Right Wing Nut House » IS ‘BARACK THE MAGIC NEGRO’ RACIST?

12/27/2008

IS ‘BARACK THE MAGIC NEGRO’ RACIST?

Filed under: Ethics, History, Media, Politics — Rick Moran @ 11:31 am

I suppose the real question is will there ever be agreement among everybody on just what is satire and what is racism?

The answer is not as long as liberals see playing the race card as the political advantage it is.

The latest blow up involves a Rush Limbaugh parody that first surfaced on his show during the campaign. “Barack the Magic Negro,” an edgy satire of Obama’s celebrity and popularity with white voters that was written by Paul Shanklin and played numerous times on Rush’s show. (The term ‘Barack the Magic Negro” was first used in an Los Angeles Times column by cultural critic David Ehrenstein - a fact that the parody makes mention of. Ehrenstein is a white liberal.)

The song was sent out as a Christmas greeting by RNC chair candidate Chip Saltsman with the message:

“I look forward to working together in the New Year,” Saltsman wrote. “Please enjoy the enclosed CD by my friend Paul Shanklin of the Rush Limbaugh Show.”

Also on the CD were other examples of Shanklin’s satire including “John Edwards’ Poverty Tour,” “Wright place, wrong pastor,” “Love Client #9,” “Ivory and Ebony” and “The Star Spanglish banner.”

Shanklin’s stuff is mostly brilliant satire. But like all good political humor, it walks a line of good taste and decorum. In fact, by pushing the boundaries as Shanklin does, he defines for us the essence of political satire. In this respect (not in talent) Shanklin’s material is no more objectionable than Jonathon Swift or George Orwewll for that matter.

That is, unless you’re a liberal seeking to make political hay and stifle free expression. You can criticize “Barack the Magic Negro” as unfunny or not in good taste. But when you use the inflammatory word “racism” to describe it, you go beyond critiquing the work and enter the world of pure politics. This liberals do on a regular basis and they get away with the sliming of political speech and speakers they disagree with because the press refuses to call them out on it.

In fact, the left has lowered the bar on what constitutes “racism” by redefining the term to suit their own political needs. And by refusing to acknowledge any set definition of the word, the left deliberately undermines free speech by cutting off debate with liberals firmly ensconced in a superior moral position while the person being unfairly smeared as a racist is unable to defend themselves. If one tries to stand up and fight the charge, they give automatic legitimacy to the left’s argument. And if they remain silent in the face of such slimeball tactics, the smear works and sticks to the accused like glue.

Having said all this, is it an appropriate Christmas message from a potential RNC chairman? It wouldn’t be my first choice but then I don’t think Saltsman the guy for the job anyway.

What is clear is that this despicable tactic by the left predates Obama and has done more to poison relations between the races in this country than all the cross burnings and hate speech delivererd by the morons in the Klan or the Skinheads. The reason is simple; the left has appropriated the word “racist” in order to define the debate on race - any issue, any time, anywhere - on their terms and their terms alone. Do you oppose Affirmative Action? You’re a racist. Do you oppose set asides for business based on race? You are a racist. Do you oppose racial quotas in college entrance requirements? You are a racist.

No debate. No exchange of ideas. No give and take on any issue that touches race unless you first accept the left’s position on these and other issues. If you don’t, the debate is closed off by simply calling you a racist - end of discussion.

So it’s no surprise they see legitimate satire as “racist.” In fact, the surprise would be if they didn’t.

UPDATE

Thanks to so many commenters - both present and future - who are proving the thesis of my argument so spectacularly. Not only are those calling me a racist proving their aversion to free speech but the dumbing down of the term racism by my detractors and its use to cut off debate (with the obligatory nod to the idea that defending 1st Amendment rights are what will keep Republicans out of power - which is used in lieu of any kind of intelligent answer to the points I raise) only goes to show that the mind of a liberal is extraordinarily predictable.

Simple minded sophists usually are.

93 Comments

“The reason is simple; the left has appropriated the word “racist” in order to define the debate on race – any issue, any time, anywhere – on their terms and their terms alone. Do you oppose Affirmative Action? You’re a racist. Do you oppose set asides for business based on race? You are a racist. Do you oppose racial quotas in college entrance requirements? You are a racist.”

Well, maybe, but in this case “Do you use a blatantly racist fictional archetype to refer to a black man?” seems to be a fair point.

You do know what the “Magic Negro” is don’t you? Hint : It doesn’t mean “Black man who can do magic”

Google it for your own edification if you like.

Comment by Drongo — 12/27/2008 @ 12:07 pm
The GOP’s use of dog whistle racism is pretty well documented. A recent example being the Corker Senate campaign in Tennessee. It’s hard to undo a bad reputation, and the GOP, ever since they swapped the legacy of Lincoln for the southern strategy, has had a bad reputation on race. Any number of Republicans have admitted this, including a past GOP chairman.

I defended Imus on his Rutgers thing, and I don’t think this parody is over the line objectively. It’s just over the line coming from Republicans. There are people who get to make particular jokes, and people who don’t. Jews can joke about Jews dominating Hollywood, it doesn’t work quite as well coming from Mel Gibson.

Of course some race-hustlers exploit the situation to stifle an open exchange of views. When they do that they’re wrong. Worse, they make it harder for people to unite against genuine racism and end up aiding and abetting racists.

But that doesn’t change the fact that a GOP that is close to 100% white, that has some history of race-baiting for votes, that continues on occasion to do so, probably shouldn’t have a chairman so effing stupid he didn’t see that this was a mistake.

Comment by michael reynolds — 12/27/2008 @ 1:34 pm
This was a brilliant piece until you went off track with “It wouldn’t be my first choice but then I don’t think Saltsman the guy for the job anyway.” If you’re going to defend this as excellent satire, then man up and defend sharing the satire.

Comment by mark30339 — 12/27/2008 @ 2:18 pm
Nobody is going to remember the overreaction of the Democrats to the “magic negro”; they will just think of the republicans as being patronizing at best, borderline racist at worst. This is just another idiot move by the RNC. Do republicans need more of this kind of publicity? Chip Saltsman must be preparing for the GOP to be in the minority for a very long time!

Comment by Surabaya Stew — 12/27/2008 @ 2:45 pm
I’m a Latina, and was raised in a very conservative home. I have always considered myself a Republican, but recently I have felt that the GOP is pushing conservative minorities, such as myself, further and further away. Things such as “Barack the Magic Negro” and “Obama Bucks” are an embarrassment to the party and an insult to minorities. They are not only racist but are coming from GOP leaders and reps., which is completetly unacceptable.

ATTENTION GOP LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES: LEAVE THE RACIST JOKES AND SATIRES TO THE COMEDIANS!!

If you want the minority vote, this has to STOP! The minority vote is ever increasing and unless you want the dems. to rule from here on out, you will need to stop this non-sense.

Comment by Beth — 12/27/2008 @ 3:16 pm
I have to go to a ‘black’ barber shop to talk like that not with my fellow whites. There is a pretty funny piece about this in ’stuff white people like’ under ‘being offended’.
I also want to add that the original Skinheads were not racist as depicted today. They actually listened to Reggae, they came from the hard end of the Mods who split by the end of the sixties into hippies and skinheads (ok, oversimplified for my American bloggers). The style is actually a merger between working class attire and the Rude Boy style of Jamaica. American skinheads didn’t appear until way into the eighties and a lot (not all) are racists of the dumbest order.

Comment by funny man — 12/27/2008 @ 4:40 pm
The Democrats will never cede their ownership of all black “victims.” They know that the government welfare plantation must operate like all good ward politics. In this case, the black “victims” are the wards.

Republicans can only woo away the black “victims” by upping the payments and outspending the Democrats. This is a no starter for any conservative. So, the Republicans have ceded (de facto) their claim on the black “victim” vote.

It is s-t-o-o-p-i-d to hand the Democrats a club. Bush did it with “compassionate” conservatism. Now Saltsman passes around a song that is so deeply offensive to the average Democrat pol that it causes man made global warming and reminds all Democrat politicians of murdered gays, negroes hung by the Klan and the extermination of Amer-Indians with white man’s diseases.

Why feed these drama queens a bullet? They are the original masters of rousing rabble, feeding the beast and throwing a brick into the crowd.

Comment by David — 12/27/2008 @ 5:35 pm
Many years ago a conservative friend turned me onto Rush Limbaugh’s now defunct television show.

Limbaugh’s typical modus operandi was to use weasel words to provide an out masking really questionable talking points.

Where my tolerance for his shtick ended was when, best I can recall, he ran a clip of apes or monkeys acting up in a drive-thru zoo. They were beating on cars or whatever. I forget Limbaugh’s lines but essentially he implied they were behaving like blacks.

