BREAKING: Limbaugh’s “Barack the Magic Negro,” on-air song has workers up in arms

[Ian David]

BREAKING: Limbaugh’s “Barack the Magic Negro,” on-air song has workers up in arms
By: John Amato on Friday, April 27th, 2007 at 12:44 PM - PDT

Rush Limbaugh has angered many black employees over this parody song called "Barack the Magic Negro" This isn't the first or the last time that Limbaugh will go after Obama's race:

I've been told that they have held meetings internally to deal with a ground swell of anger at Rush because of this…A caller noticed there was a disclaimer added to the station she listens to and asks Rush why.

More:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/04/27/breaking-limbaughs-barack-the-magic-negro-on-air-song-has-staffers-up-in-arms/

[Richardo]

1. Rush has black employees?

For God's sake why? and how?

[lonestarnot]

2. He painted some people black for appearance.

[Ian David]

7. I wondered the same thing. n/t

[CoffeeCat]

10. Lyrics...

Here are the lyrics to this abomination. It's offensive and ignorant, but
I think it's important to know how sick Rush is.

This is a Rush parodie---with a fake "Al Sharpton" singing the song...

Barack the Magic Negro
lives in DC
The LA Times they call him that
cause he's not authentic like me.

The guy from the LA paper
said he makes guilty whites feel good
They'll vote for him and not for me
cause he's not from the hood

See, real black men like Snoop Dog
or me or Farakhan
have walked the walk and talked the talk
not come in late and won

Oh, Barack the Magic Negro
lives in DC
The LA Times they call him that
cause he's black but not authentically

Some say Barack's articulate
and bright and cool and clean
The media sure loves this guy
a white interlopers dream

but when you vote for president
watch out and don't be fooled
don't vote the magic negro in
'cause...cause I won't have nothing
after all of these years of sacrifice!

(garbled rant by Sharpton about having
nothing if Obama is elected)

[brettdale]

107. those lyrics are just pathetic

How can anyone listen to Rush at all.

[guitar man]

24. shhhh, don't tell Rush they're employees

he thinks he owns them..... :eyes:

[wellst0nev0ter]

41. He Often Has That Walter Williams On As A Guest Host

Whenever he's off on one of his Dominican sex tours.

[Morgana LaFey]

62. Do you mean Armstrong Williams?

Or if not, who's Walter Williams?

[AspenRose]

72. Walter Williams is a professor at George Mason University

And yes, he's subbed for Rush.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Williams

[never cry wolf]

105. Not Walter "no-neck" Williams

My hero as a white sox player in the 60's...

[wellst0nev0ter]

106. (deleted)

[terrya]

51. You would have thought that Rush's comments about Donovan McNabb...

MIGHT have clued some people in about his racial attitudes...

[spoony]

67. Lol, that was my first though too.

I mean, this is hardly the first time he's said something comparing black people to savages, animals, etc.

[sakabatou]

117. Indentured servents?

[jeff30997]

3. Rush the Magic Asshole !

:nuke: :grr: :nuke:

[MannyGoldstein]

9. Didn't A Boil on His Magic Asshole...

... let him evade service in Viet Nam?

[MADem]

29. I am moved to break into song!!!

Rush the Magic Asshole,
Ran from Vietnam.
His lame excuse, the fetid juice,
From a big hole in his bum!

Little pustule Rushy,
loved himself some drugs,
he forced his maid, he made a slave,
To get them from some thugs!

Little asshole Rushbo,
Found he couldn't hear.
He made some bail, avoided jail,
and 'rehabbed' his career!

You do as I say,
That's the Rushbo saw
Not as I do, 'cause I'm no fool,
I am above the law!!

[philosophie_en_rose]

40. Rush's Magic Ass Boil

:rofl:

Nice song.

[MannyGoldstein]

53. Awesome!

Well done!

[KamaAina]

58. Next on Your Hit Parade:

Rush, the druggie Nazi,
Runs EIB
And fills it full of right-wing hate
In a land called GOP!

[Ilsa]

63. Great song! Someone needs to make a recording for Randi Rhodes,

Mike Malloy, etc.

