GOP club offers 'Obama Bucks' while Democrats rib Palin

The story about Diane Fedele, the president of the Republican women's club in San Bernardino County who came up with "Obama Bucks," is making the rounds. Plenty of people are outraged. Others, like Rightpundits, say yeah, it's crummy, but claim the  imagery may be losing its power. Fedele told The Times:

"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."

That's not how club member Acquanetta Warren -- a Fontana city councilwoman and an African American -- saw it.

"My daughter who is 16 was standing over my shoulder when I opened the e-mail, and her mouth dropped wide open," Warren said. "I actually turned the screen away and sent her to her room so she wouldn't see. I don't want to talk to anyone; I want a written apology so the public knows that this is not right and this is not representative of the way Republicans think."

She's known Fedele a long time and is shocked by the newsletter.

Meanwhile, Obama supporters have been getting a bit naughty themselves by offering up Sarah Palin in her own words, though not necessarily in the right order.

PALINdrome, a new-ish  web site by a Culver City blogger (LAist had it first) gathered words from three Sarah Palin speeches and, via the magic of Adobe's Flash Player, lets users rearrange Palin's words. The results, archived on the site, range from partisan to scatological to simply absurd.

Eighteen more days until Election Day, and we still haven't had our October surprise.

--Veronique de Turenne

   

Comments

[Cassandra Fredieu]

I find this to be very offensive. If Ms Fedele does not understand how offensive this is she is living under a rock.

[Amanda E]

Playing dumb to these racial overtones is a reflection of this person's lack of education and character. If I was a Republican, I would be ashamed of having someone like this represent the party.

[crossroads]

I didn't think there was a Republican woman more ignorant than Sarah Palin, and there you go and find two. Let's figure out what ethnicity they are, and print offensive things on bucks with their pictures on them. No wait, a horses ass will do for both of them.

[nurse nina]

I grew up in VA in the 60's> I was shocked to see the racially infammatory images. Shame. An apology to the world would be in order.

[Brandi]

Diane clearly thinks the rest of us are as ignorant as she is if she thinks for a second anyone in their right mind doesn't see the hatefulness of this. I'm glad there are people like Diane Fedele who continue to expose the true mindset of the GOP and its constituents. Diane honey, while it's clear you are no Harvard scholar, you might want to practice saying this: President Obama.

[J.Jones]

I find it highly unlikely that those specific foods, associated to deep rooted stereotypes and racism in our country, were placed together randomly. For Ms. Fedele to state that it didn't "register" to her as racist is absurd. I guess if it is not absurd she just stated to the world that she is an idiot. Either way...

[Johnny Rey]

Diane Fedele is a prime example of someone who operates in a power position, moves forward with her conduct, and proceeds to not take responsibility for her actions despite the end result. Haven't we had enough of this irresponsible leadership. She should not play as if she is not aware of the racist association of watermelon, ribs, and fried chicken to the African American community. Otherwise if she is truly out of touch with the public's feelings, then this should be a immediate sign of her not being capable to operate in a leadership role. Diane, do us all a favor and take responsibility for your actions, denounce your ad, and apologize for screwing up. Otherwise quit because you are not helping the Republican party. You are hurting it.

[john]

Good Lord, is this what our society looks like in the 21st century? Grown women engaging in behavior unworthy of toddlers and then shamelessly attempting to justify it?

The brochure is plainly racist--a word overused but in this case so obvious it practically stomps up and slaps you across the face. Ms. Fedele and her defenders apparently have the gall to call it naivete, apparently assuming that promoting one's ignorance on top of one's (at best subconscious) racism is somehow an improvement. How embarrassing.

One would have hoped that Ms. Fedele would have taken this opportunity to step down from her position of small importance, if not because it's the responsible thing to do, then because of the shame she brings upon mainstream right-of-center Californians. Given the support she's receiving from fellow members, however, perhaps she's the most suitable figurehead for her party after all.

[Johnny Rey]

Diane Fedele is a prime example of someone who operates in a power position, moves forward with her conduct, and proceeds to not take responsibility for her actions despite the end result. Haven't we had enough of this irresponsible leadership. She should not play as if she is not aware of the racist association of watermelon, ribs, and fried chicken to the African American community. Otherwise if she is truly out of touch with the public's feelings, then this should be a immediate sign of her not being capable to operate in a leadership role. Diane, do us all a favor and take responsibility for your actions, denounce your ad, and apologize for screwing up. Otherwise quit because you are not helping the Republican party. You are hurting it.

[Jim]

This is precisely the type thinking that fosters stereotypical mindsets.

Those who engage in such activity are myopic and deserve to relive April 4, 1968 on a much grander scale. Unfortunately, I fear that is the direction we are headed.

The destruction which may follow this election, in short order, could make the civil war pale in comparison.

It is truly unfortunate Americans cannot think clearly beyond their next vacation or the state of the economy today. There is a heavy price to pay for such stupidity.

I, for one, do not believe the democrats rounded up all the Hinkleys, Rays, and Oswalds prior to their nomination of Barack Obama. To me, that poses a high level of risk.

Does your Metropolitan Police Chief have a contingency plan? How about your school superintendent? Would it surprise you that such questions to the media go unanswered?

[herb ritts]

I thought it was funny. Especially that comical Kool Aid man. I couldn't figure out what Obama was supposed to be though, was it a Jackass?

[Tom Dooley]

Another Nobel Laureate masquerading as a McCain supporter.