Naturally, the NAACP complained. The next show Limbaugh waved a small press clipping of the NAACP’s complaint in the air like a soldier waving a medal of honor. Beaming with pride, he carefully parsed his words to feign innocence which gave him an excuse to replay the tape.

While I don’t personally think Rush is a racist, he’s clearly a tone-deaf partisan ready to using race baiting bigotry to attract attention to himself. I dumped his television show after that embarrassed I got sucked into watching it at all.

His “Barack the Magic Negro” skit falls right in line. I’ve heard Rush apologize for it by dissecting it bit by bit to prove its innocence.

The problem, Rick, is Rush’s acting up is radioactive. The title of the song alone is offensive. You and your far right buddies can flap your jaws all you want trying to apologize for it but who’s going to listen except the same old dittohead crowd that was bobble-heading their satisfaction from day one?

Once upon a time I thought the right-wing talk radio propaganda machine was an RNC strength. However, this election cycle that group of extremists ran their course. The difference, IMHO, is when Rush and his ilk started spewing their talking points they were fresh ideas. However, America’s experienced most of this stuff in practice so the old spin can’t mask new realities.

Comment by sknabt — 12/27/2008 @ 5:45 pm
Interesting how several of the above comments CLAIM to be borderline republicans. Fat chance. Besides, “Magic Negro” is taken from a comment for a DEMOCRAT years ago (I believe Jessie Jackson).

The pathetic pretenders like to make big of anything slightly off on the conservative side, but the most offensive repugnant comments, even by the Democrat party leaders are passed over as assumed.

RNC chair candidate probably didn’t use his brain, no excuses for poor judgement, but hey, DNC chair hates Republicans, Durban thinks our young military men are the Gulag/PolPot, etc. etc. etc. Can’t count the comments from them in the past 10 years that made my jaw drop. They are a disgrace. Go cry.

Comment by mimi k — 12/27/2008 @ 7:53 pm
The fact that this CD appeases and delights the GOP constituents is a reflection of the white trash that is representative of them. It is becoming abundantly clear that the GOP is facing the end of their existence when all they got are the stupid and vicious amongst them. (almost 100%?0

Comment by AussieLouis — 12/27/2008 @ 8:11 pm
This is unbelievable to me. I played this song to a few friends, and I asked them to state one word to describe it. The first thing they all said was, “Wow, this is racist.” We tried so hard to pick it apart and try to find the “satire” in it, but failed to do so, since there is none. For you to say it’s political satire is stupid.

Rick, racism is alive and very apparent. I assure you that if you open your eyes, and seek to find the actions you say are not racist, and see the effects it has on the target, you will realize the harm and hate behind the action. Whether it be quotas in jobs or schools, or words or songs.

I have seen it a number of times, having grown up in the conservative bible belt south. I have witnessed supervisors pull a bible out and try to bash an employee in to thinking his being gay was a sin and he was going to hell. How did this affect his job? How did this affect anyone but the young man struggling to define who he was? Instead, because the law allows it, the employee had to endure the attack and hate thrown at him, or lose his job.

I have seen black families turned away from churches because people still believe they should be enslaved and are second class citizens. I have personally experienced being taunted in school for befriending a black student. Not by fellow students, but by their parents.

Children don’t see nonsense about color or gender or sexuality. Children see people for who they are. Racism, homophobia, fears and hate are taught as we grow up. They are taught and justified by the spreading of jokes and songs like this one that you’re attempting to defend.

If you want to end the need for quotas and special services for minorities, then you can help us gain that end by teaching tolerance, love, and equality to your children and readers. Hate speech, like this, is not free speech and shouldn’t be praised as such. Be adults and stand up for what is right and start fighting for the inclusion of all people into our society.

I’m appalled by these actions. The republican party has pretty much killed their chances of ever regaining their party. They might as well pack up and disband because it’s over. On commenter said this wouldn’t be remembered by the next election. I can promise you it will. I myself will make it a point to mention it to every open-minded person I know that is not filled with hate as the republican party is.

I’m sure all of you love your family and friends and neighbors, but how often has the party reached out to someone different from them(and by them I mean rich, white males). Racism does equal hate for a fellow human being. You can disagree all you want, and try your best to prove me wrong, but in the end racism=hate. There is no other way around it.

Another commenter, David(comment 7), said the democratic party panders to gays, racial minorities and environmentalists. Well, they’re not pandering to anyone, they’re accepting everyone as equal. Something this world greatly lacks.

There is a huge lack of equality and empathy for fellow humans. This is what Obama ran on, and this is what he won on. Hopefully some day you’ll come to your senses and realize that “We are all created equal” as stated in our constitution, and therefore all deserve the same rights to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

The racism and homophobia from the right is outdated and down right disgusting. Instead of finding things to divide us, why don’t you start searching for a way to unite the world in love and equality. Maybe then you’ll be able to come back as a powerful force. As it stands though, it doesn’t look like that’ll be happening in the next decade.

Comment by Aydrian — 12/27/2008 @ 9:20 pm
Greetings:

What’s Black & White and red all over?

Comment by 11B40 — 12/27/2008 @ 9:27 pm
When I first saw this on Fox News website, I thought, “What idiot did this? The MSM will beat this drum to a pulp.” Natch, it stays on the top of their front page all day. It’s still there. Then, tonight I read Rick’s post and thought, “Well ok, it’s satire and maybe it’s funny, and yea, the Dems love their stranglehold on minorities (which they achieve with victomology to the Nth degree). So I look up this guy Saltsman and find out he was Huckster’s campaign manager. That was enough for me.

Btw, Michael Reynolds, a little story for you:
Some dear, but liberal, friends were at my house for dinner last fall. Unsolicited, they told me about the wife’s father, a lifelong Dem…never voted for anyone that wasn’t a Dem. He abstained this year…couldn’t vote for a Negro. I actually was shocked. I hate that shit. I hate the crappy jokes. I also hate an entitlement attitude no matter whether it comes from creme to dark brown or anywhere in between. I had plenty of reasons to not vote for Obama. The color of his skin meant nothing to me.

The point being, racism, anti-semitism, homophobism…lots of isms, and they’re passed around plenty on both sides of the political spectrum.

Gotta hand it to the Dems, though. They are better demogogues than democrats. They beat the Republicans handily using that tactic. Right on David.

And Beth, remember, that being conservative doesn’t necessarily equate to the Republican party. However, it’s a lot closer than the Dems. Changes need to be made, but not nearly as many.

Comment by cdor — 12/27/2008 @ 10:44 pm
[...] this point, Rick Moran of Rightwing Nuthouse asks the right question (with a pretty good answer to boot): is the song actually racist? You can [...]

Pingback by What’s the deal with Chip Saltsman? — 12/27/2008 @ 11:39 pm
Just imagine a satiric song “George the White Decider” or “George the White Christian” where George marches off to war, always follows his gut-instinct, blah, blah. Aren’t there are some great satiric possibilities here? But, whaa? Why “White”? Doesn’t that make the imaginary satire way, way weird, racist, and childishly ugly?
Commentaries on this site about the song “Barack the Magic Negro” have been appallingly sad. We already know voters like magnetic personalities. Many, many magnetic personalities have gone on to be President. And I know it’s possible to find a certain percentage of silly people who subconsciously respond to a comic-book Obama, the “Magic Negro” who operates on white “fantasies of curative black benevolence,” and who is “here to help”. It’s still appalling that others have bent that sad artifact into a song of racist glee. Obama’s election was a sweep. Get over it.

Comment by naughtalot — 12/27/2008 @ 11:50 pm
There’s a flaw in your article: that it is only Democrats who are offended.

Clearly some conservatives, including the current chair of the RNC, are offended as well.

In fact, would we even know about this story if RNC members hadn’t blown the whistle? He wasn’t sending it to the NY Times but to his fellow Republicans.

Comment by CWR — 12/28/2008 @ 2:14 am
“the left has appropriated the word “racist” in order to define the debate…”

Wait, you’re conservative right? Didn’t the right invent this tactic? Pro-Life as opposed to anti-choice, Defense of Marriage as opposed to equal marital rights, abortionists as opposed to healcare professionals.

You ought to be sending these guys a note of congratulations for finallly picking up on this.

BTW - I’m a centrist; everybody needs to give up their idealogical fantasies and get on with it.

“No debate. No exchange of ideas. No give and take on any issue that touches (insert issue here) unless you first accept the (insert opposing side here) position on these and other issues. If you don’t, the debate is closed off by simply calling you a (insert ‘baby killer’, ‘unpatriotic’, ’socialist’, or whatever slur fits the topic, here) – end of discussion.”

- yeah, they sure did learn from the pros.

