Rum, Romanism and Rebellion

I took a shot at Bruce Ash for some recent developments in the race for Republican National Committee chair. He responded in a comment on that post, but I think it is only fair to reprint his response:

I have the CD from Mr Saltsman. I was out of town when the product was first delivered to my office over the holidays. I am very concerned about the apparent bad judgement and total lack of sensitivity shown by either Saltsman or his staff in being involved in something that shows such poor view of the world. The further issue is the release was made by a man of the south which only further amplifies un savory stereotypes of past times.

I called Mr Saltsman to meet with him in part because I want to question him on this matter. Our meeting is expected to take place in the next few days. I will have a more definitive statement to make to GOP activists once I have given him an opportunity to reply.

For the record ……… name calling and race baiting should have no future role in American politics

I’m not a fan of Mr. Ash, but he ought to be congratulated for this response.

-Sigh- Then he continued:

And further on this issue I trust you would agree the negative racial rhetoric spewing out of the state of Illinois by Democrats IS disgusting. The blatant naming of an African American by their illigitimate governor to replace Mr Obama is a open attempt to challenge white Mormon Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid into rejecting the African American Mr Burris ( and try and distract the criminal proceedings against Governor Blago). The racially charged ramblings by former radical Bobby Rush is truly insulting to hear especially as he makes his proclamations from the halls of the US Congress challenging white America to seat the appointed Senator designate. This is how “machine politics” is still played in Illinois and that is the sewer that our new President has arose from. Let us hope that he is a truly “post racial” president and this mess will be resolved without any more racial damage being done by the Democrats from the “Land of Lincoln.”

Come on Bruce, you were doing so well.

Yep, Bobby Rush made hay out of this. Do you expect anything else? But, please, tell me where the outpouring divisive racial rhetoric has been. The Congressional Black Caucus has been silent. Other African American officials in Illinois have been resistant and critical of the process. Danny Davis, an African American, refused the appointment. Matter of fact, the way that Senator Reid was able to block Roland Burris was because the Illinois Secretary of State, an African American, refused to sign off on the appointment. The “racial strife” that you claim that is being encouraged by Democrats, unless you count Blagoevich, who is barely a national leader, just doesn’t exist.

By the way, were you taking a shot at Harry Reid for being a Mormon?