feed icon

Don’t Think This One Is Gonna Make It To Wonkette

By Kleinheider Posted on June 17, 2009 at 10:14 am

At the same time the Sherri Goforth hullabaloo was breaking a Democratic staffer sent an email making fun of Asians, the mentally handicapped and those suffering from dementia. Blue Collar Muse would like the media to cover this the same way the Goforth controversy was covered.

UPDATE: From Jim Voorhies:

Blue Collar Muse is correct. This is also wrong. And, having been convinced by ACK that a reprimand may be an acceptable level of punishment, if I knew this staffer’s name, I’d publish it too, and ask they be reprimanded. It’s a matter of respect and courtesy, damn it, for human beings. We’re all different in some way or another.

I do know the name — and I’m not publishing it. But when someone else does. I suppose I’ll aggregate that.

UPDATE II: The intrepid Grantham is Talking has the legislative office the email originated at. Newscoma doesn’t like to name names.

UPDATE III: Blue Collar Muse has now named the civilian.

UPDATE IV SHOCK HORROR: GIT reports that the employee is not listed as an employee of the state on the state website.

UPDATE V: UPDATE TO THE SHOCK HORROR: The staffer is an intern, according to Abramson in the comments.

permalink

Tags: , ,  

Comments

59 Responses to “Don’t Think This One Is Gonna Make It To Wonkette”

  1. Southern Beale writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:26 am

    Dang, someone sent me that e-mail and I just deleted it! I didn’t think of it as necessarily racist, and perhaps I should have. What I did find offensive was the pic of the kids in the dog crate. Looks like child abuse to me and I don’t think that’s funny.

    I think that Dem Party staffer should receive the same reprimand that Sherri Goforth received.

  2. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:29 am

    I called on BCM to name the staffer and whom he/she works for. time to put up or shut up.

  3. JohnnyC writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:33 am

    I think that Dem Party staffer should receive the same reprimand that Sherri Goforth received.

    Assuming it was sent from a government computer, yep.

  4. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:37 am

    He’s got to name the person or there’s nothing to it.

  5. Southern Beale writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:37 am

    Glad to see you’re on top of this one, ACK.

  6. Pottle writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:43 am

    I like BCM, but this is even more of a faux controversy than all the Sherri Goforth stuff. Just let go, dude. The three jackals who’ve already commented on this topic, plus countless others, have collectively shown their ass this week. Just let them alone to wallow in their own overreaching and irrelevance. Attempting to go tit for tat with these buffoons only makes you out to be a buffoon, too.

  7. JD writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:43 am

    For my money, the problem with the analogy is that those pictures in this email are actually funny, even if offensive. If the Obama thing were funny but racist, then (at least for me) the whole issue would be different. I can see where one forwards a funny racist thing against Obama, and the main reason not to do so would be your desire to be politically correct, or not to fan racism. But the only reason to forward a non-funny racist Obama thing, as Goforth did, is racism.

    To reiterate, I am not saying that the Obama email is not funny because it is insensitive or shocking or whatever — it is just that there is no joke there, except “a black guy is president.” OK . . . still waiting for the punchline. At least the “barack the magic negro” thing was a parody of a popular song, which entails some humor.

  8. JD writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:43 am

    For my money, the problem with the analogy is that those pictures in this email are actually funny, even if offensive. If the Obama thing were funny but racist, then (at least for me) the whole issue would be different. I can see where one forwards a funny racist thing against Obama, and the main reason not to do so would be your desire to be politically correct, or not to fan racism. But the only reason to forward a non-funny racist Obama thing, as Goforth did, is racism.

    To reiterate, I am not saying that the Obama email is not funny because it is insensitive or shocking or whatever — it is just that there is no joke there, except “a black guy is president.” OK . . . still waiting for the punchline. At least the “barack the magic negro” thing was a parody of a popular song, which entails some humor.

  9. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 10:49 am

    A black guy is president?

  10. SayUncle writes
    June 17th, 2009 11:02 am

    “I didn’t think of it as necessarily racist”

    Totarry lacist!

    That not racist either?

    ‘the problem with the analogy is that those pictures in this email are actually funny’

    This.

  11. GoldnI writes
    June 17th, 2009 11:09 am

    A black guy is president?

    Which is apparently a shocking thought.

