TN GOP staffer apologizes for racist image of Obama.
TN GOP staffer apologizes for racist image of Obama.
Leading Democrats in Tennessee want a legislative aide fired. But, for now, an apology is all they are going to get. Sherri Goforth, an administrative assistant to state GOP Sen. Diane Black, admitted she sent out what state Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester calls a “reprehensible” e-mail on May 28 titled, “Historical Keepsake Photo.” Initially, Goforth said that she mistakenly sent the e-mail “to the wrong list of people.” Then, earlier today, Goforth issued a statement of apology, but in doing so, tried to blame the person who sent the picture to her:
“I want to offer my deepest apology regarding the offensive nature of the email forwarded to several of my colleagues.
“I also want to make it clear that it was forwarded to me from an acquaintenance with absolutely no political party ties and who is outside the Tennessee Capitol Hill arena. I should have deleted it upon receipt.
“Again, I am deeply sorry and offer a sincere apology to anyone offended.”
Goforth did not mention President Obama in her apology.
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Initially, Goforth said that she mistakenly sent the e-mail “to the wrong list of people.”
Because , as we all know , there’s a “right list of people” to send that type of e-mail to ……..
June 16th, 2009 at 5:02 pmHas b-cup weighed in on this controversy?
After all, it’s an important lesson about how risky it is these days to comment on race relations, right?
June 16th, 2009 at 5:03 pm… and they have an (R) after their names.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:04 pmGoforth said that she mistakenly sent the e-mail “to non-Republicans”.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:04 pmInitially, Goforth said that she mistakenly sent the e-mail “to the wrong list of people.”
Crap, I dun meant to sent this out to my hillbilly heroes. You know, Amerikun Pastealot an them frens uh hiz.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:09 pmObviously she got her (second) mistake clearly explained to her, what with the not-apologizing before.
If a Dem did something that evil and stupid, they’d just flat-out lose their job. R’s will never be taken seriously again until they learn to police themselves.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:10 pmNow we see the true colors of the RacistRepublicanRedneck party hard at work, trying to keep their lucking fists straight.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:10 pmAt least she managed to craft an apology that wasn’t the canned non-apology apology the GNOP is famous for. Wonder who twisted arm?
The “I should have deleted it” but instead she decided to forward it is indicative of her racism.
PEACE
June 16th, 2009 at 5:10 pmBut the fact is, the image has already been sent out. The deed is done and any apology is without effect.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:13 pmHow do you forward something to the WRONG LIST of people that you meant to delete?
June 16th, 2009 at 5:13 pm…
i wonder if we can get
an opinion on this from sven?
…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:15 pmThey can’t. They don’t even know they are doing anything wrong until a normal person points it out to them. Even then, they don’t really understand that it is wrong. They just issue a half-hearted apology so the humans will get off their backs.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:15 pmInsincere at best, she thought it was funny till someone told her it wasn’t.
The Racist just gave an apology to keep from getting fired.
Now she will simply be more careful who she sends these things to.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:16 pmThis is why I am no longer a Conservative. I can’t keep defending all the time. Progressives are on offense and I would rather be on the winning side. Being a 23 year old Conservative is very difficult and I saw the writing on the wall,so I have switched sides. Thank you Think Progress for enlightening me.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:16 pmThat’s what’s wrong with this — she sent it to the “wrong list” of people. What kind of people are on the “right list?”
We all know the answer.
In the past, I have been sent offensive emails from people who simply click on their emails and hit the forward button to everyone on their email list.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:17 pmThat is NO EXCUSE!
If I receive an offensive email, I return a message indicating so and I make sure that everyone who received it also receives my rebuke.
That racist airhead originates or forwards a very offensive, very insulting, very ignorant email to a lot of people, and two days later she offers this very half-hearted, insincere, pass-the-blame apology.
Typical repug. Hypocrite. Racist. Scum.
This is really so ignorant as to be almost sad…
Where are all those intelligent racists GOPers??!! At least it kept things interesting..
This is an insult to good ole’ racist everywhere.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:17 pmPoor Sam. It’s trying anything to get at least one recommend.
PEACE
June 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pmFacebook/Contact Info :Senator Diane Black
Email: sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov
Phone: 615.741.1999
Take off the gloves and let her have it…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pmGod this woman is a worm. Every failing must be directed towards someone else. Apology FAIL.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pmReally,If GOP weren’t racists to the core why is it with ‘em that their prevailing argument or mockery is always about someone’s race.What a bunch of sickos.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:19 pmGood for you Sam. It must be tough defending people who are wrong all the time. Welcome to reality.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:19 pmI’m sorry you have the frame of mind to be offended. And if you don’t get over it, I’m sorry about that, too.
Sherri Goforth
June 16th, 2009 at 5:19 pmDistrict Manager, Bojangles
““Again, I am deeply sorry and offer a sincere apology to anyone offended.””
I accept your apology on my own behalf since I was offended. Please don’t let it happen again.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:20 pmA typical Republic apology. I’m sorry if someone was offended. Then blame it on someone else. Are there any Republics alive who are willing to take responsibility for their actions?
June 16th, 2009 at 5:21 pmSam: Do you really think yourself capable of maintaining this charade over time?
June 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pmshoeless,
June 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pmPlus it is better to be on the winning side. For people my age, being a Conservative is taboo. You become a social outcats. I am tired of it and want accepted in the circles I hang out with.
