Republican Women’s Club Makes Racist Obama Buck, Food Stamp
17 October 2008, 6:00 PM. By Daniel Mauser
In a stunningly naive and/or racist move, a California women’s republican club sent out a newsletter depicting a satirical food stamp with Obama’s face on it. All well and good to question his position on welfare, but not if you add watermelon, fried chicken and kool-aid to the fake food stamp. The club president, Diane Fedele, defended the food stamp, saying it was poor judgment on her part but that it was not meant to be racist.
Fedele said the mailer merely parodied the statements Obama made during a debate last summer and wasn’t racist. “If I was racist, I would have looked at it through racist eyes,” she said. “I am not racist, which is why it probably didn’t register.” Club member Kristina Sandoval agreed. “None of us are racists,” she said. The use of watermelon, ribs and fried chicken was innocent, she said. “Everyone eats those foods, it’s not a racial thing.”
Funny how, totally coincidentally, those foods have been used to stereotype African-Americans. See for yourself:
Real classy. Race has been an extremely touchy issue during this campaign, and the newsletter drew wide public condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans. All agreed it was in severely poor taste, but some thought it was innocently meant.
State Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) represents the area, and his wife, a Latina, is a member of the club. “I thought it was unacceptable and a failed attempt at humor,” Dutton said. “My wife isn’t taking it personally because she knows the people involved. I called Diane [Fedele] and talked to her and told her it was inappropriate. She is a sweet lady without a mean bone in her body. But we all have to be more sensitive.”
We’re not sure how that defense works. Sure she might be a sweet lady, but how oblivious do you have to be to try and say that there was no racial jab behind the choice of food surrounding Obama? I mean, do we need collard greens and maybe a flaming cross before we can really call it racism? Come the fuck on. But yes, more sensitivity please. That’s a good place to start.
Other members of the party weren’t as forgiving as Senator Dutton and his charmingly-nameless Latina wife;
Sheila Raines, a black member of the group, told the newspaper that she had told Fedele that the mailing was offensive. “This is what keeps African-Americans from joining the Republican Party,” Raines said. “I’m really hurt. I cried for 45 minutes.”
The Obama campaign has not commented on the food-stamp spoof, perhaps deciding that the less both sides bring up race in the election, the more attention important factors in the election will get.
What do you think? Could the food stamp be pardoned as an innocent, unintentional mistake?
Altered Obama photo in GOP club newsletter sparks outrage [LA Times]
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There was nothing innocent or unintentional in that at all! If you’re going to be racist don’t a coward about it, own up to that shit. Everyone saw that as what it is, racist as hell. Then she is all gonna back out and be say she didn’t look at it that way. Grow a backbone and own up to it!
Whoever created that design is a complete asshole. But I can’t see them, because I don’t look at the world through asshole eyes.
I’m gonna make up a stamp with Sarah Palin surrounded by female dogs having sex. But there’s nothing anti-feminist about it, because I don’t look at the world through fucking bitch eyes.
Stereotypes are funny…………….ever seen Blazing Saddles??? One of the best movies ever.
Are blacks sill a minority ?????
Is it racest to suport your own race???
Are there blacks voting for Obama because
he is black???
Are there any blacks man enough to admit thats
why Obama has there vote????
Yes, the food stamp parody is racist, inappropriate and among the really ridiculous emotional ploys that have played in politics as usual.
A fake Soc. Security check with McCain on it surrounded by adult diapers wouldn’t be any better.
Wow. Welcome to America.
Blacks (multi-racial or not) are still less than the majority population in this country. In the 2006 census which counted almost 300 million in the U.S., about 221 million claimed white while 37 million claimed black when in their feedback. Given a definition of minority being a smaller number or part, especially if it’s less than half a total, the black population in the United States still counts as a minority population.
I welcome Mr. Obama onto the political stage. He is a blended American, as am I. His parents were white and black. My parents were a blend of their parents: white, black, and indigenous (that’s the majority of Puerto Rico).
However, I am not choosing to support either “majority” party and haven’t since the first Clinton administration. I am part black and I am not voting for Obama because he’s part black. I am still undecided, but the Greens may receive my vote because of their policies and their vision to have a black woman and latina woman ticket.
We’ll see as the next few weeks unfold.
To Joe
A majority of black are voting Obama because he is a Democrat. The majority of Blacks vote Democrat. Black voted overwhelming for Clinton, Carter, Kennedy etc, any candidate that was a Democrat. We can not say that for a number of white democrates, who claim they can’t vote for a mixed (black) candidate. For their sake I hope their heaven is segregated.
to Joe
Are there not white males and females that would vote for mccain simply because he’s white? are there not white democrats that either have or will wote republican simply because they cant bring themselves to elect an African American into office? Are there not americans that wont vote for Obama simply because he’s name is Arabic?
oh and on that note. did you know that “Barack” is a Jewish name? and i am sure you’ve picked up on where “Hussein” came from. but in case you didnt know!, Its Arabic. and throw in an apostrophie after the O in his last name you may even claim him to be Irish :) (though he’s not. you can make the argument.
btw dude. if you are gonna make a statement like that, learn how to spell. there is not “E” in “racist.”
and the THERE in “…why Obama has ‘there’ vote?”
…sigh…why do i even bother?!
Show me a black person not voting for Obama!
Joe and Gogetthekitty –
You are both racist… look it up if you have to.
Obama/Biden 2008!!
This ploy is just another way to get african-americans distracted and off the beaten path. It was a racist move and to say it wasn’t is to be in “big time” denial because if wasn’t then why choose those particular food/beverage items not to mention a food stamp reference? There are those in this world who must make themselves feel superior by making others look “less than human” so that in their mind they can deal with them on a more “comfortable” level which is just another form of “racism” and “a fear of what you don’t know” due to being just plain “ignorant” (and I don’t mean in the unlearned sense either!)! Another sad thing about this is that these are the same supposedly “God-fearing” people who sit up in church and sing “Oh How I Love Jesus” and then go and do things like this! This is definitely a time for african-americans to stay on point and “stay the course”.
II find it quite hilarious and ignorant on behalf of these supposeably intelligent women…..I’m a Black American….and I’m a Democrat and I agree w/another comment posted I’m voting for Obama because I’ve always voted Democrat….and if some people who are Republicans look back they were once Democrats…it’s hard to say you’re a Republican and you’re making minimum wage, living in poverty, w/o health insurance and on the verge of loosing your life savings….most people who claim to be Republicans only say they are for status not what’s really important…and it’s not a one party struggle Dems and Repubs are struggling the rich has gotten richer and the middle to lower class has gotten poorer….so YES…..H**L Yes…I’m voting Democrat because I desire Change…and by the way Biden is not Black or mixed…..Obama/Biden 08″
The heart is desperately wicked, who could know it
until what’s in it is visible. Not a racist? You’ve proved your point. Now just shut up……………