GOP strategist calls for Republican to be fired over racist email
Published: June 17, 2009
Updated 5 months ago
Republican strategist Ron Christie told CNN’s John Roberts that a Republican staffer in Tennessee should be fired for sending an email depicting President Barack Obama as white eyes on a black background.
Many are upset that Sherri Goforth, an aide to state Sen. Diane Black (R-Gallatin), was only given a written rebuke for forwarding a picture from her statehouse account that depicted all the presidents but included President Obama perceptible as only a pair of googly cartoonish white eyes.
Goforth told a Tennessee blog that sending out the email was a mistake.
I spoke with Sherri Goforth minutes ago to confirm she sent this email. She confirmed she had sent it and also said she had received a letter of reprimand from her superiors but said she will stay on the job.
When I asked her if she understood the controversial nature of the photo, Goforth would only say she felt very bad about accidentally sending it to the wrong list. When I gave her a second chance to address the controversial nature of the email, she again repeated that she only felt bad about sending it to the wrong list of people.
“I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button,” Goforth told NIT. “I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.”
Senator Black told the media that she “was very comfortable with the action that she took” against her aide for her actions, but CNN reports outraged Tennessee Democrats are demanding that she fire Goforth.
“Obviously, it’s clear that Republicans don’t take this seriously,” Tennessee Democratic Party chair Chip Forrester said.
On CNN’s America Morning Wednesday, GOP strategist Christie called it “really unfortunate,” added that the “racist cartoon” was “despicable,” and that “the staffer should go.”
Christie said that it “was a poor reflection on” the state senator herself.
Tennessee Republicans have caught a lot of heat the last six months with regards to what many believe are racist attacks on the Obamas.
Last December, Tennessee Republican John “Chip” Saltsman, former manager for Mike Huckabee’s 2008 presidential campaign, included a 41-track CD by conservative satirist Paul Shanklin with a recent greeting to RNC members. Included on the disc was a musical parody of “Puff the Magic Dragon” entitled “Barack the Magic Negro,” sung by Shanklin imitating black civil rights advocate Rev. Al Sharpton, first played by Rush Limbaugh on his syndicated radio show in March 2007.
Some Democrats have detected a disturbing pattern of racism in the state.
One Nashville blogger argues that Goforth “is just a symptom of the terminal disease that is the Tennessee legislature.”
“Since January alone, they’ve accused Barack Obama of being a foreign national,” Pete Kotz blogs. “They’ve accused the federal government of turning socialist. They’ve tried to assert their sovereignty from the United States, playing the part of ingrate welfare client.”
Kotz adds, “These are the people Goforth works for. Is it any wonder she believes what she does? But to fire her only picks off a middle-aged lady. It does nothing to heal the greater wound, which is composed by the creeps, racists, half-wits and professional victims who make up the Tennessee legislature. They’re the real affront here, the wound that will become terminal if left unchecked.”
This video is from CNN’s American Morning, broadcast June 17, 2009.
Download video via RawReplay.com
23 comments
Printer Friendly |
Email
| Get breaking news alerts: Email/mobile |
Having lost “fair and square”, they just don’t get it. Huffing and puffing in the wind, the Republicans are slowly being edged off, stage right. The “Know Nothings” and “Whigs” shall soon replace them–unless, by hook, crook and Diebold, they really can “bring back” the Nazis, of course. Naw. Gawd ain’t THAT crazy.
They’ve now cornered themselves with the truth…again and again and again.
Ron Christie is probably one of the most irritating talking heads on TV these days. He not only continues to defend Bush and his actions, and he states that “Racism cannot be tolerated from those who have the public trust.” What about the rest of us, Ron?
I’m glad Ron isn’t white because I wouldn’t want him out there blathering on my “behalf.”
Conversely, I’d be proud to have Dr. Dyson speak on my behalf any day.
Christie is just a little punk.
You don’t have to be a racist to be a Republican, but it helps.
Yo, Ron, how about all the venom that has been spewed by your other buddies? You know, Limbaugh, Drudge, etc.
Of course…she “hit the wrong button.”
We’ve all done that dozens of times.
These danged keyboard thingies, with all them keys…sure can confuse ya.
Hey - stupid GOP staffer - not only are you a racist, you are also lying and fooling only those who find the “toobz” to be beyond comprehension. (AKA, “The GOP Base”)
But you shouldn’t be fired.
You are no different than most in your dinosaur of a political party.
I think we can safely conclude that Goforth’s boss is just as much of a racist as she is and apparently Sen. Black doesn’t care who knows it. (And I don’t need an irritating twit like Ron Christie to tell me that. )
If you’re interested in what the people of Tennessee have to say about this, check out
http://www.nashvilleistalking.com/2009/06/sen-diane-blacks-r-gallatin-legislative-aid-circulates-racist-email/comment-page-4/#comments
Aside from a couple of racist “crackers” (that’s what they call each other), most people were outraged. Most interesting was a comment from someone posting as “Bobby” who apparently has worked with Sherri Goforth “on more than a few occasions”. (”… I can remember more than a few times having to get out of ears distance from her going on one of her ‘why america is being ruined by blacks and why we should just get rid of them all’. or ‘I saw some woman today holding hands with one of those monkeys…I just wanted to slap sense into her and tell her parents to get her away’ rants with her associates. …”)
How can a self-respecting black guy be a member of a party where racism is one of the tacit pillars of its organization? Much like being a gay member of the “log cabin” Republicans- in spite of GOP homophobia. There’s some mixed-up campers out there.