Sam:
June 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pmAren’t there better reasons for selecting a world view?
dbadass,
June 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pmI have no choice, being a Conservative makes you an outcast. Being a Progressive makes you accepted in society. Plus, I would rather be on the winning side.
If it smells like a racist….
June 16th, 2009 at 5:24 pmdbadass,
June 16th, 2009 at 5:24 pmAmong people my age, you get mocked and attacked for being a Conservative. I can’t deal with it no more. Why not roll with the winners? I have decided being a Progressive is the way to get accepted in today’s society.
WHY hasn’t she been fired yet??
If this had been anyone talking about Chimpy the whole republican party would be in their amour already….swords drawn…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:25 pmThis lady is a racist and should be fired. I hope Think Progress can pressure the GOP into firing her.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:26 pmThe ‘right list of people’ being her list of racist Obama-haters. And judging from all the news items lately, that would likely include all Republicans.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:26 pmAnd blaming the person who sent it? “I should have deleted it upon receipt”???? Yes, but you didn’t, you racist right-wing radical, did you?
From my perspective this is not an apology. When I was growing up and offended someone, my parents drilled into me that a sincere apology mentions the offended party by name. Goforth never once mentioned Pres. Obama’s name. Who in the h@!! does she think she is?
June 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pmWell sure, people don’t like sociopaths.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:28 pmPoor Sam. All it’s pretending that it will give it’s beliefs and principles to gain acceptance and be seen as part of the winning side. Willing to play the spineless and unprincipled card for laughs but makes it look even more GNOPer.
It would be funny if it wasn’t such a sad, sad little troll trying to get some attention.
PEACE
June 16th, 2009 at 5:30 pmSam I know quite a few conservatives who are good people, nothing like ditto-heads and we agree on more things than we disagree and that what we disagree on is not debated in anger or is that a reason to exclude anyone. If people are mocking you solely because your a conservative then they are engaging in a form of group-think. I dont listen to Limbaugh and I dont know why people do, thats their choice, but I would not judge you because of Limbaugh or his conservative followers –I would be engaging in group-think if I did.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:32 pmspenser’s mom is a insightful lady…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:33 pmSorry spencer! Somebody snuck a “s” in there. I have this thing about names so please accept my apologies…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:35 pmbut in doing so, tried to blame the person who sent the picture to her
TP – surely you don’t expect a repub to admit to being at fault do you ? ;-)
As mentioned by Spencer’s Mom, at least it wasn’t the typical non-apology apology.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pmThe only thing she’s sorry about is being stupid enough to get
caught.
Next time she’ll be more careful
June 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pmSam, so you were a Coservative because they were ‘winners’ and now that they are apparently not and you aren’t get laid you became a “progressive” ?
That’s what I’, hearing, is that what you are saying? Tour tired of being discriminated against?
Nice try Sam.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:38 pmAh, dbadass, Spenser was a great poet!
PEACE
June 16th, 2009 at 5:38 pm…
hi “sam“.
:)
June 16th, 2009 at 5:39 pmI apologize to anyone who is offended by my typos in #43. I was using the wrong sort of keyboard.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:40 pmAnd thats all too common today, people are all to quick to label someone and then stick them in ideological circles of their creation. Whole books are written by pundits doing that exact thing so its gives them rational to demonize and blame people. Its divisive rhetoric designed to blame others while inflaming the reader.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:40 pmGoforth did not mention President Obama in her apology.
Wow, she didn’t even refer to President Obama as “that one”?
June 16th, 2009 at 5:43 pmFrom Joe’s link
http://thinkprogresswatch.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/tennessee-trip-with-my-girl/dscf0515/
Is she really doing that pose in front of a cavern, or whatever it is? Someone is as full of herself as “Sam”…
I definitely LOL’ed….
June 16th, 2009 at 5:45 pmIf this were on the level (which it clearly is not) one could not help but notice how someone so weakly principled would be attracted to the conservative mindset.
But of course, Samjoe is just pulling our collective leg.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:46 pmSam, I never gave into my beliefs when the Bush regime was quickly spending their political capital off 9/11 and the masses bought into that by expanding the republican majority in 2004. I have no problem with grounded conservatives, but I do have a problem with unhinged kooks who can’t take an electoral loss.
Change your beliefs through a logical investigatory process and don’t put your finger in the wind. Do your own research. Empty popularity contests never get anything done. This is not the next fad; progressivism is dead-on about the issues.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:47 pmSam, people mock you because you are spineless. I don’t think you get it. I have conservative friends (not many) but we engage in meaningful debate. Now, neo-cons, on the other hand, I have no friends of this sort. And they are very mockable.
Which are you?
June 16th, 2009 at 5:49 pmI thought I’d make that statement though I’m fully aware that “Sam” is just another day in the life of Trajan.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:49 pmWhat McWars said…
June 16th, 2009 at 5:49 pmNonapology #1: I am very sorry I got caught but don’t have a clue why any real americans would be upset
Nonapology #2 I am still not the least bit sorry and don’t understand all the fuss because everyone at my family reunion thought it was funny but “sorry” if anyone was offended
Anticipated nonapology #3 I still don’t see why everyone is so upset that I made fun of a n****r but since even the Tennessee KKK is starting to talk and my boss is up for reelection I am taking a leave of absence for “personal reasons” and will be guest editing Storm Watch for the next three months
June 16th, 2009 at 5:53 pmThis incident should prompt every Republican legislator, or politician in general, to brief their staffs. No racially divisive e-mails or communications should be generated from their offices or forwarded through their offices.