[pnorman]

111. WONDERFUL!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Was that yours? I may be 'hijacking' it in the near future!

pnorman

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Where's Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson when you need them? Did the employees

call them? THEY SHOULD! Lets get rid of LIMPBALLS TOO! Wouldn't that be sweet?

[Atman]

5. Where is Al Sharpton threatening all the stations who broadcast Rush?

AL? AL? Where are you, Al?

.

[CoffeeCat]

19. Rush's song parodies SHARPTON singing...

...this song about Obama!

I would be very interested to hear what Sharpton has to
say about this.

It's as if Rush is daring anyone to try and fire him.
He did an outrageous, racist thing--and he's going to
show the world just how untouchable he is--and how no
one can get Rush fired.

Sick.

[cboy4]

6. Is it mean for me to say I don't give a rat's ass about any black

people who work for Rush?

Sorry, I really don't.

If you're stupid enough to work for a racist, :wtf: do you expect?

[still_one]

8. Not the point, if they fired Imus for something similar, why not limbaugh

or even beck when he told an ELECTED MUSLIM REPRESENTATIVE, that he could not be trusted because he was Muslim

These are PUBLIC AIR WAVES, and the public has a right not to hear bigoted nonesense

[bullwinkle428]

11. That was actually Glenn Beck, to be accurate,

but for all intents and purposes, "same shit, different asshole"!

[still_one]

22. I realize that, unfortunately I didn't make it clear in my post. Thanks for the clarification

still I don't hear the same outcry, Why Not?

[cboy4]

36. Oh, I'm not arguing against him being fired. I'm just saying if

you apply to be a receptionist at the local KKK office, I don't care to listen to you bitch about how everyone hates black people.

[onenote]

82. Did you bother to read the story? They're not his employees, they're station employees

Did you bother to read the story? Its employees of the stations that air limbaugh's program, not limbaugh's employees.

Sort of like the employees of CBS and MSNBC who complained about Imus -- they were not Imus employees...

[cboy4]

103. Link? I don't know which story you're talking about.

If they're indeed only employees of the radio station, then of course, that makes a difference.

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

39. It sure does.

The public can either switch stations or turn off the radio entirely.

Do you want the government to regulate content on the basis of its perceived "offensiveness"? Be careful what you wish for.

[enki23]

35. i doubt rushbo hired them.

.

[AngryOldDem]

116. Offensive is offensive.

Who works for whom is really immaterial.

And I, too, ask: Where are Sharpton, et. al. now? Why is Rush getting a free pass? Because it's Rush, and we expect such bullshit from him? Sorry, that's not good enough.

[MasonJar]

12. Excuse me, but this is considerably worse than what Imus did; at

least Imus apologized, even after he was fired. Rush should go NOW!

[Colobo]

14. Much much worse

Where's the public outrage? Barack's campaign needs to start putting some pressure on Rush, same with Al and others.

[MADem]

13. How long does it take to get outraged? That happened in MARCH.

Now, it may be that the employees got angry contemporaneously with the insult, but you gotta ask yourself (and you REALLY have to ask yourself once you hear the tape):

--Why are there no television or radio news reports of this disgraceful incident?

--Why hasn't Rush apologized??

--Where are the justifiable complaints from equal rights leaders of all stripes?

Here's the thing, and it's the point that needs to be made: If the corporate media refuses to cover it, why, it never happened. Even if it happened a good month ago.

CROOKS AND LIARS and MEDIA MATTERS are the only ones who have touched this. Unfortunately, they don't have the reach of the corporate media kings.

Faux, CNN, GE-MSNBC??? They haven't gotten their ten-foot pole anywhere NEAR old "Pro War Rush's" disgraceful remarks. I'm waiting, and with each passing day since that March broadcast, hope dims by the day that anyone will hold that drug-addled baaaastid accountable.

[Colobo]

18. It seems like he keeps playing that stuff on his show

[MADem]

31. The baaaaastid.

I wrote a song for HIM, too, in post 29.

[dsc]

15. It isn't necessarily Rush who has the black employees

it is the stations that play Rush. Though he did have at least one.

