Sherri Goforth PHOTO!
PHOTO! Here is Sherri Goforth’s Obama picture Goforth called “Historical Keepsake Photo” (aka the “Spook” photo). Sherri Goforth sent an email with this Obama racist message as a Tennessee GOP staffer.
Even worse, her “apology”.
Sherri Goforth is an executive assistant for Tennessee State Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin). Goforth in an email sent this picture which shows past presidents and replaces Obama’s current photo with something else (enlarged in upper right). Goforth titled her email as “Historical Keepsake Photo.”
Thereafter, when Sherri came under fire, and sought to apologize, what did she say? She said she’s sorry that sent it to the wrong people.
“I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button. I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.”
Goforth said she sent it “to the wrong list of people.” Who were the “right list” she hasn’t yet to explain, not yet granting an interview.
Diane Black said Goforth has been spoken to but yet to be dismissed. Why not?
“I want to be sure that everyone understands that the communication was sent without my knowledge. It absolutely does not represent the beliefs or opinions of my office. I want to be very clear about that.”
Republicans and Democrats want Goforth fired ASAP. State Rep. Democrat John Deberry Jr. tells CNN:
“The last thing we need in the state of Tennessee is to send out the impression and the image that we are still stuck in some backwater mentality and culture that feels it’s OK to depict the president of the United States in that fashion”
Erin Andrews
Crystal Harris
Shannon Twins
Ikki Twins
on June 16th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
If the GOP is puzzled why more African-Americans do not join their party, this should explain it.
on June 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Funny, just yesterday “Rusty DePass”, a former Republican county chairman and “longtime GOP activist”, referred to a report that a gorilla had escaped from the local zoo, by saying it was Micheal Obama’s relative. He posted it on his Facebook page. Keep it up, Redneck, Southern members of the GOP! You’re making it easier and easier for us Democrats to take over and erase you morons.
on June 17th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Robert L, how do you propose to erase all the morons? And what do you need to takeover? A little demonazi showing through.
on June 17th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Unbelievable that Sen Black did not fire her on the spot. Just another example of how the hateful right controls the republican party. I wonder how Hannity will defend this one or if he will give it any coverage at all. As a center-right person, I wish there were a fiscally conservative and socially compassionate choice for me among republicans, but I fear that such a candidate will never emerge from the party of Limbaugh, Hannity, Cheney and Gingrich.
on June 17th, 2009 at 8:04 am
So long as white supremacists and neoconservatives continue to lurk in the depths of the Republican Party, I will never support them ever again. Please purge the Limbaughs, Hannitys, Becks, Gringrichs, Cheneys, Bushes from the party.
on June 17th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Oh come on, racism has been going on for years….now you hear one person make a comment but “african-americans” can go around calling “caucasins” names but no one says anything about that….but when one person comes out and says something about an african-american it makes headlines…lol hypocrites I say, it’s the way the world works…racism is never going to go away no matter who says what…everyone might as well deal with it. It doesn’t matter who it’s about it’s still racism, I just think that people should just let it go to be honest with you because EVERYONE I mean EVERYONE does it, I don’t care who you are. You may say oh I’m not racism but I bet you, you really are. Even if you talk about Mexicans, Caucasins, African-Americans, French, Russian, etc..etc…etc…if you have talked about any of them negatively you’re racists. Or so it seems to the world. Hypocritcal I call everyone, I just really think it’s funny how blacks can call whites names and get away with it but when whites say something about them it’s discriminating and racists and they want something done about it…I say HYPOCRITES!!!! I just think that everyone should shut up about everyone else and mind their own business and get their own lives because if they do then maybe just maybe you wouldn’t have this problem these days.
on June 17th, 2009 at 8:59 am
If John and Sarah had said they would fix the economy by giving all working Americans a $5200 check, they would’ve won by a landslide. All voters, black, white, red and yellow would’ve voted for them. It doesn’t matter that it was a lie. Americans “want” to believe in their elected officials. Wow! When will u Repubs learn? Deliver the msg. we want to “hear”!! Love all of us!! (at least during the election period) U Repubs sicken me. Ur so full of deep hatred till ur dividing this country. Ur patriotism is killing America. U “ALLOWED” us to win the election by fighting even ur own candidates..shameful. Now ur bullying the President of the United States IN THE UNITED STATES!! GROW UP!!