Conservatives and Republicans have a problem with the stigma of racism. Zero tolerance for these kinds of e-mails or communication at their offices has to be the standard.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:55 pmShe’s not trying to blame someone else. She’s trying to distance her office or her party from the creation of the e-mail.
June 16th, 2009 at 5:58 pmMs Goforth,
In an apology, you should never try to assign blame to anyone but yourself, and don’t bother apologizing at all if you’re only sorry IF someone was offended.
Try this:
June 16th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Backup,
If you have to be breifed on what’s racist and what’s not, well, I was going to say you’re not fit to be in an office wherein your racism would be an issue, but, that would apply to a LOT of people in office.
I would venture to assume that the vast majority of these people have Rs after their names.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:05 pmSee, it’s for cases like this that they invented ritual suicide.
Failing that, anybody possessing the faintest scintilla of honor would AT LEAST resign.
“I apologize to anyone I offended.” (anyone, that is, who was too sensitive to laugh at the joke…)
If she hasn’t the decency to resign, then she should be asked to resign by her bosses.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:05 pmStuff it, hick!
June 16th, 2009 at 6:06 pmbackup Says:
I also want to make it clear that it was forwarded to me from an acquaintenance with absolutely no political party ties and who is outside the Tennessee Capitol Hill arena.
She’s not trying to blame someone else. She’s trying to distance her office or her party from the creation of the e-mail.
Bullsh!t. Ever hear the expression “the buck stops here”? That means that people take responsibility for their behavior and their mistakes. She’s assigning at least some of the blame to someone else, someone who passed it along to her with the apparent assumption that she was a racist — which she demonstrated by not immediately deleting the email and telling the sender to knock it off.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:06 pmMaybe they should just stop hiring racists. But then, they wouldn’t have any Republicans on their staffs.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:06 pmbackup Says:
This incident should prompt every
Republicanlegislator, or politician in general, to brief their staffs. No racially divisive e-mails or communications should be generated from their offices or forwarded through their offices.It’s not a matter of image, backup, it’s a matter of right and wrong. GOPers shouldn’t do it because it otherwise looks bad, but because racism is inherently wrong.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:09 pmYeah cappy, it’s the stigma they need to work on not the actual racism that is inherent in the gop…..jesus f christ.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:10 pmOne more thing…can’t you stupidass racist think up better jokes than the “birth of a nation” tired, silly, childish, immature, dumbass, corny bullshit.
Ignorance isn’t funny, teabaggers.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:11 pmYeah right, the “I just found this noose” defense…
June 16th, 2009 at 6:12 pmI don’t think they really know how to tell.
Perhaps they should just cease ‘commenting on race” at all, eh, b-cup? After all, it’s such a delicate area.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:12 pmThat’s the thing with racism and racists. As long as no one outside your little ignorant bubble notices your racism, it’s okay. And as long as you apologize for being caught, all is swept under the rug.
Someone yesterday posted a link to a Salon article about white supremecists being allowed into the military through slackened admissions questioning.
I thought that racists were a dying breed, but, unfortunately, they are still alive and kicking. It’s beyond sad.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:16 pm“Again, I am deeply sorry and offer a sincere apology to anyone offended.”
That is not an apology. This kind of statement, often proffered as an apology, really blames the person on the receiving end of the act or message for being offended.
An apology is when the person making the comment or committing the act says, “I screwed up, I take the blame, I regret what I did or said, and I’m going to try to undo the damage I caused.” That’s an apology.
Then they quit their job (or are they fired), and attempt to make restitution for the damages they caused – which is often impossible to do.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pmSAM
You arent clever. You are stupid. You are pathetic. You are a piece of garbage. Just STFU.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pm…
ot,
this isn’t nice.
:(
June 16th, 2009 at 6:20 pmgummitch. Listen. I don’t get the e-mail. I think it’s inappropriate. It was wrong for her to forward it.
The staffer should have deleted it. If she has the mettle to track down the creator and berate them, good for her. I would respect that.
But, while we’re lamenting the insensitivity of this staffer and Republicans in general; think about this:
This staffer passes on a racially insensitive e-mail. It was wrong. She could lose her job over it.
Letterman makes a joke on national television about the statutory rape of a 14 year old girl.
Was the e-mail really less sensitive than Letterman’s joke?
I understand your reaction to the e-mail. It is a repugnant e-mail.
But let me ask you this:
How does a joke about the statutory rape of a 14 year old girl stack up against the divisiveness of the image in the e-mail?
Has your outrage for the staffer also been expressed against Letterman?
If she should be fired, should he?
June 16th, 2009 at 6:24 pmJoe Cantwell,
I read the article you linked to.
No clear indication of whether the staffer was male or female.
What’s your prediction?
June 16th, 2009 at 6:26 pmI see b-cup is the same clueless dolt as he always was.
Clearly Letterman’s joke was about Bristol Palin, and you are being led around by the nose — again.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:27 pmBackup,
I get stupid racially insensitive emails from a very good friend who is too obtuse to either realize I don’t care for them, or to even fathom their true meaning. Guess what. I delete them.
And as for the Letterman joke…I won’t take the OT bait. Apples/Oranges.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:29 pm“I also want to make it clear that it was forwarded to me from an acquaintenance with absolutely no political party ties and who is outside the Tennessee Capitol Hill arena…”
Which means that whoever sent it to her thought that she might find it funny. She has “funny” friends. Apparently, she did find it funny and forwarded it on to other people who she thought would find it funny.