  12. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 11:11 am

    I just had no idea. First I’d heard of it.

  13. Ben writes
    June 17th, 2009 11:32 am

    Oh, puh-leeze, here’s another white guy on the right trying to play victim. The fact that BCR is withholding information makes me think he’s not being completely honest.

    I want to know if this email was sent on a state computer, if it was sent on state time, and if it was sent to other state computer accounts. If the answer to all of these is yes, I want to know –

    What the f**k kind of legislative body is Ron Ramsey running???????

    Why are all of these Senate staffers sitting around forwarding tasteless emails to each other and yukking it up?

    This sordid mess just keeps making Ramsey look like an even more ineffective leader.

  14. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 11:38 am

    “Why are all of these Senate staffers sitting around forwarding tasteless emails to each other and yukking it up?”

    Dunno. Because they’re just working stiffs and that’s what working stiffs do? You think it’s any different because they’re in state government. You think they’re all sitting around having highbrow discussions about public policy?

    Anyway, heck, you should have seen it under John Wilder.

  15. newscoma writes
    June 17th, 2009 11:56 am

    Christian has a name up, Adam.

  16. dontcallmemikey writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:01 pm

    John Wilder - no longer there. Ron Ramsey - his watch. Big difference. You know, with all this stuff tho, makes you think that maybe we oughta have an ethics commision, tho - don’t it ;)

  17. SayUncle » party time writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:05 pm

    [...] Via ACK [...]

  18. newscoma writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:07 pm

    I was waiting on BCM to name it first because it’s his story Adam. Apparently neither did you. Your snark is off this week.

  19. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:15 pm

    He finally did.

  20. Blue Collar Muse: Can the Left Be Racist, Ridiculous and Repugnant, Too? Or Just the GOP? | The Show writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:16 pm

    [...] UPDATE: It’s around Noon and the first confirmation of the email is coming out.  Southern Beale, a popular Left wing blogger, admits she received the email in question.  And Post Politics picks up the story. [...]

  21. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:21 pm

    This is kind of funny, actually.

  22. Kleinheider writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:24 pm

    Word.

  23. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:24 pm

    Um, Christian also reports that the sender IS NOT LISTED as an employee of the state.

  24. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:24 pm

    Fella probably sent it to the wrong list.

  25. Southern Beale writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:27 pm

    ACK is it a “civillian”? Yet your post appeared at 10:41 a.m. Hmm.

    And Blue Collar Muse says I’m a “Popular left wing blogger.” I’m popular! I’M POPULAR! YAY!!! I’m finally popular!!!!!!

    :-)

  26. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:29 pm

    Looks like he was an intern: http://politics4all.com/us/states/tennessee/legislature/2009/bills/HJR482

  27. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:30 pm

    Whew! That’s better then. He was free labor.

  28. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:33 pm

    Although, on the other hand, dammit, we can’t fire him. Well, we sort of can, but it just won’t feel as good.

  29. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:44 pm

    A college kid, as opposed to a 20-year employee.

    ‘Nuff said.

  30. Ben writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:47 pm

    Geez, Roger, as my mom used to say, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” Is that really Ramsey’s defense for how poorly he’s running the Senate? “Well, hell, ya’ll, John Wilder did it too.” He really wants to be held to Wilder’s standards?

    It’s just ridiculous what’s going on in the state legislature. They can’t pass a budget. Ramsey crashes press conferences, when he can be bothered to take time away from his busy fundraising schedule to come to Nashville. Our state has been ridiculed around the globe . . .

    For God’s sake, pass a budget and go home. And reprimand this stupid intern and send him home, while you’re at it.

  31. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:53 pm

    What are you yelling at me for? I don’t work there. I have no connection with these people. Who said I was speaking for Ramsey?

  32. Southern Beale writes
    June 17th, 2009 12:56 pm

    I guess the reason I didn’t think the pics were racist is that the e-mail I got had 17 pictures in it, several of them with animals in it and not racist at all. BCM also didn’t seem to point out the sexist pic of the well-endowed young woman standing next to a soldier titled “Boobs: Even In War There’s Time For Boobs.” Guess he thought that one was OK.

    There was also one of a tabby cat in a swimming pool I thought was bad, looked like someone had just thrown the cat in the water.