on June 17th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Oh yea, to Robert L. Your comment speaking of “rednecks”.. good choice of words and thank you for proving what I meant by my statement above…You’re Hypocritical….and racists
so should you be fired for your comment? Oh and “you morons” good one…still hypocrite!!! You’re just as racist as the female that wrote the email….why shouldn’t you be fired for being racist? Makes sense doesn’t it? And also it just shows you that racism isn’t going to go away because one person fires off with it first and it’s a chain reaction..it keeps going and going.
on June 17th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Heather H., Ur correct in that analogy, so, since it’s a “proven” fact that a racist comment creates a chain reaction, let’s gets some strict “laws” on the books to deal with the idiot who started the chain reaction. Agreed? Racism will end in America. Freedom of Speech ends when it impacts someone elses life, liberty and pursuit of in this case “happiness”.
on June 17th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Heather L….your logic is as shallow as that used by Palin when she declared she had foreign policy experience because Alaska was close to Russia. I call you a moron, but not because of your gender, race or religion, but because of your third grade reasoning skills.
on June 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
lol, curtis C.
on June 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Heather L you seem to be very young and still have much to learn in this world and I feel so sorry for you that at such a young age you have this very ignorant sheltered point of view hopefully once you reach high school you’ll get some “worldly” exposure.
on June 17th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I don’t know how this will ever end , If we have black awards ,BET, black colleges, anything that relates only to african americans and whites can’t have anything that says for whites only, remember they did that in the 50’s and nobody liked it well your doing the same thing, so racism is still very much alive on both sides. people need to learn to play fair. or its just a viscious circle
on June 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
lol young huh?? obviously your observation is so wrong but you all might not agree with me which is fine because obviously you all are closed minded to the fact that racism is still around and is going to stay around for a long time and like Joyce said you have black awards, black colleges, NAACP etc..etc…etc…but yet whites can’t have anything without it being discriminating….so yes racism will be around for a very long time. You can to call me a moron lol come on now, get a life that’s so third grade. Anyways, if you don’t agree that’s fine but come on don’t be so kiddish about it. I just think that it’s unfair for someone to say something but another race can do the same thing and NOTHING is said.
on June 17th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
and oh yea to Curtis and anon obviously you can’t read either…it’s Heather H …you know H….not the letter L…BIG DIFFERENCE
Anyways, maybe there should be some kind of laws against racism but it will be invading their Freedom of Speech, which it will be, I don’t know what the world plans to do about racism because it’s going to be hard to change those peoples minds that are racist. That’s why I think racism is going to be around until we all die. So everyone either needs to get used to it and let it go…or just keep bickering with one another even though it’s not going to change the fact that the person in the first place is racist. So why fuss about it?
on June 17th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
One person is a racist…All Republicans are racists. Do you remember Al Sharpton and Tawanna Brawley?
on June 17th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Heather….while I agree with some of your comments, I believe you are missing the point which is - the person who sent the e-mail was degrading the President of the United States. Free speech does have its obligations, e.g., it is not wise to yell “Fire” in a theater. It is very unwise to send an e-mail that degrades the President. Further - she was not aware of her behavior but merely stated she had sent the e-mail to the wrong people Who were the “right” people - “real america”. She was at work and frolicking on company time. Whether or not she is a racist is irrevelant to me. I know she was being inattentive to duty, guilty of inappropriate conduct and used very poor judgement and should be fired.
on June 17th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
lede3957 said:
“the person who sent the e-mail was degrading the President of the United States”…
Sounds like familiar territory for Democrats during the past 8 years to me
on June 17th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Dear Heather “H”
If we extend your logic, then you would tell all women who have been discriminated against in the workforce to just “get over it” because sexists exist and there is nothing we can do about it. Is this what you believe?
I know we cannot police what people say in the privacy of their own homes, but a government employee (and her elected boss) can rightfully be held to a higher standard of behavior while they are on the job and being paid by taxpayers.
on June 17th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Albeit I agree with Heather H. that racism is somewhat of a vicious cycle, it still should NOT BE TOLERATED by any race or ethnicity - black, white, Jews, Italian, Mexicans, Hispanics, German, etc.; (and, PLEASE Heather H. - the word is “anyway”, NOT “anyways”. There is absolutely NO “S” in the word “anyway”). Also, I refused to be ‘labeled’ and ‘branded’ as “african american”. It is an insult to bona fide Africans. Thank you/Multiracial female.
