GOP group depicts Obama with watermelon, ribs

[JonLP24]

Source: AP

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A San Bernardino County Republican group has distributed a newsletter picturing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on a $10 bill adorned with a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken.

Linking Obama to demeaning racist stereotypes drew denunciations from various GOP officials after the illustration appeared in the October newsletter of the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday.

Diane Fedele, president of the group, said she had no racist intent.

"I never connected," she told the newspaper. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."

The Obama campaign declined to comment, saying it does not address such attacks.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g7w3PIVHs0pgr7MaboztFMupncHwD93RP68G0

[HopeHoops]

1. Um, that means Diane is either a racist and a liar, or she's dumber than a turnip - that's food.

[dmr]

22. She is all three- sickenly a RACIST, a LIAR and DUMBER than a turnip

Shame! Shame! Shame!

This actually hurts. It is a stab in my heart.

Truly, I want to throttle her. Me! I am rarely anything but calm and peaceful - and here I am, wanting to throttle someone!

I gotta go take a walk outside .......

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

31. Email her here

Those slimes should hear from all of us.

[e-mail]

[Plucketeer]

57. E-mail sent

What a loathsome scumbag! Your TYPICAL GOP faithful. :puke:

[Plucketeer]

58. Dupe

accidental Dupe. Sorry

[DWilliamsamh]

61. E-Mail Sent (n/t)

[Dem2theMax]

73. Thank you for the email address.

Email sent.

[superconnected]

56. It's normal for people to get aggravated when they're being lied to and they know it.

[DebbieCDC]

2. So which is it lady? Are you plain stupid or a complete liar?

Got to be one or the other.

Jeebus, what morans!

[JonLP24]

3. I'm sure we can all agree she is lying

watermelon, fried chicken, and ribs is not some coincidence. Definately racial stereotypes.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

5. Wrong. She's a repuklicker. That makes her a Liar AND an idiot

nt

[screembloodymurder]

4. Pssss ... he's black!

I guess they think we need a reminder.

[bowens43]

6. If no racist intent

why was she motivated to surround hm with food and this food in particular?

[musette_sf]

7. if you have the stomach to look at it

here is the link from the local newspaper showing the hideous thing:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_webbuck1.e7982b.html

[JonLP24]

9. It's worse then I thought

Label it food stamps and ad kool-aid. Definately racism.

[kath]

24. Yes- they're also bashing FOOD STAMPS. yeah, it's so EVIL to give the destitute $1 per meal to

try to survive on.

And the Repubs call themselves good Christians -- yeah right, as if JC wanted poor people to starve.

[olddad56]

8. Ribs, fried chicken, watermelon, racism, ...just never connected

I can believe that. But why no chitlans?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

60. Pardon the non-US resident -- I did know about the watermelon and chicken, but not the ribs.

I love me some BBQ beef ribs. Probably the Brazilian style is different from the US style. Why did THAT become a racist stereotype?

And what are chitlans?

[MadMaddie]

64. Mmmm Chitlans

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

<snip>
In colonial times, hogs were slaughtered in December, and hog maws (large intestines)<1>, pigs' feet, and neck bones were given to slaves. Until emancipation, African-American food choices were restricted by the dictates of their owners.
<snip>

My family eats them during Thanksgiving and Christmas! My mom spends hours cleaning them until they are cleaned until they white. (Usually 2-4 hrs of cleaning time)

My mom also says don't eat em if you haven't seen the cook clean em!!

[Sheets of Easter]

10. "I never connected"- oh horseshit!

:mad:

[Lautremont]

11. I happened to see this story while checking out Freeperland,

and came across a lament of "It's this sort of thing that gets Republicans called racists!" Yes, genius. Acting like a racist does tend to mean you get called a racist.

[krkaufman]

43. ha! They'd be hilarious if they weren't so terminally clueless. And dangerous. n/t

[RubyDuby in GA]

12. Boy its going to suck to be a republican after we have the WH, a filibuster proof Senate

and a veto proof House.

Welcome to the next 2 years of hell, mofos!

[Raster]

14. Yes, and even if our majorities aren't that ironclad for the next two years,

they will be after the 2010 elections, when we identify the slackers and the DINOs. Quite frankly, if I was a blue dog Democrat, I'd be updating my resume.

[SemperEadem]

13. lets put out a flyer depicting mclame

with a bunch of fat mcdonald's eating white people surrounded by bibles and guns and watch them explode in paroxyms and apoplexy.

[Raster]

Please, don't forget the diaper.