[CoffeeCat]

23. Rush's right-hand man is black...

Bo Snerdley (real name James Golden) is Rush's call screener.

He speaks on the show regularly.

Hard to believe, huh?

[dsc]

26. That is who I was referring to

and yes, it is hard to believe he is Rush's right hand man.

[BlooInBloo]

16. Looks like it's time to convene another panel on rap lyrics.

[gratuitous]

17. This doesn't seem to be going away

I wonder if Rush will be forced off the air or (even worse) have to apologize to keep his miserable waste of air time?

[ReadTomPaine]

20. Happy to rec #5.

If it's good enough for Imus, it's good enough for Rush.

[patricia92243]

21. I'll be curious to see if he is treated like Imus was. The right considered Imus liberal. Rush is

their darling.

[Kagemusha]

25. Not that I disagree with the outrage, but I want to add this comment..

the writer for the L.A. Times who first brought up the "magic negro" phrase in reference to Obama, I did not bother to read his article, I do not know what his point was, but Rush Limbaugh jumped on it and used that as an invitation to play these songs and to drive the phrase into the American psyche with a nail gun. That writer did not do the country any favors.

[BlooInBloo]

27. Lot of opinions for someone who didn't even read the article. Are you a journalist by chance?

[guitar man]

28. yeah, you know

you have a point there. Most of us here are intelligent enough to undersatnd the context of the LA times writer vs. Rush's garbage, but unfortunately, too many around the country are not.

I'll bet a case of beer that if this thing heats up he's going to go for the "oh, so it's ok for the liberal LA Times but it's not ok for me" pity party, and the uninformed hordes are going to lap it up. I smell a setup from the word go on this thing. :grr:

[CoffeeCat]

32. Rush is demonstrating to the world...

...that he is untouchable, and unable to be fired.

We've just come off of the Imus scandal, and now Rush is publicizing
his racist Obama song. Look at Rush's main page. He's got tons
of stuff about this, on his FRONT PAGE. He's chiding all of us.

This is by design.

He probably felt knocked down a notch by the Imus thing. He
took it as an insult...that America would DARE to take down
a talk-show host for racist speech.

To get his ego back on top of the situation--Rush is being
a racist pig himself, and allowing the entire world to see
that there's not a damn thing any of us can do about it.

He's showing America that we aren't enough to take
down Rush Limbaugh. He's daring us to try and he can't
wait to show us that he's indestructible--no matter how
racist, hateful, venomous, dishonest or sociopathic he is.

[ReadTomPaine]

34. I'd agree with this assessment..

It's a trait they all share at some level in Bush's political machine.

[Kagemusha]

38. I too agree with your assessment.

I think that's exactly his motivation... and by and large, so long as he's paid good money to entertain the masses in this manner, he has every right as a free American citizen to be a scumbag on public radio. It's wrong, but it's quite legal. There's little chance that he's wrong that he's untouchable over this 'magic negro' thing. Doesn't make him any less scum for the method he has chosen to prove it.

[guitar man]

42. I agree

I mean, he already committed multiple drug felonies and somehow couldn't even be brought to trial or held responsible for that. If any one of us common folk had pulled a stunt like sending someone out to score the amounts of oxy that he did, our ass would still be locked up in the slammer.

Somehow, our own subset of "royals" has been created in this country and they are becoming more and more untouchable.

[CoffeeCat]

30. That's typical Rush tactics...

Rush often eludes accountability for his racist/hateful/bigoted/anti-female remarks
by using others' hate speech.

He won't originate the venom. However, he's more than happy to spread it around--
in the form of a song or in a 30-minute prattling monologue.

When someone calls him on the carpet, he simply ducks responsibility by saying, "Come on!
I didn't say it! Don't get mad at me! It was the reporter from the Times who said it!"

It's at this point that Rush points to all of the African American friends that he has
and how many minorities he employs. Then, he regales everyone with tales of his intimate
friendship with Clarence Thomas and how many dinners they've had at each others' houses.
"I was one of the few people at his wedding, for God's sake!".

Ya see...Rush gets to be a racist jerk, and perpetuate racist speech to the racists who
listen to him. Then, he stands back--all hurt and upset--because someone called him
a racist.

