Puff Goes the GOP's Credibility

Republican leaders are objecting loudly and appropriately to the bizarre decision of a candidate for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, Chip Saltsman, to send members of the RNC a CD containing a song titled: "Barack the Magic Negro."

The song, a crude dig at President-elect Barack Obama's supposed lack of authenticity as a "real black man" and at the reactions of whites and African Americans to his candidacy, goes to the tune of the Peter, Paul and Mary children's classic, "Puff the Magic Dragon."

RNC chair Mike Duncan, who is running against Saltsman and several other contenders to lead the battered party, declared, "The 2008 election was a wakeup 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."

Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis, another contender for the top RNC post, said, "In my opinion, this isn't funny and it's in bad taste."

Saltsman's response was to defend the song by conservative satirist Paul Shanklin, and his decision to include it in his musical Christmas gift to RNC members, which also included a number of other parody songs.

"Paul Shanklin is a long-time friend, and I think that RNC members have the good humor and good sense to recognize that his songs for the Rush Limbaugh show are light-hearted political parodies," said the man who managed Mike Huckabee's presidential run.

In fairness to Saltsman, he's got a point.

Limbaugh has been playing "Barack the Magic Negro" on his show for the better part of a year -- ever since he came across a Los Angeles Times column analyzing media coverage of Obama's candidacy that used a similar phrase -- giggling every step of the way as he has highlighted a song that purports to feature the Rev. Al Sharpton condemning Obama for not being "from the hood."

Shanklin as Sharpton sings:

Barack the Magic Negro lives in D.C. The L.A. Times, they called him that ‘Cause he's not authentic like me. Yeah, the guy from the L.A. paper Said he makes guilty whites feel good They'll vote for him, and not for me ‘Cause he's not from the hood. See, real black men, like Snoop Dog, Or me, or Farrakhan Have talked the talk, and walked the walk. Not come in late and won!

Media Matters called Limbaugh out on this issue last spring.

So why aren't top Republicans such as Duncan and Anuzis condemning Limbaugh, who remains the essential man in the GOP's media echo chamber?

Why are they aiming their fire only at Saltsman?

And why are they only doing so now, after the DC newspaper The Hill began following this story, when they cannot have been unaware of the song and Limbaugh enthusiastic promotion of it for months?

The answer is clear enough: Saltsman may be tone-deaf, but his rivals are hypocrites.

Locked in the current competition for the RNC chair, they are bemoaning the insensitivity of a fellow competitor.

But they are not willing to object to the far more offensive actions of their party's most muscular media ally.

Comments (47)

1. Really JOHN NICHOLS, you MUST learn to lighten up and be more objective.

   I voted for Obama. I have high hopes for he and the next generation straightening out the damn shambles politicians and social engineers have made of this country for the past sixteen years.

   But I also loved the song. It was classic Americana, just like Tina Fey's portrayal of Palin, and a perfectly appropriate example of humor to all but the most oversensitive & whiny.

   Long live our own peculiar brand of racial & ethnic humor.

   Chip

   Chip

   Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 12/29/2008 @ 08:39am

2. It still shows the ignorance of the Republican party, Limbaugh is just a useless waste of space anyway and if he had a brain he would be dangerous. I don't think it's appropriate at all, because you can be sure if it were a song written about McCain if he were President and it was negative, all hell would break loose from the Republican side. My thought here is really small minds can't hold too much information at one time...so I guess a 2/3min song is the best we can hope for!!!

   Posted by Caj at 12/29/2008 @ 09:03am

3. CAJ,

   No arguement about Limbaugh :)

   Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 12/29/2008 @ 09:22am

4. Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 12/29/2008 @ 08:39am

   While I appreciate humor and hate political correctness as much as the next person, let's think a bit shall we? Why do you think that there is no song about John McCain's age and physical disabilities set to "Puff the Magic Dragon"?

   Perhaps it's because it isn't particularly funny.

   Perhaps it is because that's at least two big voting blocks (and sympathizers) that the Democratic party thinks is better not to piss off.

   And it is the second part the reveals the answer. Republicans think they can get away with making this kind of "joke" because black people generally don't vote GOP anyway, right?

