Sunday, December 28, 2008

Racism Enters RNC Campaign


Do you have to appeal to racists nowdays to be elected the chairman of the Republican National Committee? It looks like Republican activist Chip Saltsman thinks so. Saltsman, who is the former campaign director for Mike Huckabee (pictured above with Huckabee), is currently a candidate for the position.

During the holiday season, he sent all the RNC members a gift. It was a CD containing the obviously racist song, "Barack the Magic Negro" (sung to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon). The song had previously been featured on Rush Limbaugh's radio program.

The Tennessee Republican said, "I think most people recognize political satire when they see it. I think RNC members understand that."

He is right that most people recognize political satire. They also understand when that satire crosses the line into racism, as this particular song does. But the CD's racism doesn't stop with that one song. It also contains a song titled "The Star Spanglish Banner". Why slur only one racial group, when you can include a second?

Must you appeal to the racist element to get a high position in the Republican Party these days? It was once the party of Lincoln -- the party that abolished slavery. Has the Republican Party fallen so far that it is now a haven for racists and purveyor of racist values? If so, that is a bad thing for our country.

To keep our democracy vibrant and alive, America needs at least two strong political parties. But it does not need one of those parties espousing racist views.

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