Forrester: Goforth And Can Her Ass
Posted on June 15, 2009 at 5:33 pmThe Tennessee Democratic Party Chair has called for the head of a legislative staffer who sent an incendiary email featuring some of that old-timey racism. The presser in full:
Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Chip Forrester denounced an email sent out by Republican staffer Sherri Goforth depicting Barack Obama as two eyes peering out of a black background.
“Is this indicative of what Senate Republicans think about our Commander-in-Chief?” Forrester asked. “This email is reprehensible, insults the office of the President, and is embarrassing to all Tennesseans regardless of political party.”
Sen. Diane Black’s staffer sent an email with an attached collage of traditional presidential portraits, except that President Obama was depicted as two eyes peering from a black background.”When I ran for Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, I said that no longer would our Party sit idly by and allow Republicans to make bigoted attacks on Democrats in our state and our country. Well, once again, a Tennessee Republican has earned national attention for a racist, hate-filled attack on our President,” Forrester said.
Unfortunately, Sherri Goforth’s email joins the list of shameful episodes by Tennessee Republicans, from the infamous “Birds of a Feather” (PDF) direct mail piece that featured black crows with the heads of Barack Obama and Rep. Nathan Vaughn (who is also African-American), to the “Barack the Magic Negro” song that former Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chip Saltsman sent to RNC members during his failed campaign for RNC chair.
Since her aide’s email has come to light, Sen. Black, the chair of the House Republican Caucus, has merely reprimanded Goforth.
“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 email 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 House Republican Caucus.”
“Ms. Goforth does not seem to understand what she did wrong. She has apologized for ’sending [the email] to the wrong list of people.’ I believe that any list of people would have recognized this email as offensive and hateful. The fact that a state employee would not understand that indicates that she is not fit for employment by the state of Tennessee.”
“We have hundreds of state employees facing the possibility of losing their jobs due to the budget deficit and no fault of their own. I think we could save at least one of those jobs by firing Sherri Goforth.”
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24 Responses to “Forrester: Goforth And Can Her Ass”
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I wonder if anyone will say anything about a staffer from a Dem’s office who sent out an email today with horrible language that made fun of asians, people with Alzheimer’s, etc.
“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 email 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 House Republican Caucus.”
Why would the House Republican Caucus have anything to do with a Senate staffer? We know he doesn’t factcheck, but would it be too much to ask for that idiot Forrester to proofread his spew before sending it?
Well, plaza, if you’ve got it, and you know who did it, PUT IT OUT THERE, they need to be smacked too.
Otherwise, you’re just BSing us.
SOGgy, what’s the problem with calling her out? I did, and I don’t even work or live in Nashville.
Oh, and better late than never, I suppose.
@ The Plaza
I would love to see this alleged email, and say something about it, but I’m also getting a little tired of the standard “If it was a DEM, you wouldn’t be saying that” shtick. After Barack the Magic Negro courtesy of good ole’ Chip Saltsman - not to mention all of the other wonderfully racist emails that have been circulated in various Rebup political circles lately, are you really going to play that ridiculous line? How about if you’re going to comment, you take the stance that this lady is a racist idiot and should be canned?
The House Republicans are just as bad. Remember Rep. Eric Watson’s comment a couple of months ago where he called Latinos ” Hispaniels”? Until the TN GOP denounces these shameful and racist tactics, then we can say they are condoning bigotry and hate.
I need to rephrase this: If the TN GOP does not denounce these racist tactics, then it is appropriate to say they are condoning hate and bigotry.
Beecher Fraiser still has his job, right?
Just checking.
Oy! The shame of it all is that the TNGOP’s racism gives everyone in the state a bad name.
Fire her, posthaste.
Please refresh my memory on the denunciation by Dems of state Rep. Craig Fitzhugh for this:
http://gopandthecity.blogspot.com/2004/10/kerryedwards-office-distributes-flyer.html
Please refresh MY memory that he was connected to that, or that this was ever anything other than a GOP false accusation. Goforth has already copped to this.
Another false equivocation shot down. Next?
Good point, Reality. Let’s give Beecher Frasier to the GOP, it would be a better fit.
[...] Adam Kleinheider [...]
I would have liked to give Goforth the benefit of the doubt, but her non-apology made it hard. If should sincerely apologize for it, I’d be first in line to advocate that she keep her job. Racism no longer has a place in modern society. It’s time for Tennessee to catch up.
5:30 before you get around to this, ACK? If it was a Dem staffer, I’m sure this would have gotten a bit swifter attention….
It was distributed from his campaign office, IIRC.
Craig Fitzhugh didn’t issue the memo. There’s ZERO proof that he did.
You can add Think Progress to your “developing” list. (link at my name)
Fox News Memphis has now picked up the story.
Fox News Memphis has now picked up the story.
ScottJ raises a good point. Either ACK was off his game (a national outlet picks it up before Post Politics?) or he’s playing the game.
AC—–What was the delay? Why did you let an afternoon pass before picking up the story? I bet if it was a Democrat you wouldn’t have. Pathetic.
I don’t have any pigmentation in this fight — in fact I don’t have much pigmentation at all — and don’t know enough to comment about this current item, but I have to say that I never saw anything racist about the “Birds of a Feather” piece. I like Nathan and just think the piece was comical and a masterful subconscious play on Hitchcock’s The Birds.
Donna - at least you have the sense to recognize that you’re not black and therefore don’t know enough to comment. As for Nathan Vaughn - the accusation that it was “birds of a feather flocking together” made the assumption that since Vaughn was black (like Obama) that meant he had the same policy positions as Obama. The main thing Vaughn and Obama have in common is that both men are dedicated public servants who believe that we live in a great nation where we make decisions through debate and dialogue, not through dirty tricks and dishonest tactics.
Common Sense–You are misguided. Vaughn, Obama, and Pelosi (who is white and is conveniently left out of your comment) are “birds of a feather” because they extreme liberal policy positions that are out of sync with Tennesseans.