   Obama is in office, in large part, because of black people. The GOP, if they were smart, would avoid pissing off major voting blocks that can make sure they don't get into office.

   To not do so, shows such bad judgment that they deserve to lose. So, by all means keep the humor, put Saltsman at the helm and take the loses. The US will be a slightly better country for it.

   Posted by srjenkins at 12/29/2008 @ 09:28am

5. I guess that makes HAPPY persona non grata at the RNC now.

   LOL

   Posted by Mask at 12/29/2008 @ 09:30am

6. Limbaugh made fun of Mcain nfor years...the same paradody exists for and about McCain...check out the archive files Limbaugh has and you will find more on McCain that Obamas one song.

   If you dont listen to a guiy like Limbaugh you will never get his humor and will never undestand how he does this with everyone.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 12/29/2008 @ 09:46am

7. The parady may be in bad taste...and bad taste is bad taste..

   even on the left, which I find long on bad taste...so what? I expect it here and am not offended by bad taste, just entertained.

   The fact that the lefties who write here are indignant about this example means nothing.They are not the audience. Their(including yours here) reactions are expected and ignored...which is what the author should do about the song...I am sure more paradies are on the way...we have a least 4 years to generate more and I am sure ample opportunity and rich material will be provided.

   After all, look how much material this site alone provides?

   Posted by YourJomamma at 12/29/2008 @ 09:51am

8. If you dont listen to a guiy like Limbaugh you will never get his humor and will never undestand how he does this with everyone.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 12/29/2008 @ 09:46am

   Why would anyone with half a brain listen to the likes of this fool anyway, it's not a sense of humour he has it's a lack of common sense. We wonder why there is no respect in this society anymore, well, when you have ignorant people like Limbaugh being your "guiding light" to your daily life it's fully understandable. Limbaugh is just a bag of hot air and to think he gets paid so much money for talking trash is laughable.

   Posted by Caj at 12/29/2008 @ 10:04am

9. MAASCH, seems the "indignant ones" mentioned in the article were...

   Republicans?!?!???

   Posted by Mask at 12/29/2008 @ 10:15am

10. I see your point SRJENKINS, but frankly it was democrats who spent most of their time dissing this kind of "family guy" humor as offensive, to be "apologized" for. Dems have also for many years portrayed themselves as the champions of the oppressed, (and I believe it is a portrayal only) So it would be a little hypocritical if they engaged in such humor themselves. And as for dissing McCain in this fashion, who'd care? He's "mainstream," right? He isn't viewed as a "protected class, or "disenfranchised" with "special rights" and it is these perceptions, some true, some false and some with their BASIS in fact, that are really behind the dark humor.

    I confess to a little predjudice though: I resent the attempts to stop such humor, not just on 1st amendment grounds, but because I know that I personally would never engage in any of the really racist behavior that the AFGT' (that's Anti Family Guy types :) think would result. Its just humor.

    Sorry for the length.

    Chip

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 12/29/2008 @ 10:31am

11. It's interesting. The article is neutral ("Saltsman ... 's got a point") in places then makes an arcane point about how the Republicans won't attack Rush Limbaugh. Only the headline suggests that the party has made a big pr error; Nichols says no such thing, and his point about Republican hypocrisy would be weakened if he did.

    Posted by chessw at 12/29/2008 @ 11:07am

12. Limbaugh is just a bag of hot air and to think he gets paid so much money for talking trash is laughable.

    Posted by Caj at 12/29/2008 @ 10:04am

    Yeah, laughable all the way to the bank. Limbaugh has ruled talk radio for 20 years. He singlehandedly rescued AM radio. He is a major pain in the neck for liberals, and they know it. Liberals have tried to remove him from the airwaves for years now...all unsuccessful.

    The song "Barack the Magic Negro" comes straight from the Los Angeles Times. The article was titled "Obama, the Magic Negro" and the author was a black man. The artcle called into question Obama's blackness, his authenticity, and his ability to relate to black issues. Limbaugh parodied the article to demonstrate how the Democrat Party can't let go of the race card. The left fell for it and continues to do so.