Comment by David — 12/28/2008 @ 2:40 am
After he called an eleven year old girl “The White House Dog” because he didn’t like her father’s politics, I stopped watching him. But if you think this kind of thing will help you regain the majority, keep pushing it. Maybe Rush can make fun of the Obama girls too, Malia and Nathasha.

Comment by SanFranciscoJim — 12/28/2008 @ 3:45 am
Did anyone posting here bother to _read_ Ehrenstein’s article?
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story
Didn’t think so. The worst offender is the imbecile who wrote the original post. “Ehrenstein is a white liberal” From the article:
‘Speaking as an African American whose last name has led to his racial “credentials” being challenged — often several times a day — I know how pesky this sort of thing can be.’
According to Wikipedia, Ehrenstein is evidently what was known in less PC times as a quadroon - 25% black. He is also gay, so I guess he collects double on Affirmative Action points. There are advantages to the freedom of expression provided by the “blogsphere” particularly when posters take the time to do research and the trouble to cogitate before posting. Obviously, none of that will be found on exhibit here. Oh, btw I find the video sophomorically amusing, but aimless and missing any coherent point. So I would say that it is not itself inherently racist, but I’m sure the intent of Limbaugh and the RNC schmuck was to inflame racial tensions by baiting the sort of low-brow reactionaries that haunt venues like, um, this one and its liberal counterparts. Now all y’all jackasses can stick your heads back where they usually reside…

Hairy Harry

Comment by Harry Marcus — 12/28/2008 @ 8:46 am
As a liberal lefty, I’m quite pleased that the right wing nuts and RNC are defending this. How stupid can you get? You’re looking at least a decade out in the desert. Maybe two if you keep this up. Nice move!

Comment by Fred Smith — 12/28/2008 @ 11:20 am
Rick,

I usually like your take on issues, even if I disagree with them but;

What is clear is that this despicable tactic by the left predates Obama and has done more to poison relations between the races in this country than all the cross burnings and hate speech delivererd by the morons in the Klan or the Skinheads.

Really, do you really believe that the reason that America has poisonous race relations is because people have been called racist (even if overzealously) rather than because people were actually, you know, racist. That’s some serious revisionist history right their. I mean, I’m sure if Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and some white liberals had never been born, things would be just perfect between the races I guess because of free markets or something.

The universal condemnation across the political spectrum of cross burnings and obvious hate speech by the Kluxers and skinheads goes unacknowledged while fake charges of “racism” that are directed at people and speech by the race merchants like Jackson and his leftist enablers is used to show how little “progress” we’ve made in race relations? All decent people stand shoulder to shoulder when racism that is clear and unambiguous rears its ugly head. The problem is in the made up, forced, and painfully stretched definitions (plural) of racism that changes according to the political nature of the speech. Perhaps the left could decide to settle on one, coherent, accepted and agreed upon definition of racism rather than simply using the word as a bludgeon to silence their opponents.

I personally found Shanklin’s bit in bad taste. But racist? Hardly. Satire by its very nature skirts the boundries and trying to shoehorn the parody into a racist construct only shows how hard some people work to do so.

If you have to make an effort to show something is racist rather than it being self evident, what does that say about those declaring the speech racist?

ed.

Comment by Derrick — 12/28/2008 @ 11:47 am
Liberals are not responsible for cutting off debate, conservatives are. Liberals are truly childlike, and almost primitive in their thought process. We know that. The problem here is not that they have defined everything as racist. The problem is that, to one degree or another, 99% of white conservatives have gone merrily along. The same white who will belly laugh at a black “comic” making fun of the way “whites” speak, will brand any white who makes fun of “ebonics” a racist; the same white who would instantly-and accurately-label a white man who spent 20 years of his life in a white-separatist “church” a racist, will shrug his shoulders at the racist that has been elected POTUS; don’t want to “assemble” with blacks? Racist!! attend an all black HS or college? Proud!! And on and on. The logic of this column is the same as that which would say buy the tantrum throwing child whatever he wants so he’ll shut up. It’s the child’s fault, right? Not the parent’s. The child is saying “this is how it’s gonna be!” Nothing you can do, right? Wrong. The essential problem is not liberals labeling conservatives as racists, it’s conservatives labeling conservatives as racists.

Comment by JWS — 12/28/2008 @ 11:55 am
Just as the term “magic Negro” is not racist, having the parody sung by a parody Al Sharpton as a minstrel, complete with the hilarious mispronunciations used to such hysterical effect by the folks who portrayed stupid Negroes in the original minstrel shows 60 years ago - that’s not racist either.

If parodying someone on the basis of race isn’t racist, and if portraying another person in the process as an ignorant minstrel Amos and Andy character isn’t racist, I guess that nothing is. In that case, your analysis of the issue would be right on target.

So what we’ve got here is a song where even the title is premised on race, sung by someone portraying another person who is black as an ignorant illiterate…yeah, no racism here, move along.

Parodying stereotypes is racist? Right. And perhaps it says something about how liberals really see African Americans. Or did that go over your head?

ed.

Comment by Jennifer — 12/28/2008 @ 12:39 pm
Struck a nerve, did I?

Apparently it escapes you that you are no longer “parodying a stereotype” when you insert a public figure into the mix and portray him as the stereotype. Unless you actually view Al Sharpton as a minstrel, in which case, it certainly says a lot more about how YOU really see African Americans than how you imagine “liberals” do.

Struck a nerve? Oh please. Proving to be an idiot by trying to force a questionable point of view is hardly the thing to set me off.

ed.

Comment by Jennifer — 12/28/2008 @ 12:52 pm
Jen,

Racism is one thing and one thing only: the belief that a race is genetically, or inherently (choose one if you’re into semantics nonsense), either inferior or superior. Mocking, jokes, etc, may be perceived by some as hurtful, insensitive (my favorite), etc, or even bigoted. But you have to be able to read minds to ascribe “racism” based on a joke. One of my favorite things is to ask the sensitive, thoughtful, liberal why mocking ebonics is racist, but mocking how all those vanilla white people speak isn’t. Or, for that matter, why a white who faithfully attends white separatist “services” is a racist, while a black who faithfully attends black separatist “services” isn’t.

Comment by JWS — 12/28/2008 @ 1:11 pm
The problem there Moran, is that your discriminatory powers are severly lacking. When it comes to the written (or sung, or…) word, that is. That piece of walrus dreck isn’t parody. It’s beyond sophomoric, a downright infantile expression of fear and hatred.

So yes, you would have a point. If you had a point. Which you don’t.

Comment by Elitist and proud of it — 12/28/2008 @ 2:21 pm
I think the Left has about jumped the shark with promiscuous charges of “racism.” There are still morons, like John McCain who backed away from a justified focus on Jeremiah Wright, who can be cowed but their numbers dwindle steadily. I think the electorate will turn sharply on the left-wingers and moonbats as it becomes ever more apparent they want to shout down free speech.

Comment by obamathered — 12/28/2008 @ 2:46 pm
Proving to be an idiot by trying to force a questionable point of view is hardly the thing to set me off.

As evidenced by your progression directly from A)claiming that portraying someone per a racist sterotype is making fun of the stereotype, rather the person so portrayed to B) calling someone an “idiot” for pointing out that so-obvious-that-if-it-were-a-2 x 4-your-head-would-be-bleeding point in response to your lame defense. Sure, you’re as calm as a summer sky of the deepest azure.

And by gum, you’re no racist, either!

Comment by Jennifer — 12/28/2008 @ 3:54 pm
…when you use the inflammatory word “racism” to describe it, you go beyond critiquing the work and enter the world of pure politics.

Well, yeah, we’re not debating the merits of “The Rite Of Spring” here. It’s a political song and the objection to it is political, so “the world of pure politics” would be the appropriate place to discuss it, hey?

JWS- According to dictionary.com your definition of racism is one of several legitimate meanings of the word. If they (and thesaurus.com) are any authority, the distinction you draw between racism and bigotry doesn’t actually exist.

Comment by tb — 12/28/2008 @ 4:36 pm
Jen,

As a thought experiment, is the constant, never ending portrayal of whites in the media as bumbling, ineffectual, cowardly, brutal, humorless, ugly, nerdy, etc, racist? On the flip side, is the portrayal of blacks as super-cool, intelligent, in charge, handsome, debonair, etc, racist? (yes you do know what I mean. If not, just listen to the radio for half an hour, or watch TV for a bit, and pay attention)

Also, no one disagrees more with Moran than I do, but you imply that he is a racist?! That is why that word is meaningless anymore…

Comment by JWS — 12/28/2008 @ 4:38 pm
I went over to wikipedia for “magic negro” as Drongo suggested. Can’t say I was really familiar with the term. I gotta say it has my vote for racist. OTOH, anything the Republicans want to do to alienate even more voters is fine by me.