[HopeHoops]

45. No need - that's called a Palin campaign rally

[redqueen]

15. She's a shamless liar. And a disgusting racist.

:puke:

[mcg]

16. I like watermelon, and I'm white, I've never understood this ...

"blacks like watermelon" slur. There is no evidence of blacks liking watermelon more than whites, and what if they did? What is wrong with watermelon? I could maybe understand a controversy over cilantro (which people seem to either love or hate), but watermelon?

[Political Heretic]

17. It's of historical, not biological origin.

[Hekate]

26. The "watermelon, fried chicken" thing is part of a cluster of racist stereotypes from blackface...

... minstrel shows and ugly cartoons of the post-slavery Jim Crow era. It would go along with blackface, big ol' lips, big eyes ringed in startled white, "Feet don't fail me now!", cowardly, shucking and jiving, ignorant, stupid, lazy, shiftless, eating watermelon (rural South) and spitting out the seeds -- I could go on, but you get the picture. White people of a certain ilk used to think this kind of stuff was really funny.

It's been a long time since cartoons like that were even remotely socially acceptable, but they used to appear in respectable newspapers.

The "code" has been pared down. "Food stamps" equals lazy and shiftless. "Watermelon, ribs, and fried chicken" refers back to the complete stereotype.

The idiot woman who published this may not be fully conscious of the entire Jim Crow stereotype, but she knows it well enough to use it for "humor" -- and then is shocked when her own friends take deep offense.

Hekate

[Politicalboi]

27. They also say

That watermelon enhances certain body parts. I bet a lot of white folk bought a lot of melons last summer. And yes this woman is a racist.

[beltanefauve]

28. I wondered that myself

My boyfriend, of African-American descent, says that it is indeed historical, that watermelons growing in the fields were often the only source of refreshment for the slaves working the fields.

[mcg]

36. That's a worse slur than I thought, here's an answer from Yahoo answers ...

From Yahoo answers:
"In the old days back in the south, slaves were given the cheapest inexpensive food available. This includes all kinds of animal parts that white people would not eat like intestines, tongues and pigs feet. Watermelon and collard greens were the produce. ..."

[Kalifornia.Kid]

18. "Yes We Klan" repug campaign song.

So that's what racist repugs use to buy their Obama Waffles.

[Psephos]

20. lol n/t

[fascisthunter]

19. Republican Party=Political Party Full of Bigots

and Republicans embrace them....

[intheflow]

35. They need to embrace the bigots.

That's just about the only base they have left, white Christian bigots. And rich white folks, too.



*Not disparaging all white Christians, just the ignorant haters, like the people who support Focus on the Family.

[fascisthunter]

38. oh don't worry...

most should know what you mean. I agree... it really is all they have left and McCain realized it when he lost to Bush in the primaries.

[Art_from_Ark]

70. Wallace courted them in '68

and Nixon won them over in '72.

[Hekate]

21. An African-American member said: "I cried for 45 minutes." I'll bet she did...

> Sheila Raines, an African-American member of the club, was the first person to complain to Fedele about the
> newsletter. Raines, of San Bernardino, said she has worked hard to try to convince other minorities to join the
> Republican Party and now she feels betrayed.
>
>"This is what keeps African-Americans from joining the Republican Party," she said.
> "I'm really hurt. I cried for 45 minutes."

I'm sorry for her pain (honest), but clearly she has not been paying any attention to what the national party has been up to for all these years. I really cannot fathom why any minority or gay person would ever want to join the Republican Party.

As for Ms. Raines' "friends" in the local club, I hope they are enormously chagrined as well.

Hekate

[nichomachus]

30. Why do African Americans and gays join the GOP

A lot of reasons.

1. They believe the "liberals" are evil bullshit

2. Some do it for the tax breaks -- which is why most Log Cabinettes are well-off.

3. Some buy into the Jesus talk

4. Others just like being different. If everyone else is a progressive, you can stand out by being a mindless bigot.

5. Others just think it's cool.

[firedupdem]

46. She needed to cry for an hour or two! It's never been a secret

that these fuckers are racist! She should cry! Give me her number! I'll make her cry alright! I hate when my people support these fuckers!

[BlueIdaho]

23. Diane Fedele = Racist Trash

My only regret is I can't find an email address for this piece of human filth.

[Judi Lynn]

75. IllinoisBirdWatcher, upthread, post #31 posted it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3547644#3547765

[e-mail]

I've got to send one immediately, also.

What a dirty, desperate person this GOPig is. She would gladly stick a knife in the back of so many people to try to gain favor with her racist GOP pals.

