(CNN) - A candidate for Republican National Committee chairman said Friday it was clear the content of a CD he sent committee members for Christmas - that included lyrics from a song called “Barack the Magic Negro” - was intended as a joke.
“I think most people recognize political satire when they see it,” Chip Saltsman told CNN. “I think RNC members understand that.” Saltsman, a former chair of the Tennessee Republican Party, was a top advisor to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and managed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign.
The song, set to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon,” was first played on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show in 2007. Its title was drawn from a Los Angeles Times column that suggested Obama appealed to those who feel guilty about the nation’s history of mistreatment of African-Americans. Saltsman said the song, penned by long-time friend Paul Shanklin, should be easily recognized as satire directed at the Times.
The parody CD sent to RNC members this Christmas, first reported by The Hill Friday, is titled “We Hate the USA”, and includes songs referencing former presidential John Edwards and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, among other targets.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help | CNN Newsource | License Footage
Just when I thought they couldn't get any dumber, they go and do something like this...and become even dumber.
While it is true that most people recognize political satire it is also true that most recognize thinly veiled or outright racism, but what would one expect from the former chair of the Tennessee Republican Party and
"friend" of Bill Frist and MIke Huckabee?
The "values" party never ceases to amaze us with its utter lack of them now does it?
I'd like to compare Arianna Huffington's reaction to this incident to when blogger Jane Hamsher digitally altered a picture of Joe Lieberman to have him in "blackface" during his 2006 re-election campaign.
Richard Rohde is a complete moron
Absolutely disgusting. But then again, we all knew that the Republicans were nothing but elected KKK members acting on behalf of the hate mongers and bigoted degenerates of this nation!
The absolute garbage that has come to dominate the landscape of the Republican Party will be it's own undoing. I can not wait to see these hate filled racists find themselves out dated, out sourced, and out of a job!
What idiots republicans are... enough said.
Hopefully, the nation will leave the RNC in the dust as the rest of us thinking and caring people move on and make this nation great again. It's not surprising that this trash was played by Limbaugh. Please boycott advertisers supporting the Limbaugh program and website!
This my fellow americans is beyond the"Pale" !
Saltzman and the RNC just don't get it. This is vintage Tennessee racism, period. As Colin Powell and the few remaining decent Republicans lament, America has moved away from the GOP and its racist past in every aspect of life, including humor and so-called "satire". The GOP is dead forever, and Saltzman, Hannity, Limbaugh, and Ingraham are dead men walking. God bless America and Barack Obama.
Tennessee is fast becoming the most racist state in the United Sates, How sad.
RNC=RACIST NUTS COMMITTEE
A big reason why this country is so divided. A bunch of crazy, racist clowns that have too much power and too much stolen money and we let them get away with it every year.
Don't just sit & whine about it. RNC candidate, I think you should have competed against Obama in the election, which I think he would have whipped your LOSER'S BUTT sore anyway.
This is sickening. The GOP continues to remind me why I left their party behind. They are nothing but a bunch of fear-mongering bigots. Proudly independant from here on out.
RACISTS!!!
YA KNOW I DIDN'T VOTE FOR OBAMA THIS TIME OUT, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE. WE ARE WITNESSING THE DEATH SPIRAL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND YA KNOW, THAT KINDA MAKES ME HAPPY AND SAD. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BECOME A BUTTON ISSUE CROWD THEY HATE ANY AND EVERYONE THAT IS NOT LIKE THEM OF THE IMAGE THEY HAVE CREATED FOR THEM SELVES SO THEREFORE EVEN LINCOLN I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE DUMPED THE ELEPHANT and gone back to the Bull Moose Party.
THE RNC CONTINUES TO HOLD UNTO THEIR HOODS !!!!
Disgusting...has the RNC and everyone attached to it completely lost their minds?? I guess so – the very fact that this first surfaced through big-fat-stupid Rush should have been a tip off... "oh, it was just political satire" – yeah, right....go tell it to someone that's in lobotomy recovery.
he is from Tennesse; says it all
Intended as a joke? What's a joke is the RNC thinking that most Americans wont see this for the blatant racism that it is. What's not funny is how the GOP always speaks about christian ideals, but cant seem to keep themselves from judging others for the color of their skin.
This is ridiculous and shameful behavior. The title We Hate the USA is Republican truth disguised as humor and is precisely the reason they lost not only the WH but a lot of congressional seats. Sad business this is. So much for their trying to re-invent the party.
Boy! Those Republicans are a LAUGH RIOT!!
My sides are hurting from all of the laughter!
(Zzzzzzz snore)
Wow, its nice to see what someone who wants to head the RNC thinks of our new President. That's the kind of leadership that the RNC is looking for?
Isn't this the same song Limbaugh was playing on his show? Is that really the direction the Republican party wants to lead our nation?
The right is certainly getting very silly.
I'm stunned. Could this sort of mentality be why the conservatives are out of their majority? They need to get their act together.
If Americans keep voting for idiots such as Chip Saltsman, nothing is going to change in Washington or for our country. We do not need people like this in Government.
Who are these buffoons?