The Official Community for Tennessee's Democrats
Who is on the "right list," Senator Black?
The Sumner County Democratic party asks for the immediate resignation of Senator Diane Black’s Executive Assistant, Sherry Goforth, who recently admitted to sending a racist email from her state-provided email account to the “wrong list of recipients” in violation of state conduct policies.
In addition, we require full accountability from Senator Diane Black, our elected official, for the following questions:
Since her assistant’s half-hearted apology for this outrageous act was to claim to have sent the email to the “wrong list,” who is on the “right list?”
Is it acceptable practice in the Tennessee Legislature for Republican law-makers or their staff to engage in racist and dishonorable activities as long as they keep it among themselves?
And lastly, how will Senator Black’s constituents, yes even those of color, even those of another political affiliation, know that their concerns are being heard when the very gate-keeper of their Senator’s office finds a picture of the President of the United States represented as a “spook” to be so humorous that it should be forwarded by email to her colleagues and associates?
Senator Diane Black should address these questions quickly and publically if she is to restore the confidence that We the People have lost in her. And unless she demands her Executive Assistant’s resignation, we will know her words are hollow.
We invite the Sumner County Republican Party to join us in condemning this sort of bigotry and stereo-typing that so frequently flies under the cover of humor, yet damages our communities, our economic prosperity, and our American Spirit.
In addition, we require full accountability from Senator Diane Black, our elected official, for the following questions:
Since her assistant’s half-hearted apology for this outrageous act was to claim to have sent the email to the “wrong list,” who is on the “right list?”
Is it acceptable practice in the Tennessee Legislature for Republican law-makers or their staff to engage in racist and dishonorable activities as long as they keep it among themselves?
And lastly, how will Senator Black’s constituents, yes even those of color, even those of another political affiliation, know that their concerns are being heard when the very gate-keeper of their Senator’s office finds a picture of the President of the United States represented as a “spook” to be so humorous that it should be forwarded by email to her colleagues and associates?
Senator Diane Black should address these questions quickly and publically if she is to restore the confidence that We the People have lost in her. And unless she demands her Executive Assistant’s resignation, we will know her words are hollow.
We invite the Sumner County Republican Party to join us in condemning this sort of bigotry and stereo-typing that so frequently flies under the cover of humor, yet damages our communities, our economic prosperity, and our American Spirit.
Comment
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Comment by Jackie Pipes on June 16, 2009 at 10:04am -
I couldn't have said it better myself Maria.
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Comment by Sandy Lusk on June 16, 2009 at 5:58am -
It is not a joke, Rick. The truth is told in jest. Making fun of someone because of the color of their skin is offensive and ugly. Nothing funny about it. Our country has a long history of dehumanizing folks because of their race. Is that funny to you?
Clinton was the butt of many jokes because of his personality and behavior. I heard some, mostly about his wife, and found those to be offensive. I usually considered the source which would be the right wing and that would explain the pathetic attempt at humor.
Yes, and when someone is working on the taxpayer dime and sends out material that is demeaning and racist, they need to go. My tax dollars should not go to fund her lifestyle. What a socialist, Goforth is! Let her get a job with the right wing organizations that love to dehumanize minorities. She has no respect for the people of Tennessee who pay her salary.
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Comment by Rick Gray on June 15, 2009 at 10:10pm -
I'm sorry I don't see anything worse on this than all the other political commentary and jokes and stuff that go around without anyone every saying anything about them. This is so stupid the hoopla that is being made over this. Thousands of pieces of political satire is sent via the e-mail every single day. I have seen stuff that pictured both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in worse ways than this did.
Are we going to start firing people and asking them to resign for the people they offend with those jokes and pictures too. I mean I am a Tennessee Hillbilly and proud of it, but yet Clinton is often pictured in a very bad way as a Arkansas Hillbilly. I find that offensive. Where is my damn apology.
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Comment by Ben Vos on June 15, 2009 at 9:49pm -
Apparently, the list includes the chief of staff of Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. Andy Sher asked him about it and he "no commented" and referred the matter to Sen. Black.
The late news tonight has a press release/statement from Sen. Black in which she basically says that she consulted with HR and they told her to get a verbal and written reprimand. Black also makes the excuse that Goforth is a 20-year-employee of the state of Tennessee.
This, of course, begs the question: If Sherri Goforth has been working for the state of Tennessee for 20 YEARS, then shouldn't she know by now that sending those kinds of messages is not an acceptable act for a state employee? Also, wouldn't Goforth at least know how to work her email properly?
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Comment by Sandy Lusk on June 15, 2009 at 5:48pm
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Drip, drip, drip... I am still waiting for the TNGOP to denounce this. Maybe we need to create a watch on how long it will take for an apology to Obama, African Americans and civilized Americans.
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Comment by Sandy Lusk on June 15, 2009 at 5:39pm
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GoldnI is on the front page of the Daily Kos with the story. The TNGOP has a long history of this sort of thing and it is disgusting and shameful. A couple of months ago, Rep. Eric Watson called Latino's " Hispaniels" and referred to Asians as the "Yellow Man". Then there was the "call me Harold' ads in 2006, and the Obama is a Muslim smears. It will be interesting whether Sen. Corker's guy: Chris Devaney denounces this. I won't hold my breath. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...
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Comment by Jonathon Fagan on June 15, 2009 at 5:23pm -
well, it won't show you my link, so you'll have to copy and paste this one:
http://www.nashvilleistalking.com/2009/06/sen-diane-blacks-r-gallatin-legislative-aid-circulates-racist-email/
this is about to blow up nationally. thanks, senator black. you'll pay for this one. run with it sumner dems...
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Comment by Jonathon Fagan on June 15, 2009 at 5:22pm
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Comment by Jonathon Fagan on June 15, 2009 at 5:21pm
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Comment by Ben Vos on June 15, 2009 at 5:17pm
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amen.
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