It's typical. It's getting boring, too.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

33. I remember the L.A. Times article.

It was the subject of a flame war here in GD. Too bad the archive search is locked.

"Magic Negro" is a cinema archetype. It's a hybrid of too symptoms of bad writing- the "token negro" and the "MacGuffin." The "token negro" is a character whose only purpose is to have a black character in the piece." A "MacGuffin" is when the author doesn't know how to move the plot along, so he invents a device that magically appears and moves the story along. The "magic negro" is, basically, both of these. They're often old friendly african americans from the south, i.e. as non-threatening as possible to white suburbia, who show up and use their, often literally, magical voodoo powers to help the white protagonist along.

The L.A. times article apparently did not clearly understand the term, as he identified a number of black roles that didn't fit in to this archetype. But his main point was that Obama was a "magic negro," that is the only reason he's a candidate is because he's black, and that us white people expect him to magically solve our problems.

[Kagemusha]

46. The writer clearly didn't understand what his article would lead to.

That's unfortunate for all of us because we're staring right at the results.

Thanks for the concise and helpful explanation. I'm a prolific reader, but that article was something I just couldn't stand even for the sole purpose of figuring out what the hell he meant by 'magic negro'.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

49. I don't think the writer understood much of anything.

But he came off as a neocon, so he's probably pleased as punch with Rush.

[Scout1071]

113. And Imus had McGuirk.

They are one and the same. They let other people throw out the offensive stuff, then they play it up to the max.

[Redbear]

37. Looking at C&L it's not employees of Limbaugh who are upset

It's employees of the stations where his show is broadcast.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

43. Maybe they'll fire him this time!!

We can only pray.

[Bronyraurus]

44. How is this racist?

He's clearly making fun of Sharpton and the term "magic negro," but not Obama himself or blacks in general. Anyone have any ideas?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

45. didn't you ask the same thing of Don Imus?

[Bronyraurus]

48. No, I thought that what Imus said was racist

and sexist. It didn't bother me that he got fired. You can only walk a fine line for so long before falling off.

But I don't see how Rush's song is racist. Can you explain why?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

50. But...

weren't you all hot and bothered by rap lyrics?

[Bronyraurus]

52. No, you're thinking of someone else.

Care to answer my question instead of saying meaningless shit about someone else?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

54. I could have sworn it was you going on about Snoop Dogg.

Anyway, how is it racist? How is it not racist?

What does Barack Obama have to do with Louis Farrakhan?

[Bronyraurus]

55. I posted about Snoop Dogg

but I was praising him if anything because he said something very funny.

The song is meant to be a complaint by Sharpton against Obama for not being "black enough" like he and Farrakhan are. It incorporates the LA Times' argument that Barack can appeal to guilty whites because he's articulate, fresh, and clean, so they can bring themselves to vote for him and still pat themselves on the back for voting for a black man.

Everyone here is calling this spoof racist, and I'm asking why it's racist. Can anyone articulate why?

[Bronyraurus]

56. Come on, anyone?!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

59. You never answered my question?

What does Farrakhan have to do with Obama. Or Sharpton for that matter?

Seems like he may have well metioned Willie Horton.

[Bronyraurus]

64. The idea is that

Sharpton considers Farrakhan and himself more legitimately black than he does Obama. Your turn.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

66. The idea is that...

Rush is trying to associate Obama and Sharpton with Farrakhan, because they're all black.

Which is racism.

Your turn.

[Bronyraurus]

69. Really?

That's why the song is racist? Because of the mention of Farrakhan? In the song, Farrakhan is contrasted to Obama, not associated with him.

You can't explain why it's racist, so you're making stuff up.

Who's next?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

70. I just explained why it's racist.

You can't explain why it's not racist, so you're just apologizing for right wing racist pundits. Again.

[Bronyraurus]

73. I don't see how it's racist

because it doesn't do anything but make fun of Sharpton and the phrase "magic negro."

And if attacking frivolous accusations of racism is "apologizing for right wing racist pundits", then... you can't be serious.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

75. No, of course not.

:eyes:

Tell me, what does Sharpton have to do with Farrakhan?