    Liberals really need to get a grip. You liberals can dish it out okay-ala Tina Fey/Sarah Palin-but you sure can't take it.

    Posted by fram at 12/29/2008 @ 11:07am

13. Fram is enirely correct.

    Mask..who cares how who reacts?

    Limbaugh is also entertainment...

    and as much as people like CAJ get their panties in a wad over Limbaugh and how "unitellligent" Limbaugh is, and yet one of the real loons,Frankin, is but one yuk away from the Senate..

    at least Limbaugh is not running for office.....

    I mean, Al Frankin?..my God...

    Posted by YourJomamma at 12/29/2008 @ 11:20am

14. I mean really...

    a man who took $2 million a year to talk and swear on the radio to a none existant audience as the company was losing its ass?

    And this guy is the best the Dems can stand for office? Whats next?

    Dem golf outings at the UAWs private golf course in Michigan with Frankin as a head liner for comics and fund raising? Gotta be real proud of that guy..

    Please...enough on Limbaugh..look under your own dress first...

    Posted by YourJomamma at 12/29/2008 @ 11:25am

15. Bingo JoMa!!!!

    Posted by fram at 12/29/2008 @ 11:28am

16. Posted by fram at 12/29/2008 @ 11:07am

    Rush brought you:

    George W. Bush, a person that most republcians cannot distance themsleves from fast enough.

    Wmd's in Iraq

    Obama the Muslim

    Fear

    fear

    ----

    What good has Rush done for society? If think that this country is too polarized, look no further than daily 3 hr rants from the entertainer. When I speak to people that listen to Rush, I am constantly amazed at how ignorant and full of misinformation they are. Does that separate them from people that listen to Air America? I don't know, but there are millions more Rush sheep than lib sheep. To paraphrase Hillary; It takes an idiot to raise a city of millions of scared sheep. It takes a dangerous idiot to get those sheep to go to war based on misinformation, propaganda and lies. I wonder, does Aq Qaeda have a better friend than Rush?

    --------

    So much for SJ's contention that republicans are not racist!

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 11:32am

17. "And this guy is the best the Dems can stand for office? Whats next? "

    A republican loss to the fool Franken!

    Buwhahahaha.

    What does that make Coleman? (other than indicted)

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 11:35am

18. JOM, I agree with you that Franken is not a good pick for Senator.

    But, for someone that supports Phred Thompson to ridicule Franken is...well...mildly hypocritical, don't you think? I am wondering how many bombs Phred got paid to act in? I am also wondering if a dem president ever called Franken "The dumbest F-- I've ever met.".

    But, we digress...

    Maybe someone could tell us why Magic Negroe is not actually racist. I bet the logic will go along the lines of

    ..." nobody ever proved in court it was racist"

    Or

    "when it was proven in court, the decision was by a activist judge."

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 11:41am

19. EGADS!

    could you imagine a group of people with their hands out for guvt money having a private golf course! That would be chutzpah to the extreme!

    [Few have heard of Morefar Back O'Beyond. It is perched on 500 acres of land here, where tumble-down stone walls thread along wooded hillsides and Revolutionary War markers adorn the roads. "This course is owned by a private corporation and is only open to its employees," reads the description on the PGA of America Web site. "All fees are arranged through the corporate office and are not available for publication." The sign outside says "Private Property, No Trespassing," and the golf course isn't visible from the gate.

    Among avid golfers, Morefar is a subject of whispering, even in this area of renowned courses like Westchester and Winged Foot, where country-club memberships can run $200,000, and where waiting lists can stretch for years. Morefar's allure is that it's so tough to get on.

    Morefar is also part of an empire in upheaval, and its future is not assured. For decades, Morefar has been the province of American International Group and of Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, who was deposed as chairman and chief executive of the massive insurer in March after state and federal regulators began examining the company's accounting practices.

    We control it very tightly," says David Hupp, Senior Executive-East, American International Cos., (a unit of AIG), and a 35-year veteran of the company. "It is supposed to be business; there's no free lunch." Mr. Greenberg has often asked to see the list of those who played there.

