Could we please lay this turkey to rest once and for all. The origins of the title "Barack the Magic Negro" comes from an L A Times Op Ed piece that basically describes how Rev. Al Sharpton was thrown under the bus by the Democrat Party in favor of the shiny new black candidate Barack Obama. Sharpton had "paid his dues" as a liberal Democrat, yet he was supplanted by the party with a newcomer who had not yet established his credentials. Sharpton was quite upset about this and commented on it often on his talk radio show. Many had pointed out that the snubbing of a long time black liberal could be taken as racist.
The parody song steps in after all this had transpired. In it, Rush (actually a comedian Paul Shankland wrote the parody song) cites the L A Times article and has someone mimick the voice of Al Sharpton singing into a bullhorn (Sharpton had used one in the overtly racist anti-Jewish march he led through Crown Heights in NY). There is nothing racist about the parody. In fact, it's main point was poking fun at how liberals act blind to racism when it comes from their side (just as conservatives do). If nothing else, the parody decries racism. People need to listen to it and make an effort to recall the polical events surrounding the last presidential election before heaping it with criticism.
The parody is still played on occasion on the Limbaugh show because his mainly conservative audience have little tolerance for the race baiting antics of Rev. Sharpton and enjoy hearing him put down. The parody has become like a "theme" that Rush plays whenever a news item comes up involving Sharpton. Oddly enough, despite the title, the parody has little to do with Obama himself - just Sharpton's reaction to him.
Bob at PC
________________________________________
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of John Clement [clement@hal-pc.org]
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2010 4:00 PM
To: 'Forum for Physics Educators'
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Conservative/Liberal science?
Did they also criticize Limbaugh when he aired the song? They of course
want Republicans to avoid the racist label, but Limbaugh is not an
"official" Republican spokesman. Criticizing him is not politically wise,
even when he makes ridiculous false statements.