More GOP Reaction To Saltsman's Foolishness

Attention GOP: The song (listen to it here) is offensive and if you don't get that you're way behind the curve and you need to catch up or slither off into a dark hole. Jose Can You See is insulting as well.
Jake Tapper adds some more to this story, including Obama's reaction -- or nonreaction (just like Obama) -- when he first heard the song.

This just in, another fool, Kate Obenshain, vice pres of Young America's Foundation (whatever the heck that is) defends Rush Limbaugh's song as parody of Al Sharpton. 

CNN: Michigan party chairman Saul Anuzis also questioned Saltsman's judgment.

"In my opinion, this isn't funny and it's in bad taste," he said in a statement. "Just as important, anything that paints the GOP as being motivated in our criticism of President-elect Obama by anything other than a difference in philosophy does a disservice to our party."
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer -- who has reportedly been weighing a run for the party's top spot, but has not officially announced a bid -- released a Monday morning statement praising candidates who have weighed in against the "racially insulting song."

"As the GOP Chairman in one of our nation's most ethnically and culturally diverse states, I am especially disappointed by the inappropriate words and actions we've seen over the past few days," he said. "I am proud of those party leaders who have stood up in firm opposition to this type of behavior."

"Actions such as the distribution of this CD, regardless of intent, only serves to promote divisiveness and distracts us from our common goal of building our party."

Ken Blackwell thinks the song is brilliant:

Ken Blackwell -- one of two African-American candidates for party chairman -- agreed with Saltsman's assessment, defending him in a weekend statement.

"Unfortunately, there is hypersensitivity in the press regarding matters of race," said Blackwell -- who, if elected, would be the first black chairman of the RNC. "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."

Another reaction:

James Richardson, the RNC's online communication manager for the 2008 election cycle, called Saltsman's move "quite the revealing faux pas."

"Granted, he didn't pull a George Allen and personally call Obama a 'magic Negro,' but sending a CD with those lyrics shortly after electing the first African-American president -- one supported by nearly 97 percent of the African-American community -- shows a serious lack of judgment, tact and the necessary level of racial sensitivity expected of public officials," wrote Richardson, a Red State contributor, on conservative blog The Skepticians.

Huckabee weighs in. Not good enough:

Chip should have been more careful in his selection of Christmas gifts, but no one who knows him would ever suggest that he in any way would purposely disparage other people. Chip knows how sensitive such issues are. It shouldn’t be the main factor in the RNC race.

The election of Barack Obama is not only historic for our country but it is something all Americans, not just Democrats, should celebrate. As I have said many times the election of Mr. Obama is significant not because of his race or in spite of it, but with indifference to it. He was not my choice for President, but he will be MY President over the next four years and I will support him personally and pray for his success. I will certainly disagree with him at times, but I pledge that my disagreements with him will be over his policy decisions and not aimed at him personally. I ask that all of you will join with me in doing that.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist's reaction. Good enough:

As the GOP Chairman in one of our nation’s most ethnically and culturally diverse states, I am especially disappointed by the inappropriate words and actions we’ve seen over the past few days. I am proud of those party leaders who have stood up in firm opposition to this type of behavior. Read the rest.

Duncan Slams Saltsman Over Obama Song

Here's the biggest problem that the republicans have: Ever since Bush, the fringy Palinesque types crept in and took over the republican party.

Now the normal republicans are trying to figure out how to get their party back in order. Good luck with that! They don't seem to know who is who and what they want to be when they grow up. They talk a lot about inclusion, but it appears to be lip service. At the same time, it seems Americans are shunning party politics.

To keep us entertained, the republicans are vying to head the RNC, and behaving as if they need a babysitter and some sense.

Mike Duncan, head of the of the RNC, and campaigning to continue to chair the RNC, slammed Chip Saltsman, the immature little boy, also running for RNC chair, who is passing out a CD that contains a highly offensive song about Obama. Read about that here. Saltsman is Mike Huckabee's former campaign manager.

Duncan isn't enlightened, though. I heard him in an interview on NPR and he was clueless about how to move the republican party forward. I'd guess his slamming of Saltsman's behavior is merely politics. One only needs to look at the crappy commercials that the RNC put out during the election and how they used race to exploit people.

Politico: Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan issued a statement Saturday distancing the party’s leadership from one of the GOP’s best-known operatives, Chip Saltsman, who distributed a CD containing “Barack the Magic Negro” as part of his campaign to be elected chairman of the Republican National Committee next month.

Duncan, who has served the campaigns of five presidents dating back to Richard Nixon, is seeking reelection as the party’s 60th chairman in a hotly contested race that includes Saltsman and several other viable candidates.

Saltsman, 40, was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s campaign manager during the Republican presidential primaries.

Saltsman sent Republican National Committee members, who will choose the next chairman, a CD by conservative political satirist Paul Shanklin, “We HATE the USA.” It contains the controversial track, which was popular on conservative radio. Shanklin’s Web site promises “absolutely the best parodies in talk radio.”

Duncan's statement, in full: "The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party. I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate as it clearly does not move us in the right direction."

Saltsman’s candidacy for national party chair is endorsed by Huckabee and fellow Tennessean Bill Frist, the former Senate majority leader.

Saltsman defended his song selection to The Hill’s Reid Wilson, who first reported the gift.

CNN adds a twist: Puff is mad too.

Also Saturday, Peter Yarrow, who co-wrote "Puff the Magic Dragon," called Saltsman's decision to distribute the parody tune "offensive," and "shocking and saddening in the extreme."

"It is almost unimaginable to me," Yarrow wrote in a statement sent to CNN, that Saltsman "would seriously be considered for the top post of the Republican National Committee. Puff, himself, if asked, would certainly agree."

Yarrow, a member of the 1960s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, was a contributor to Obama's presidential campaign

Here's another disturbing track from the CD that Saltsman's, Jose Can You See. What a jerk this guy is.
2008 was the year of the Bad Guy and the year of the Moron.