    The club charges an annual membership fee, plus greens fees of $500 to $600 per foursome, according to a financial-services executive who has played there many times.]

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 11:52am

20. "a man who took $2 million a year to talk and swear on the radio to a none existant audience as the company was losing its ass?"

    That would put Franken in line with the writers at the Weekly Standard, a magazine that has money every year it has been in existence. Normally you guys call that "good work if you can get it". ie-CEO of Home Depot or something along that line.

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 11:59am

21. Frankly, Limbaugh is irrelevant.

    He's still out there talking about how great a President Dubya was (and trying to convince his zombies that Hank Paulson is a rogue agent unaccountable to nobody...or that Obama is ALREADY President...to blunt the bailout and the recession)...

    and claiming that global warming is a hoax (after MCCAIN ran on it being real and man-made...and no serious Repub in 2012 is going to contradict that).

    He represents millions...but a FEW million...only 28-29% of the population (given Dubya's approvals). And not that bright or PRINCIPLED a bunch either...Remember, these are folks that talk "family values" but support a guy who's been divorced THREE TIMES...

    and who, uptil HE was caught, wanted to see "junkies locked up"!

    Posted by Mask at 12/29/2008 @ 12:01pm

22. oops, I write like Chimpy talk

    should be--That would put Franken in line with the writers at the Weekly Standard, a magazine that has lost money every year it has been in existence. Normally you guys call that "good work if you can get it". ie-CEO of Home Depot or something along that line.

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 1:01pm

23. Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 1:01pm

    "TWS" has lost money every year it's been in operation?

    What happened to "Let the free market decide"?

    LOL

    Posted by Mask at 12/29/2008 @ 1:41pm

24. What happened to "Let the free market decide"?

    LOL

    Posted by Mask at 12/29/2008 @ 1:41pm

    The free mkt has decided that a Sugar Daddy is the best way to go. Or, if one is named McCain, a Sugar Momma. Not to be confused with the gold digger John Kerry, THAT is completely different.

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 1:51pm

25. Posted by crabwalk at 12/29/2008 @ 1:51pm

    Oh, of course. Just like asking Sarah Palin what she read was a "gotcha question" and a terrible Media bias attack....

    but showing Max Cleland with pictures of Saddam and Osama bin Laden was an "issue ad"!

    (Darin chum...heheh)

    Posted by Mask at 12/29/2008 @ 2:26pm

26. Posted by YourJomamma at 12/29/2008 @ 09:46am

    I've listened to Limbaugh. I used to watch his show, almost two decades ago. I came to the conclusion then that he, and Howard Stern, are about on par. The fact people can make good money peddling "bad taste" as you put it, doesn't particularly impress or entertain me.

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 12/29/2008 @ 10:31am

    Aren't "senior citizens" a protected class with "special rights"? Don't you think they'd care when it came time to vote?

    Look, it is all well and good for people like Rush Limbaugh to make asshat comments or go for "dark humor". It's quite another thing for someone wanting to be RNC chairman to do it.

    Posted by fram at 12/29/2008 @ 11:07am

    Actually, Limbaugh is a friend to the Democratic party. Because of Rush and his following, people that have sympathy for certain ideologies within the Republican party - in my case, Old Right ideologies - rarely vote Republican.

    It's singing to the choir. It's fine as far as that goes, but you're fooling yourself if you think he isn't as much of a liability as an asset - or that he bothers anyone beyond the sheer bafflement that people mistake his "humor" for anything other than what it is - bad taste.

    Posted by srjenkins at 12/29/2008 @ 2:33pm

27. Liberals really need to get a grip. You liberals can dish it out okay-ala Tina Fey/Sarah Palin-but you sure can't take it.

    Posted by fram at 12/29/2008 @ 11:07am

    Yes, the sad thing here is though as regards to Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin....she was not actually acting, that was exactly how Sarah Palin is...so if anyone found it funny on the left or right that must be a sad reflection of what a bright spark Sarah Palin really is.

