Saltsman Defends RNC Christmas / 'Barack The Magic Negro' CD

by Terri Potratz | December 26, 2008 at 04:34 pm

1012 views | 33 Recommendations | 9 comments

Tennessee Republican Chip Saltsman is defending a Christmas CD he sent out to RNC members that contained a controversial song entitled 'Barack the Magic Negro,' which is set to the tune of 'Puff the Magic Dragon.'

Here are the full lyrics to 'Barack the Magic Negro':

"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!

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 ........"

The CD sent to RNC members, first reported by The Hill on Friday, is titled "We Hate the USA" and also includes songs referencing former presidential candidate John Edwards and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, among other targets.

According to The Hill, other song titles, some of which were in bold font, were: "John Edwards' Poverty Tour," "Wright place, wrong pastor," "Love Client #9," "Ivory and Ebony" and "The Star Spanglish Banner."

Saltsman insists the CD was meant as a joke and is clearly political satire. 'Barack the Magic Negro' was first played on Rush Limbaugh's radio show in 2007, and the title was supposedly taken from a LA Times column. Paul Shanklin wrote the song, as well as the other titles included on the CD. It caused plenty of controversy back in 2007, and has people up in arms once again - especially considering many liberal and democratic critics have abstained from playing the race card against Obama.

Saltsman is a candidate for the RNC chairmanship.

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dunkelberg

at 16:56 on December 26th, 2008

Just plain dumb.

They've got a right to it, no problem.

To think you're not gonna get called on it - dumb.

However, I must say it certainly does reflect the new, inclusiveness of the Republican Party quite well - in behalf of the Democratic Party.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 18:59 on December 26th, 2008

Thanks for this story, Terri. The Magical Negro, also known as the Mystical Negro or Magic Negro can also be found in fiction.

polylogue

at 19:44 on December 26th, 2008

No class at all. There is such a thing as satire, but this totally misses the mark.

Paschen

at 21:06 on December 26th, 2008

As dunkelberg said, just plain dumb...

drrexdexter

at 08:48 on December 27th, 2008

A "Gentleman" from Tennessee once asked me what I thought of "Inter-Racial" Marraige. I replied with goggle-eyed amazement, "You mean there's ANOTHER SENTIENT SPECIES on THIS planet I can conjugally cohabit with and produce progeny?" He looked at me funny and walked away. Herein may be the seed of the real problem. Will WE, as a species, EVER grow up?!

ifoundthetruth (not verified)

at 13:47 on December 27th, 2008

The CD is just another racist, errogant and ignorant jab from someone who hides behind "freedom" when it is convenient, as he sits back with a sh*t-faced grin to watch the weeds of intolerance grow from the seed he has spread so as to ruin the crops of his neighbors out of jealousy. Just like the "Patriot Act" wasn't patriotic. Like George W. was a "Uniter." Like George W. kept his promise when he said that if elected the United States would cease being the "policemen of the world" or "Nation builders." Like W critisized Clinton for trying to kill Osama with a cruise missle before he had a chance to attack us. Where are the songs about how W ignored the warnings given to him by the Clinton administration about Terrorism being the number 1 problem addressing the next president? Where are the sagas that New York was attacked on his watch, and he invaded Iraq out of spite on fabricated evidence while leaving our attackers alive to plan more? Where are the songs about W thinking $1.37 was not what gasoline should cost when he was running for his first term? Where are the songs about his Cabinet appointed friends being so competent in responding to Katrina and rebuilding New Orleans? The job is finished isn't it? How many really died? What happened to all that money? Speaking of money, where was George W when his administration was being warned two years ago that the financial security of our nation was being erroded by greed and incompetence from lack of regulation? I guess all of this pales by comparison to the real issues. The party must say and do anything to return to full power. Must prevent gays from marrying. Must filter government money into the non-taxpaying church industry. Must protect super rich Banks, Drug Companies, Insurance companies, Oil companies, and their multi-millon dollar executives. Must break all the unions. Must not provide healthcare to everyone, or make sure our GI's are properly taken care of after returning from war, because it's just too expensive and might run up the national debt for something more worthwhile than the RNC has in mind. Must call anyone "unpatriotic" who dares to whisper the truth.

So go ahead, laugh and paint on your black face and do a little tap dance, or put on your pointy white hood and robe. It's who you are. I'm sure Jesus is proud of you.

dunkelberg

at 16:18 on December 27th, 2008

Not a big hit with some of his fellow courtiers in the RNC.

after an election in which Republicans lost badly among minorities — spurring vows of new efforts to appeal to a broader swath of the electorate — party leaders were not amused.

“I am shocked and appalled,” said Mike Duncan, the current chairman of the Republican National Committee, who is seeking re-election.

And former Speaker Newt Gingrich said in an e-mail message, “This is so inappropriate that it should disqualify any Republican National Committee candidate who would use it.”

Saul Anuzis, a Michigan candidate for Republican chairman, called the song “in bad taste.”
“Just as important,” he added, “anything that paints the G.O.P. as being motivated in our criticism of President-elect Obama by anything other than a difference in philosophy does a disservice to our party.”