[Bronyraurus]

77. They're both race-baiting hustlers

who cower behind a cloak of religiosity.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

78. Ha!

You defend rush and call Sharpton a race-baiter.

:rofl:

[Bronyraurus]

80. I'm not defending anyone

I'm defending the song against a charge of racism. And if you don't think Sharpton is a race-baiter... then you must have missed the 1980s.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

84. Do you even know what the term "race-baiting" means?

[Bronyraurus]

86. I do, but

I'm not sure that you do.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

89. Let's have it.

[Bronyraurus]

92. In my understanding it means

to attack a racial group, or to stir up feelings against a racial group.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

93. And by that definition Sharpton is a race baiter?

Because Sharpton hates white people, right?

:rofl:

[Bronyraurus]

96. Or Jews

Sharpton's history is well known and I won't debate it here because something tells me I won't get anywhere with you. But have fun this weekend anyway.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

97. Ah, Sharpton's an anti-semite.

But Limbaugh's not a racist.

Got it.

:thumbsup:

[Bronyraurus]

98. No, you don't got it.

I never said that Limbaugh wasn't a racist. I said that the song wasn't racist.

You just keep coming back for more beatings, don't you?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

99. And you're so surprised to find out Limbaugh's a racist!

My goodness! Heavens to Betsy! You had no idea!

:rofl:

[Ian David]

102. I disagree with you on Limbaugh but agree with you on Sharpton. n/t

[Swamp Rat]

76. "Who's next??" ... why are you defending Rush Limpballs at DU?

Sounds like you are openly challenging all DUers to prove Rush is a racist.

You will lose this argument. :)

[Bronyraurus]

79. No, I have no idea how he is racist aside from this song

He may very well be. I just don't think the song is racist, and no one has coherently explained way (although the below poster attempted to). Nice graphic.

[Swamp Rat]

83. Well, his "Halfrican" remark is racist.

I have heard him make racist comments on radio and TV for over a decade.

He plays the song because it has the word "negro" repeated over and over. He knows it infuriates Americans, while at the same time entertains his racist audience (all of whom know it as a code word for "nigger').

[Bronyraurus]

90. I don't know the halfrican remark

And as for the song, as I stated upthread, it seems to only be mocking Sharpton and the phrase itself, as used in the LA Times.

The word "negro" is jarring, yes. It's too old-fashioned and long-since abandoned by most blacks. Why the LA Times chose it, I don't know. But I think that's part of why the song mocks the phrase. Yet, I think that the song still would've been recorded if the LA Times used the phrase "magic black man." It fits the meter, anyway.

[Swamp Rat]

100. Now you know about the "halfrican" remark, and hopefully you will integrate it into your thinking.

Meter is another subject - I am a percussionist. ;)

[krkaufman]

115. With your argument implying that Sharpton could be considered the real racist ...

... ala Bernard McGuirk, the guy who makes the initial racist comment ... while Limbaugh is really just repeating someone else's racist comment, with some added flair, just like Imus did.

Sharpton = McGuirk
Limbaugh = Imus

Any questions?

[sandnsea]

71. It's painfully racist

First the Halfrican remark, now this. It plays on the worst stereotypes of black civil rights activists, and the criminal black man - absolutely to appeal to racists. And then turns that against Barack with another racist stereotype, white guilt, - which leaves Barack completely smeared by a racist slaughter from all angles.

It's truly horrible. How can you not understand how African Americans would be furious at that mess?

[Bronyraurus]

74. What "halfrican" remark?

That's not in the lyrics as far as I can see. And it doesn't play on any stereotypes of black civil rights activists, it attacks Sharpton directly. Where do you see criminal black man referenced?

As for the white guilt element, it means to make fun of the LA Times for making that case against Obama.

This song can't be called any kind of insult against Obama.

[sandnsea]

88. Your hate for Sharpton

outweighs your hate for racism. Telling.

I don't know how you missed his Halfrican remark. You can look it up, although it speaks for itself.

Snoop? From the 'hood? You think that was a compliment?