She should have stopped at the first sentence: “I want to offer my deepest apology regarding the offensive nature of the email forwarded to several of my colleagues.”
That’s it. Period.
Now the world knows the kind of person she is. She should be so proud of herself. And she could work on gaining a little empathy for other people.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:29 pmaww give the weeble a break he’s seems to be trying :(
Besides, I’m a conservative…
I just can’t stand my party’s politics since well since the early 1960’s ….I did like em in the 50’s :)
Duck and Cover! that blanket will protect you!
June 16th, 2009 at 6:31 pmshe didn’t just say the e-mail was forwarded to me…
she said the e-mail ‘was forwarded to me from an acquaintenance with absolutely no political party ties and who is outside the Tennessee Capitol Hill arena.’
Not that it matters much, but she’s not dodging responsibility, she’s trying to create distance between her office or party and the creator of the e-mail.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:31 pmBackup tries the QUICK look over there or over there or somewhere a dem is doing something bad. Dont look at the racists behind the GOP curtain lets talk about an entertainer NOT working for the government who made a tasteless joke.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:31 pmAn old friend sent me some racist, antisemitic, conspiracy theory crap and I told him I didn’t appreciate it. I haven’t heard from him since and I don’t miss him.
As the old saying goes: “If you aren’t part of the solution? You are part of the problem”.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:31 pmI am one person here that feels the staffer should not be fired over this. As racially insensitive as it was, it was an accident that got her apology. I’ve done the same when Bush was in office, so really this is a mistake that she reflected on and regretted. I’d like to see things move on.
That being said, I also feel that Letterman has apologized enough, backup. I too was not laughing when Letterman told the joke and wanted an apology from him, even though I knew that it was NOT directed at the 14-year-old Palin.
Comedy is a landmine; you’re bound to ruffle feathers when a joke bombs. It is the serious and intentional matters that demand firings. If someone were to snap doing comedy like Michael Richards did that fateful day years ago, THAT deserves a firing.
I doubt the messenger ought to get the axe here. The “genius” that first made this picture, however…
June 16th, 2009 at 6:33 pmShadowBoxer. I respect that you do that.
Some here would suggest that that isn’t enough. That you would have a responsibility to educate the sender of the inappropriateness nature of the e-mail.
Do you think you have that responsibility?
June 16th, 2009 at 6:33 pmPurple State
I am ok with a sincere appology and it NEVER happening again. I dont need her fired for this. An aknowledgement that it was flat out wrong and wont happen again is good enough for me
June 16th, 2009 at 6:34 pmShadowBoxer Says:
Joe Cantwell,
I read the article you linked to.
No clear indication of whether the staffer was male or female.
What’s your prediction?
***
it’s “sam“.
:(
June 16th, 2009 at 6:36 pmThere’s a big difference, B-kup. Letterman is a comedian, not a public official. Also, he offered a real apology which Bible Spice has accepted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE55F5SR20090616
June 16th, 2009 at 6:37 pm73. backup Says: Letterman makes a joke on national television about the statutory rape of a 14 year old girl.
No, he did not. Fool.
Letterman made the joke not knowing that Palin was at a recent ballgame with her 14 year-old daughter. After learning of the circumstance, Letterman apologized properly, by accepting responsibility for the joke. His joke was completely unintentional.
Therein lies the difference in brands of apology: Letterman said it didn’t mater what the intent was, if his intent wasn’t clear and it got interpreted as something else, it’s his fault, not the audience’s fault.
That is the correct way to take responsibility rather than Goforth’s non-apology mea-culpa at getting caught intentionally sending a racist email to “the wrong email list.” (I shudder to think which names are on the ‘right’ list.)
backup, you’re ignorant. There’s no dressing it up as anything else. You post here with half-assed assertions that invariably fall apart when examined with the most cursory indulgence.
Do your homework first to avoid further derision.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:39 pmShe still doesn’t get it. She knew what it was when she forwarded it. And blaming someone else for what she did or failed to do is immature as well as just plain wrong.
And that non apology, apology is worthless. The President and his wife are the ones that should get a public apology. And if the state were not still so blatantly racist, she would never have been able to send such a message. And she would have been fired immediately. South Carolina is still very much the old south. This state and those like it, will need to be dragged into the 21 century kicking and screaming noooooooo! If they could, they would still own slaves and be beating the uppity ones.
Guess what lady? All of us eat with a knife and fork at the table, including African Americans. We laugh and cry and want the same things as every human being. We feel pain just the same as most people. Some of my family originally came from Sth Carolina. There are many people living there who feel the same way as this idiot staffer.
This south wants mint juleps and the overseer with the whip and blacks to do the dirty work. They want it all back. And they hate that they cannot have it. They are anti science and intelligent thought. And if they do not like our perception of this south then they should weed out racist, dimwits like this web footed nut job.
If their are any Carolinian’s that don’t feel like this woman, they should pack and leave the state immediately, so they are not tainted. And she does represent the GOP.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:42 pmWell, I live in MD. There are certain “hotspots” where racism still runs high. I have friends from these areas (poverty stricken, btw). And I tell them all the time that this rhetoric is disgusting. And they quell their racism around me. Maybe I should not continue the friendship, in some people’s eyes, but our friendship is not based on race relations. We like to drink beer and shoot pool and we help each other move, we grill out, and just are regular peope and all in all and just living life.
