Barack the Magic Negro

Letters to the Editor

Well, here we go again. Just couldn’t end the year on an upbeat note regarding the Republican Party. Chip Saltsman, candidate for national party chair and former chair of the Tennessee state party, has played the “race” card and now wants us to believe that it “was just a joke.”

According to the Hill Newspaper, Saltsman, in a Christmas greeting to RNC members, sent a CD that included the song about the president-elect as well as other tracks lampooning liberals that were written by conservative satirist Paul Shanklin. When The Hill first reported about the CD, Saltsman noted that “Paul Shanklin is a long-time friend, and I think that RNC members have the good humor and good sense to recognize that his songs for the Rush Limbaugh show are light-hearted political parodies.”

This is a bittersweet moment for me. On the one hand, FINALLY a couple of Republicans in leadership spoke out against Saltsman. Again, from the Hill Newspaper,
“The 2008 election was a wakeup call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party,” current Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan, who is again running for the position, stated. “I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate as it clearly does not move us in the right direction.”

Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis, who is also seeking the RNC chairmanship, said the song is not his idea of “appropriate humor. “In my opinion, this isn’t funny and it’s in bad taste,” he added, noting that the GOP is not helped by criticism of Obama that does not stem from philosophical differences with the president-elect.
Even former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is quoted as saying in an e-mail message, “This is so inappropriate that it should disqualify any Republican National Committee candidate who would use it.”

But, what is even more disgusting than the audacity of Saltsman to send out these insulting CDs, is the deafening silence of Black Republicans, especially the two who are running for national party chair.

I have searched all over the internet and have not found one word of outrage from any of the Black Republican “talking heads!” Where is Tara Wall or Amy Holmes (CNN)? Angela McGlowan or Star Parker (Fox News)? Joe Watkins (MSNBC)? These are the people the party parades out to the media and wonder why these people have absolutely NO standing within the Black community.

I am not surprised at Saltsman’s behavior. He is who he is. He is the same person that was part of the state party that ran the infamous “Harold Ford” TV commercial with the white blonde bombshell asking him to “call her.” But what surprises me, no infuriates me is the embarrassing response from the two Black candidates for chair, Ken Blackwell (former State Treasurer of Ohio) and Michael Steel (former Lt. Gov. of Maryland).

"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."

Michael Steele, in a statement said, "I know Chip Saltsman, I know his character; and while his attempt at humor was clearly misplaced, it does not make him indifferent to the important work of building the coalitions necessary to make our party stronger. And yet, we must be mindful that self-inflicted wounds not only distract us from regaining our strength as a Party, but further diminish our credibility with an increasingly diverse community of voters. As RNC Chairman, I want us to be a lot smarter about such things and more appreciative that our actions always speak louder than our words."

What!? Did I read what I thought I read? Hypersensitivity? Ok, let me make sure I understand. Blackwell, blames the media for taking Saltsman actions out of context and indirectly blames Obama for being Black. Steele sounds a lot like Sarah Palin when she starts rambling in her attempts to answer questions from the media. I have absolutely no idea what Steele was trying to say.

Gingrich says Saltsman is not fit to be chair of the party (interpretation—he should drop out of the race). The two Black candidates says it’s ok; it’s not his fault (it’s the mean, biased, liberal media); he’s a friend of mine (he has a good heart).

Herein lies the problem within the Republican Party. My criticism of the party for playing race politics is well documented in my past editorials. But, equally deserving of criticism is Blacks who are too timid to speak up on principle about issues of particular concern to the Black community.

How can I reconcile the fact that white Republicans (Gingrich, Duncan, and Anuzis) are more outraged about Saltsman’s actions than the two Blacks who would lead our party. No wonder Republicans are so comfortable playing “race” politics. If Black Republicans don’t speak out, why expect it to stop?

RAYNARD JACKSON
Arlington

Article Keywords: Barack the Magic Negro, Chip Saltsman, CD, Paul Shanklin, Black Republican, Raynard Jackson , political consultant, political columnist

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Barack the Magic Negro Letters to the Editor

Barack the Magic Negro

Letters to the Editor