Thanks for including GOOD. The magazine is outstanding.

I hope Cheney's kidding, because whether he deserves to be so unpopular or not, it doesn't say much for a person if they can't see how their actions may negatively impact some people.
Maybe he could learn how introspection works by trying to figure out reasons why people would be critical of politicians who would send out the parody song.

Cheney, I am also baffled.

Really, Barack the Magic Negro. Does anyone think this is funny or are we just a little outraged.

While I was at home this holiday, I actually tuned into the Huckabee show, it was interesting.

okay my first comment was flagged, but did anyone watch the video. Seriously?

Bella I laughed my ass off!! and no not a the song but at middle aged white men who can't believe that black people don't say massah anymore and ride at teh back of the bus. the GOP just doesn't learn form it's mistakes they're coming off looking like racist bible bashing hicks already(yes I know most aren't but all it takes is a few people to mess things up for everybody) and then this???? Really NEGRO??? And this fool is fromn Tennessee way to blow those stereotypes. IDIOT!!!!!!!!!

Well that sounds really un-pc. Really disrespectful if you ask me.

I guess I'd be really bitter and hateful too if my name were Chip Saltsman.

I've seen a bit of Huckabee's show--not a fan, but he does a good job as host.

Actually, the CD is in no way "official." A little digging uncovers the fact that the majority of RNC members immediately came out against it.

"Unofficial" in this case doesn't help matters a whole lot - there's still a serious problem that needs handling.

I agree...this one person and (if there are any) others who agree with him should be handled. But, to outright state that this is the official position of the GOP is irresponsible journalism.

As nya stated, she knows most members of the GOP aren't racist hicks, but a statement like this paints the GOP in a bad light. Calling it the "official" CD makes the GOP seem even worse.

I haven't seen anyone say it's 'official' but you're right, it would be careless of anyone to say that.
BUT as of right now, Chip Saltzman still could become the new RNC chairman, so while most members of the GOP aren't racist hicks, there does seem to be a somewhat relaxed attitude toward racism that should be addressed as something more serious than over-sensitivity to bad publicity.

The headline of the post says it's official.

And, unless the vast majority of the voting members of the RNC are lying, Saltzman's chances aren't looking too hot right now.

No, it refers to Saltzman as a GOP Official (as does the FoxNews headline)... that's different from saying the cd was official.

I guess that's not how I read the headline.

Regardless, I certainly saw people refer to it as official in comments on other sites.

I hope no one refers to the entire GOP based on this story; however, we need to address why this incidents and more incidents in the last few years seem acceptable and why is there a need to put someone down based on race instead of their work or them as a person.

I agree, bella. Well put.

Wells teph they better suck it upf or the next four years cos barack the magic n word is coming to town folks.

ohh wow. No prob lil, I just don't want anyone to generalize a whole group of people b/c of a few bad apples.

Didn't Rush Limbaugh air this song a while ago? I didn't hear many conservatives telling him to cut it out back then, either.

"we need to address why this incidents and more incidents in the last few years seem acceptable"

I agree. I do not think this represents the majority of the GOP, but you can't deny when their members make repeated jokes of the same nature, that it is something that does exist in some of their members. I think those that don't agree with this kind of thing need to be louder and more vocal about what their party stands for. Otherwise, to be silent is to condone and encourage it.

Recent examples: GOP convention buttons that say, "If Obama is President will we still call it the White House?", Sen. George Allen's use of the racially derogatory word "macaca", the CA GOP mailing called "Obama bucks" that show KFC, watermellon, kool-aid, etc on food stamps, etc. You can't really deny there is a pattern coming from this party.

"I guess I'd be really bitter and hateful too if my name were Chip Saltsman."

If Cheney wants to meet for a drink, I'll explain why he's so unpopular to him. He won't want to look foolish at a cocktail party six months from now when his name comes up.

I've always liked Cheney. I think he's one of the smartest men in Washington. He comes off a bit gruff however, and I can see how people can be turned off to that.

Recently, I've wished he was president for the last 2 terms instead of GW. Our foreign policy might very well be the same, but I think he would have been smart enough to come up with his own economic policy regarding failing banks rather than defaulting to Paulson and Bernanke.

