Monday, June 15, 2009
Politics / Woods Ridicule Rains on Republicans; Black Refuses to Fire Staffer for 'Obama Spook' Picture
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 3:18 PM
How are the Republican politicians doing with the email today? Not too good, as usual! It's a busy Monday, as one Republican official already got busted doing racist anti-Michelle Obama stuff on the Facebook, and now we're learning about some super-funny racist emails sent out by a Tennessee GOP legislative staffer for Republican state senator Diane Black. Let's meet the charming Sherri Goforth, who sent the image above to god knows how many people because, ha, a Negro in the White House?There is much knee-slapping over Goforth's explanation that she sent the email to the wrong list:
Yes, yes, Republicans must be careful not to hit the "wrong button" when sending out the racist bullshit. Sadly, our liberal technology sector has yet to create a button that would only send your racist fuckwad idiocy to fellow mouth-breathing racist cretins who think there is NOTHING as funny as the idea of ... people with dark complexions. Even when you're just sending the Funnies to proper white folk, there is still often a "N.L." who will complain about old-fashioned Southern comedy.Update: House Democratic caucus chair Mike Turner: "It's irresponsible. It's despicable to have that type of racist humor coming out of their caucus. This is blackbird revisited." Update II: More ridicule, this time from the Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates. Update III: Democratic Party chair Chip Forrester calls on Black to fire staffer: "Is this indicative of what Senate Republicans think about our Commander-in-Chief? This email is reprehensible, insults the office of the President, and is embarrassing to all Tennesseans regardless of political party." Update IV: GoldnI on Daily Kos adds Black background:
For those of you not familiar with her boss, Senator Diane Black, she's a Republican who was the main Senate sponsor of S.J.R. 127, a trigger amendment passed this year that, if passed in one more legislative vote and by a ballot initiative, will allow abortion to quickly be banned in Tennessee should Roe v. Wade ever be overturned. She also rudely cancelled a meeting with GLBT activists from her own district (you know, people she was elected to represent) at the last second by saying that they "wouldn't change her mind" and therefore she didn't even need to hear from them. So in other words, a really charming individual who's doing SO MUCH for the people of her district.Update V: Black finally says something. Goforth sent the email from her state computer. Black says she reprimanded her verbally and in writing, and that's enough:
"I think this was a bad decision on her part," Black says. "She fully understood. ... It really doesn't matter to me why it was sent -- whether it was a mistake or a decision -- it won't be tolerated. ... The communication sent from this office ... does absolutely not reflect my opinions or my beliefs. I won't tolerate those kinds of communications coming from this office."
More Black: "Obviously this communication was done without my knowledge. It absolutely does not reflect my beliefs." Goforth is a 20-year state employee. "She has nothing in her 20 years of ever doing anything inappropriate such as this. She obviously feels very badly about this and people make mistakes and she made a mistake."Update VI: "It's racism," said Democrat Rep. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar, who is black. "And no one has any business being in state government that is a racist such as this. She should be fired."
Comments (24)
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Our Mike Turner who is saying that the bussing in the sixties was for Political Correctness? There is definitely something in the water in Nashville.
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When the TNGOP said Hobbs would now have a "consulting" job, I figured it was nonsense, just a public relations statement. But it appears to be true. This email has Hobbs all over it.
Might I remind you that this mistake comes from the office of the same official who accidentally ran an attack ad from a previous election cycle during her last reelection campaign.
"Oops! Them machines are HARD!" seems to be the motto 'round those parts.
He should have made RAPE jokes about Obama's daughters.
That would be a laugher.
Dave, does Letterman work for a Democratic state senator? False equivalence. Face it: the state GOP once again are exposed as the suit-wearing wing of the KKK. The more these racist idiots are exposed, the more likely it is that the Republicans will remain a tiny regional party. But go ahead, keep denying that there's anything fucked up about being racist.
This didn't get her fired? Really what do you have to do to get fired? Hang a noose from your pick up?
It's stupid rednecks like this that make second guess telling people I'm from TN when I travel!
Somebody should step up from the GOP and demand they fire this woman!
It doesn't get more racist than this!
The GOP thinks it's okay to carry guns into bars and parks but wine in the grocery doesn't mix!
Down with the GOP and all their stupid racist goons!
I just read today in the N.Y. times that Tennessee is about to pass legislation allowing guns in parks and bars. Tennessee school systems used selective web site censorship to promote a bigoted agenda. A whooping 81% of voters chose to ban gay marriage in its constitution. One of the most uneducated backward states in America. Now childish, racist, crap like this. But what can one expect from the state where Martin Luther King lost his life. I thank God everyday that I no longer live in the cesspool that is called Tennessee. Now bubba can blow away his bubba in law when he sees him flirting with his wife, (who also happens to be his cousin) while at their family reunion held at one of Tennessee's beautiful state parks. What a lost cause Tennessee is.
Sen. Diane Black did not honor the state salary freeze last year and ordered a nice pay increase for one special staff member.
Sen. Black boosted the salary of her press secretary Darlene Schlicher from $58,968 for 2007-2008 to a current salary of $60,684 (for 37.5 hours per week). It was a campaign year, and Sen. Black wanted to reward Darlene for writing a piece to go out under Sen. Black’s name for every local paper each week.
Some state employees noticed that Sen. Black broke the pay freeze rule, and we remember. (All the other state senators, except Sen. Beavers, honored the pay freeze.)
Sherri Goforth makes $49,812 per year plus benefits, but she did NOT get an increase from Sen. Black, which means Sherry sends out her racist e-mails for the same pay as last year.
