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

[Queen Efua]

As an African American when I saw the picture of the Obama Bucks, I cracked up laughing. I think it's hilarious!

It's time we African Americans to grow up and drop the double standards. Black comedians joke about these items. In black movies we are depicted eating these foods at family picnics. They are on the table at our family reunions and lots of black folks have kool-aid in there refrigerators, my included. These foods are mostly enjoyed by black people so why are we angry? It's because a white woman said it. We can joke about it but it doesn't become racist until someone white says it.

Obama was made a donkey because that's the Democractic symbol atleast that what I took it as.

We need to stop eyeing racism in everything and light up and laugh at ourselves no matter who makes the joke.

Where do you think Imus heard the tern "nappy headed hoes"? We've said it alot and we never get offended but Imus said it and now it's a crime. If we want other races to stop this then we need to stop it. We've got to put down the chicken, watermelon, ribs and kool aid and chose something else and we've got to stop calling ourselves derogatory names. Until we change ourselves we can't expect someone else to change but as much as we want to cry racism they are only follwing our examples.

On an end note, if any black person on here has used the words "honky", "cracker", "slave master" etc in reference to a white person, you are just as racist as those you criticize.

[Nikki]

You know what? I actually cried this morning. I am a black women and I have 4 children whom are all half/white. They saw this so called Food stamp buck, and their mouths dropped. My children never saw black and white, but they did this morning. This is sad. For this woman to say, she wasnt even thinking as a racist, but came up with this? I mean come on... complete stereotypes that has been going on for years!!! This is how racists think.
1 Food Stamps = black people
2. chicken = black people
3. watermelon= black people
4. kool-aid = black people
5. Ribs= black people

This is a mind of a racist.
So... of course this was racist, and you are a racist... otherwise, you would have not even thought of this.

pitiful shame.......

Sincerely,
Sad Woman, mother of 4 Biracial children

[Give The Rage Some Feet]

I have started with Rachel Maddow of MSNBC but plan to e-mail others: think about this - - - wouldn't the KFC bucket logo and the Kool-Aid man logo be copyrighted? I'm hoping that copyright infringement charges will be pressed against these women by KFC and Kool-Aid. If everyone registering rage pressed for legal action to be taken, perhaps the message would get through: we will not tolerate this kind of behavior; we will not tolerate circulation of racism.

[Michael W. Powell]

This is truly what the Republican Party is all about, It saddens me that Minority members of our society still wants to be a member of this political party. This is just another example of how of they are telling you they want you in their politcal party. Wake up America Racism is still alive and well and it will show it's ugly face on Nov.4 2008. The Republican is a joke, they hide behind Religion values while they use whisper campaigns to keep this country divided.

[Mark]

For someone who begins a post with "Who Cares?" Dawn contradicts herself by investing five paragraphs of tripe. While it's unlikely she would come from underneath her hood to make her warped views known to those with whom she banks or works, she gives us a good laugh by invoking the word "IQ" when she apparently has none. Her toothless ramblings aside, Dawn shows herself to be the fool that she is by classifying Jews as a "race" when they are members of a religion.

[JJones]

I do not approve of the Obama Bucks Food Stamp cartoon.
Neither did I approve of being called "whitey" and "White Boy"
when I was in the military and 3/4s of my barracks was BLACK.
I didn't like it when a bunch of "the brothers" would come in about
2 or 2:30 in the morning smacking the walls and doors and saying
"Hey you white honkey, come here, I've got something long and
black for you." I had no desire to die.
When I was growing up, I went to school, and later worked, and
thought nothing of it until I was forced to live with them.
I was always told that blacks had Civil Rights. Whites do not have
them, I was reminded.
So, while two wrongs don't make a right, two stupids don't make a
Smart, either. The door swings both ways.

[JR]

Once undecided
I want to thank Diane Fedele help me make up my mind to support Obama.

If she is a representative / president of a republican women's group, and she is allowed to contimue to be part of that group - it is clearly a sign that the GOP has become something very ugly. There is nothing grand about this group at all.

[D. Morden]

"the use of watermelon, ribs and fried chicken was innocent." I always thought this county was populated by the small-minded and moronic fascist, racists. This confirms it.

[D. Morden]

And to Ron Math who posted: Clearly you ARE racist, anti-semite and more. Go take you white robe and hood to the laundry mat and hone that cross for the lawn-burning. You equate blonde jokes with racist iconography? That's sheer idiocy.

[ThePsalmist]

Those women are idiots — they know darn well that it's offensive. If I were a Republican, I'd yank them off the stage — YESTERDAY.

I agree — I thought Sarah Palin was as idiotic as it gets. Guess I was wrong.

[Phenomenal Woman]

This is unblievable. I can not believe that this chick did not for once in her mind think that this was not prejudice. She is not helping McCain's campaign at all!!! If none of this was meant to be prejudice then why did you put his face next to kool aid, ribs, chicken and watermelon. That heffa knew exactly what she was doing, but since some members of her own party is not feeling her joke she wants to take it back. I would love to see what she looks like. Maybe she's hiding just like how the KKK does. Obama was right when he stated that he does not look like the other presidents on the dollar bill. He did not lie and it is sad that it has taken this long for a black man to make it this far. OBAMA FOR LIFE!!!!!!!

[B. Brown]

I would be surprised or even schocked if The Republican Woman's Club did not ask Mrs. Fedele to step down. They should impeach her! Her behavior is a total embarrasment to the entire group. At least one good thing came out of her actions. The world now knows how she thinks. In all of her ignorace , she has exposed herself for the bigot that she is.