She wouldn't have done this if she didn't think it would go over well with them. You don't do this kind of thing around people who are likely to condemn you for it, I'm sure! She wanted to get Republican "clever," make them all laugh, and feel popular for a moment, at someone else's expense. Dirtball Dianne, the GOPig.

[BlueIdaho]

81. Thanks! So much for the "Party of Lincoln" bullshit... huh. nm.

[Beam Me Up]

25. We can expect more of this tripe once he is President, too. Besides the

explicit racism we see the kool-aid pitcher and is that an outline of Africa behind his head? Can't quite tell but it looks like it could be.

[Miss Chybil]

29. "Oh, it was just food to me..."

Yes, we always adorn people with food. Carmen Miranda comes to mind. I'm sure there are many others who appear with food. Emeril. He's always adorned with food. Shrimp, usually. And you can't forget the lovely southern bell, Paula Dean. Everytime I see a picture of her she's got chicken and biscuits hanging around her neck. I usually adorn pictures of myself with banana popsicles and ham sandwiches. It is just food.

/sarcasm

[pattmarty]

32. These ass holes are just sick motherfuckers..........

....Remember the purple heart band aids? AND, this is waaaaaaaaaay worse.

[Delphinus]

33. Bullsh*t!

She might very well be as dumb as Palin, but she's also a racist.

[scarface2004]

34. be proud of your racism

bitch! don t be a weeny asshole!

[Irishonly]

37. Fedele is a POS

If you believe that food statement I have a bridge to nowhere to sell you.

[nichomachus]

39. What's the difference between the KKK and Republican women?

Lipstick.

[robertpaulsen]

40. "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

Inland GOP mailing depicts Obama's face on food stamp

By MICHELLE DeARMOND
The Press-Enterprise

The group's president, Diane Fedele, said she plans to send an apology letter to her members and to apologize at the club's meeting next week. She said she simply wanted to deride a comment Obama made over the summer about how as an African-American he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_buck16.3d67d4a.html

Yeah Diane, you derided it alright, by fulfilling the expectation. What's it like to be such a racist asshole?

[DemWynner]

41. So if it was Palin dressed as a hooker

In scant clothes, coming on to McCain, would she think that is sexist? You bet your A$$ she would! She knew this was racist and she needs to resign!

whoops!

[dixiegrrrrl]

67. Swamp Rat....bet he could do us a Palin image like that.

Not to leave out any of the other talented folks here..
how 'bout some entries???

[bettyellen]

77. how about we NOT be equally disgustng with sexism? otherwise they have you kid.

in the gutter with them. don;t be fooled.

[PfcHammer]

42. Dirty

sobs. :thumbsdown:

[McCamy Taylor]

44. OMG! The California GOPs sound like a bunch of red necks straight out of East Texas!

Did everyone who fled the Dust Bowl end up joining the Republican Party in California?

[LuckyLib]

54. Southern California. The worst Repugs reside there. Orange County is a big gathering place.

[not fooled]

68. And EASTERN So Cal

Sorry to any enlightened folks from there but Riverside/San Bernardino Counties are known as the most backward parts of So Cal. Blighted, depressed and depressing.

The ARMPIT of California!

[OnionPatch]

74. No offense taken. There is a lot of truth to what you say.

We moved out here five years ago, so we could have a mini-farm and still be within commuting distance of our jobs. We didn't realize just how bad it is out here regarding RWers. I have to admit we were warned but did not heed the warning.

However, the good news is that we are changing too, along with the rest of the country. I posted not long ago about how my Dem club's float won first prize in a parade here a few weeks ago. We are in Riverside County and the people in my Dem club are the best! By the way, San Bernardino County just recently went blue. It now has more registered Democrats than Republicans. :woohoo: So we're working our butts off out here and making some progress. It's definitely an uphill battle, though.

[joop]

47. seeing if the image will post - this is ridiculous

for those who don't like following blind links. This is the hate they had to offer:


Inconceivable.

[Twinguard]

48. That's despicable!

That is totally offensive. I think Diane "KKK" Fedele should be fired from her position as president. There is no place for that anywhere in this country. I find it appalling that this crap happens.

"It was just food to me," my ass! Kool-aid, KFC, ribs, and watermelon??!? There is no way that this was an accident. Those foods (and drink) are ALWAYS stereotypically linked to African-Americans. I like those foods, but when has anyone EVER linked those four foods with white people? Well, maybe KFC at a NASCAR race, but you get my point.

Racism is fucking terrible, and her claiming that this wasn't a racist jab is the worst kind of terrible!

