Here's the latest:
--Chip Saltsman, one of the better-known candidates, again defends his decision to send RNC members a CD that includes the parody track, 'Barack the Magic Negro,' a reference to an op-ed headline in the L.A. Times in 2007: 'Liberal Democrats and their allies in the media didn't utter a word about David Ehrenstein's irresponsible column in the Los Angeles Times. ... But now, of course, they're shocked and appalled by its parody on the Rush Limbaugh Show. I firmly believe that we must welcome all Americans into our party and that the road to Republican resurgence begins with unity, not division. But I know that our party leaders should stand up against the media's double standards and refuse to pander to their desire for scandal.'
--Saltsman's e-mailed comment came shortly after RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, who's seeking reelection, issued this statement: 'The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party. I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate as it clearly does not move us in the right direction.'
--Politico's Ben Smith – 'Blackwell defends Saltsman: Ken Blackwell, the former Ohio secretary of state who appears to be leading in the race to become the next chairman of the Republican National Committee, is defending ... Saltsman ... 'Unfortunately, there is hypersensitivity in the press regarding matters of race. This is in large measure due to President-Elect Obama being the first African-American elected president,' said Blackwell, who would be the first black RNC chairman, in a statement forwarded to Politico by an aide. 'I don't think any of the concerns that have been expressed in the media about any of the other candidates for RNC chairman should disqualify them. When looked at in the proper context, these concerns are minimal. All of my competitors for this leadership post are fine people.' The Republican Party is struggling to find support from non-white voters, and some of its leaders have called for a new sensitivity to race and racism, allegations of which have surfaced before in the insider-dominated contest to chair the GOP.'
-- J. Peter Freire, managing editor of The American Spectator, blogs: 'While Saltsman is defending the CD as just a joke, it doesn't quite stand up to his answer to question number 8 on the Republican committeeman Morton Blackwell's questionnaire: 'The fact is that Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian and Jewish voters and many other minorities have ideological bonds with Republicans but have often felt uncomfortable within the confines of our party.' ... This shows a level of tin-eared politicking that is surprising for a man who wants to head the Republican ship. ... Some [GOP operatives] tell me they've contacted Saltsman and asked him to make a public apology'
Source: Mike Allen's Politico Playbook Daily Update
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