The sending of a Christmas greeting by Chip Saltsman to the members of the Republican National Committee that includes a recording of the so-called parody, "Barack the Magic Negro" is not only offensive, it is shocking and saddening in the extreme. It flies in the face of America's deeply held hope for a new era in which common ground and mutual respect characterize the exchanges between our national leaders.
I and my co-writer of "Puff," Lenny Lipton, have been eagerly awaiting an end to the mean-spiritedness, outright disrespect and bigotry that was commonplace prior to this last presidential election. What might have been wearily accepted as "the way it was" in the campaign, is now unacceptable. Obama is not a candidate. He is the President-Elect, and this song insults the office of the Presidency, the people who voted for him, as well as those who did not -- and taking a children's song and twisting it in such vulgar, mean-spirited way, is a slur to our entire country and our common agreement to move beyond racism.
It is almost unimaginable to me that Chip Saltzman who sent the CD, would seriously be considered for the top post of the Republican National Committee. Puff, himself, if asked, would certainly agree.
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But...but...it's all in fun, right? Isn't it? Maybe not.
And that's that.
ReplyDeleteBeing funny doesn't make it acceptable. I appreciate politically incorrect humor, and I would forward such humor to people who I know would also appreciate it for what it is, humor, and not an approbation of racial stereotypes. That being said, a top member of the Republican National Committee, or any corporation, cannot be disseminating such humor.
ReplyDeleteSince I'd not seen the clip, I clicked on your post. Sorry, I just couldn't listen to the entire thing. Where does "respect" enter the picture? This guy brings new meaning to IDIOT!
ReplyDeleteHeh...I kinda enjoyed it. While I agree that a top member of the Republican National Committee was amiss in sending that out, I wonder what Barack Hussein Obama thinks of it. Probably couldn't care less.
ReplyDelete(Alright, Sharliser, I will put the video you sent me up shortly. It was certainly "Blog-Worthy.")