As to the topic at hand…Do you think that Goforth “educated” the sender of the inappropriateness? I doubt it.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:43 pmThat’s just a deplorable lie. You prove it. Rape was bible spices fantasy……she just threw that in there to make her case…..no facts necessary.
What has this bullshit got to do with the issue? You’re a phony bastard cappy.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pmJoe C,
his chick looks like it may have a package to deliver.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm82. Purple State Says: I am one person here that feels the staffer should not be fired over this.
Then you are an idiot.
You may prefer racist cockroaches in your government, but few others do. You don’t encourage or excuse that viewpoint. You condemn it; all the harder when the idiot staffer evades responsibility by mincing words and not apologizing for their actions and instead puts the onus on the recipients, the public and the wrong email list selection.
Not to mention trashing the boss’s credibility to remain non-partisan.
I wouldn’t want my taxes to go to a racist’s paycheck, frankly.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:46 pmSorry, 89 was to backup.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:48 pm#73
This has nothing whatsoever to do with so-called statutory rape of a 14 year old girl. THAT WAS PALIN’S LAME AND FALSE ARGUMENT.
Letterman was joking about the 18 year old getting knocked up — and there is a baby now who proves that she was!
BTW, there have been countless jokes about Bristol over the past months and only Letterman was singled out. I believe it was Sarah herself who brought her kids into the spotlight on the political stage — she has no legitimate cause for offense — she should have kept her kids out of the spotlight – then she would have a case to make about intrusive and inappropriate jokes.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:48 pmCarter, Clinton and Obama have all fiercely protected their children from the stage — even Bush did so.
Sarah exploited her kids – she opened the door.
Purple State. I commented a couple of days ago that Letterman should be able to say what he wants.
I agree he has apologized enough.
My point is balance.
The staffer showed poor judgement by forwarding the e-mail. She did not create it. But, it showed horrible judgement to send it on; to anyone.
I personally don’t get what is funny about it. I would feel creepy sending it, not to mention creating it.
But, just because it has a racial component, I don’t think we should lose all sense of balance.
If people, like Letterman, can make (what I suggest are) equally repugnant comments on other topics – we should afford a similar level of understanding to racial topics.
Do not get me wrong. I’m not suggesting a more comfortable environment for racists.
Just as my reaction to Letterman’s comment would not be construed as my wish for a more comfortable environment for statutory rapists.
But, balance.
People make mistakes. People still need to learn. Even people as experienced as David Letterman, and you, and me. And people who don’t understand racial issues.
But, even if a mistake has a racial element, the repercussions should be balanced. Demanding the termination of anyone that crosses our racial sensitivities is not balanced and not ultimately healthy.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:48 pmI shouldn’t have been so crass as to think b-cup would re-use tired old material.
Rather than go back to the “comment on race relations” well, he’s gone forward to compare a racially ugly email to a comedian’s joke.
b-cup, given that you chose to highlight “14-year-old” and “statutory rape” in your description of the Letterman joke, is it safe to assume that you believe the age of the girl in question to be pertinent to the meaning of the incident?
June 16th, 2009 at 6:48 pmDid she forward the racist picture? She’s responsible, period.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:49 pmFacebook/Contact Info :Senator Diane Black
Email: sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov
Phone: 615.741.1999
This bears repeating from #19. Let the Senator know that racist staff members will not be tolerated.
It’s 2009….
June 16th, 2009 at 6:49 pm95.backup Says: If people, like Letterman, can make (what I suggest are) equally repugnant comments on other topics – we should afford a similar level of understanding to racial topics.
Did you grow up near Chernobyl? It would explain your glacial comprehension…
June 16th, 2009 at 6:52 pmbackup Says:
This staffer passes on a racially insensitive e-mail. It was wrong. She could lose her job over it.
Letterman makes a joke on national television about the statutory rape of a 14 year old girl.
Was the e-mail really less sensitive than Letterman’s joke?
In the land of false equivalencies you should at least get your story straight. Letterman’s joke (directed at Alex Rodriguez, by the way) was not referring to a 14-year-old, but rather her older sister — who had been thrust into the limelight, out of wedlock pregnancy and all, by her mother.
How does a joke about the statutory rape of a 14 year old girl stack up against the divisiveness of the image in the e-mail?
There was no statutory rape. The image wasn’t “divisive”, it was racist garbage.
Has your outrage for the staffer also been expressed against Letterman?
If she should be fired, should he?
Answered. No. Obviously not. I also have never suggested she be fired. Ashamed, yes.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:54 pmHanshiro,
this is where I have to come to Purple State’s defense. Sort of.
What exactly is her position? Is she really in that superior of a position? I mean, I’ve been an admin asst before, and would hate to have emails I’ve forwarded be the basis of my hiring or firing. Not that they would have been racist at all, but for sure some of them would not have represented company policy (i.e. dirty jokes, etc.)
Yes, the email is disgusting in every way. It makes me sick.
I’m not defending the racist b!tch who sent it out. I don’t even care whether it was forwarded to Gofart or not.
I’m just asking really. Is she that high up that this should be a reason for termination?
I think I’ve answered my own question: YES.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:54 pmBut, even if a mistake has a racial element, the repercussions should be balanced. Demanding the termination of anyone that crosses our racial sensitivities is not balanced and not ultimately healthy.
