RNC Chair Candidate Distributes 'Barack the Magic Negro' as His Christmas Greeting

Posted by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress at 7:26 AM on December 27, 2008.

Last year, Rush Limbaugh came under intense criticism for repeatedly airing a parody song called "Barack the Magic Negro" by conservative satirist Paul Shanklin. The song, which dealt with Obama's popularity amongst white voters, was widely attacked as being racist. Doing an Al Sharpton impersonation, Shanklin sings the song to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon." Limbaugh, however, tried to defend it as "creative" and "funny." Listen to the song here:

The Hill reports that for his Christmas greeting this year, RNC chair candidate Chip Saltsman sent out a CD of the "Barack the Magic Negro" song. Saltsman's Christmas message:

"I look forward to working together in the New Year," Saltsman wrote. "Please enjoy the enclosed CD by my friend Paul Shanklin of the Rush Limbaugh Show."

Shanklin's CD, "We Hate the USA," also contains songs such as "Star Spanglish banner" and "Wright place, wrong pastor."

Saltsman is refusing to apologize, telling CNN: "I think most people recognize political satire when they see it. I think RNC members understand that."

Saltsman isn't the only RNC candidate who has come under fire on race issues. South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson was a member of a whites-only country club until recently, when he withdrew his membership in order to lay the groundwork for his RNC candidacy.

Update: Politico's Mike Allen notes that more than 18 hours after the news about Saltsman broke, not a single Republican official has condemned his actions.

Update: RNC Head slams Saltsman.

Tagged as: gop, obama, limbaugh, rnc, racist, republican party, saltsman, shanklin

Amanda Terkel is Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Deputy Editor for The Progress Report and ThinkProgress.org at the Center for American Progress.