Monday, June 15, 2009
Crazy Crap / Hannan / Politics Republican Staffer E-Mails Obama 'Spook' Photo
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 12:45 PM
From: Sherri Goforth Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 8:33 AM To: Alice Bigham; Anna Richardson; Beth Chiles; Carolyn Newman; Catherine Haire; Christina Barber; Chuck Grimes; Darlene Schlicher; Deana Guenther; Debbie Martin; Debbie Rankin; Glenda Mayes; Jeremy Davis; John Michael Burch; Lance Frizzell; Lee Harrell; Linda Klingmann; Liz Alvey; Logan Grant; Loudene Gee; Matt King; Micki Coode; Pam George; Pat Farmer; Patti Saliba; Rick Nicholson; Sandra Smith; Sherri Goforth; Tina Still; Tonya Morelock; Valerie Yancey; Will Canterbury; Wilma Carney; Zach Bates Subject: FW: Historical Keepsake PhotoEnormous H/T (damn near a bow, in fact) to Trace at Newscoma. Update: Christian Grantham talks with Goforth. She says Black gave her a letter of reprimand but will keep her on the job. Also, Goforth only admits to having sent the e-mail to the wrong list; not exactly an apology. Update #2: Just spoke with Alice Bingham, secretary for Sen. Tim Burchett and one of the people on Goforth's "wrong list." She says she can't remember whether or not she opened it, but she guessed she probably just deleted it, saying that "a lot of crap" gets sent out via the inter-congressional interwebs.
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But are we really surprised? After the "black crows" ad that the TNGOP sent out against Rep. Nathan Vaughn? After the "birthers" surfaced in the LEGISLATURE with their conspiracy theories? After all the reports of people flocking to stock up on guns right after the election, as if the freaking apocalypse was coming?
Guess what, this kind of racism is indeed alive and well in Tennessee, and elsewhere. And yes, even in the Legislature. Kudos to Newscoma and others for holding this hatefulness up there, with names attached, for all to see.
Don't miss what Ms. Goforth said to Christian Grantham about being sorry she sent it to the wrong list.
One wonders what the right list to send this kind of thing to would look like.
Is anyone keeping a running tally of TNGOP incidents of this nature?
You can check on the legislative website, every name on that list is a republican Sentae staffer. If the joke was so funny why didn't she send it to democratic staffers?
Yeah, sure - wrong list....It would be very interesting for some enterprising e-journalist to get the state e-mail records tracking the path of this hateful stuff within the state e-mail system (which is public record). Who forwarded it, and to whom? Who, if anyone, objected to it?
Why let these taxpayer-employed racists be anonymous?
Wait a minute? Was this sent from a state email account? You mean this woman sent a racist email on a state account? How does she keep her job after that?
What an insult, a disgrace, and embarrassment to Tennesseans, regardless of political party. Sen. Black is respected across party lines, but a letter of reprimmand is not enough. This person is paid with government dollars and should not be allowed to remain in any position that she would have this kind of exposure publically, giving the impression she in any way represents the opinion of fellow Tennesseans. I would challenge Sen. Black to send a strong message that any form of racism will not be tolerated by any member of her staff.
Citizen of Sumner County, TN
If this was sent from a STATE email account to other STATE email accounts, then we have a very serious breach of the code of conduct, in my opinion. I'm willing to bet the state computer use policy includes a clause banning viewing or forwarding offensive email.
I want to know what Ron Ramsey is going to do about this. He runs the Senate.
What a state (literally and figuratively) in which we live. I am surprised that the republicans did not introduce a bill this session legalizing slavery. That way your slave could tote you gun into the bar.
Lt. Gov. Ramsey is unavailable at the moment - while the state budget is in shambles, Ramsey is busy shaking down East Tennessee "supporters" for campaign donations. Wonder if he's telling any good Obama jokes in his speech??