[Pete K]

This is a sad, sad state of affairs, and for the authors to claim that this isn't racially charged is either evidence of the worst kind of duplicity or a truly galactic level of ignorance.

I'm so glad to see the comments of level-headed Americans who understand that this is how hate begins--It's not the lynchings and the hangings, it's the small, subtle, insidious things which allow us to hate and believe that no harm is being done.

Shame on the McCain camp for not issuing a public statement specifically and categorically rebuking these redneck idiots, in fact for not disowning them completely, and shame on the people who perpetuate this message, reviving a hate and ignorance that was and still is present in our country but that so many have been working so hard to extinguish.

It's a sad day for us as a nation if we believe that this is OK.

[Adrianne]

My friend spoke of the Obama Bucks, which I had yet to hear about. After browsing online, I stumbled across the link. At first, I was appalled. After reading the first few posts, my anger increased. But then, I read a post from someone saying we should not take it to heart. The message pointed out how all races poke fun at each other...and to those within our own race. This is true.

As a baby of the 70's, I'm happy that I haven't been exposed to much racism. Moreover, my neices and nephews haven't been exposed to any. As a matter of fact, my 21 yr old nephew shakes his head at the older adults behavior. He is so proud to have a multitude of friends in all races. As a black woman, I praise my family to have ties in all races. My father especially, had all sorts of buddies....allowing us to grow up in a predominantley black neighborhood of Detroit, yet our personal household visitors were of all races. It was nice to exchange information, more specifically, of the stereotypes we grew to know and tried to work out the truth of the matter...later , laughing about it. I hope at some point we can all laugh about our ignorance and move forward. Because despite the "Obama Bucks" I have to admit that just this morning, I reached in the fridge, pulled out a piece of fried chicken that was cooked last night...and ate it cold....and I enjoyed every bite - as with many people of all races have done...I suspect.

We all have to admit that the younger generation will look back on all of us and realize how petty we have been and they should be proud of the generation they're born into, as I am proud of my birth in the 1970's. It was nothing like the generations of the past....but needed to improve....that's why we have the 1980's, 1990's and so on....to believe in...when we can finally put racism right where it needs to be....in the World "History" books of the past.

Learning from our mistakes...is the only road towards future success....and might I add....may the best opponent win....And god bless not only the US...but all of mankind....Bless all of Gods/Allah/Buda/........children...as long as one's beliefs benefit the world as a whole.

Maybe we need some type of alien invasion...that would make all of us open are eyes....once and for all.

Adrianne (Detroit/Baltimore/DC)

[Jalisa]

i don't care if you are white or black, democrat or republican you CANNOT deny the racial implication in this. You don't even have to be "racist" to look at it through "racist " eyes oh please, it IS RACIST.

[Adrianne]

okay....now that we all know it was a bit racist....be it a joke or not.....Now What?

Let's not all speak up at once....

[1970's Baby]

Now that we all know it was a sterotypical act....be it a joke or not....Now What?

Let's not all speak at once.....Exactly. Now...if you all don't mind...I'm going to make a few calls to both my black family and friends....as well as my white family and friends.... to find out what's happening for the upcoming holidays.

That is if anyone is in a financial situation to put together anything....Yep...that's right...we're all in this mess together.

[Angela Holdread]

Is this what this Presidental race has come to? I'm sure the rest of the world is watching. Is this all just a big joke? Well, I'm tired of paying for the big jokes and the expensive lifestyles of these guys. We need to get real people the U.S. is going down fast!

[Sean Larabee]

The only thing they din't know about racism is that they would get caught. What a load of horse manure.
If it is so innocent why does'nt her "club" print up a bunch of them and pass them out in African American communities, do you think they would understand enough about the racial slur here to be wise enough to be frightened and not do that?
I think we all know they answer to that one.

[Thomas Robinson]

Come on this may be recent news of racially motivated slurs and literature but as we have known those who perpetrate them aren't innocent nor ignorant of the meaning behind what they do. Diane Fedele simply doesn't care what people think when she expresses her own opinion in these ways.

[Edward]

What is her definition of racism. She may not hate black people but she definitely carries biased and believes in ignorant stereotypes. The one thing I can say is that all the foods we eat black people eat. If you go to a white person's home you will not get a meal as rich in flavor or sustenance as you would in an African American or Latino home. Forget the stereotypes and vote on the issues. The ignorance is not helping the republican party in any light. People are by a majority progressive and if people display support in a primitive manor it will only hurt their party. Simple. Obama 08 that's all

[CR]

"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."

I am ashamed; that's only part of the reason I'm voting for Obama. Colin (Powell) likely feels similarly to me, despite um.. he's black and male, and I'm white and female.

[im4db8]

Where are the Republicans who are standing up to denounce this? John McCain, losing the election will not be your saddest moment. Condoning racism for fear of angering supporters is a stain upon your honor and integrity that you can never erase.

[lee]

American people finally speaking out to poor behavior. Im very proud for once that people are coming together. It is serious business. Why we have so much racism stil puzzles me. How can people believe in GOD or have faith and be racist. Will the after life have racism? Do Heaven or Hell see color? Life on earth is determine by what happens after you die. Racism is a sin!!!!

[Andrea]

Adrianne (Detroit/Baltimore/DC),.....All I have to say about your comments is....WOW, you should be running for president. You sound like a very good, honest, intelligent, beautiful person with a beautiful spirit. I applaud you.

I am a black man and I have no hate in my life and fell sorry for those who hate because it only damages their souls. I hope you all say a pray for Diane Fedele.

Peace to all.

Andrea' (yes I am a man with a womans name...so:)