Well... you just knew they couldn't help themselves... it was bound to happen again.
In another bout of poor taste, the Republicans of the Inland Empire followed up their Sacramento cousins' website escapade with a depiction of Senator Barack Obama on a food stamp. Read about it in the Press-Enterprise.
OK, so let me get this straight: an official organization of the Republican Party TWICE in less than 72 hours has been outed for distributing tasteless (at best) or racist (at worst) literature about the Democratic nominee for President.
You know these things DO come in 3's, don't you?
Now, I love humor as much as the next person, and I REALLY love racy humor - a lot. But this isn't funny... not even close. This was meant to be hurtful.
Any person with half a brain knows what putting those images together in that manner means to people of color. Its not meant to be a light-hearted attempt at wooing black voters, that's for sure... or if it is, someone needs to go back and brush up on their people skills.
The Press Enterprise notes that
"The October newsletter by the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated says if Obama is elected his image will appear on food stamps -- instead of dollar bills like other presidents. The statement is followed by an illustration of "Obama Bucks" -- a phony $10 bill featuring Obama's face on a donkey's body, labeled "United States Food Stamps.""
What galls me more is that the president of the club, Diane Fedele, goes on to say - with a straight face - that
"I didn't see it the way that it's being taken. I never connected," she said. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."
WHAT?!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING? YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!
If it's so innocent, why didn't she paste up an apple, or a cherry pie, or a mayonnaise and bologna sandwich with a glass of milk? No... she knew the effect she wanted and boy... I bet she now wishes she didn't think up this idea!
Oh, and by the way, black people can rest easy tonight. Ms. Fedele is not really a racist: She says she once supported a Black man for public office, former Presidential candidate Alan Keyes. And for good measure, I am sure she will make an appearance with her one obligatory black friend at some point.
Seriously: I am sure that Ms. Fedele is a fine person, and she is most likely similar to the majority of Americans - she really has no informed opinion about race. However, as long as we remain hostage to our stereotypes, we will never get past race as a dividing line in America. And stupid decisions like the one to publish the trashy image in an official party publication - or to post similar material on an official party website - does nothing to bring people and party together.
And Dems need to be careful, too, as we are not immune to this disease of poor judgement. Comparing Sen. McCain to a George Wallance or Bull Connor does little to promote Sen. Obama or his message, and only serves to push away potential undecided voters. More pointedly, its plain WRONG and does a disservice to McCain and those brave men and women who put everything on the line to secure the civil rights that all Americans now enjoy.
Criticizing positions, voting records or professional behavior is appropriate, but this politics of character assassination and 'gotcha' one-upsmanship is destructive and does little to get us closer to solving the real crises that we face as a nation.
Can't we all just get along???????