Comment by Kevin the baker — 12/28/2008 @ 5:27 pm
Rick Moron very badly wants to call black people “negroes” and probably (very likely) that other word he’s not quite got the courage to muster in public.

This post is Rick testing the waters Rick to see how tolerant his craptacular readership is. Will they cheer him on if he says the N word?

Like the left cheered Hamsher when she put Leiberman in blackface?

ed.

Comment by Lesley — 12/28/2008 @ 5:34 pm
Perhaps the left could decide to settle on one, coherent, accepted and agreed upon definition of racism rather than simply using the word as a bludgeon to silence their opponents.

Yeah, you know, and maybe while we’re at it, those of you on the right who insist that portraying a person as a stereotype is high humor that pokes fun at the stereotype rather than the person you’re stereotyping could, you know, stop doing that. In which case, you’d never have to face the “bludgeon” of liberal disapproval in the first place, and wouldn’t have to twist yourselves into ridiculous pretzel-shapes in trying to explain how it’s really, really not racist to portray someone as a stereotype - even when the stereotype is demeaning. I know it won’t be near as much fun to simply state what your disagreements are with any given individual rather than falling back on ridiculing them for things such as race, gender, or sexual orientation, because it won’t be as enthusiastically greeted by your fellow travellers who just can’t get enough of that stuff. But it would insulate you from being charged with racist/sexist/homophobic behavoir if, you know, you didn’t make those things a central part of your argument or make it clear that you consider them to be humorous.

Then again, that would be an infringement upon your free speech right to make as big an ass of yourself as you can, and even good manners should never be allowed to get in the way of you being as offensive as you wanna be.

Comment by Jennifer — 12/28/2008 @ 5:45 pm
Trying to make case that this song is a parody of racial stereotypes is pretty lame. What’s being parodied is old-school black politicians like Jackson and Sharpton and the sharp political contrast between them and BHO. Whether any of this rises to the level of outright racism or just standard-issue bad taste and stupidity (that the author here thinks it’s “brilliant satire” says more about his intelligence than his opinion about its objectionability) is a matter for debate, I suppose, although in this case you do have to consider the source.

If I were a member of the party that has made 40 years of political hay out of the likes of the “southern strategy” and Willie Horton–the party that can’t seem to fit more than, say, three minorities into their 10,000 person national convention–I would think twice before attempting humor that uses the word “negro” and minstrelry, “brilliant” satire or not.

Comment by Adam — 12/28/2008 @ 6:37 pm
Simply calling something a joke or satire does not in fact, negate the racism. It is still a racist joke or a racist satire.
My question would be why oh why would any thinking human defend the likes of Rush Limbaugh?

Comment by b.o. — 12/28/2008 @ 7:57 pm
A few million Democrats are already chomping at the bit, just waiting for Chip to take the helm. They’re all organized and still boiling for another fight, and Chip seems oblivious to the realities.
If you think 2008 was bad, just wait and see what happens in 2010. The Republican party will get even more Whupass laid on it. Keep this stupidity up, and the party is going to crumble and blow away by 2012.

It’s time to dump all the chumps and find some intelligent Republicans who don’t play to the bottom feeders of the base. Crap like this doesn’t make new conservatives out of undecided kids, and the Republican party needs all the new voters it can get.

Comment by boomer — 12/28/2008 @ 8:09 pm
Robert “Mike” Duncan needs to immediately resign from the RNC. If he doesn’t Republicans will never win a national election again.

I am disgusted that he has been part of the GOP. He is nothing but a thug.

Comment by Steve — 12/28/2008 @ 9:30 pm
What liberal website linked you this? Interesting…..if they knew the text in which this was done in they would realize that the liberal responses are very uneducated. LIBERALS SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED because the parody is mocking the liberal media and Al Sharpton and others who first called Obama the Magic Negro. This actually proves the opposite of what liberals took it as. HENCE THE PARODY OF IT. The funny part is RUSH LIMBAUGH GOT YOU AGAIN by showing you how clever he is and how everyone parrots the same ‘ol liberal slobber without checking anything. It is right on Rush’s site for anyone to see. He tried to help the liberals but they just like to mimic each other and no one with any sense. Please check before you just respond. You look smarter then!! http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_050707/content/01125110.member.html

Comment by Christy — 12/28/2008 @ 9:41 pm
Anyone who doesn’t really understand what this parody is about doesn’t deserve to be involved in the RNC (and are likely the reason we lost so pathetically).

It was a parody of an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times in March 2007 by David Ehrenstein titled ‘Obama the ‘Magic Negro.’ So if Negro is now a word as bad as the other one then blame David Ehrenstein. In DAVID EHRENSTEIN’s opinion piece (by the way Ehrenstein is a Leftist) Ehrenstein said that the reason whites will support Obama whereas they didn’t support Al Sharpton and earlier Jesse Jackson was because unlike them, Barack “really wasn’t authentically black”. This is what Ehrenstein wrote in the Los Angles Times and he pointed to the fact that his mother was white and he was raised by his white grandparents as prove of the statement. To him it seemed that whites saw him as “the Magic Negro” because they could vote for him and assuage their “white guilt” without actually having to vote for an “authentic black man”.

Was the ARTICLE racist? You bet, but again it was written by a LEFTIST. And indeed it did reflect the feeling of many in the so called “Black Leadership” who saw him as just sweeping in from Hawaii or wherever whereas they spent the long hard years working in the black community. This was seen most clearly in the anti-Obama statements that Jesse Jackson made when he didn’t know the mike was on.

As for the song, it was POINTING OUT THE RACISM IN THE ARTICLE. It was sung from the viewpoint of Al Sharpton who himself had been a Democratic candidate for President. So, no the song isn’t racist.

Anyone who can’t understand this parody is either very unaware of what has been going on politically or is very dense or both. Parody does take a little degree of sophistication which I guess Robert “Mike” Duncan lacks. We don’t need stupid people like him in the RNC who would totally take something like this out of context and actually attack the base that it is supposed to be his job to build back up. If the RNC keeps on attacking those who would otherwise support the party then they can forget about ever winning in any serious way nationally ever again. But perhaps they feel comfortable being the party out of power.

With idiots like Robert “Mike” Duncan in charge, they can forget about me sending them any money. They would probably use that money to attack me anyway.

(By the way, why is “Mike” such a better first name than “Robert”. Nothing against Mike, it’s a fine name but so is Robert and if Robert’s his first name then what’s the deal).

Comment by Kim — 12/28/2008 @ 10:14 pm
Moran, people have time and time again pointed out that you are one of the biggest idiots on the Internet. You never seem to grasp the idea that you’re much, MUCH dumber than you think you are.

But that’s okay, we’ll keep on pointing it out to you.

Now go ahead and delete this comment, the way you always do.

As long as its people like you doing the pointing, I don’t have anything to worry about. Self evident stupidity - such as claiming I will delete your comment - makes the job of showing you to have the brains of a marmoset really quite easy.

ed.

Comment by Chuck Toalla — 12/28/2008 @ 10:21 pm
Here’s the words again. Again the parody is having Al Sharpton sing the words and the words come from an opinion piece that David Ehrenstein, a Leftist, wrote in the Los Angeles Times in March 2007

And remember this is exactly the attitude Jesse Jackson displayed against Obama.

SHANKLIN (Sharpton impersonator): 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!

[refrain] Oh, Barack the Magic Negro, lives in D.C.

The L.A. Times, they called him that

‘Cause he’s black, but not authentically.

Oh, Barack the Magic Negro, lives in D.C.

The L.A. Times, they called him that

‘Cause he’s black, but not authentically.

Some say Barack’s “articulate”

And bright and new and “clean.”

The media sure loves this guy,

A white interloper’s dream!

But, when you vote for president,

Watch out, and don’t be fooled!

Don’t vote the Magic Negro in –

‘Cause — ’cause I won’t have nothing after all these years of sacrifice

And I won’t get justice. This is about justice. This isn’t about me, it’s about justice.

It’s about buffet. I don’t have no buffet and there won’t be any church contributions,

And there’ll be no cash in the collection plate.

There ain’t gonna be no cash money, no walkin’ around money, no phoning money.

Now, Barack going to come in here and –

Comment by Kim — 12/28/2008 @ 10:22 pm
[...] Right Wing Nut House » IS ‘BARACK THE MAGIC NEGRO’ RACIST? - “Barack the Magic Negro,” an edgy satire of Obama’s celebrity and popularity with white voters that was written by Paul Shanklin and played numerous times on Rush’s show. (The term ‘Barack the Magic Negro” was first used in an Los … [...]

