Yesterday I read a comment from a friend that stated – “since when was the “new” optional in “news?” I raise that point because from a state where the GOP Party Chairman Chip Saltsman sent the infamous”Barack the Magic Negro” song, it’s clear that the KKK – err, I mean the Tennessee GOP condones and fosters this type of language.
The story that raises my ire today is one that’s gaining momentum (home page of CNN will do that). It’s about Republican legislative aide Sherri Goforth who sent a racist email out in her capacity as an aide, about President Obama.
Here’s the image (link opens in a new window)
The image is very offensive and maybe that should have been enough to have the woman fired. Actually, initially I was fine with her being rebuked – then I read her explanation.
From Christian Graham of Nashville is Talking:
When I asked her if she understood the controversial nature of the photo, Goforth would only say she felt very bad about accidentally sending it to the wrong list. When I gave her a second chance to address the controversial nature of the email, she again repeated that she only felt bad about sending it to the wrong list of people.
“I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button,†Goforth told NIT. “I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.â€
First off – great job by Graham to get her to address the root problem. Given a second chance, Goforth did not. I’d like to know who the right list of people would be? The fact that she didn’t dissociate herself with the statement made by the image says it all. How can any politician even be seen with her? The fact that she wasn’t fired says that this behavior isn’t toxic enough to affect our image, otherwise she would have been fired just give an appearance of outrage.
Ummm… don’t even know what to say about this. Seriously? It IS 2009, right? Not 1964? I’m confused.
Jenn’s last blog post..One step in the right direction
She should be fired simply for using State resources to send out such things. Now as for the content she sent, saying how utterly stupid it is doesn’t begin to express the condemnation it deserves. And you’re right Spencer, the saddest part of all this is that the woman looks past whatever’s in her soul that identifies with this image, and only regrets it getting to people to whom she didn’t wish it sent. I guess she’s sick about it because now she’ll be embarrassed by what people will think of her. I grew up in Tennessee, and it’s really sad to see folks like her in state government. Hope she doesn’t have any political ambitions.