Paul Shanklin defends his song, “Barack the Magic Negro.”
The Politico floats a theory that this will benefit Saltsman’s bid.
I’m left in disagreement with several readers on this. The use of the term “negro” in the song rubs me the wrong way, and yes, I know the song was inspired by the use of the term “magic negro” in a Los Angeles Times op-ed, written by an African-American liberal. I don’t quite see why that makes it okay. Gangsta rappers use the n-word more frequently than commas; that doesn’t make it acceptable to use in polite society.
I find myself strongly agreeing with this comment by a contributor to the Ace of Spades blog:
“And white conservative/Republicans have allowed and continue to allow themselves to be falsely casts as such. Because they don’t want to fight.”
Here’s where I get lost…what are we fighting for exactly?
What great victory have we won if candidates for the RNC chairmanship can distribute Magic Negro song parodies?
I get that it’s satire and not racist but any sentient being knows people are going to find it offensive. Why exactly are we fighting for the right to offend potential voters? If the answer is, well they need to learn to not be offended, well, um, okay. But so what? Political parties aren’t going to make many inroads with a mission statement of desensitizing the voters by insulting them.
Look, I’m not suggesting we sit by and let people get in trouble for using the word “niggardly” or anything like that. But I am about being a realist . . . people are going to be offended by white guys using the word negro. I thought one of the hallmarks of conservatism was dealing with the world as it is, not as we imagine some theoretical idea..
I wouldn’t know Chip Saltsman from Adam but I have no reason to think he’s a racist. Unfortunately he is going to deal with the perceptions of his actions. I don’t see why we as conservatives or Republicans need to get into a fight we didn’t pick.
Posted by: DrewM. at December 29, 2008 06:13 PM
The social acceptance of a possible RNC chairman to distribute songs that use the term “white negro” is where conservatives want to draw their line in the sand? This is our hill to die on? Or can we conclude that some things that are acceptable for satirists and provocateurs like Rush Limbaugh and Shandlin probably shouldn’t be mimicked by a party chairman?