Obama's jsut a muslim kenyan anyway not really president. Wake up America! and throw the usurper bum out! Palin can get in there when he's booted out in 2010, then get reelected 2012 and 2016. Honestly think only Palin can save my country now.
Palin, while a very funny chap as a member of Monty Python, is not an American citizen (I think maybe he's British or something) and therefore not eligible to "get in there" in 2010 or to be elected afterward.
Guess we're stuck with the muslim kenyan.
This is not about where Obama is from, this is not about where the country is going. This is about a woman who is sitting in a government position taking YOUR money and sending ridiculous e-mails such as that. You have a right to your viewpoint about Sarah Palin, however this is about racism. Some fail to realize the the point of this artcle. Racial slurs in any manner from any type of government official will not be tolerated such as Carolyn M had stated previously if we keep allowing this we will have bigger issues. STOP THE HATE TIME TO REGULATE!
Who accidentally sends an e-mail to the President?
Sarah in Gallatin
If this is from a 'work' or public email address, it is a classic 'Firing Offense.' Where I live and work, at least.
I'd rather have a competent Muslim Kenyan as our leader than someone of Goforth's ilk.
Goforth & bleep yourself.
Y'know, back in 2006, when Sherrod Brown ran for the Senate north in Ohio, Rush spent a whole day talking about how awful it'd be if Ohio had an African-American for a senator...
Personally, using the same standard, I think it's just as awful that the fine citizens of Nashville or thereabouts would be represented by an African-American like Ms. Black.
Maybe Sherri Golightly was making fun of her boss...
Hey cal damage, I Think you have more sense than that.To inferred some racist senator of your is African America because her last is name Black. As in Diane Black is stupid.Stop fooling yourself.I Won't be surprise you are one of the racist pig who received the racist circular/
Sherri Goforth AND Diane Black MUST be REMOVED from office effective IMMEDIATELY! There is NO excuse for this type behavior. The WORLD has accepted President OBAMA with open arms, and yet here in the United States of America this type of HATEFUL behavior is going on in GOVERNMENT offices. This makes our ENTIRE COUNTRY look STUPID to everyone else on the planet. Its hard to believe we are living in the 21st century!
Hey Diane, it's Alex, listen, if you want to have anything that looks like a "career" in politics, you should fire that racist loser on your staff ASAP! It's not something that we the people are gonna just let slide. and since you work for us, you might want to listen up.
Or maybe you've been wondering what it was going to be like with no hopes of every being elected again, if so, please continue.
What ugly jerks(goforth and black, etc.)...Republicans once again making pathetic spectacles of themselves...as if being siinfully responsible for the deaths of a million people wasn't enough...look how they amuse themselves.
Wow..Racist-Incest-Ignorant-Hillbilly Tennessee Republicans SUCK!
Redumbican Party is FINISHED
I would HOPE she is going to be fired; the far right cannot ask the network to fire Letterman, if they are not going to handle THEIR improper fools----
It seems the good people of Tennessee has people in their state who don't understand there is only one race of people, THE HUMAN RACE.
The world is moving on and bigots are really having a hard time accepting it.
That's right. Stay classy and maintain your backwards, ignorant, racist heritage TN! We wouldn't expect anything less from you.
When you hear blanket statements like people in Tennessee/(insert any other southern state here) are a bunch of backward, inbred hicks, its becoming harder by the day, to mount a spirited defense.
Ms. Goforth does not help.
Over this incident the GOP of Tennessee is being criticized nationally but so are Tennessians and the State of Tennessee in general. I am in Senator Black's district and am deeply appalled and ashamed to have such representation. Goforth sent that image to the "wrong" list (who have not responded with outrage). Who was on the "right" list and why does Goforth think it appropriate to send that image to them? She apparently sees no wrong in what she did, and Black apparently doesn't see it wrong enough on the deepest human level to do what she should do.
