Late last month, a legislative aide to Tennessee State Senator Diane Black sent an email from her State email address with an image of the 44 Presidents of the United States. The sitting President, Barack Obama, was depicted as eyes on a black background.

Nashville Is Talking has the scoop:

I spoke with Sherri Goforth minutes ago to confirm she sent this email. She confirmed she had sent it and also said she had received a letter of reprimand from her superiors but said she will stay on the job.

When I asked her if she understood the controversial nature of the photo, Goforth would only say she felt very bad about accidentally sending it to the wrong list. When I gave her a second chance to address the controversial nature of the email, she again repeated that she only felt bad about sending it to the wrong list of people.

“I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button,” Goforth told NIT. “I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.”

That’s it. No “I’m sorry I’m a racist!” All Ms. Goforth had to say for herself was that she was sorry she exposed herself as a racist by sending the message to the “wrong list of people”, because we all know there’s a right list of people to send this sort of message to. Bowing to pressure, Goforth eventually issued an apology, but was quick to pass the buck and try to shift the blame to the person who sent it to her:

I want to offer my deepest apology regarding the offensive nature of the email forwarded to several of my colleagues.

I also want to make it clear that it was forwarded to me from an acquaintenance with absolutely no political party ties and who is outside the Tennessee Capitol Hill arena. I should have deleted it upon receipt.

Again, I am deeply sorry and offer a sincere apology to anyone offended.

The Tennessee Democratic Party somehow obtained a copy of Senator Black’s reprimand to Goforth, posting it to their blog under the title Slap on the Wrist:

Dear Sherri,

This is a follow up to confirm our conversation regarding the state email policy. First, as we discussed, email communications are for state use only and hsould not be used for purposes outside of the guidelines established. Also, as we discussed, no communication that is derogatory regarding any minority should be sent from this office or that employee will be subject to termination of employment with my office. I know you take this policy seriously and I am confident that you will abide by that policy.

Your service to my office and the legislature has been commendable with the exception of this incident and I look forward to working together in the future within these guidelines.

Sincerely,

Diane Black

It’s hard to believe that after 20 years on the job Ms. Goforth had no idea her actions would be unacceptable. Moreover, by simply reprimanding and not outright dismissing Ms. Goforth from her position, Senator Black, the State of Tennessee, and the Tennessee GOP are condoning her actions. That the Tennessee GOP has largely remained silent on this matter, however, should come as no surprise, given that Chip “Barack the Magic Negro” Saltsman was once its chairman and Williamson County GOP chairman Doug Grindstaff last year stereotyped Kurdish immigrants as thieves and drug addicts.

Also in the news this week is an operative for Congressman Gresham Barrett’s campaign for South Carolina governor tweeting the following: “JUST HEARD OBAMA IS GOING TO IMPOSE A 40% TAX ON ASPIRIN BECAUSE IT’S WHITE AND IT WORKS.”

It’s funny because everyone knows all the dark ones are on welfare!

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Bigotry, Politics by Shane!