    Posted by Caj at 12/29/2008 @ 4:01pm

28. Posted by comanchenation at 12/29/2008 @ 4:45pm

    It ignores the fact because it is irrelevant. It is one thing to present an argument about Obama's "blackness". It is another to parody that argument. It is still another to use that parody in your bid to become RNC chairman.

    The thin line connecting the three different things is not one of causation. It is merely similarity.

    It would be like claiming that was the writers of the Gospels are responsible for Monty Python's Life of Brian or because that film was made the Exodus writers were responsible for someone else using that parody as support for why they should be bishop.

    In other words, it's a stupid argument.

    Posted by srjenkins at 12/29/2008 @ 5:20pm

29. It's singing to the choir.

    no, you preach to the choir. you cannot sing to the choir.

    Posted by emile duBois at 12/29/2008 @ 6:36pm

30. I think you should be able to sing to the choir if you want to...maybe they get sick of getting "preached" to all the time. Also, later that day, for stress relief purposes...you should be able stick your thumb up an alterboys butt...for stress relief only of course.

    Posted by ADHD at 12/29/2008 @ 9:01pm

31. Can't take Rush too seriously, now. In fact, parts of Rush's past are even entertaining. When reporting for his draft board physical (yes, he's of that era) it was found that he was of an ineligible status due to failing a rectal exam (seriously).

    Proves even Rush isn't a perfect asshole.

    Ba-dum!

    :))

    Posted by schnellerheinz at 12/29/2008 @ 9:40pm

32. What a darn waste of a perfectly good melody. I hope Pete, Paul and Mary had the exclusive rights to the melody. Who was the low life Rep. or Senator that originally called the song Puff, a song about stoned out druggies? Is it in-breeding that makes these people psychopathic? I would find the thing objectionable if it were not so sophomoric. I'm just surprised that the people who enjoy this thing know what parody means, or do they? next thing you know they will be using words like paradigm shift and mutually exclusive. Wow!

    Posted by julien38 at 12/29/2008 @ 9:48pm

33. Posted by ADHD at 12/29/2008 @ 9:01pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    whatta disgusting post from a disgusting individual. yech.

    Posted by emile duBois at 12/29/2008 @ 10:17pm

34. Jomomma, Comanche, Fram

    Just stop...libs simply don't get it...not just the parody, but the irony...this has been discussed over and over again here and elsewhere and they just don't get it...and if they haven't gotten it by now, they're never going to.

    Posted by usc1 at 12/29/2008 @ 10:47pm

35. "Liberal outrage", "liberals dish it out but can't take it" --

    Go ahead and lie to yourself, as you once did - allegorically - when racism was institutionalized.

    Any ol' Limbaugh a few decades back would have pounded the whiskey, rounded up the innocent young black scapegoat and helped string 'em up.

    Posted by winyahn at 12/29/2008 @ 11:30pm

36. Of course Limbaugh is a racist. Remember that stupid comment about Donovan McNabb? The comment that got him thrown off of Monday Night Football. I wonder if he was on any recreational pharmaceuticals at the time?

    In re: Jokes about McCain's age...I can recall several; John Stewart, Colbert and Letterman had some really good ones. So, if pill popping fatty wants to play his racist song, who cares.

    Posted by koroviev at 12/30/2008 @ 01:45am

37. The strategy for Limbaugh should be the same as for Palin....Keep Him Talking.

    With an African-American President, sooner or later, over the next 4 years, Rush will make a blatently racist comment on his show about Obama (He either won't be able to keep himself in check or he'll be yucking it up with a caller and "slip up").

    When he does, the GOP and Republican leadership will have to denounce him (to no good politically) and piss off the racist base and the ditto-heads for not "backing up Rush who said 'nothing wrong really'!")

    Keep Rush Talking. Best strategy for watching the blowhard blow up...and linking the GOP to that.

    Posted by Mask at 12/30/2008 @ 07:20am

38. Limbaugh is just a loud mouthed delusional character that thinks when he opens his mouth something of any factual relevance actually comes out!! We all know the man isn't really playing with a full deck here, you only have to watch his actions and he's like someone has just wound him up and he's going to blow at any minute!!!! I suppose being on talk radio is the best he could do...lets be honest who would actually want to see him personally on TV!!!!! No, it's best he stay where he is behind a microphone in a little room away from the public, we have enough nut cases out here already.