Pingback by ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ - The Latest in Bad Taste! | — 12/28/2008 @ 10:30 pm
Mike Duncan the stupid white guy led the RNC.
Right into one of the most devastating political loses in History.

Oh Mike Duncan the stupid white guy was just a political hack.

If he is not removed we will not get the Whitehouse back

Comment by Kim — 12/28/2008 @ 10:30 pm
“In fact, would we even know about this story if RNC members hadn’t blown the whistle?’

This is an important fact to consider. Even if the song wasn’t appropriate (which clearly it was) the way Mike (or Robert) Duncan handled this clearly damaged the Republican Party. The RNC is supposed to build up the party not tear it down.

If it wasn’t obvious from the election itself it should be obvious with Duncan’s current actions is that there are forces WITHIN the Republican Party trying to destroy it and we must first rid ourselves of this enemy within before we can move forward against the Democratic Party.

The issue is not the song it is how the controversy has been handled and for making the controversy so Public (I read about it in an Indian website) Duncan should be forced to resign. His actions HURT the Party whereas his job is supposed to BUILD BACKUP the party. And for that he needs to leave.

Republicans won’t win elections by further alienating its base.

Comment by Steve — 12/28/2008 @ 10:41 pm
Agree with him or disagree with him there is one thing you can say about Mike Duncan. He has become a divisive figure in the Republican party.

We don’t need such a divisive figure as head of the RNC. We need someone who won’t be as controversial and who when controversies do erupt will be sophisticated and delicate enough to make sure such controversies don’t hit the news wires harming the GOP even further than it has been harmed by Bush and McCain.

Duncan has shown he lacks such discretion. And therefore if he doesn’t have the decency to resign he needs to be forced out.

He just isn’t politically refined enough to know how to work behind the scenes before things erupt. We need a RNC leader who knows how to built up instead of tear down the members of the party.

Comment by Kim — 12/28/2008 @ 10:51 pm
We should focus beyond the song but instead upon why would someone within the RNC be so vocal in bludgeoning people who are supposed to be part of their base. The controversy didn’t have to be so public as that just further hurts the Republican Party and the RNC is supposed to be about the exact opposite.

Is there some for the lack of a better word “Fifth Column” within the Republican National Committee trying to bring it down from within?

I did find it interesting that there were times during the campaign where McCain was making some headway against Obama. But whenever that happened he would soon do something stupid and down he would go in the polls again. He could have won the whole thing if he would have simply voted against the bailout. It was almost like he didn’t want to win.

I know people like to just dismiss “conspiracy theories” as being “crackpot” but conspiracies have taken place in the past. It is a historical fact that the 1919 World Series was indeed fixed.

Say it ain’t so, John!

Comment by Tim — 12/28/2008 @ 11:07 pm
Jennifer, you are an ugly racist.

Oh, I know, not you, some of your best friends are…

You are what I call a bric-a-brac racist. If you don’t know what bric-a-brac look it up in a dictionary so you don’t go around thinking its something it isn’t.

You go around “making black friends” or friends of other ethnicities JUST so you could show them around at parties in the goal of showing people just how tolerate and open minded you are. LOOK EVERYONE SEE I HAVE A BLACK FRIEND. Yeah, you aren’t quite as obvious by being that blunt about it but you are almost so.

Oh, I can just imagine all the parties Obama must have been asked to go to so that the white liberals of Hawaii could show around ‘their black friend.’

You are the worse type of racist. A racist who doesn’t even realize she is one. Perhaps the reason you want to show your “racial friends” around to friends to “prove” you aren’t a racist is because deep down you really know you are.

Here is a parody about people like you. I am sure you will think that it, not you is racist.

http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com

Comment by Tim — 12/28/2008 @ 11:24 pm
By the way, is now N-gro as bad a word as that other one?

Someone better inform the United N-gro College Fund of this.

It is so hard to keep up. It seems like today’s politically correct terms becomes tomorrow’s slurs.

Comment by Tim — 12/28/2008 @ 11:41 pm
What does the term “magic negro” mean?

Well, I know one shouldn’t use Wikapedia as an authoritative source but I really didn’t want to put much research into it. Don’t blame me for the words. I am quoting from wikipedia which tends to be leftist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_negro

The magical negro (sometimes called the mystical negro or magic negro) is a supporting, often mystical stock character in fiction who, by use of special insight or powers, helps the white protagonist get out of trouble.

Spike Lee popularized the term, deriding the archetype of the “super-duper magical negro” in 2001 while discussing films with students at Washington State University and at Yale University.

——

So, I guess the Matrix and its Sequels were racist movies. We need to remove them from the rental stores immediately.

After all wouldn’t you say that the Oracle was a “Magic Negro”? One could even say Morpheus was one.

Thanks, I will be going to my library tomorrow and demand that the Racist movie “the Matrix” be immediately removed!

Larry and Andy Wachowski wrote and produced the movie. They need to be condemned as racists themselves!

Comment by Tim — 12/28/2008 @ 11:52 pm
It’s one thing to spontaneously go macaca, as George Allen did. It’s another to set up the recording date, freely distribute the CDs with bonus tracks, and make sure everybody argues about whether “Barack the Magic Negro” is offensive, satire, or offensive satire. The strategic brilliance here… eludes me.

Comment by Grace Nearing — 12/28/2008 @ 11:55 pm
More on this term Magic N-gro.

The magical negro is typically but not always “in some way outwardly or inwardly disabled, either by discrimination, disability or social constraint,” often a janitor or prisoner. He has no past; he simply appears one day to help the white protagonist. He sometimes fits the black stereotype, “prone to criminality and laziness.” To counterbalance this, he has some sort of magical power, “rather vaguely defined but not the sort of thing one typically encounters.” He is patient and wise, often dispensing various words of wisdom, and is “closer to the earth.”

The magical negro serves as a plot device to help the protagonist get out of trouble, typically through helping the white character recognize his own faults and overcome them. Although he has magical powers, his “magic is ostensibly directed toward helping and enlightening a white male character.” It is this feature of the magical negro that some people find most troubling. Although from a certain perspective the character may seem to be showing African-Americans in a positive light, he is still ultimately subordinate to European-Americans. He is also regarded as an exception, allowing white America to “like individual black people but not black culture.”

Comment by Tim — 12/28/2008 @ 11:56 pm
Obama must be a “Magic Negro”!!
He got elected didn’t he?!

Comment by b s jones — 12/29/2008 @ 12:08 am
Perhaps this Leftist was onto something with Obama. At least with how white liberals see him. One doesn’t have to meet all the characteristics to be one does he?

Look at ones that he does match.

“He has no past; he simply appears one day to help the white protagonist.”

Obama just has come into the national light with the last few years. Yeah he has a past but what we know of it is often contradictory and mysterious. We don’t know as much about his past as we usually know about a candidate’s past.

And of course the “white protagonist” could either be considered white liberals or white society in general.

—-

“has some sort of magical power, ‘rather vaguely defined but not the sort of thing one typically encounters.’

Candidates who have women faint at their feet? That is something that I haven’t encountered, at least not in American politics

====
“He is patient and wise, often dispensing various words of wisdom…”

Well I have never found anything he has said as being profound but the Left sure thinks he is (even though if you push them they themselves can’t think of one profound thing he said).

====

“The magical n-gro serves as a plot device to help the protagonist get out of trouble, typically through helping the white character recognize his own faults and overcome them.”

Well that is so obvious that I don’t even need to comment on that. Obama is here to save white people from themselves. It also plays into the Messiah theme he has cultivated.

Comment by Tim — 12/29/2008 @ 12:12 am
People should read the Ehrenstein opinion piece before commenting on the parody.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story

By the way, I think it was very poor of him to quote wikiapedia like he did. Yeah, I know I just did the same thing, but I am just commenting at some blog, not writing an opinion piece to be published in a major city newspaper. Wikiapedia should never be used in anything official, academic, or something like that. It is only useful as a start, a place to go to know where to go in order to get the actual authoritative sources to go to. Sure here we can quote wikipedia because it isn’t as “official” here and also because there can be a certain degree of dialog to fill in or correct whatever was lacking in the wikiapedia information if indeed there was anything lacking.

That the Los Angeles Times editors would allow someone to write something that references wikiapedia as a source just shows how far journalism has fallen. And again it’s not like it’s some small town bi-weekly but instead it’s the biggest newspapers in America.

Comment by Tim — 12/29/2008 @ 12:30 am
If I was a teacher, even a high school one, heck even before high school, I would make it quite clear that I would not accept wikiapedia as an appropriate reference.

We are a little more casual here but this isn’t me writing an opinion piece to be put into the Los Angeles Times. Shame on Ehrenstein. Shame on the Los Angeles Editors.

What has this society come to? I never really trusted newspapers but it’s like now they don’t even try to pretend anymore.

