I read this story earlier today & the two things that ran through my mind were, 1) why does this bitch still have a job (we know why but still) & 2) regardless of what “list” you intended to send a blatantly offensive message to, it’s still wrong, inappropriate, & fucked up.
“The chairman of Tennessee’s Democratic Party wants a Republican legislative aide fired for sending out a “reprehensible” e-mail depicting President Obama as two cartoonish white eyes peering from a black background.
Obama’s image is in the last square of a collage containing portraits of the previous 43 U.S. presidents. The e-mail, which was sent to other GOP staff members, was posted on the Internet Monday.
Sherri Goforth, an administrative assistant to state Sen. Diane Black, R-Gallatin, has admitted she sent the e-mail May 28 with the title “Historical Keepsake Photo.” She said, without elaborating, that she mistakenly sent it “to the wrong list of people.”
According to the Tennessean, a Nashville newspaper, a note on the e-mail said it was paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party, but GOP officials denied they produced it. Black leads the Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus.
There was no comment from the White House as of Tuesday afternoon.
Black rebuked Goforth but didn’t dismiss her.
“I want to be sure that everyone understands that the communication was sent without my knowledge,” Black said Tuesday afternoon. “It absolutely does not represent the beliefs or opinions of my office. I want to be very clear about that.”
“Ms. Goforth did get a verbal reprimand as well as a very strongly worded reprimand, written, that was put in her file that if this should ever occur again, that she would be terminated,” Black said.
“This is an employee who has had a stellar record,” Black said. She added that Goforth has worked in state government for more than 20 years, and has had a clean record.
“We followed policy. And that’s what you do when someone breaks the rules, you follow policy,” she said.
A phone message left for Goforth by CNN was not answered.
“Is this indicative of what Senate Republicans think about our commander-in-chief?” asked state Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester in a statement posted on the party’s Web site.
“I am calling on Sen. Black to reject this racist smear and fire this staffer who, on state government time, on state government computers, using a state government e-mail account, launched this bigoted attack on our president,” Forrester said. “Keeping her on the staff would send the message that this type of behavior is condoned by the Senate Republican Caucus.”…”
I guess when you are so deeply ignorant; you cannot see the forest for the trees & everyone else is wrong for calling your bullshit out.
Maybe I should be outraged but I’m not. This kinda mess happens far to often & not much is done.
I wonder if they will send Sherri Goforth to some racial sensitivity training & make her volunteer at a food bank in the hood so that she will realize that “all” Negroes aren’t spooks. I’m just saying!
I’m also wondering if Sherri Goforth will say that some of her best friends are Black.
afrospear.wordpress.com 
Tafari –
RE:Maybe I should be outraged but I’m not. This kinda mess happens far to often & not much is done.
If I were you, I would be livid. Once I calmed down and then begin to think clearly you can bet I would be writing a well-worded letter or two. First, who drew this cartoonish collage? Second, why are there other “lists” and who is on them? More racists? Probably.
I hate seeing incidents like this one. As you stated, it demonstrates a level of ignorance. She should have been fired, but again, I see your point.
RE:Bitch Ass, bitch, fucked up, bullshit
Notice I got my point across without using any of the above. I consider the use of these words having potential to make me appear intellectually lazy and undermines my position on any given topic. It’s colorful and emotionally forceful but it does very little to add to my credibility and in fact I believe it undermines that as well. I would not want members of my family or my young son to read this even though I believe it has merits to teach him a bit about racism, which I’ve seen from many ethnic groups other than that of “white folks” or “crackers”.
Other than that, nice piece.
Regards,
Ben
Tafari, I saw this collage a while ago on the Field Negro blogpage… it’s still there on the right column… and my first thought was that it was fucked up! Not funny at all! I am not surprised by this story and like you I am not outraged for the same reasons.
Furthermore, I shake my head and laugh when people like Ben consider “writing a well-worded letter or two” as some effective strategy to combat racist acts such as this! It may be intellectually stimulating as an exercise, for him and his son, who are privileged to observe racism in comfort… from afar… “from many ethnic groups other than that of “white folks” or “crackers”. Whatever! Ben makes me wanna cuss, coming in here with his bullshit theorizing! lol!
asabagna –
I lived in Japan for 4 years. I learned a lot from those years. The majority of it was positive. I quickly learned I was a “Gaijin” as they say it in Japanese. Sometimes I would hear “round-eye”. It’s racism. I felt it. It’s not reserved to one single ethnicity. Like “Gaijin”, the mention of me “coming in here” certainly paints me as an outsider. I won’t do it again.
Regards
“asabagna, I lived in Japan for 4 years….”
Ben, I’ve been Black all of my life and have lived in North America for over 30 years. The majority has been positive because I have learnt how to fight to live… not just survive… in this society. I quickly learnt, before my birth, that I was refered to by a number of various derogatory terms by those who look like you. I remember the first incident as a child when I was called a “nigger” and had my azz kicked by a group of white boys… 2 of whom I thought were my friends.
You are an outsider, no doubt, to the experiences of me and mine. If you had hoped to infer that through the incidents of racism you suffered in Japan for 4 years… that this made you an “insider”… that this made you an “honorary negro”… that this meant that you and I have something in common… well you are greatly mistaken. I am not an “Obamaniac”, who equates incidents where a white person may have experienced discrimination and/or prejudice from an individual from another culture, as being similar to the incidents of systemic and cultural white supremacy/racism Black people, around the world, deal with on a daily basis! So you get no sympathy from me.
You came in here and… like most so-called “white progressive intellectuals”… you felt the need to lecture Tafari on how to express himself… based on what you consider to be “credible”, “intellectually lazy”, “colorful” and “emotionally forceful”!! You came in here and… like most so-called “white progressive intellectuals”… you have shown yourself to be more a conduit for the continuation of the problem of racism than a positive force towards any solution.
In saying all this, let it be clear, you are always welcome to “come in here” and comment. However, let it be clear, “coming in here” and commenting is neither a right or a privilege.
Ben, thx for stopping by offering feedback. I appreciate that.
Im sure that she had a group of racist friends who would have enjoyed the cartoon. When I read that another list was intended, my jaw dropped!
In terms of my language, thats me, I cuss, actually I love to cuss & I write casually as if talking to friends.
Intellectually lazy? Well, thats objective. I use language that I see fit, really not trying to impress or woo anyone.
And to think I was toned down on this post.
Im just saying.
Tafari
Comments and emails to officials are often effective (remember NYPost and the anti-Obama cartoon?)
phil.bredesen@tn.gov,lt.gov.ron.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov,sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov,sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov,sen.mae.beavers@capitol.tn.gov,sen.jamie.woodson@capitol.tn.gov,sen.bill.ketron@capitol.tn.gov,
SEN.DIANE.BLACK@LEGISLATURE.STATE.TN.U
Asa,
You said a mouthful that time. The young man’s intentions were good but you’re right, we can’t continue to allow white intellectuals to “own” our experience. This experience is uniquely ours and cannot be shared by any one person outside the race because he or she had a similar “experience”.
Yvette