I was taught in my social history classes in high school, at home, and by society in general, that, even though we did not vote for whomever was the current president, we as United States Citizens owed him our loyalty and allegiance. We could discuss and even challange our government, but we still must be loyal to our country in order for it to thrive. Ike was President and we loved him. President Eisenhower is turning over in his grave. I have not been a Republican for many years but did vote for Black. For that, I am deeply sorry.
It's not just the issue of Goforth - the question that now arises is how many on her "wrong send to list" then forwarded the email to others? And to Whom? They too need to be identified. Was it on state time and equipment used?.
An email forwarded to lists can mushroom out to many.
Sen. Black has a decision to make. Properly punish her executive assistant for a major breech of the state's employment Code of Conduct, that is terminate her forthwith or retain her on the payroll and forever defend the decision and risk any further advancement in her political career. That this person is her executive assistant and feels free to engage this type of conduct gives one cause to ponder just those private moments with the senator herself might sound like. Top aides seldom voice sentiments so distant from their standardbearer.
That Sen. Black has kept this aide casts a very dark shadow on herself and the TN GOP, and the people of Tennessee. She owes it to us all, to remove this shadow.
What's really sad is that this woman didn't see anything wrong with the picture in the first place; she thought it was funny. Unfortunately, a too-large percentage of this state would agree with her. It's this kind of racism, the condescending, patronizing racism, the respectful to their face but laugh behind their back racism. No apology will ever make a difference. Do people change? I don't think so, really; she'll be this way for the rest of her life, whether she loses her job or not. I'd feel sorry for her, if she wasn't in a position that could potentially affect the lives of those she so casually puts down.
Does anyone know this woman's email address. I want to send her a message expressing my displeasure with her behavior.
This must make all the African American members of the GOP (Grand Racist Party GOP) mighty proud. I have alway wondered what it feels like to belong to a party that continously disparages, disrespects, flat out hates you and only tolerates you because of your votes. How does it feel . . . really? It is time you all woke up.
I just called Diana Black's office to complain.
Everyone should. She used a state email address to send out unprofessional emails.
Here is the senator's email address.
sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov
Phone contact
615-741-8586
615-741-1999
Her fax is 615-252-0207
This nonsense has to stop!!!
I can't believe in this day and age that people are still so ignorant. She should be fired. I would be!
Michael Richards Court Speech
Makes one stop and think after reading this :
Michael Richards is better known as Kramer from tv's Seinfeld series.
This was his defense speech in court after making racial comments in
his comedy act.
He makes some very interesting points. He said :
I'm proud To Be White
Someone finally said it.
How many are actually paying attention to this ?
There are African Americans, Mexican Americans,
Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc.
And then there are just Americans.
You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction.
You Call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,'
'Whitey,' 'Caveman' ... and that's OK.
But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head,
Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner , Gook, or Chink ...
You call me a racist.
You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you,
so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live ?
You have the United Negro College Fund.
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET.
If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) we'd be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.
If we had White History Month , we'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance'
OUR lives we'd be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce,
and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce.
Wonder who pays for that ?
A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant,
but any color can be in the Miss America pageant. If we had a college
fund that only gave white students scholarships you know we'd be
racists. There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US .
Yet if there were 'White colleges' THAT would be a racist college.
In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your
race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights,
you would call us racists. You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and
orange, and you're not afraid to announce it.
But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.
You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us.
But , when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or
beats up a black drug-dealer running from the law and posing a
threat to society, you call him a racist.
I am proud.
But you call me a racist.
Why is it that only whites can be racists ?
Sorry, but this is funny, and to sit here and say you didn't laugh is a big fat lie. Is it in poor taste, yes.. but funny all the same.
Now, giving the list of recipients was wrong. These people cannot be held responsible for being on the receiving end of an email that they did not ask to have sent to them.
Like it or not, agree or not, we still have freedom of speech protected by our constitution. Just because you do not like something does not make it wrong. We are all entitled to our opinions and sense of humors. If you don't like it, get over it and move on.
