney and angry, right?
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brntrewesl
3:27PM Dec 28th 2008
Cube
Get over yourself! The Liberal sense of outrage is selective, at best, and hypocritical, at worst. When conservative blacks voice a different point of view, black community leaders treats them as though they are lepers.
Take off the blinders and observe how Michael Steele, Alan Keyes and others are treated by members of their own community. Condemn their treatment, then pontificate!
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Mary Brown
3:38PM Dec 28th 2008
I like many others in this beautiful country know we need to construct a civil society that is civil. This song is more thatn satire. Can we be too sensitive. Absolutely. We do that when we refuse to discuss issues seriously and in the context of love that my Lord and Saviour Jesus teaches. Does this CD reflect his teachings. NO. That is all I need to know. That is all any Christian needs to know.
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bettye
3:48PM Dec 28th 2008
Saltsman and Dawson are too racist to chair any major political party and Blackwell is too insensitivity to chair the party. However we do not have to worry because the Republican Party is led by Rush Limbaugh and consist of only those hateful former southern slave states which refuses to be sensitive to all races of people. Go Democrats, 2012 is in the bag!!!!
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Cube
3:59PM Dec 28th 2008
What about the former northern slave states? They get a pass
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Clif Kuplen
4:18PM Dec 28th 2008
The Liberal sense of outrage is selective, at best, and hypocritical, at worst.
xxx
hah - you may be a brown weasel but you're a black pot trying to rank on a black kettle.
No one can explain a joke. Laughter is involuntary. Regardless, in a speech class half a century ago, I heard a quote from someone who tried. It is, this source said, a sudden disclosure of truth in an enigmatic situation resulting in a general feeling of good will. Even sick jokes sort of subscribe to that rule if they're so over the top that it's understood that it's funny.
If you're going to mock something as satire, it's best not to mock amputees in an audience of returning war veterans, for example.
That's probably far too much nuance for a republican, though. To them, the joke or mockery is to foment more hatred, and the laughter if any is that of scorn.
For example, for a person of secure circumstances to mock a person of extremely insecure circumstances by highlighting those very things that make the butt of the joke insecure is rarely funny.
Most of you wouldn't sense a joke if someone put eyeglasses and a false mustache on Jesus while he was suffering and dying on Mel Gibson's version of the cross, for example.
When it's incoming, it smells different, huh.
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HardCoreRepublican
4:50PM Dec 28th 2008
This is not an issue of 'political correctness', nor is it an issue involving 'free speech'.
Everyone has, of course, the right of poking fun at the President, elect or otherwise. Nobody will dispute that. But this is clearly not about good humored, satirical fun about human flaws, real or alleged. This is just about attacking the persona of Mr. Obama on the ground of his race. Here, the veil of 'political satire' is so thin that it makes that claim plain ludicrous.
Under the Constitution, Mr. Saltsman has every right to share, with whomever wants to listen to him, his racist inclinations (that is why neo-nazi groups are still free to operate in this country). In so doing, he only exposes his idiocy and that of the people who happen to share his views. I am not claim Mr. Saltsman to be a neo-nazi. I am only pointing out how far the freedom extended by the Constitution goes.
Mr. Blackwell, for political purposes, has every right to claim that Liberal-minded people are over-reacting and attribute the hoopla to 'political correctness'. That is a personal and political choice whose consequences he and the RNC will have to live with in the future.
Beyond that we can only hope that, now and in the future, all decent people, from the Left and the Right will mature enough to eliminate racist trash from the political discourse.
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HardCoreRepublican
4:55PM Dec 28th 2008
Erratum:
I am not claim Mr. Saltsman to be a neo-nazi.
should read
I am not claiming Mr. Saltsman to be a neo-nazi.
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Cube
5:01PM Dec 28th 2008
HEY ASSHOLE! QUIT STEALING MY FUCKING SCREEN NAME.
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Cube
5:23PM Dec 28th 2008
@ brntrewesl opined (amongst other things): "Take off the blinders and observe how Michael Steele, Alan Keyes and others are treated by members of their own community."
Maybe if I can mimic the way Alan Keyes does things, 90% of the state will reject me and I can become a deranged birfer.
Respectfully, you really fail to respond to the argument. You say the criticism is selective or hypocritical at best. I disagree. Without getting too much into why the two folks you cite to as authority are numskulls, The Democratic Party has a tradition of working for civil rights. Like, the Civil Rights Act of 1965 (LBJ). Upwards of 90% of African-Americans who vote are from the Democratic Party. I don't recall any similar CD's or acts by Democrats put out with racial overtone such as that. You make a bald assertion without any analysis whatsoever. I can point out examples of Republican acts and empirical evidence most don't agree with your point (like legislation and voting percentages) but, your response, which is an attack on others rather than a defense, is typical as to why your party is in shambles.
Ask Newt Gingrich. On Meet The Press today, the very crux of your contention was utterly dismissed as an attack style America has grown sick of. Instead of taking the high road, which is pretty simple (you state it is wrong) you attack others and stereotype. That dog don't hunt anymore bub.