Comment by Tim — 12/29/2008 @ 12:34 am
I meant it’s one of the biggest newspapers in America. It should have a rule in it’s “Style Guide” that wikiapedia will not be quoted as authoritative.

Comment by Tim — 12/29/2008 @ 12:36 am
Aydrian, people like you will never “get it”. You are “the useful idiot” that the Marxists have talked about who they use to their ends. AussieLouis you can’t vote in America so STFU.

One good piece of advice is to never take advice from your enemy. After all if they are your enemy why would they give you advice that would be good to begin with.

A lot of these people who are coming here are liberals pretending to be Republicans. I can tell you most people who hear the song get it. Especially when I explain it to them. Oh, yeah, that’s why Jesse Jackson said the stuff about Obama he did…

My greatest concern is why did a RNC official go public with this knowing this is only going to cause divisiveness within the RNC. His job is suppose to be the exact opposite. He is supposed to push harmony and unity to a fault. Yet something that could have been dealt with behind the scenes now tears the RNC apart.

Sabotage from within? Well considering that Four Years ago John McCain wanted to run against Bush by being Kerry’s running mate, it is pretty strange that he would get to become the GOP candidate.

When I was a child my dad took me to a wrestling match. It was great. There were two wrestlers who really, really hated each other, calling each other names, and doing all kinds of painful things to each others. I was eight so I thought it was great.

Well, afterwards we went to a cafe and my dad bought me a coke. Well who would happen to walk in but these two wrestlers now in street clothes. But what shocked me was that they were laughing with each other, acting like they were the best of friends. I asked my dad what was up? He explained to me that it was all an act what I had seen before. They would practice the moves ahead of time before the show and pretend that they hated each other but for the performance to work they had to cooperate with each other and work together to put on the show. Well, as I said I was eight, I was shocked. They were just a bunch of frauds. All that wrestling, all those words, all of that was just for the audience. It was just for show.

Sometimes I wonder if our elections are just like that. I wonder if like the wrestlers from my youth both candidates are working off the same script. I wonder if they decide somehow beforehand how it is supposed to come out in the end.

Perhaps the script called for McCain to lose the election. If that is indeed the case he sure played his part well.

I wonder if it is even worth it for the average citizen to get excited about elections. Perhaps it would be a lot less stressful just to stay home.

Comment by Tim — 12/29/2008 @ 1:01 am
Beth Said:

I’m a Latina.

Beth?

Yeah, right.

Beth?

Sure.

Republicans must not let the enemy deceive us. When Leftists give you advice they don’t do it because they have your best interests at heart.

They want us to react just the way that party hack did.

If we are going to win both Duncan and McCain need to be thrown overboard. We can’t win against the Left by being just like them. After all, if we are just like them why not just vote for them.

You are not going to win any converts from the Left but let me tell you if you beat your side up enough they will stay home.

And the RNC is doing a very good job at that. Almost like they aren’t wanting to win the next election either? Is that part of the Script? Perhaps they are planning to get Ole Bob Dole to run again. Wow talk about another candidate that was DOA like McCain was.

Comment by Tim — 12/29/2008 @ 1:30 am
CWR Said:
2:14 am

“Clearly some conservatives, including the current chair of the RNC, are offended as well.”

That is assuming that the current chair of the RNC is conservative. Which is obviously not the case. He is obviously a Republican in Name Only (RINO).

It seems like the RNC has been captured by the Left. After all how do you explain McCain getting nominated? The party establishment shoved him down the throats of everyone else even though he was practically as Leftist as Obama was. On the major issues there were practically no difference. No wonder then when left with a choice between a Republican Leftist and a Democratic one they would pick a Democratic Leftist. After all if McCain is just like a Democrat, might as well choose the real thing.

Comment by Kim — 12/29/2008 @ 1:38 am
IS ‘BARACK THE MAGIC NEGRO’ RACIST?
Barack the Magic Negro is not racist!!
It’s a cogent argument that explains why President-elect Obama will not make a good leader. Repeatedly listening to this catchy tune will help cultivate the habits of mind that lead to the civic virtue necessary for the strengthening of a democratic republic like our own.
Really, what’s the big deal?

Comment by b s jones — 12/29/2008 @ 1:50 am
If you view it as an infringement of your free speech to be called a mean name when you express a controversial opinion, you may be too delicate a flower for political discourse; such behavior is fairly commonplace and has been throughout the history of our fair Republic. You’re just too beautiful for this world, Mr. Moran.

Comment by Josh E. — 12/29/2008 @ 1:54 am
Someone needs to do a parody with Reverend Wright using Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog.

Jeremiah was Obama’s pastor.

He said, he’s a good friend of mine.

Now he claims he never heard a word he preached in 20 years.

And that’s not the man he knew.

It was never the man he knew.

When he said,

God Damn the USA

God Damn The USA.

May all the Jews in Israel be pushed into the deep blue sea, and God Damn the USA.

Once his church invited Louis Farrakhan, and let me tell you what they did do.

They gave him a lifetime achievement award, must had been for hating those jews. For they all hated them there jews.

And they all sang.

God Damn the USA.

God Damn the USA.

May all the Jews in Israel be pushed into the deep blue sea, and God Damn the USA.

Comment by Ken — 12/29/2008 @ 3:05 am
“only goes to show that the mind of a liberal is extraordinarily predictable.”

It’s genetic Rick, just like it is for you guys on the right. Every bit as predictable, just more on the mean side. It’s kinda pathetic watching you guys sling the same stuff back and fourth, never learning anything or evolving. There seems to be a lot more anger and hate on the right though.

It’s one of those things that you only talk about with someone if you see them look around, then chuckle a tiny bit when someone tells a racist joke, or someone records some pseudo parody of some nonsense. You all look out for it, and when you spot it, you know you’re among friends.

Comment by Chuck Tucson — 12/29/2008 @ 3:59 am
[...] Rick Moran comments on the latest liberal-manufactured controversy, defending Rush Limbaugh and song parodist Paul Shanklin. [...]

Pingback by Never Yet Melted » Barack, the Magic Negro — 12/29/2008 @ 9:40 am
Wow! This goes on and on without any discussion of whether “race” played any factor in the election. Hello? The stats just don’t support idea that Obama the Transcendent Negro overcame enormous white opposition which was based mostly on hating his skin tone. But. the facts DO show that he overwhelmingly carried voters of like skin tone.

Obama the Transcendent Negro even did this while singing an extreme left tune. He left Sharpton and Jackson in the dustpan of racial politics. From here on, blacks running for president have to bring something besides victimhood, rent-a-mob threats and finger wagging to the table.

Of course, Obama is the Magic Negro. He broke the mold. All those sorry people who find racism in this are stuck on needing to be victims.

Here is a thought from a seasoned, black conservative. Obama had best do a good job as president. He carries the burden of being proof that a black man can handle the task. I didn’t (wouldn’t) vote for him, but I am rooting for his success.

Condi Rice and Colin Powell each had high profile, important jobs. Both have escaped having the left try to smear them as dumb tokens. Clarence Thomas is a very bright and capable judge. To hear the left tell it, he should never have been allowed out of the cotton fields.

Now, it is Obama the Transcendent Negro’s turn. God bless him. Blacks and whites and the whole world are watching. He must keep Sharpton and Jackson and the black caucus and all the victim pimps far from his presidency. They don’t give a darn about him, they just want the goodies he could pass around.

You folks set on this being a racist song do not know squat about racism. If you think that black folk can’t handle a little truth, you are the biggest racists of them all. Go get offended at your own pity party. Don’t drag black people into your point of view as some sort of patronizing approval code.

What you really hate is self reliance, determination and personal responsibility. Go read poor Aydrian at #11. If you are looking for people who are nasty, you will always find them. Even preachers who consider homosexuality to be a sin. Wow!

Comment by David — 12/29/2008 @ 9:44 am
Here’s what that flaming fount of liberalism Newt Gingrich says about the CD:

“This is so inappropriate that it should disqualify any Republican National Committee candidate who would use it. There are no grounds for demeaning him or for using racist descriptions.”

Gingrich accepting the left’s definition of racism? Holy Jesus stop the presses. Newt may not be a “flaming fount of liberalism” but he is certainly interested in keeping his job as unofficial conservative spokesman. To do that, buying the cultural goalposts where they are set by an undeniably liberal media is necessary. I would expect nothing less.

ed.

Comment by tb — 12/29/2008 @ 12:36 pm
Btw, it says so much about the brain-drain on the right that a legit contender for the GOP chairmanship is this clearly lacking in common sense and political savvy. I don’t actually think the song is especially racist, but it is certainly is politically tone deaf to associate yourself and your party with it. As a democrat who’s been loving the GOP’s spectacular four year self-immolation, I heartily support your continuing support of winning positions like these.