I'm sure he's as proud of Diane Fedele as he is of the Rhodes Scholar who called Obama an arab at his town hall meeting in Minnesota.

[hottopics]

John McCain what in the world were you thinking? I hate the fact that I even know of her. I say we take her off the endangered list and lock her up in a mental ward and let's hope she never takes you off the endangered list Senator McCain - you better watch your back.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/10/bush-to-palin-b.html

[La Tonya]

What were you thinking? of course this is racist..... If you did not honestly think this would be perceive as a racist act, you know now...........Your sense of humor is unbelievable. You should be ashamed of yourself !!!!!!!!!

[wade thomas]

Though I am a democrat and an Obama zealot I must say that we cannot generalize Ms. Fedele views with the entire GOP. I'm sure there are plenty GOP members offended by her actions... not every GOP member is a racist. At least I hope not.

To Ms. Fedele:

You're Jewish right? What kind of currency do you think Hitler would've put your face on?

[EM]

We should all let Ms. Fedele know exactly what we think of her group's lack of intelligence and ethics.

[Dex]

"I thought it was funny. Especially that comical Kool Aid man. I couldn't figure out what Obama was supposed to be though, was it a Jackass?"

Herb,
Only a jackass would think racism is funny. By the way, "jackass" isn't capitalized or didn't you learn that in school? Oh, wait...

[White in Detroit]

Perhaps many races do enjoy all these foods, but when lumped together like this, they form an obvious and inescapable stereotype. Honestly, how much more shamefully racist could one be? If indeed she is Jewish, printing "Diane Dollars" with pictures of bagels & lox, gefilte fish and challah couldn't top this.

[troy]

Why not just say, yes, I have racist ideas and have for some time. I wanted to stick it to Obama and other blacks because McCain isn't winning. The only thing I respect about hate groups is that they're honest with their intentions.

[Nicholas Hord]

Since you cant buy KFC or Koolaid with food stamps, then what do those images refer to exactly, Diane?

[James]

This was all done in bad taste. This woman is only saying what many white Americans want to say but are hiding behind their hoods. One thing for sure is this is nothing new to African Americans. This is the same on Jim Crow , George Wallace, John McCain Lindsey Graham trash. This is an old tactic that has been used by many southern whites to incite other whites to mistreat and even kill blacks.

This is no different that the Jim Crow attitudes and it has never died, it took McCain Palin, Graham and the rest of the republican party to set this type of behavior off and this is the result of what John McCain is hoping for that whites will revert back to the 60's and began to treat blacks as if this was the 40, 50, and 60's. Black people know these type of signal and signs and code statements when they see them and hear them

[Christine M.]

I am appalled at Diane Fedeles non-chalant attitude. It is apparent that her group felt it necessary to focus on race because their candidate is not doing as well as they would expect when running against a man of color.

This stunt just shows the ingnorance and prejudice that has and will always exist when a strong, intelligent, articulate black individual has gained the respect of so many.

All I can do is shake my head and feel sorry for you.

[Charles M. Johnson]

I agree with Troy. At least with the KKK I know where I stand. However, these cowards who hold racist views and say "I'm not a racist", I find them to be the lowest form of human life, not fully evolved.

Ms. Fedele, own up to your racism. Embrace your ignorance. You are who you are. Stop throwing rocks and hiding your hand.

[ron math]

let her know this is not right. here is her group's email address

ChaffeyCommunityRWF@cfrw.org

[dawn]

WHO CARES? GET OVER IT! Of course it's racist, the problem is that some thinks they need to apologize for a joke. I have seen many many blondes told blonde jokes right to their face over and over, and it doesn't ever matter!! It's as funny as Palin skits, or old age skits on McCain. It is no different than making fun of a culture that supports beauty pageants for instance.

Besides, 90% of blacks are voting for Obama, and Obama is a socialist. It is far more wrong to vote for a socialist, than to make a few jokes (of course both candidates are sorts of socialists really) Blacks as a group are using their 90%+ racist tendencies to finally ruin what used to be a reasonable country many years ago by voting for this completely unreasonable person.

Maybe what we need today is a series of movies titled "Illegally Black" featuring Obama backers at Harvard going through law school -making jokes and eating chicken and watermelon while saving a falsely accused rapper through the philosophy of the watermelon patch. That would be the equivalent of Legally Blonde - a movie that millions was spent on, and millions have paid to go see.

You never hear blondes complaining about the many instances they are placed in a group -or the targeted efforts to debase them (by many Jewish media types who fancy themselves the chosen ones -because of their race). That may be because it doesn't ever hit home -because of blondes true IQ as a group. Try doing the same sorts of shows with Jews, Blacks, Mexicans, etc...and watch out. I never heard a complaint from a very white hillbilly type when there were shows about hillbillies. Now that I think about it, maybe the blonde stereotype should be calm cool collected and smart, because that is how they seem to act as a group. Your group builds its stereotype in facts, work on the groups you are associated with and maybe that will help. For instance... Jews could drive out others in their group that have driven our economy to the place it is now (Goldman Sachs, Federal Reserve types, etc...) and maybe they could outlive their stereotypes. Blondes could go after manufactures of hairdye so that only true blondes represent blondes (or blondes should start wearing blackface on TV - as that is the same as dying your hair blonde and acting stupid on TV), and Blacks could vote for a member of the Constitution Party or something.

move on, or quit joking all together and ban SNL and other comedy from the world.