Wow. What ignorance. To explain that she "hit the wrong button" is being unrepentant. She needs to repudiate the sentiment of the message or get fired.
Senator Black probably cannot fire Ms. Goforth for the simple reason........Ms. Goforth knows the real Senator Black. She probably have more on Senator Black than Senator Black can remember. They probably have sat in the good old girls office and made all kinds of racial remarks. Smirking about Obama and the blacks in the Republican party. They probably even enjoyed the latest incident of South Carolina GOP Rusty DePass calling the "loose ape" a family member of Michelle Obama.
Should GOP staffer be fired? Vote
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=5538
.
Sen. Black just spoke on CNN the usual drivel that’s it’s not tolerated in her office. She contacted HR and is following policy to speak to and write a strong letter in her file. The employee has worked for the state for 20 years and has been a stellar employee.
Been there, done that, heard it before.
Have they done a search on her computer?? When there’s one, there’s more. You don't wake up one morning being 'racist'
It still remains the fact where the excuse provides is it was sent to the wrong email address. That's confirmation -- there have been more sent by her and who knows how many others.
shaye,
How many on that list that received it in turn sent it forward again? Think about that. That is being guilty of the same thing as Goforth.
blueski:
You ask why are only white people racists? Don't you think you answered your own question.
Look at all the names you have for different ethnic backgrounds, how did you come up with so many? Hmm...did mom and dad teach you that?
Think about it. Even though you hate me...I love you with the love of OUR CREATOR! It's gonna be alright...I promise.
Katie says:
Obama's jsut a muslim kenyan anyway not really president. Wake up America! and throw the usurper bum out! Palin can get in there when he's booted out in 2010, then get reelected 2012 and 2016. Honestly think only Palin can save my country now.
Katie,
It's people like you that scare the Hell out me. You are the ones that back murderers who claim to be Christians and fight for the right to life, unless of course they don't fit into the perfect little mold you have designed in your twisted little mind. The fact that you feel Palin is this country's only hope speaks volumes! You betcha!
...and republicans cant understand why nobody other than White racist dont like them(?) what a bunch of idiots..welcome to the new(same ole) GOP. cowards
blueski,
The USA is a paradox. It has been that way from the very beginning and continues to this today, because people like you refuse to believe otherwise. Anyone who believes "Why is it that only whites can be racists ?" cannot be serious? LOL! The many things you list by Michael Richards are the results of a lot of Americans giving of their time, money and life (literally) to counter that paradox! It is the context within that paradox that makes people look like a bigot or a racist. And, as the old saying goes "If it quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck." You see, if people gather to profess their "white pride" while at the same time profess their hatred toward other people, then those people are racists! And, it doesn't matter if they do it covertly or overtly. Bigotry and racism are a means to an end that created, supports and reinforces this paradox. This email is a prime example of that and so is Michael Richards' testimony. There is nothing wrong with anyone professing their "white pride", but not at the expense of other Americans or non Americans and not as a means to prevent anyone from exercising their rights guaranteed in the US Constitution! Anyone who supports this paradox in any form does not deserve my respect or any other law abiding American citizen. Ms. Goforth should be terminated for her email and Sen. Diane Black should lose her Senator seat for just giving her a reprimand. The USA can no longer tolerate bigotry and racism in any form no matter who is doing it that reinforces this paradox!
Sherri is a racist C#NT!
HEY RIGHT WING! LISTEN UP! YOUR TIME IS OVER! YOUR WAYS OF OLD ARE DONE, AND WILL NEVER BE APART OF MY AMERICA EVER AGAIN.
HA! HA! HA!
It was sent only to Republican staffers and the idiot said she sent it to the wrong people.
Really!
The idiot needs to be fired, her infamy now allows for repeated face time on Fox News shows.
It's not like she committed a crime, apologists for the idiot will say.
It is hard to fire government workers in many places. After 20 years that idiot knows a lot of dirt.
She's a freaking idiot with her behaviour and her position as a government official.