Comment by Adam — 12/29/2008 @ 1:02 pm
Not only are those calling me a racist proving their aversion to free speech

Yes indeed, the are proving their aversion to the exercising of free speech by… exercising their own right to free speech.

This would look really silly of you Rick if it weren’t for the multitude of posts you made supporting the Dixie Chicks.

Could you kindly link to a few of those?

The Dixie Chicks losing sales and getting booed is the same as you lowering the bar on the use of the term “racism” just so that you can stifle debate? This is why it is impossible to have a conversation with a liberal.

ed.

Comment by Davebo — 12/29/2008 @ 1:56 pm
he Dixie Chicks losing sales and getting booed is the same as you lowering the bar on the use of the term “racism” just so that you can stifle debate?

Err… What? How exactly am I now stifling debate? And are you really interested in “debating” the relative merits of a Limbaugh parody song?

This is why it is impossible to have a conversation with a liberal.

I can see several reasons why, on certain issues at least, you find it impossible to have a conversation with anyone.

It’s a one way affair for you. But nah, you aren’t “stifling debate” at all. Your declaring I’m right, your wrong, and you’re violating my free speech rights.

Heckuva debate you got there Brownie. And I do feel for you a bit Rick. It’s like you know most of that pie is poisoned and even manage to point it out at times. But in the end you just gotta have that pie!

Using the term “racist” stifles debate. It is useless to continue a conversation after using that term on your opponent because you have settled any arguement about race in your favor. You have assumed a morally superior position based solely on your definition of what “racism” means.

How can you have a conversation when one of the debaters doesn’t want to debate?

ed.

Comment by Davebo — 12/29/2008 @ 2:29 pm
It’s fine if you want to think it is legitimate satire but bringing George Orwell and Jonathan Swift into it? Spare me your lectures. Some idiot who wanted to be chair of the RNC passed out this crap by third-rate comedian and got called out for it because it offended some people in the GOP, who then started talking about it. It’s pretty simple really. He’s not a racist, he’s just a tone deaf moron. As to all the blubbering babies crying “it’s not racist! it’s not racist!” fine, it isn’t racist. It’s just in incredibly poor taste and not remotely funny. What is funny is watching a simpering buffoon like Ken Blackwell try to explain why he still loves everyone who is running for RNC chair…way to be a man and take a stand Ken!

Comment by CCFK — 12/29/2008 @ 2:42 pm
sing the term “racist” stifles debate.

Yes I agree. It isn’t nearly as productive as calling your opponents simple minded sophists.

Gingrich is just trying to maintain his conservative talking head position. Rick Moran on the other hand seems to be whining about how 71 comments proves the debate was stifled.

And of course, this debate over a really stupid Limbaugh parody song aimed squarely at the 25% dead enders has thoroughly ruined polite political discourse in this country.

Meh..

Comment by Davebo — 12/29/2008 @ 3:06 pm
It is obvious that White Liberals saw Obama as their “Magic N-gro” in the way Spike Lee used the term.

He is black but he didn’t grow up in “the Hood”. He is black yet he didn’t have a slave as an ancestor.

He was Black but not Jesse Jackson black. He was Black but not Al Sharpton black.

It was like they had the advantage of voting black but getting white.

Comment by Tom — 12/29/2008 @ 3:43 pm
By the way, to the Leftists who seem to be trying to dominate debate on this board - No one cares with what you think.

Obama will soon be the most hated man in the world. And then you will get yours.

We, on the otherhand must totally clear the “wrestlers” out of the RNC. Let’s get it straight. NEWT IS NO CONSERVATIVE though at times he plays one one TV. We must also get this Duncan out of the RNC or else we will lose the next election even as much as Obama is hated.

Can’t beat a something with a nothing. Or didn’t Dole prove that. Now if we can’t drive these people out, then indeed, America is doomed.

Call the RNC today. Ask for Duncan’s resignation. Regardless of what you might have thought about the song, RNC leaders are supposed to be about unity to a fault. He handled the situation wrong.

We must stop these constant attacks from the RNC. Conservatives don’t suffer “battered wife” syndrome. Attack us enough and we will leave the party. And then there is not enough people in enough country clubs throughout the land to get these RINO Republicans elected to anything.

Comment by Tom — 12/29/2008 @ 3:50 pm
Many people think of Jonathan Swift as the guy who wrote a story about a guy who was shipwrecked on an island of little people.

But few know the REST of the Story.

He was a sick evil man.

He wanted people to eat BABIES.

Can’t get more sick and demented than that!

Comment by Lizzie — 12/29/2008 @ 4:17 pm
“By the way, to the Leftists who seem to be trying to dominate debate on this board – No one cares with what you think.

Obama will soon be the most hated man in the world. And then you will get yours.”

It’s not hard to dominate someone of your intellectual capacity. Feeling a bit defensive are you? I see you have that conservative omniscience thing going on, where you know what is going to happen in the future. Good luck with that.

Comment by CCFK — 12/29/2008 @ 4:50 pm
History doesn’t exactly repeat itself but there are patterns you can see if you look close enough.

It was obvious that the GOP was going to lose this election. I saw it even as early as 2006 if not before. I didn’t know Obama was going to win. I thought it was going to be Hillary. Though perhaps in the end I was even right about that since so many of Obama’s people comes from the Clinton Administration and Hillary now has the position of Sec of State which she can use as a power base.

But just as obvious is how Obama is going to really disenchant his followers. Hell, it has already happened with the gays, and next to fall if I would to guess would be the so called “anti-war” crowd. Heck, how could he live up to expectations. He really can’t walk on water.

Now what I can’t tell is what happens next. Sure, the world is going to feel betrayed and for that he is going to be demonized. And not being used to not getting his own way his own arrogance is going to make him overreact when attacked.

But the GOP has a way of turning victory into defeat. I see a possibility of one of three scenarios playing out.

One, despite the worlds hatred of Obama, the Republicans put up a lame candidate and Obama wins a second term. The Democrats really don’t gain in Congress but they really don’t lose much either. That is what I call the “Dole” scenario.

Two, Republicans put up a milk toast candidate and because of the hatred towards Obama that candidate wins. Republicans might pick up a few seats but mostly there is no coat tail effect to mention. The Republican lose the next election though as we fall into the what I call the Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton(Obama) pattern we have found ourselves in for all too long.

Three, Republicans put up a true conservative leading to a revival of America. That of course would be the best scenario but as of right now the most unlikely one. It depends upon us now reviving the GOP by getting rid of people like all the candidates for the 2008 presidential nomination, Newt, and this Duncan RINO. Perhaps we will see that but we haven’t seen that so far. I call this scenario the “Carter” scenario and it is really America’s last hope.

All depends upon what happens within the Republican Party in the next year or so. That is why people like Duncan must not be allowed to win. The stakes are too high. A victory for Duncan really could mean the end of America.

Comment by Tom — 12/29/2008 @ 6:24 pm
It is true to say that the GOP, not Obama, are in control of the fate of America. What happens within the Republican party structure in the next few years will determine if America is going to rise again or just fade away.

It reminds me of this story of this Monk and his young student. The Student thought he could trick the wise Monk one day. He was going to going to hide a live bird in his hands behind his back. Then he was going to tell his master that he had a bird in his hands and ask him if the bird was alive or dead. If the master said the bird was dead the student was going to open his hands and out would fly the bird. If the master said the bird was alive he was going to crush the bird and then when he opened his hands the master would see a dead bird.

So, the student asks the master. I have this bird in my hands. Is it alive or dead. The wise master merely replied “the bird is in your hands”.

So is the future of America in our hands. We can crush the last hope of freedom by staying with the status quo and allowing the RINOS continue their control the Republican party or we can fight to take the party back for the people and open our hands to see the American Eagle wise high strong and tall again.

The future of America is in our hands. Don’t let the Newts, the Bushes, the Duncans, the McCains of the Republican party establishment crush it. Too much is at stake here.

Comment by Tom — 12/29/2008 @ 6:43 pm
I’ll write a non-political satire song called “Rush the Obese Junkie”. There’s no way that anyone could take that the wrong way, right? Because it’s satire.

“Rush the obese junkie, popped lots of pills…”

I heard one like that on Rush set to song. It was pretty funny.

Of course, if it were only a matter of taking the parody in question “the wrong way,” no one would have a problem, would they. Tastelessness does not equal racism. If it did, half the stuff I write would make me guilty of a hate crime.

ed.

Comment by Tim Lehnerer — 12/29/2008 @ 6:55 pm
From my understanding this was just one song in an entire CD that was passed out.

It wasn’t even like he just passed out this one song to emphasize it.

