Posted on 12/27/2008 3:23:42 PM PST by tobyhill
The chairman of the Republican National Committee said he was "appalled" by a song called "Barack the Magic Negro" on a CD distributed by one of his political rivals.
"The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party," RNC Chairman Mike Duncan said in a statement reported Saturday afternoon by Politico.
"I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate, as it clearly does not move us in the right direction."
Chip Saltsman sent RNC members the parody CD "We Hate the USA" for Christmas, which includes the controversial tune. He defended his decision Friday, telling CNN the song was clearly intended as a joke.
"I think most people recognize political satire when they see it," Saltsman told CNN. "I think RNC members understand that."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Only in the sense of propaganda does this parody song make conservatives -- including Rush -- appear to be racist.
Just as it is propaganda that somehow converts a concern for "illegal aliens" into some kind of racism toward "immigrants".
In truth, there is nothing "racist" about the parody -- nothing hateful, nothing prejudiced, nothing exclusive about it. "Insensitive", yes. But all parody, indeed most humor, is "insensitive" (particularly in terms of today's artificial construct of the term).
Should a black man be totally outside the prescribed perimeter for parody or satire...or ridicule...simply because he is black?
Do you really, really believe that all conservatives are, by definition, "racists"?
We don’t need to kick the RINO’s out of the party, just out of leadership positions.
Do you listen to Rush a lot? If you did, you would know the full story behind the parody. The song is an indictment of liberal racism.
Yep, the perfect example of why the GOP is where it is today. Cowards who are kowtowed by being called names. I will conform to whatever you want just don’t call me names!
Marxism works!
I don't agree. The song lyrics explicitly spell out that the L. A. Times called Obama the "Magic Negro" so the song is meant to satirize, primarily, the L. A. Times article and its white writer.
Plus, satirizing or criticizing Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton is not racist. It doesn't criticize blacks as a group, only specific black individuals. No individuals who willfully enter the political debate and seek the attention of the public should be immune to criticism merely because of their skin color.
bttt.
How many times has Rush played this song and how many times has he explained what it was all about?
At least over 20 that I heard. This is “NEWS”????
I never questioned Duncan's integrity or credibility.
But, when asked about the song by the MSM, he has to realize that, because of his title, he is a spokesman not just for himself but for millions of loyal Republicans who might not agree with his personal position. He is, like it or not, a PR man for the Party as a whole.
So commenting as little as possible to the MSM about this would have been the best course to follow.
I think the GOP just loses more conservatives than it attracts moderates or liberals. They dilute down the conservative message and it just becomes a confused mess that isn’t appealing to anybody. Conservatives can’t trust it, liberals can’t trust it and moderates can’t trust it. Everybody who feels that way is absolutely right. You can’t trust a message that wanders all over the map.
You're right on the money. There isn't anything even the least bit racist about the song. It is a satire of liberal racism. It is insensitive. Insensitive to white guilt.
Apparently liberals aren't the only ones who suffer from that neurosis. Democrats count on that fear of being called racist, homophobic, war mongers and all the other labels to divide the GOP between conservatives and the squishy middle who are scared to death of being labeled something negative.
This will happen with a coalition of those who consider themselves too good to vote for any Republican and Democrats.
I'll always vote for the most conservative person I have available.
I am with you...losing for principle is still losing. This country is too important to allow this to happen.
I listen to Rush almost every day. I know the story, and I still say it’s a very bad idea for Rush to have done it. We don’t need to reinforce stereotypes about conservatives...it’s not even true. What possible good does this do? Many who don’t listen to Rush and don’t understand will be left with a very bad impression of conservatives.
You guys are delusional. You would have to live under a rock not to know that Negro is not a word used in polite company. It is offensive to blacks and was meant to be offensive in this song. It’s too stupid for words.
when I listen to such silly assertions about this absolutely racist song, I know exactly why the GOP is not attracting voters.
No, I know better,but anyone listening to this song would assume conservatives are racist and not listen to another word any conservative had to say. I say stand on principal. Fight the Dems over meaningful issues. This song has nothing to do with conservatism and everything to do with poor taste.
Just for the record...only hard core conservative such as myself voted GOP this year. The GOP lost all the moderates/center. The GOP lost. We don’t have enough pure conservative votes to win national elections.
The people who you ‘disagree with’ are probably the only hope of attracting the middle which we must have to win back the presidency.
Go bother someone else with your adolescent baloney.
You champion a song about a ‘magic negro’ as some sort of conservative principle and then call me juvenile? Only a real political neophyte would think this song is a good idea.
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