    Posted by Caj at 12/30/2008 @ 08:29am

39. Posted by usc1 at 12/29/2008 @ 10:47pm

    Actually, I do understand Rush's irony, just as I understand how he wraps it in bad taste. The question is whether you think the point is important enough that you can overlook the bad taste - or perhaps if you enjoy bad taste. I don't.

    I particularly don't like idiotic arguments like comanchenation makes that Rush is merely repeating the words of a liberal - which really gets at the problem of Rush Limbaugh as well. They pretend they are doing one thing that is kosher, but in reality, they are doing something quite different. In the South, they have an expression for this - "Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining."

    It's probably the single best response to most of comanchenation posts that have any content that I've seen.

    Posted by srjenkins at 12/30/2008 @ 12:52pm

40. Rush, the toxic dragon raved on the air

    And spewed self-righteous nasty suff that feeds fear and despair

    Little right-wing fascists loved that rascal Rush,

    And brought him lies of varying size... our better side to crush. oh

    Together they would travel on airwaves far and wide

    White trash kept a lookout perched on Rush's bombastic pride

    Thoughtless thugs and dumb blondes would bow wheneer they came,

    Pirate ships would raise their flag when Rush roared out his name. oh!

    Rush, the toxic dragon slandered all who dared

    To find compassion meaningful, from hate no one was spared

    Rush, the toxic dragon found true peace a bore

    And vented rage, his living wage... for fear now to restore

    A dragon lives forever but not so neo-cons

    Constant war and nothing more make way for fewer pawns

    One great day it happened, America woke up

    And Rush that mighty dragon, finally had to just shut up.

    His head was bent in sorrow, his ratings fell like rain,

    Rush no longer railed against our humanistic grain.

    Without his mindless masses, Rush could not be brave,

    So Rush that fascist dragon sadly slipped into his cave. oh!

    Rush, the toxic dragon raved on the air

    And spewed self-righteous nasty stuff that feeds on our despair

    Rush, the toxic dragon raved on the air

    And spewed self-righteous nasty stuff that leads to disrepair

    Posted by ttr at 12/30/2008 @ 1:56pm

41. very nice doggerel.

    Posted by emile duBois at 12/30/2008 @ 1:58pm

42. So glad you liked it, JR...;^)

    Woof!

    Posted by ttr at 12/30/2008 @ 3:19pm

43. Posted by ttr at 12/30/2008 @ 1:56pm

    Call Paul Shanklin and tell him...

    Eat it, biach!

    Good job, ttr.

    Posted by Mask at 12/30/2008 @ 4:23pm

44. Posted by ttr at 12/30/2008 @ 1:56pm

    This offends me. Did you know Rush is completely deaf? That means you are making fun of someone who is handicapped. What's next? Gonna rip the Special Olympics? You libs can be incredibly cruel and insensitive sometimes. almost like........conservatives.

    Posted by twillie at 12/31/2008 @ 01:39am

45. Posted by twillie at 12/31/2008 @ 01:39am

    Hard to work in radio when you are deaf.

    The closest ttr gets to anything offensive is using "white trash" and fascists. Try using that rather than just making things up.

    Posted by srjenkins at 12/31/2008 @ 04:37am

46. Posted by twillie at 12/31/2008 @ 01:39am

    Where did ttr mention Limbaugh's hearing in that song??? I missed it.

    Posted by Mask at 12/31/2008 @ 07:24am

47. A blog expert on CSPAN from the "beast" could not define the difference between a democrat and republican. The difference is that republicrats/evangelicrats divide life in segments and vote on specific issues such as gay rights, immigration, abortion, small government, etc...very small minded. Democrats on the other hand are more progressive and vote looking at the "whole picture" and what is good for the majority of Americans. By the way, conservative Americans come in all forms and shapes and can be found in each major party.

    Posted by jamerican at 01/02/2009 @ 10:11am