What’s the problem? Racism is a good Christian/Zionist value.
Should GOP staffer be fired? Vote
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=553.
I don’t care for Ron either, but on this he is 100% correct.
That woman should be fire. She sent it to the wrong list??? WTF?? Like that would have made it all right?
I’m a white woman and am disgusted with many white people in this country.. When are Repubs (racist white folks) going to get it?
They and the south are so disgusting!
Sherri Goforth, please pick up line 3, Bill Engvall is holding for you, something about “Here’s your sign!”
Sherri please, don’t make any babies, there are enough ignorant racists in America already.
I agree with marman; Ron Christie is one of the most irritating, obnoxious wingnuts out there (yet he keeps showing up on talk shows, braying the same apologia and trying to shout over critics of the loser Rethuglicans). However, I do agree this moronic Tennessee racist should be fired.
It’s hard to tell which of the southern states has a greater number of overt racists coupled with a low I.Q. average, but Tennessee and South Carolina are strong contenders.
Who would be left to run the party?
Why fire her? Keep her on to see if she could fuck up even more. Every little bit counts.
Good ,an effort to clean up their party of racist and bigots..It is time to get in the 21st century republicans and dems.
Should GOP staffer be fired? Vote
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=5538
Correct URL for the poll: http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=5538
Right now the voting is heavily against this ignorant and malicious bucket o’ hate. Go add your opinion.
Ron Christie, you must be really proud to be the public face of this racist party. Although, quite honestly, you’re a little - tan for the crowd you run with.
her regret? wrong list.. NOT being an ignorant racist cunt.
Hey Ron, were you one of the two black people at the Biltmore Hotel when John McCain finally realized he and the republiKKKon party had LOST the election?? Come to think of it, we didn’t see any people of color at the party.
Sharri and the people of Tennessee are nothing but CRACKERS and Ron you are an Uncle Tom. I bet the republiKKKon party is up to 20 black people, including Michael Steele and Clarence Thomas. You are a disgrace to your race and to America. Sharri needs to be looking for another job, something at the RNC in Washington.
I sent it to the wrong list, I sent it to the wrong list, and that makes it right. The sick thing about this is when are they (people in govt. business and others) going to understand if you want to stop racism YOU HAVE TO STOP ENABLING THEM. By making excuses or giving a reprimand etc. etc., you don’t punish them what you did was to give them a slap on the wrist and a wink saying “you got caught, but don’t worry I got your back”. She did that without a doubt because of the atmosphere in her work place working for that woman politician. Ron Christie got out there and said he wanted her fired because he knew what that email/cartoon said, he’s no dummy. And if he didn’t do it then he would truly be the proverbial UNCLE TOM and not an UNCLE TOM in training. I feel sorry for Ron because I think he is holding on a false Ideology that not even the republicans believed in. They couldn’t say we are the party for white men, so they had to come up with code words of fiscal responsibility, family values, no affirmative action, etc. etc.. This way it wouldn’t be racists but they could give the wink and nod to the people in the know. Ron gets out their and makes excuses not realizing that the same people that he is defending are calling him every name in the book and don’t really respect him, same for Steele.
The republican party believes this is america of the 1980’s and 1990’s, it’s not. People are more diverse in their thinking and they are becoming more tolerant. They and others have had this platform of intolerance and hatred for so long, they believe their own propaganda that America is conservative, when it’s not or it’s not fully liberal it’s more down the middle. The danger with having someone like this in any position that requires them to interact with people or their issues is that they are biased, and how can a minority or anybody else for that matter trust that she will do the right thing if they came to her to get an appointment with this congresswoman (she may deny them access because the color of their skin or as a way to retaliate). I for years have wondered about something in regard to true anti-racism laws or issues. How can a person who says they are racists or does racists acts etc. etc., be scholarlly enough to be even handed on making a decision (employeer, cop, etc.). I believe it’s not possible unless they decide to change what they believe in regard to race. We play these games by saying “Okay I won’t say the N word but I will do everything up to it, or it’s a free country I can say what a want or do what I want”. Here’s a hint, respect the person or respect they are human beings. The problem is that people with this believe don’t consider minorities as human, so they will do it because thats what they truly believe.
So for the people who think that she shouldn’t be fired or that there’s nothing wrong about it, here’s something for you. By the year 2030 at least, whites will be the minority in this country. So by 2100, we will be more in a minority. Now would you like to be on the no job end or the harrassment end of a black or indian or hispanic or whomever that is making comments about you and saying that your white this or white that etc. etc.. Remember, the sooner we start to respect different people the better it will be for us and our kids. If not, we will be demanding affirmative action and having rallies about the injustice of the govt. doing nothing to stop discrimination of us poor whites.
For as annoyingly apologetic as Christie is about Chimpy McFlightsuit and his Cabal of Criminals, and the GOP, for once, he actually said something worth listening to.
The most troubling thing about this story is that the staffer had an email list where sending such a racist message would be appropriate. It is obvious from the reprimand letter that the Senator has no problem with such a list being on a government computer.
The employee probably should not be fired for sending the email. However, having an email list to which sending racist emails is OK should be grounds for firing anyone–even if only for terminal stupidity.