See the article I just posted below your post. I enlarged and bolded Newt's powerful comments about Chip...
I also told Saul Anuzius, our Michigan GOP Chair, who is also in the running for GOP Chair, that I thought it was inappropriate for him to comment about another candidate until he has had a chance to publicly make a statement. Our GOP candidates should not be "at" each other. That is just what the DNC wants!

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“The central message is that the Republican Party has a great future, if we get back to being the party of principle, clarity and conviction. And we’re going to do that.” --Mike Huckabee

Thanks, Debra!

Also - when you say he (Anuzius? or Gingrich?) shouldn't comment until 'he' has had a chance to publicly make a statement, do you mean Saltzman? I'm not arguing with you just trying to understand - hasn't Chip already commented on this, saying it was a parody, etc.?

Just wanted to know what you meant. Thanks!

from hotair.com:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081227/pl_politico/27562
Blackwell defends Saltsman:

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ConservTexan

http://ilikemikehuckabee2012.blogspot.com/

Blackwell, a black man himself, defending Saltsman, is HUGE. He sets the example for real leadership for the GOP!

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“The central message is that the Republican Party has a great future, if we get back to being the party of principle, clarity and conviction. And we’re going to do that.” --Mike Huckabee

I am really shocked by all that I am reading here. I had hoped that our nation had not been conquered by the politically correct mindset.... but it looks like that day has come and gone. This is not personally directed at anyone, but when one speaks the words "I'm offended.." I look on it as a sign of weakness. "Oh, I heard a song that had a naughty word in it...I'm outraged!! People should be more sensitive to me." Cry me a river. And Speaker Gingrich, give me a break! I didn't hear you criticizing Rush when he played the song...it's only 'so inappropriate' when it involves someone besides his preferred candidate for RNC Chairman.... Mr. Duncan, shocked and appalled? How shocking can it be when the song has been out for over a year?

So we should all be offended that Chip distributed this "hate speech", right? Well how far do you want to take this? We should also be offended by the 1000's of radio stations across the country that broadcast the song repeatedly. Call the FCC, posthaste!....Definitely we need to chastise any person who downloaded an episode of Rush which contained the song. Oh and also, anybody who heard the song and didn't come out and denounce it should be sent immediately to sensitivity training, and make sure they are blacklisted from ever getting a job in public service. And maybe they should all apologize to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. After all, we're talking about the emotion well-being of everyone who was hurt by this vicious slander; this putrid, insulting, melodic weapon of mass destruction.

OH, to live in a world where we no longer fear being 'offended' by such brutes!

Hopefully Ken's support is legit, and not just a political manoever to co-opt Chip's support if this does indeed take him out of the running.

Truth be told, if Chip is out because of this, and Steele is 'questionable' because of some of his moderate associations, Blackwell would probably be next in line for my support, unless there is something that should disqualify him in our book?

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His maiden, singing a victory song for faith, family and freedom
http://maidensong.wordpress.com/

I do not understand what's wrong with saying "Barack the Magic NEGRO" is "not my idea of appropriate humor." Let me ask now - is this anyone here's idea of ideal humor?

I don't think there's anything wrong with condemning foolish statements and actions. Actually, you can do that without condemning a person. I don't think Chip is necessarily a bad guy and though the title of the song both angers me personally and makes me a little uncomfortable with how anyone can think it's a nice tune, it's not like it was the worst insult ever recorded. But it's an insult, to me and to many others of all races, nontheless. For that reason alone, it should not be propogated around - and that should have been clear from the media crap storm that started flying around in early 2007 when Rush aired it. I've blogged about the "Magic Negro" on a number of occasions, and it's something that I don't find funny. For God's sake, don't anyone tell me that I shouldn't be offended. I know best what bugs me and that bugs the heck out of me.

Obviously, not everyone in any large group of people agrees on everything. All of us are individuals. And so, Ken Blackwell is an individual who has the opinion that the negative reaction to the song is a result of oversensitivity. I would guestimate that the majority of people of all ethnicities disagree with that opinion and from this, I would not rely on him as a barometer for public opinion on this issue.