The person who emphasized it was this Mike Duncan. Proving that he isn’t about unity but divisiveness. And proving that he will play the role that the Leftists will put upon us. That is how we lost in 2008. McCain was an out of touch old man so the Leftist narrative went. And you have to say he played the role they placed him in very well.

All a Republican had to say about this was if pressed by the Press would have been “there you go again”.

Mike Duncan (or is it Robert) is the enemy within the Republican Party. He needs to be immediately removed.

Don’t act guilty when you have nothing to feel guilty about. But no, this Duncan guy decided to attack the base instead of standing up for higher principles. McCain himself “acted guilty” during the campaign. Is it any wonder why he lost.

Comment by Jeff — 12/29/2008 @ 9:21 pm
The left-wing just put forward the emptiest suit imaginable and he got elected. He is likely to be the greatest fuck up since..well, this Bush and before him Carter. This fuck up in waiting happens to be half black.

Therefore, this is simply a predicate to gin up the Democratic base which very well could be demoralized in 2010. We need not look at this development with despair. No, this reveals well-founded worries that unless the public can be silenced by wolf cries of “racism,” the Democrats may face a bloodbath in the next one or two election cycles. This is no time for false bipartisanship. Take out the long knives the first time Obama trips up and never, ever relent. No one knows better how effective this technique is than the left.

Comment by obamathered — 12/29/2008 @ 9:38 pm
Rabble, rabble, rabble, racist, hatemongerer, thought-crime, hate crime, enemy of free society, rabble, opposite of enlightened me, rabble, rabble.

Comment by MlR — 12/29/2008 @ 11:37 pm
I just listened to the song and it’s a satire. It’s pretty true of the race hustlers. I remember Jesse Jackson calling Obama a n___er and saying he wanted him castrated. I notice libs are conveinently forgetting that. Basically, the old-time race hustlers are pissed off that after years of their “hard work” some young upstart stealing their thunder. That’s all the song is about. So, it’s ok for everyone to make fun of and ridicule “whitey”, but everyone must be balkanized into their own ethnic group to make fun of: Asians can make fun of asians, blacks can make fun of blacks, but whitey has to ridicule himself and that whitey is free game… uh ok. I would think true equality would be everyone making fun of everyone equally, no matter what they are. Humor pokes fun at people. If it’s racist, people don’t have to listen to it.

Hell, even his running mate said, “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” Biden said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

I’m suprised that Biden didn’t get the crap storm that this song is getting now. I would think Biden’s comment would be considered more offensive, or at least very stupid.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/31/biden.obama/

You know what I find interesting is that the white supremacist groups are quite censored. I don’t think their message is good at all, but played alongside any (insert ethnicity here) supermacist, it just all sounds the same with different epithets in the same, predictable blanks.

Comment by andophiroxia — 12/30/2008 @ 10:29 am
How about this one, to satisfy all parties?

“Rush the pillhead junkie, can’t keep a wife
a zeppelin filled to the brim,
with ego, lard, and spite”

“He was on Tee Vee, but he failed to make a dent,
his show was canned, a failure he,
and back to radio he went”

“So much hilljack heroin, they say it made him deaf,
Viagra helped him get it up, and his third wife up and left”

“Rush the Pork-fat zeppelin, damaged the GOP,
his stupid jokes and race-bait tropes won’t bring folks to our party!”

Comment by Ray — 12/30/2008 @ 11:59 am
You know, it’s funny how liberal this sounds. Leftists have long argued for bans on “hate speech” on the grounds that certain words are inherently powerful, “magic words” outside the marketplace of ideas, and render their targets incapable of defense. That’s the justification for things like campus speech codes. Principled conservatives have refuted this, recognizing that words are words and that more speech is the proper response to dickish speech.

But here come the unprincipled self-styled conservatives like you, ready to use liberal “magic words” theory, whining that being called a “racist” or “bigot” is uniquely hurtful, outside the scope of the marketplace of ideas, and render the victim unable to respond.

If you are a conservative, why don’t you believe in the marketplace of ideas? Are you some sort of Chomsky reader? Or a French trade unionist?

Are you a dick by choice or does being a dick come to you naturally?

You haven’t said anything to refute me. You just plastered gibberish on my blog. Yes, sweetheart, there are “magic words” that when used by the left, automatically elevate their argument to a supreme moral plane and stifles any response that can be made in the “marketplace of ideas.” The fact that you are too dense to see it and blissfully unaware of this makes you as dumb as any liberal who ever visited here.

ed.

Comment by Ken — 12/30/2008 @ 1:05 pm
Ray, you are obviously not a Republican.

And Bush bashing sure helped the Left. We need to learn from the Left and understand the importance of satire, ridicule and parody.

Rush has brought more people to the GOP than McCain or Bush ever did. But now the RNC wants to chase these people away. If they think they are ever going to win an election by solely appealing to the country club crowd they are going to continue to lose election after election.

But perhaps they like it that way.

Comment by Jeff — 12/30/2008 @ 2:18 pm
You haven’t said anything to refute me. You just plastered gibberish on my blog. Yes, sweetheart, there are “magic words” that when used by the left, automatically elevate their argument to a supreme moral plane and stifles any response that can be made in the “marketplace of ideas.” The fact that you are too dense to see it and blissfully unaware of this makes you as dumb as any liberal who ever visited here.

Liberals are generally thoughtful enough to come up with elaborate speech codes with forbidden words and definitions and such. Have you put any work into a speech code necessary to protect the feelings of people like you? I mean, I get that “racist” and “bigot” are magic hurtful words that should be treated differently, and that can’t adequately be addressed (at least by some special people) by more speech, but what else? Do you have a list?

By the way, I may have wronged you by assuming that you were a hypocrite when your views are actually consistent. Do you, in fact, support speech codes that treat some words — racial epithets, etc. — as being outside the normal marketplace of ideas, and therefore requiring special intervention?

Are you a dick by choice or does being a dick come to you naturally?

I’ll ask Mom, but I think it was mostly upbringing.

Comment by Ken — 12/30/2008 @ 2:33 pm
Ricky, I’m assuming you’re just some dumb Mick whose mom has calves bigger than her thighs and who likes a six pack and potato as a seven course dinner, that you think this is OK.

Is that a fair prejudice on my part?

Do you think I care?

Comment by actor212 — 12/30/2008 @ 3:24 pm
TIM: “So is the future of America in our hands. We can crush the last hope of freedom by staying with the status quo and allowing the RINOS continue their control the Republican party or we can fight to take the party back for the people and open our hands to see the American Eagle wise high strong and tall again.

The future of America is in our hands. Don’t let the Newts, the Bushes, the Duncans, the McCains of the Republican party establishment crush it. Too much is at stake here.”

“So the future of America is in our hands.” Who’s hands? Not mine. Try as I have, most of the people I know in this small NH town are liberal and vote Democrat. They are here to stay. They are in control of all levels of education and media. They are now my town, my state, my country. The future is in socialism and the government will be my mommy.

I don’t know what to do to be prepared, but we all better get ready. America is a different country. We are now part of the world where up is down and down is up. Get ready.

Comment by mimi k — 12/30/2008 @ 7:25 pm
I have been thinking…

The question shouldn’t be IS ‘BARACK THE MAGIC NEGRO’ RACIST? It should be “Is BARACK A NEGRO AT ALL?”

I agree with what Tom said (post 72). Let me paraphrase him: “Barack isn’t really a NEGRO”.
That begs the question: If Barack isn’t a Negro, what is he? I think Barack is “High yallar”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_yellow

If Barack is “MAGIC” it’s because he’s a “YALLER”

Comment by b s jones — 12/30/2008 @ 7:37 pm
I really doesnt matter if you hate the song or love it. This was political suicide for Chip Saltzman and his quest for the RNC Chair.

Comment by Lanie — 1/1/2009 @ 12:42 am
You’re dumb to defend this. You’re probably right, but you’re dumb to defend it. I [mostly] agree with you. I think it’s appropriate parody. But most people will only hear a headline or topical article from the MSN and what they will find out is “RNC Chairman distributes song called ‘Barak the Magic Negro’, some Republicans defend it.”

And then you wonder why minorities vote Dem.

Comment by awocoholic — 1/1/2009 @ 4:10 pm
http://unclefatlips.com/top-feature/will-the-real-magical-negro-please-shut-up/

Comment by Derrick Mathis — 1/4/2009 @ 2:49 am
What is clear is that this despicable tactic by the left predates Obama and has done more to poison relations between the races in this country than all the cross burnings and hate speech delivererd by the morons in the Klan or the Skinheads.
…
Simple minded sophists usually are.

A simple-minded sophist calling the kettle black.

Comment by riiiiiight — 1/4/2009 @ 6:01 pm

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