Backup, quit parsing the damn thing. It’s RACIST. It does not “have a racial element”. It’s frickin’ racist and no amount of fussing and fidgeting from you will change that.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:56 pmGee, who do you suppose might be offended? Perhaps the guy with the eyes? Such a large list of potential offendees to choose from, no wonder she had to do a blanket apology.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:57 pmAs the old saying goes: “If you aren’t part of the solution? You are part of the problem”.
or as we used to say in chemistry, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate…
June 16th, 2009 at 6:59 pm101.ShadowBoxer Says: What exactly is her position? Is she really in that superior of a position? I mean, I’ve been an admin asst before, and would hate to have emails I’ve forwarded be the basis of my hiring or firing.
Then don’t forward ignorant, racist emails. Millions avoid it every day. It’s not brain surgery.
I’m just asking really. Is she that high up that this should be a reason for termination?
She is a staffer to a public official. In that capacity, she is subject to a measure of scrutiny and behavior becoming to her position.
Ask yourself this: If you were paid 10 million dollars to avoid besmirching your boss with racist or compromising emails, (as is already her job description, btw,) could you do it?
If the answer is “yes,” then there is no discussion. She should be fired. She took an ignorant, childish risk and only proved she isn’t mature enough to hold that position.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:01 pmhanshiro, I do not feel that one act of sending a joke in poor taste labels one person a racist. We’re only getting this from the perspective of the recipient of this nasty image, not the sender.
I’m not someone who feels that any act of racism from a person should scar and brand someone as a racist for the rest of their lives. I do feel that there is unintentional racism, sexism, and overall stereotypical territory that we step into when dealing with these sorts of viral emails. However, the backlash, I feel, should be enough to get it through this person’s head that she ought to consider images with a little more caution from now on.
I’m not going to assume she’s a racist or not. I feel it was a mistake. However, two wrongs don’t make a right if she’s busted doing it again.
I want to think openly about this. And I may be an idiot for being naive, but I’m also forgiving.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:04 pmralph. Let’s assume it was directed not at Willow, but Bristol instead.
Okay, why is it that you get to decide that the e-mail is offensive, but the joke of the casual seventh inning stretch impregnation of an a young Christian girl, by a 35 year old ball player, is not.
What about a young fundamentalist Muslim girl? Would that be okay, too.
The e-mail is inappropriate. The staffer was wrong to forward it.
But, Letterman’s comments were as inappropriate.
They have both apologized. Neither should be fired.
We need to balance our expectations for how people should behave with our desire to promote an atmosphere where people can express themselves. Even when it comes to race.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:06 pmThanks, Hanshiro,
I was trying to get a feel for her position.
I guess I just had to talk it out with myself.
If I were paid that much, I woudn’t besmirch a pile of dog shit!
And for the record, I’ve never sent a racist or otherwise derogatory email ever (unless you include the inspirational posters, if you’ve ever seen those!)
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&um=1&q=funny+inspirational+posters&revid=2108574612&ei=CiY4SveyC5G1lAe0_-DxDQ&sa=X&oi=revisions_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=1
June 16th, 2009 at 7:09 pmI agree with this.
Purple State. This isn’t naive.
Think about this:
If we didn’t forgive people, how far would this man have gotten?
http://byrd.senate.gov/
June 16th, 2009 at 7:10 pmgummitch. okay. It’s racist. Does that change anything?
June 16th, 2009 at 7:12 pm106.Purple State Says: hanshiro, I do not feel that one act of sending a joke in poor taste labels one person a racist.
It’s a racist joke sent by a public staffer of a Senator. Whole different ballgame. She has stained the Senator’s office by association and scandal; not to mention being paid by tax dollars to hold an office preferrably not occupied by small-minded ignorance.
Further, she perpetuated a particularly nasty stereotype about the president, then didn’t accept responsibility. She was in full command of her faculties and knowingly pressed, “send.”
It’s childish, tiresome, and backward.
I’m not someone who feels that any act of racism from a person should scar and brand someone as a racist for the rest of their lives.
It’s not an appropriate use of tax dollars to employ them now either. She is old enough to know better. She had choices and free will.
I’m not going to assume she’s a racist or not.
Based on her cowardly and evasive response, I am.
I want to think openly about this. And I may be an idiot for being naive, but I’m also forgiving.
Good. When she gets fired she can apply to your company. Good luck with that.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:14 pmbackup,
not when you capitulate for arguments sake. Appreciated, perhaps. Changing anything? No.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:15 pmhanshiro. I think we are on the same page that the e-mail is offensive. I’ll go out on a limb and say their are alot of people that felt the Letterman joke was offensive.
I’m curious about your position. Is it this:
Make a joke that offends people. Apologize (or don’t).
Make a joke that is racially offensive. Be fired.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:17 pmWhat other topics are there, that should cause your automatic termination, if you joke about them offensively?
June 16th, 2009 at 7:19 pmThat’s big of you, since it appeared that your point rested largely on the age of the girl. Besides, it makes massive amounts more sense that way, don’t you agree?
First of all, we ALL get to decide for ourselves. It’s called judgment. When one’s judgment is way out of step with most of her fellow citizens, some might say that is important, especially for someone who works in government.
But let’s go back to your analogy; that “young Christian girl” is kind of famous for her previous sexual exploits. That’s rather an important detail in this situation, don’t you think? Her later devotion to abstinence education is part of the joke as well.
If the “young fundamentalist Muslim girl” had achieved a certain level of notoriety for her sexual life, then yes it would be okay. But if you’re trying to equate Bristol Palin, teen mother, with a typical “young fundamentalist Muslim girl” then I’m afraid I’ll have to call BULLSHIT! on you.