I think it helps the GOP for people to know that there are people in the party leadership who disaprove of the comments. I think that the idea that it's disloyal to publicly disagree with something someone else does - especially when it hurts the whole party - is foolish. I'll tell you right now that if in 2002, when Trent Lott made those comments, had President Bush not taken a leadership role and condemning the comments (which, by the way, I'm not comparing to this situation, just providing context), I would never have voted for Bush in 2004 or supported Huckabee in 2008. I wouldn't be here and never would have been blogging and working for Republicans. I needed to know that despite the fact that some people didn't see "what the big deal was" about that kind of thing that there were many others in leadership who got it and thought that everybody should be respected.

You can choose to think that everybody is just being oversensitive and that the general issue of avoiding racially offensive gestures, no matter how good a guy it is who does it or how many people may think it's funny, is just a distraction. And the GOP can go on and maintain the status quo and listen to a subset of the already very small portion of minorities who support the party who say the same thing. And when in 2010 and 2012, the consequences of the continued paucity of support among minorities, young people, and many whites, who do see this is a problem, you might want to spare the ponderings about why whole groups of people won't vote for the Republican Party. The party brand is broken in the eyes of the majority of several major segments of the population and some people, including some well-meaning people doing foolish things, continue to do things to make sure that it never recovers. And too many people still don't see this. God Bless. Later.

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The Values Voter
http://thevaluesvoter.spaces.live.com

There's a big difference between being offended - a legitimate emotion - and wanting to shut people up. You can use me as the example - I am offended by that stupid song "Barack the Magic NEGRO." Does this mean that I want to blacklist anyone? Does it mean that I want to stop anyone from being able to speak? No. I defend everyone's right to speak. I defend everyone's right to have a radio program as long as the market supports it. The government shouldn't be in the business of regulating speech.

But let's turn this around for a second. Who here was offended by Reverend Wright's attempt to associate America with the Klan? (NOTE: I am NOT comparing that with the Limbaugh song - just going down another road to provide context). I definitely was. Let's just say, for argument's sake that this is all that he ever said - the only stupid sound clip that Wright had ever uttered. But he said that disrespectful term for our country and then, even after he knew it bothered people and was disrespectful to everyone, he kept saying it. And let's just say that he had been invited to say the prayer for the Democratic National Committee, along with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, men who have all been known to make insensitive and downright stupid comments about whites. And this happened over a period of time. Wouldn't you be offended that a few too many people in the Democratic Party weren't bothered by that type of talk? No one was bothered enough to speak up and publicly condemn it.

I think honestly that we have to grow to the point where if someone says that something offends them, we take their word for it and respect their ability to have valid feelings that we might not agree with. We have to understand that we're all limited in our ability to view an issue from another person's vantage point (any married people out there - hello?) There are things that might offend you if you heard them that I might view a different way entirely. But it doesn't mean that it's not offensive to you. And if it doesn't need to be said, it would be in the best interests of peace and harmony for me not to say it. And if I do say it, I should just apologize and not say it again. That's it. Very simple. Chip should have done this - if he had, his situation would have already have been at least a little better.

Isn't it just as likely that some people are being insensitive as it is that others are being oversensitive? And it could be a little of both.

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The Values Voter
http://thevaluesvoter.spaces.live.com

This is not a test of Chip's soul nor whether people sould or shouldn't be offended. This is about whether Chip has what the GOP needs.

Is he politic? Was this politic?



Is this choice a politic act for a candidate for leadership of a political party? I suppose it could be if the highest purpose of the GOP is the right to mock. Well don't be surprised if the targets of this mocking might be confused as to the GOP's greater purpose and goodwill for all Americans. They might even take offense. They might even take offense at being told they have no right to be offended.

There are sooooo many other issues I would rather spend capital on if we are to offend the sensibilities of millions of Americans.

Here are ten random topics that would also risk offending many:

1.) Abortion law should be defined at the state level (repeal Roe v. Wade).

2.) Life begins at conception and should be protected regardless of whether the conception was wanted, unwanted, or the result of force.

3.) Marriage is between a man and a woman exclusively.

4.) Homosexuality is a crime against the laws of God and nature and should be restricted by law.