JoFriday’s fact source:
http://data.tennessean.com/DB/dbc/statesalaries08.php?mode=1&sr=0&pg=20&sf=&sd=&lname=schlicher&lnameOP=LK&fname=&fnameOP=LK&dept=%25&deptOP=LK&title=%25&titleOP=LK
You can almost feel sorry for the poor woman, after all, she is working in a toxic, misanthropic environment, the Tennessee State Legislature. In past years the legislature seemed to be only senile fools. This year's legislature, with fresh GOP blood, has turned into a full-blown skinhead hate festival.
Gov Bredesen is wasting time recruiting new biz in Europe. What kind of honorable, forward-looking company would ever want to be associated with the hairy-back neanderthals of the Tennessee State Legislature?
amvanman, Calling TN a cesspool is about as stupid as it gets, glad you moved the fuck out and stay out we don't want you. Go live in NY state and tell me how good it is after a few years there.... there is a reason I left there and a reason that a whole bunch of other are too... its a shit hole welfare state and the .gov steals you money every day to pay for the inadequacies of useless people like you. the only jobs that are worth a crap are the ones working for the .gov and they are almost bankrupt.
again STAY OUT OF TN WE DON'T WANT YOU!
It is sad to see racism is alive still in the Statehouses of our country. I thought we had grown as a nation. I was wrong. Those who carry such hate in their hearts are sad people. Like the man who has just killed a black guard in the Hallocust Museum. Due to his heart filled with hate for many decades for Jews and blacks.
What wasted lives are those filled with hate. I feel sorry for them they never know really the joy of life. Hate of those whose color or ethicity is different from yours is alive and well in this great country. How sad for all of us. Hope over Hate anyday.
Nice comments on Digg.com making us look bad here in Tennessee. http://digg.com/politics/State_GOP_staffer_sends_racist_image_of_Obama
In addition to being racist and just "wrong" in every way, it's the generation of this kind of attention that makes the staffer's actions so bad. Unlike some posters, I love Tennessee and overall, I don't believe we're a "racist state" any more than many other states. LOTS of room for improvement, and at least we have an easily measurable goal -- regaining Democratic control the legislature.
The e-mail from Black's office was indefensible, but it has me wondering uncomfortably about when, if ever, it's OK to enjoy humor that trades in racial stereotypes. Blazing Saddles is one of my favorite movies of all time. Do I as a white man need to avoid mentioning that fact in polite company?
Aaron says to stay out of Tennessee,like you own it, Tennessee is shit, but the shit is being flushed. Talk about a welfare state, how in the fuck do you think welfare started.
Call Diane and let her know we can not tolerate this type of behavior.
Her number is 615-741-1999
Calling TN a cesspool is about as stupid as it gets, glad you moved the fuck out and stay out we don't want you. Go live in NY state and tell me how good it is after a few years there.... there is a reason I left there and a reason that a whole bunch of other are too... its a shit hole welfare state and the .gov steals you money every day to pay for the inadequacies of useless people like you. the only jobs that are worth a crap are the ones working for the .gov and they are almost bankrupt.
again STAY OUT OF TN WE DON'T WANT YOU!
Boy, this was as predictable as the sun coming up in the morning. Any time anyone points out to fools like Aaron that he's actually supposed to be part of the United States, this is the reaction. Pure unadulterated ignorance, distilled in the hills of Tennessee. How bout this aaron....you and one of your brainless pals play a little roulette with one of your 27 guns tonight, and if y'all keep it up we can reduce our idiot population by 50% each day!
"The e-mail from Black's office was indefensible, but it has me wondering uncomfortably about when, if ever, it's OK to enjoy humor that trades in racial stereotypes. Blazing Saddles is one of my favorite movies of all time. Do I as a white man need to avoid mentioning that fact in polite company?"
If you think real hard you may be able to see the difference between a white GOP staffer in a public office, and a funny movie containing off-color jokes of all varieties. You folks are just real uncomfortable with the whole race idea aren't you? Try closing your eyes when you deal with people, I guess.
Aaron, Wow! Thank you for spewing your ignorance. You live in Tennessee because your single celled mentality fits in there. And please stop calling yourself a Tennessean because no matter how low class, uneducated and generally stupid you may be anyone from there knows that Tennesseans treat "yankees" nicely to their faces but the minute they turn their backs rip them to shreds.
Oh by the way you moron, where did I say I lived in New York? Good to know you cannot read or maybe you just forgot your meds.
I actually live in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Vancouver is consistently rated the number 1 city in the world in which to live, no city in Tennessee is even considered for that list.
And to all of you that jumped on Aaron for his ignorant, probably drunken, rant. Its good to know that there are intelligent Tennesseans and your responses prove it. I hope all of you are having large families. Changing the gene pool of Tennessee its only hope.
Call Senator Black toll-free using the state's 1-800-Contact Line: 1-800-449-8366, ext. 11999. She must know that her dishwater thin punitive actions and Ms Goforth's backhanded excuse of an apology do not sit well with her constituents or other people of Tennessee.
Ms Goforth violated State Employee Code of Conduct policies and regulations. This is a termination-qualifying offense. As Capt. Picard would say, "Make it so!"
This can not be papered over. Just imagine the grief and ridicule Gov. Bredesen must be enduring as he attempts to interest Austrian business entities in setting up operations here in TN. This is such a great deal enhancer, surely he will gain at least ten new deals easily! NOT!