When you emphasize the “Christian girl” aspect of the character and not the “pregnant at seventeen by eighteen year-old athlete” part, you’re kind of stripping the joke of its useful context, to some benefit for your point it would appear.
This is the kind of intellectual dishonesty on which your reputation is based around here.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:20 pm“Again, I am deeply sorry and offer a sincere apology to anyone offended.”
I’m sorry for those who are too stupid to know they should feel offended too.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:25 pm107.backup Says: Let’s assume it was directed not at Willow, but Bristol instead.
The joke was, in fact directed at Bristol, as any cursory factcheck on your part would certainly have revealed.
Okay, why is it that you get to decide that the e-mail is offensive, but the joke of the casual seventh inning stretch impregnation of an a young Christian girl, by a 35 year old ball player, is not.
Bristol has knowingly set herself up as a spokeperson for abstinence. That the irony, as well as the blasphemy of that position is lost on you, I’ll make this point: When Bristol decided to preach to people, she became “fair game.” She is of age and an adult. The relative ages are immaterial.
Plus, as has been pointed out ad nauseam:
Goforth=intentional, evades responsibility for blatant racist email.
Letterman=unintentional, accepts responsibility for misinterpreted joke.
Beyond that, if you don’t get it, you don’t want to.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:30 pmralph. are you saying that it is okay to stereotype unwed mothers or teen mothers as promiscuous?
If you have a baby as a teen or out of wedlock; you’re obviously easy?
really?
June 16th, 2009 at 7:32 pmI sent Sen. Black this e-mail, with the subject “Apology NOT accepted”:
Sherri Goforth said:
“Again, I am deeply sorry and offer a sincere apology to anyone offended.”
She did NOT say:
“I apologize for promoting racism by sending this picture to ANYONE.”
Senator, if you do not remove this racist from your office, then are doing as much to promote racism as she does. Fire her. NOW!
June 16th, 2009 at 7:33 pmbackup Says:
gummitch. okay. It’s racist. Does that change anything?
It’s the first time you’ve acknowledged the fact. That may be a start.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:34 pmbackup Says:
ralph. are you saying that it is okay to stereotype unwed mothers or teen mothers as promiscuous?
She was put on the national stage (by her mother) as a poor widdle unwed mother. She then put herself in the public eye by claiming to be a representative of abstinence. How the hell is that not humor all by itself?
It’s not a frickin’ stereotype when it’s ONE person, backup.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:37 pmIf I would have known, I’d have done it earlier. )
June 16th, 2009 at 7:38 pm118. backup Says: are you saying that it is okay to stereotype unwed mothers or teen mothers as promiscuous?
Is it okay to get pregnant, then have the temerity to preach to others about…getting pregnant? Or become an advocate for a program that is an unceremonious, proven failure, thereby almost certainly perpetrating and encouraging more pregnancies?
I could list more of Bristol’s knowing duplicities…many of which perpetuate the stereotype of hypocrite and republican shill; you don’t seem to have any problem with those.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:38 pmtypical Republican CYA apology.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:40 pmhanshiro. It seems hypocritical to me, but it doesn’t warrant the sexiest joke.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:41 pmI guess if one sends an derogatory picture of Jews, it’s not that one is racist.
I guess if one sends an derogatory picture of Japanese, it’s not that one is racist.
GMAFB!
June 16th, 2009 at 7:47 pmOkay gummitch.
Bristol had a baby out of wedlock. So have millions of other women.
The idea that Bristol may be promiscuous is because of the unwed pregnancy. Not because she is the daughter of an abstinence promoter.
In making the joke about the hypocrisy, the implication is that unwed teen mother’s might likely be casually impregnated by a relative stranger during a baseball game intermission.
Regardless how you feel about the Palin’s, the notion is unflattering to unwed mothers.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:48 pmThis issue goes further than her stupidass. It shows the disregard they have for people of color. It appears that this little racist prick doesn’t take people of color plights’ seriously. And if she doesn’t take that seriously how can she be trusted to take care of their concerns?
It’s a foundation built on racism and ignorance. On the line of the repug/teabagger/kkk and those idiot groups.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:53 pmDon’t be a fu(king idiot, b-cup. You know exactly what I’m saying. I am saying it is okay to poke fun at PUBLIC FIGURES for their foibles.
What the hell is it with you and your false equivalencies? When I explained my point to you, I made it very clear clear that Bristol’s notoriety was an important element of the situation. Yet you ignore that and try to equate it with ALL unwed or teen mothers.
Again, this is the intellectual dishonesty that has made your name around here.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:53 pm125. backup Says: hanshiro. It seems hypocritical to me, but it doesn’t warrant the sexiest joke.
I’m assuming you meant “sexist,” however, we aren’t debating whether the joke was sexist, but if it was about a 14-year-old girl. It was not.
There went your first ‘j-accuse.’
Does it rise to the level of a racist email? It does not.
Two and ‘0′ mantastic…
Did Letterman knowingly attack Willow? No. Did he apologize? Yes. Did Goforth? No.
You got nuthin’ mantastic. Go back to your klavern.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:54 pmtell the truth, b-cup; you get in these moods where you feel like taking an untenable position and defending it, just for shits and giggles, don’t you?