5.) Marriages should only be dissolved as the result of a judgement of cause. (no more no-fault).

6.) Gambling is destructive to the work ethic and society and should not be promoted by the state through lotteries.

7.) Accountability is needed to protect the capitalist system - therefore all senior managers and above of bailed-out institutions are ineligible for further employment in any company so relieved of its financial obligations by the government.

8.) The Federal government should be required to balance the budget.

9.) The income Tax system has failed and should be replaced with a Fair Tax.

10.) Barak the Magic Negro and Star Spanglish Banner are funny Christmas classics and those offended have only themselves to blame for their lack of humor.

All of these are potentially very impolitic at the moment though some are true and must be fought for regardless of cost.
So which of these impolitic topics are we asked to dig in and defend thanks to Chip (and Rush)?

We are paying a price for talk radio and this issue exposes it.

TheValuesVoter - of course you should be offended. I'm offended as an e pluribus unum American. Mostly though I'm mad at the cluelessness of clever wits who have no idea of the damage they do:

Proverbs 26:

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"As for us, our days of combat are over. Our swords are rust. Our guns will thunder no more. The vultures that once wheeled over our heads must be buried with their prey. Whatever of glory must be won in the council or the closet, never again in the field. I do not repine. We have shared the incommunicable experience of war; we have felt, we still feel, the passion of life to its top."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

No, I don't find it a bit funny. I'm offended and I'm not black. Not only do I not find it funny, it angers me.

Disclaimer: I also have never liked the song about Grandma being run over by a reindeer.

I have a huge sense of humor, but don't find a lot of things funny that even my brothers and sons do. I am often offended by what others find humorous and often times have to have the joke explained to me.

I really appreciate your perspective and agree with you.

I think a lot of people are afraid to upset Rush or to upset people who think that showing respect to everybody is "pandering." Sometimes, silence is golden. And sometimes it's just yellow.

Mike has a lot of wisdom and deep respect from a lot of people and I hope he comments soon. He is a true leader and people will value his perspective. He also has a way of attacking issues without attacking or belittling people and can address the issue of the insensitivity without throwing Chip "under the bus." When I say I want to hear from him, I'm not talking about him bad mouthing Chip as a person, dragging it out longer, or even talking about the RNC Chairmanship aspect of things. But he really should say something about the underlying matter of the song, given all the work he's done to make inclusiveness part of his life and campaigns.

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The Values Voter
http://thevaluesvoter.spaces.live.com

I too will be interested to see how Huckabee responds to this. He seems like the perfect person to make a statement given his great outreach to african americans and hispanics both as a governor, pastor, and presidential candidate.

In Huckabee's book, page 61 he talks about the Morgan State University debate where

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ConservTexan

http://ilikemikehuckabee2012.blogspot.com/

Wow. Yesterday was one of the rarest-of-days in which I did not get to check in here at Hucks Army. I drove 6hr up to see my brother in SC, and I was unable to get onto the wireless network at my friends' house last night when I tried. I just returned late this evening (after my 6hr trip became a 7-1/2 hr trip due to post-Christmas traffic), and I was so disappointed to learn this news.

Although I still support Chip for the RNC chair position, this was very poor judgment on Chip's part, IMO. Wish he had not sent this gift!

_________________
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
"Duty is ours; results are Gods."
-quotes attributed to President John Quincy Adams

HuckPAC donor code R23742

Gingrich has his own agenda....like running for president in 2012! I think that Mike cut Obama some slack so many times, always giving him the benefit of the doubt (like Rev. Wright and the other associations and the lipstick on the pig comment) that to come out too strong against Saltsman, who clearly states he was making a lighthearted parody would also make him look bad to some. (lack of loyalty, tossing him under the bus, giving more slack to the democrats than his own party, etc.) They can think of all kinds of reasons to dislike Huck. This is a lose/lose situation. Probably best to be quiet and hope it goes away.

I agree. But he does need to say something. I talked to my wife about this and about how at least others in the RNC had criticized the song. Her question to me: "what has Huckabee said about it?" I didn't have an answer to give and I'd like to.

