RNC chairman candidate defends 'Barack the Magic Negro' song

A candidate for the Republican National Committee chairmanship said Friday the CD he sent committee members for Christmas -- which included a song titled "Barack the Magic Negro" -- was clearly intended as a joke.

"I think most people recognize political satire when they see it," Tennessee Republican Chip Saltsman told CNN. "I think RNC members understand that."

The song, set to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon," was first played on conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh's radio show in 2007.

Its title was drawn from a Los Angeles Times column that suggested President-elect Barack Obama appealed to those who feel guilty about the nation's history of mistreatment of African-Americans. Saltsman said the song, penned by his longtime friend Paul Shanklin, should be easily recognized as satire directed at the Times.

“Barack the magic negro” Lyrics via Americablog.

Barack the Magic Negro lives in D.C.

The L.A. Times they called him that

cause he’s not authentic like me

Yeah the guy from the L.A. paper

said he made guilty whites feel good

they’ll vote for him and not for me

cause hes not from da hood

see real black men like snoop dogg

or me or farrakhan

have talked the talk and walked the walk

not come and laid and won (not sure about this line)

Barack the Magic Negro lives in D.C.

The L.A. Times they called him that

cause he’s not authentic like me

cause hes black but not authentically

Barack the Magic Negro lives in D.C.

The L.A. Times they called him that

cause he’s not authentic like me

cause hes black but not authentically

some say barack’s articulate

and bright and new and clean

the media sure love this guy

a white interloper’s dream

but when you vote for president

watch out and dont be fooled

dont vote the magic negro in

cause…

(background singing the first 3 lines, while the singer is saying)

Cause I wont have nothing after all these years of sacrifice and I wont get justice this is about justice this is about justice, buffet, i dont have no buffet there wont be any church contributions there’ll be no cash in the collection plate, no cash money, no walkin around money…

Pooch Doggy Dog says leave the Reps alone. Let Don Imus rant. Most Republicans are nice and thoughtful and considerate. Most Democrats are thinking and pleasant and able to consider the feelings of others. Leave the paranoid and mean and prejudiced on the Right and on the Left alone to spew their bile on each other.

Truly, the song doesn't bother me. And, I don't think we should unleash some version of political correctness on the Republicans.

A friend of mine once told me, "Pooch Dog, don't argue with people too ignorant to know they are ignorant." And, this applies to the Right and the Left.

I am a die-hard liberal. Nonetheless I recognize that "we" are often just as guilty of mean-spirited ridicule of the Right.  Our version is more cerebral, dismissive, condescending and egotistical. But, no less invalid.

Pooch Doggy Dog

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