  33. Freddie O'Connell writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:02 pm

    WHY HASN’T PITH IN THE WIND COVERED THE BLAKE P GRAVES SCANDAL?!?!

  34. JB writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:04 pm

    I think the leftwing bloggers who keep reposting these racist images for the world to see are complicit in this scandal as they are helping to spread hate.

  35. Steve Steffens (LeftWingCracker) writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:06 pm

    Because Woods and Kotz are COMMIE BASTARDS, THAT’S WHY!!!!

    :-)

  36. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:06 pm

    Don’t know what the 20 years have to do with it, but the fact that she was an employee and he is a mere intern does indeed distinguish it. But, seriously, I don’t know what some of you folks think is going on up there. The state legislature’s basically just one step up from your average Panhellenic Council. you;re not going to find Cicero and Solon walking the halls or contemplating the intersection of the state and private spheres. Since the door was opened to do this sort of thing, we’ll probably be seeing some more of these sorts of emails from all quarters. Be prepared.

  37. martin kennedy writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:10 pm

    Southern Beale,

    Read your first comment. Recognized it as satire. Then, down the list, read Say Uncle’s “totarry lascist” comment, laughed my head off, but saw that he was not picking up your satire. Just to make sure I read your comment again and went to your post, what you wrote on your blog. You’re serious aren’t you? You were being sincere in what you wrote - not necessarily racist, by implication nothing tasteless about laughing at disabled people.

    In the interest of science would you mind explaining the difference between a stupid joke at the expense of President Obama and one at the expense of a Special Olympic athlete?

    Kleinheider played it right this week. Decent people don’t like to play in pig sh*t even if it might help them professionally. Abramson is right too - working stiffs, I include myself, goof off. Anyone who has ever worked in an office environment knows that there is no paucity of small-mindedness and tastelessness. JD made a good point if a bit clumsily; All ethnic humor is not objectionable.

  38. martin kennedy writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:15 pm

    I suppose Mike Byrd is still suffering from that nose bleed he suffered after he climbed way up onto the moral high ground the other day.

  39. Newscoma » Blog Archive » Blue Collar Muse writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:16 pm

    [...] UPDATE: Roger Abramson says this in comments at Tiny Pasture’s: [...]

  40. brittney writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:17 pm

    God, I love coming here. It’s like a crazy family reunion, getting drunk and taking a mud bath all at the same time.

  41. JB writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:17 pm

    “Just to make sure I read your comment again and went to your post, what you wrote on your blog. You’re serious aren’t you?”

    It appears SouthernBeale’s racism is so engrained, she doesn’t even realize she’s a racist for not being offended by Democrat intern Blake Graves’ clearly racist e-mail.

  42. GoldnI writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:18 pm

    Since the door was opened to do this sort of thing, we’ll probably be seeing some more of these sorts of emails from all quarters. Be prepared.

    Let’s get it out in the open. If you wouldn’t say it out loud in public, then don’t forward it over email. But let’s see the boobs picture that SoBeale mentioned. Why not re-post that one too? And I’m sure ACK wants to see it as well. It’ll help him to better, er, judge whether the story is aggregate-worthy or not!

    Although back in MY day, when I was a political intern (which was about three years ago), we definitely got in trouble over stuff like this. In fact, I got a verbal beatdown on the Ford campaign once for dropping the f-bomb in a blog comment. Kids these days have it too easy.

  43. JB writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:22 pm

    “Although back in MY day, when I was a political intern (which was about three years ago), we definitely got in trouble over stuff like this.”

    I’m glad to see that GoldnI was reprimanded for sending racist e-mails when she was a Democrat intern too.

  44. SayUncle writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:22 pm

    ‘In the interest of science would you mind explaining the difference between a stupid joke at the expense of President Obama and one at the expense of a Special Olympic athlete?’

    Obama already has that one covered.

  45. HEY writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:25 pm

    Since when do interns get state email accounts?

  46. GoldnI writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:33 pm

    I’m glad to see that GoldnI was reprimanded for sending racist e-mails when she was a Democrat intern too.

    Do you know how to read or is reading too elitist of an activity for conservatives?

  47. Ben writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:33 pm

    I’m not yelling at you, Roger. You defended Ramsey’s oversight of the Senate by saying that things like this happened under Wilder, too. Well, Ramsey isn’t holding himself to a very high standard if he’s trying to run the Senate in the same manner that Wilder did. DUI’s? Bribery charges? Is it too much to ask for a higher standard?