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The Values Voter
http://thevaluesvoter.spaces.live.com

Chip's latest blog post on his website today:


http://www.chipsaltsman.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=cc9ca87e-21b2-4120-ba35-f4427f284f22&Label_id=&Year=&Month=
Here is the link to the Ehrenestein column (when I copied Chip's blog post, it obviously didn't automatically link like it does at his site):
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story?coll=la-opinion-center

_________________
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
"Duty is ours; results are Gods."
-quotes attributed to President John Quincy Adams

HuckPAC donor code R23742

I think that's exactly the wrong thing to do. And that will hurt Huckabee more than him speaking up.

He doesn't have to verbally bludgeon Chip. Chip made a stupid mistake that was inexplicibly insensitive. Huck could talk about the fact that this type of thing doesn't help the Republican Party and that Chip is a good guy but that he wishes he hadn't done that and that the Republican Party needs to quickly learn to not tolerate things that offend large groups of people. And the fact that Huckabee managed to criticize Wright's statements but not bludgeon Obama means that he already has a record for being able to attack stupid and insensitive remarks while still showing kindness to people. He should do the same with this situation.

But if he just tries to say nothing, the failure to speak up when someone who had been associated with him, whom he endorsed, makes a mistake that hurts the party image, it will undermine some of the good will that he's built up with some. You can attack a mistake without clobbering the person who makes it.

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The Values Voter
http://thevaluesvoter.spaces.live.com

BAD MOVE, CHIP.

I am not a liberal and I am not a Democrat. I am a conservative who is a black person who did not apprecitate it in 2007 when Rush Limbaugh (the guy who gave me tons of laughs with the "spade" and "hoe", the new term "Half-rican American" and other belly-aches) aired a song with the title of that article set to music and a white guy mocked an Al Sharpton accent, complete with "de" in place of "the" in some places. I wasn't laughting then and neither were a lot of other people, and being a person who watched the news, he must have known that. But then he copies it and sends it to a bunch of his RNC peers. And when it becomes a scandal, instead of just apologizing and trying to put it to rest that way, he continues to defend it??

THE MEDIA didn't create the CD with your picture on it, with "Barack The Magic NEGRO" on the cover of it - after last year's controversy with Rush's program - and then pass it around. The Media wouldn't have had anything to talk about except for the snow and the inauguration if you hadn't given them this story, dude. Your former clients certainly didn't ask to be dragged into this.

I know, I know. I'm oversensitive. I've been influenced by the liberal media. I have no right to be offended. I'm wrong for being P.O'd. I'm sorry.

But, in case the question ever pops up again, THIS is why the GOP will never gain traction outside of its core demographic - whites, primarily in the south, primarily over age 29 - until it at least stops digging the hole deeper.

He really needs to get a clue. I've lost a lot of respect for him.

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The Values Voter
http://thevaluesvoter.spaces.live.com

Double standard? Yes. Refuse to pander to their desire for scandal? Yes. Apologize for an error in judgment? Yehhh...

Oh, wait, he forgot that part.

Sigh.

"They do it, too" - or worse, "They do it, too, and nobody gets mad at them" while sounding so whiny, is true - and (as the commenter put it on Chip's blog) irrelevant.

It's especially irrelevant when the GOP (the head position of which is what he's running for) has a reputation (fair or unfair) of being insensitive to the needs of minorities.

Let's think of it another way. Would Mike Huckabee play this parody in his parody segment on his show? And if not (given that he has a very good sense of humor in that area, and appreciates political parody), why not? Because - it's tasteless. Because if there's an underlying point to it, there is a better way to get that point across (and, let's be real - how many people who hear that song 'get' the supposed point of it? How many people who hear that song know the supposed point of it? Probably some do. And probably others are delighted to listen to a song that they think derides Obama for his color - because secretly, or not so secretly, they are prejudiced against him for that reason. Yes, folks, there are people out there who are biased against Obama for that reason. Either way, Chip should have made his mark a better way than this. This was unwise at best, and he should own up to it. This is not the hill he should fight on.)

I just put this on Huckpac. They've not been updating comments for awhile, because I am almost positive I had already posted a Christmas greeting that's not there. But I felt I had to let him know how I feel.