FYI: The song is based on the article written by David Ehrenstein (who just happens to be black):
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.st...

lmao Cheney doesn't know why he's unpopular? That's comedy right there. And Beavis I hope you're kidding about wanting Cheney to be president. He ran George Bush administration for the last 2 terms just like he ran Ford and look how they turned out.

Hey could have taken all the Wall Street guys hunting...

repeating this previous post from choo-choo before anyone drags this out to be a republican creation (hope you dont mind choochoo

FYI: The song is based on the article written by David Ehrenstein (who just happens to be black):
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.st...

"The song is based on the article written by David Ehrenstein (who just happens to be black)"

I equate this to if a black person uses the N word and then a person of opposite race say the word and use that as the bases of them using the word.

Great argument.

I don't really care if the person that wrote the song was black. It doesn't make it any less flabbergasting that GOP leaders are sending it to committee members.

Instead of trying to explain it away, why can't you just admit it was completely inappropriate and degrading?

"Not-So-Pleasant Greeting: Former Tennessee GOP leader Chip Saltsman"
The key here is he is a "former" GOP leader. It's also one man, and someone who is on their way out of the GOP (hopefully).

I actually think that if black people can say the N word everyone should be able to say it. However, I only think it is kind of wrong. Because if you look at all of these sugar sites, they are like "bo cause commotion, bo hides his blackberry...etc" There is a say "magic" draw about him. It's because they say "negro" that gets you. Well last time I checked negro is no different than calling a person white. You may not like it, but Obama inserted race into the equation. "Oh, and he's black" comments???? It would be like me saying man I'm a b!tch and then be an uproar when someone says I'm being b!tchy. It doesn't work that way.

He's not just former, and he's getting support from the GOP as much as he's being criticized - my personal favorite is Huckabee saying Saltsman wouldn't intentionally disparage anyone as if there's another way to take the song or another reason why he would have included it on the cd.
The GOP has serious problems.

"You may not like it, but Obama inserted race into the equation."

...by being born, uh, half-African-American?

Hain I have to disagree. Calling someone "White" is much different from calling someone "Negro".

But calling a white person a cracker ins't.

Who used the C word.

Huh?

The answer is no one here, Bella. I don't know what's going on.

I'm eating a cracker right now. Oops. Crap. No offense!

Thanks Em, I thought the comment was deleted. I am also astonished how we associate being black with using the word N*gro.

No not by being born 1/2 black, did you even read my comment????? Obviously not. I said he did so by saying things like " oh and did I mention he's black" or "I don't look like all of those presidents on the dollar bills" "But Obama also admitted that, despite what Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs told reporters, there was a racial dimension to his Missouri remarks in which he said McCain and the Republicans would make an issue of the fact that he doesn't look like presidents who have been on the dollar bills."

So how does bring up being black equals N*gro?

I don't get it. BO brought up race only a handful of times so how does that make this okay? He certainly didn't mention it as often as he could have. And was he not supposed to acknowledge his race ever? Would ignoring it completely be better? There is no justifying this, but kudos for the effort.

No, I guess I didn't read your comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry about that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uh, yeah, so he said those things. How does that make it OK that someone called him Barack the Magic N3gro?????????????????????????

I still don't understand. His father is Kenyan, and he was running against John McCain. It's not like people don't know he's half African-American. Still doesn't mean it's OK to use "N3gro" while referring to him. Lame.

Goodness, Em. Thanks for making me snort up and spit out half a shot of whiskey.

It's not the use of the n*gro that bothers me. I'm Cuban so that word is as normal to me as white. It's the songs meaning of "Magic N*gro" that bothers me. The song is saying that Barack isn't actually black because he doesn't fit the stereotype of the slang talking, uneducated, lowlife African American and that the exception of him is somehow "magical". I don't care what the song creators intentions were, it is degrading and backwards to support this stereotype. It is truly ill placed satire that will probably create more of a divide in African American community amongst youth, then it will bring awareness or understanding of the different culture Barack grew up in that is, in truth, atypical to most.

I grew up being called an Oreo and a sell out for speaking proper English and liking school. It was more then just teasing. I was completely segregated from my own race (which can be a tough choice in communities where family units are very weak and friends are often the ones you depend on) and the farther up I go the less black people I see partially because of that.

Saltsman should be ashamed of himself and any African Americans who buys into this song as a joke should be doubly so.

Amen Jessi.

Thanks J, you said it much better than I. I must also ask again, since no one answered me - when does black = n*gro.