We are ALL unique individuals. We have different skin colors, different hair colors, different religions, different clothing tastes, different philosophies, different jobs, we raise our children differently, we watch different movies, we listen to different music, we go to different schools, we have different ideas of what makes a good vacation, we even choose to decorate our houses differently, some of us are fat, others of us are skinny, some of us are tall, others short. In spite of these differences, we all come together at school, work, church, political rallies, movie theaters, and concerts for common reasons. We need to work together and get along if we are ever going to accomplish anything. I have an old tee shirt from the House of Blues (Chicago) with the slogan "Unity in Diversity." That is such a simple slogan, but i think it's quite profound and that slogan is part of my personal philosophy and how I try to live my life.

When I was a freshman in high school, my folks decided to temporarily relocate to England. I was lucky enough to get to go with them. We were only there for six months, but in those six months, I fell victim to some really hurtful discrimination. Most of the people I went to school with were white, so that wasn't it. We all spoke the same language, although we sounded funny to each other with the accents and all, so that wasn't it. I was the subject of ridicule and discrimination because I am American. Some people had the nuts to state flat out that they didn't like me because of that. Many, many more weren't that overt. I was picked on because of my shoes or my hairstyle (both of which are stupid since I bought my shoes there and had my hair cut by their local barber), one person broke my nose in a fistfight because he didn't like that Americans call a 25 cent coin a "quarter." I loved my experience over there in spite of that crap from my classmates. I will, however, take from that experience a lesson that I will never in my life forget. I know how much it hurts to be judged for something I have no control over, much the way people have no control over their skin color. From the moment I had that epiphany, I vowed to never judge anyone, ever, for something they have no control over. Period.

I know that I wasn't the victim of racism, but thanks to my England experience I feel that I understand the difficulty that people deal with due to racism.

Fuck racism.

[Orrex]

49. Actually I think that the GOP group is right on this one

I mean, my innocent display of a tiger cage and five crashed jets was taken as some sort of attack on the good Senator from Arizona. I tell you that I am shocked at the accusations I've endured in response.

[Wetzelbill]

50. but the GOP isn't racist! they say it all the time while defending something racist they have done

Really, they aren't!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

51. there should be laws that outlaw this kind of campaigning

[liberal texan]

52. my question would be what would it be if not racist

[LuckyLib]

55. Yep! Why isn't Obama surrounded by broccoli and radishes? Fruit roll-ups and twinkies?

Oh, that's right. Watermelon, KFC and ribs just happened to come to mind while the piece was put together. What imbeciles!

[The_Casual_Observer]

53. Sure, no racist intent. What a lot of fucking nerve.

And cowardice. At least she could have come clean about the god damn thing, instead when cornered she lied about it.

[BlooInBloo]

59. Enter the racism-supporting "benefit of the doubt"ers.

[muntrv]

62. Diane, cook me dinner and give me oral sex. NO SEXIST INTENT!

[muntrv]

63. She's KO's worst person in the world today.

[llmart]

65. And the GOP....

wonders why they're losing credibility throughout America. They disgust me.

[unkachuck]

66. this racist crap will become....

....hot and heavy over the next few weeks from our white fascist repug brethren, that's all they have left....we'll probably need between 5 and 10 points cushion to overcome racism at the polls on election day....

....that's the bad news, the good news is, we'll get those points and more....

[dixiegrrrrl]

69. I sent her an e-mail congratulating her

on proving that San Bernadino County was now more racist than the South.

and I told her I was not going to vote Republican because I found her thinking too racist.

( Let them read into that what they may)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

71. Let's send donations to NAACP and ACLU in honor of Ms Fedele

[Leopolds Ghost]

72. What, no Pigtails? Hominy grits?

I bet you she's upset that it is even possible to buy food with food stamps -- racists in this country always are.

:grr:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

76. "I never connected," she told the newspaper. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."

She's not even creative in making up excuses for her racist filth. That is probably the lamest excuse I have ever heard!

[mikeytherat]

78. A liar, and a very poor one at that.

She said she simply wanted to deride a comment Obama made over the summer about how as an African-American he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

First and foremost, Ms. Fedele, it is clearly a Food Stamp and not a dollar bill. As such, we must conclude the rest of your pathetic spin-pology rings as hollow as your sad, little head. And don't try and run from it, either. You laugh at the idea of people different than yourself having their own conventions, and you stereotype your racism. Look in the mirror and accept it, darling; it's who you are.
mikey_the_rat

[slackmaster]

79. That is unquestionably, unambiguously racist

Pitiful.

[Finite]

80. That's the weakest excuse I've ever heard!

"I never connected," she told the newspaper. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."

What??? Jesus, at least some racists have the courage to admit what their views are..