    “Hey” asks a pertinent question. Did this kid send this email on a state email account or on state time? If not, he might be a tasteless asshole, but I don’t care what he does on his own time.

  48. Fats writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:34 pm

    I just skimmed through his facebook account. He is indeed a college student from the University of Memphis.

  49. JB writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:36 pm

    GoldnI — Oh sorry, when you said you got in trouble over “stuff like this” I thought the subject of this thread was racist e-mails? So just to clarify, did you or did you not send out racist e-mails when you were an intern working in the State Legislature?

  50. GoldnI writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:42 pm

    To spell it out very slowly–I meant stuff on a computer that can get a political intern in trouble. Which is a very broad category. I didn’t work for the legislature, I worked for the Harold Ford senate campaign. I didn’t send out racist emails (answered them with nice form responses when we got them from crazies, yes), I just once used the f-word on a blog comment somewhere and ended up on Carol Andrews’ shit-list as a result.

  51. Roger Abramson writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:43 pm

    OK. Wasn’t defending it, though. Just saying that this has pretty much always been par for the course.

  52. @fats writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:45 pm

    Fats, his facebook also says that he is Memphis ‘09…so he’s probably graduated. Plus, his “work” has him listed as a “temporary assistant (soon to change)” — which means he probably has an email account…is “soon to change” meaning that’s the temporary is to become full time?

    Facebook profile here:

    http://www.facebook.com/people/Blake-Graves/38903083#/profile.php?id=38903083

  53. Gavin writes
    June 17th, 2009 1:52 pm

    Blake Graves is a former intern now employed by the House of Representatives as an aide to Rep. Camper.

  54. JD writes
    June 17th, 2009 2:09 pm

    To rephrase my earlier post, perhaps I should not have said that these new pics are “funny,” but rather that they are based on traditional comedy elements. My piont is that there are shades of gray here. My personal moral outrage meter is not an on/off switch. I would not forward either of those emails, but the one is “worse” than the other.

    The basid point that I was attempting to make was that there is a difference between (1) forwarding a joke based on traditional comedy elements that is at the expense of a minority group and (2) forwarding a “joke” in order to make a point about a minority group (e.g., to the effect that someone like that should not be president). You may think that both are irredeemable, but my point is that they are different, and in my thick-skinned moments, I cut a lot more slack to the former category.

  55. Go Sell Crazy Somewhere Else : Post Politics: Political News and Views in Tennessee writes
    June 17th, 2009 2:22 pm

    [...] To rephrase my earlier post, perhaps I should not have… [...]

  56. Blake Graves Dismissed : Post Politics: Political News and Views in Tennessee writes
    June 17th, 2009 2:41 pm

    [...] To rephrase my earlier post, perhaps I should not have… [...]

  57. Naomi666 writes
    June 18th, 2009 4:24 am

    For my money, I believe that this sh*t is their version payback. They just hated the last eight years of us excoriating Bushie. In their simple-minded way, they really believe that this is “funny stuff”.

    But what they don’t realize is that they have no real sense of humor. If they did, Dennis Miller, and the unlamented FNC “comedy hour which lasted 30 minutes”, would have been successful. They were just mean-spirited and unfunny. Miller was plenty funny during his SNL days, back before he came out as a GOP hack.

    You can’t convince them this different from GWB’s time in office. After all, we only told the truth, spiced with our bitterness and loathing with a discount-bin-president.

  58. Can the Left Be Racist, Ridiculous and Repugnant, Too? Or Just the GOP? — writes
    June 30th, 2009 9:07 pm

    [...] UPDATE: It’s around Noon and the first confirmation of the email is coming out.  Southern Beale, a popular Left wing blogger, admits she received the email in question.  And Post Politics picks up the story. [...]

  59. Can the Left Be Racist, Ridiculous and Repugnant, Too? Or Just the GOP? — writes
    June 30th, 2009 9:14 pm

    [...] ceased to be active on the Hill a month or so ago.  Only full time state employees remain.  Roger Abramson and Left Wing Cracker are wrong.  The “Temporary” in his title does not refer to a [...]

Leave a Reply




Partly Cloudy

The Collective

The Latest from NashvillePost.com

Archives