You didn't find this song ridiculing or dehumanizing of Obama at all?

[Bronyraurus]

94. No, I dislike both equally. There's not much difference to me.

I did miss it. I just looked it up. It's deliberately insensitive at the very least. But I was talking about the song, not Limbaugh. I have no interest in defending Limbaugh against charges of racism, because as Swamp Rat pointed out, I would fail.

As for Snoop, I posted his remarks because I thought they were wildly funny. Not a compliment per se, but if anything I was giving him props for saying something that made me laugh.

And again, how does this song attack Obama in the least bit?

[sandnsea]

101. Did you listen to the song?

I'm not talking about what you posted about Snoop - I'm referring to the song - real black men like Snoop Dawg or Sharpton or Farrakhan - criminals and radicals only, the innuendo is obvious. Dehumanizing Obama as a token? That isn't racist to you?

You laughed at this song??

[rhett o rick]

112. Intent. Racism or bigotry is a lot about intent. What was Rush's intent ?

Was he just being funny like Imus? No way. Rush is a big cog in the corporatist/fascist machine. They need to divide the Country anyway they can to keep control. Racism is one of their tools. Rush has a racist agenda and his intent was racially motivated.

[illinoisprogressive]

47. why don't they go after the almight Rush for this obvious racist slur.

[militaryspouse]

57. re

This is the first I'm hearing of it, and I even watched the news with no mention of it. I wonder if ppl will make this all about the evils of rap music?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

60. Rap music is evil?

Why do you think that, militaryspouse?

[militaryspouse]

61. RE

I remember when imus got fired everyone started excusing him and then blaming rap, to take imus out of the spotlight.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

65. Ah...

I thought you were trying to blame rap music, and take Limbaugh out of the spot light.

:hi:

[mudesi]

68. If it's good enough for Imus, It's good enough for Limbaugh

Fire him.

[mod mom]

81. This man is DESPICABLE!

[Vox_Reason]

85. If Obama could Imus-ize Limbaugh...

His stock would skyrocket.

Why not at least try?

[TexasLawyer]

87. Limbaugh advertisers

Please note what you are financially supporting with your advertising dollars, and act accordingly.

[DainBramaged]

91. I bet a nickle Sharpton and Jackson don't ask for Limpballs to be muted

Rushblow will get away with this crap completely. Jackson and Sharpton don't have the balls to go after him.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

95. Riiiiight.

"The Rev. Al Sharpton has scheduled a news conference Thursday morning in front of ABC headquarters in New York to call for Limbaugh's firing -- and a national boycott of the network this weekend if that move doesn't happen.

"I'm shocked that we're at Wednesday and we have not seen an apology from Mr. Limbaugh," Sharpton said. "We cannot sit back in silence. That would be consent and we would have lost self-respect.'"

This was after Limbaugh's racist remarks about McNabb, but it basically debunks your whole argument.

I find it awfully amusing how every time some white racist making racist remarks, white people show up to criticize Al Sharpton.

[cboy4]

104. Why would they not have the balls to go after him?

That makes no sense.

[DainBramaged]

108. Imus was an easy target, he worked for a NETWORK

WFAN and MSNBC

How can they get all of Limpballs brainless bigots to stop airing him?

[cboy4]

109. No. That's not what you said. You said they don't have

"the balls" to go after him.

You accused them of not having balls, and I'm asking you why would you say those two men don't have the balls.

I'd like to know why you would say that.

[krkaufman]

118. Well, Sharpton's gonna have a pretty hard time criticizing Limbaugh ...

... for repeating his own comments.

[greiner3]

110. So if I hear any white guy humming 'Rudolph the Red Nosed;

Reindeer' in the next month or two, I'll punch him in the nose, just because I now associate that song with rush. How pathetic.

[krkaufman]

114. And I suppose Limbaugh is still being carried on Armed Forces Radio?

If so, this meets the same sort of credibility threshold that Imus achieved by years of having politicians and opinion-makers on his show. Limbaugh should be held accountable, in the same fashion -- at least by Armed Forces Radio.

What's the latest on AFR? How does one get their schedule and/or tune-in?