The nature of comedy is conflict (tempered with cultural awareness). Bristol Palin is an unwed teen mother whose own mother ran for Vice-President as a “family values” conservative. Bristol’s pregnancy was not brought about by some tragic rape or poverty or victimization; it was the result of a common, foolish consensual relationship with her eighteen-year-old boyfriend. Bristol later signed on as a spokeswoman for abstinence and proved not particularly adept at the role. Her willing visibility places her in the public eye and makes her a legitimate target. But it makes her a very narrow target, easily missed, as David Letterman found out.
If you don’t think that combination of circumstances is ripe for making jokes, you have no concept of the range of human communication. But the fact that none of these circumstances led you to recognize that Bristol rather than 14-year-old Willow was the subject of the joke should have clued us in to that already.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:05 pmI’ve got to go.
Although I oppose sexist jokes, I approve of sexiest jokes. (my bad).
Letterman is cool. His joke wasn’t. His sincere apology is enough. People make mistakes.
The staffer could be a racist. I assume it’s more likely poor judgement. I don’t think stepping out of line with racial jokes should require automatic termination. Just like about any other issue, apologies for first offenses should garner some forgiveness.
I do concede that the nature of the position (working in a public office) raises the stakes because of the requirement for impartiality.
The issue is divisive, but people make mistakes. Assuming the apology is sincere, forgive her and move on.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:10 pmbackup Says:
The idea that Bristol may be promiscuous is because of the unwed pregnancy. Not because she is the daughter of an abstinence promoter.
In making the joke about the hypocrisy, the implication is that unwed teen mother’s might likely be casually impregnated by a relative stranger during a baseball game intermission.
First of all, Bristol is not “the daughter of an abstinence promoter”, she IS the abstinence promoter.
Second of all, have you actually listened to the joke? It’s actually more a joke about the proclivities of Alex Rodriguez than it is about Bristol. “In the seventh inning, her daughter got knocked up by A-Rod.” That’s it. It’s not about rape, it’s not sexist and it is about as funny as most of Letterman’s material.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:13 pmWhat does it matter which joke was more offensive? Point is Letterman made a heartfelt sincere apology, this woman did not. She owes the President an actual apology.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:36 pmGetting back to the GOP “base” in TN: hillbillies, rednecks, crackers and goat ropers…
I was very critical of Al Gore in 2000 when he didn’t carry his home state, but since then I’ve come to appreciate what he was up against. It’s amazing that he grew up to be a Nobel Prize-winning change agent considering what he was surrounded by all those years.
June 16th, 2009 at 9:22 pm“to the wrong list of people” equals all non-racist friends that would likely call her out on what she already knows is WRONG!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:10 pmcunt.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:10 pm…
backup,
see you at the
ensign post, dude!
:)
June 16th, 2009 at 10:10 pmStill not fired.
The racist campaign to make racism publicly acceptable continues – thus far successfully.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pmHow is this staffer still not fired?
June 16th, 2009 at 10:28 pmThat stupid racist b*tch needs to be fired – NOW.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:18 pmAs for Sarah Palin – she lost any tiny shred of high ground she possessed when she implied that David Letterman is a ped*phile.
As far as I’m concerned, I consider *that* ludicrous and vile accusation FAR worse than anything Letterman said.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:44 pmI find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with the racists who have been posting to state and national media on this – apparently (unless those initial posts are sock puppets) liberals can be offensive, too.
“Trailer trash” and “hillbilly” are offensive terms to refer Tennesseans. The median income in Tennessee is low, and many of us struggle to survive (some of us also had better sense than to give up our trailers for houses we couldn’t afford). Grinding poverty has persisted amid the great beauty of the Appalachians.
Racists who insist Obama is racist (?), that liberals insulted President Bush and weren’t offended by the Letterman comments about Palin’s kid are trying to justify their racism. I hate it that the above listed comments contribute to their self-justification.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:47 pmOh my! Liberals can be offensive??? Whatever gave you that horrid idea?
Why, liberals are the sweetest, kindest, gentlest creatures that God ever put on this green earth. And I’ll kick the ass of anyone who says different.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:31 amPike Sabo Says:
“Trailer trash” and “hillbilly” are offensive terms to refer Tennesseans. The median income in Tennessee is low…
Yes, the historical institutional discrimination against white people in the U.S.A. is truly upsetting.
/snark
I find it interesting that you automatically assume Tennessean = white. How’s life for black people in Tennessee? They’ve got just as bad of an economic situation, plus they have to deal with racist mayo-slurping NASCAR-driving honky-ass crackers like yourself. Go cash a welfare check and eat some more wonderbread, Casper.
June 17th, 2009 at 2:45 amElBruce. you say a lot of things I agree with. But, you’re wrong on this issue.
You’re on a post that is trying to highlight the insensitivity of those that would promote racist images or e-mails against blacks and you resort to even more explicit forms of racism, prejudice and insensitivity towards whites.
I know you’re being sensational to make a point. But, it’s coming off just as an unrepentant, white racist would.
Two wrongs just don’t make it right.
There is no good reason to be prejudice against blacks or racist. But, if you’re reasonable, you would see that there is also no good reason to be prejudice or racist against whites.
June 17th, 2009 at 2:48 pmI sit here amazed at the arrogant insensitivity expressed by the Tennessee Republican Party. Once again the Republicans put their stamp and picture next to the word ARROGANT in the world dictionary.
We need a strong two party system for our democracy to work, but why must Republicans continue this kind of behavior.
Sheesh!!
June 17th, 2009 at 3:54 pm