on June 17th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I believe that the subject on the matter is racism and that racism has existed for many years and will exist for many more years to come. Thanks for the grammatical check
I really appreciate that ANYWAY, on the comment about sexists…hell I’m not saying that I wouldn’t like that, I’m not saying that I like racism…what I’m saying is if everyone would just let things go and go on about their business then maybe the world will be a happier place instead of always complaining about something which provokes more people to fight and argue about stupid shit. Like now, everyone is trying to argue and fuss at me for my beliefs and opinions but it’s okay…because I believe what I believe and you believe what you believe….and if everyone else thinks I’m so wrong…what do you all think that we should come up with to stop all of this nonsense? I really don’t see anyone else throwing their opinions out there except for fussing. Is that all we can come to, is fussing and complaining instead of trying to give maybe someone some options to what should be done about the whole situation? I don’t think the girl should be fired but I do think she should recieve some punishment…hell I didn’t vote for Obama and neither did I vote for McCain neither one of them was worth my vote. To the one that said something about it was about the President. He’s just another person in my book…just like everyone else…his blood is red.
on June 17th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Here is one proposal….that we try actively to change things for the better by the actions we take and that we take action when anyone of any color or background publicly attacks or denigrates based on gender, religion or ethnic origin. Because if we take the “ignore it” approach as you propose, nothing will ever change. What this means in this situation is zero tolerance for government employees who abuse their position to spread demeaning material to others. Dismissal or perhaps demotion to a lower state government pay grade…it has to be something that truly punishes…anything else will appear to condone the behaviour.
Is that specific enough, Heather H?
And we should not shy away from change because it might cause a fuss (to use your word). Finally, I will register a fundamental disagreement with you that arguing about racist emails fall into the category of “stupid shit” … Lindsay lohan’s latest rant fits there, but not something so fundamental as racism.
on June 18th, 2009 at 8:44 am
What is wrong with this woman! If she is ignorant enough to send something like this out, why in heavens name would Rep. Diane Black want her working for her? If Ms. Black doesn’t think this is a firing offence then she is subtly supporting this offensive racist mindset. Please don?t re-elect her if she can?t understand why it?s just plain wrong!
Also, Heather H., if you were a tad more coherent and not quite so vitriolic you might be able to get your point across better. If I follow your logic, and everyone just minded their own business, you would still be some man’s chattel and not able to vote or work outside the home. People have an obligation to ‘mind the country’s business’ or things would never change.
on June 18th, 2009 at 10:58 am
JOYCE ROBERTS …Excuse me but allow me to clarify a few things…
BET is owned by VIACOM a “white” company that also owns CBS and Paramount pictures. BET exists because Sumner Redstone feels he can make money from it.
“Black Colleges”: I know of not a single “Black College” that excludes whites or any other race. Wheras in the past many of America’s institutions of higher learning did not allow Blacks to attend…So “Black Colleges were created so that Black People could strive for the American dream. Also our historically black colleges are actively RECRUITING white students these days. In fact some of these schools have more white students than black.
on June 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Dear Heather H and Ben Richards. First of all heather, Black people in american CAN NOT BE RACIST! Period the definetion of racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race . Ok are you with me? So what i am taking from that is tosay that “inherent Superioity ” meaning No regard to the feeling and belive that one race is better than the other. Now in order for Black folks to be racist they would have to enslave 99% of lets say white people . Sell them for cash and property and Profit!. Degraded them to the lowest point of human existance lets say lower than a….. Cow or pig or a dog even. Then implement a system that says all the blonde ones are better the the brunettes and the brunettes are better than the red heads . Or green eyes are better than the blue eyes. Then make them do WHATEVER You want from sexual rape or beating them Or just keeping them in fear . Marking them as “your property” Making them work from sun up to sundown and for no pay at all !! Killing them for sport! keeping them from any kind of education . take away there families by selling them against there will! do you understand “WILL”? imposing your will on them then find out its wrong to do this let them free (kinda of) and then dont allow them any kind or EQUAL ground for ummmm lets say 400 plus years and counting . Then have all this go on without so much as A sorry or compensation PERIOD! or a ture understanding of what really happen so that later the “superior race” can go on websites and say “hey green eye your being racist even tho it was my black self who is responsible for it . just be happy you are alive right ? NOW That would what racism would look like to you . Actully that would be about EVEN STEPHEN ! So the next time you or anyone calls a black person a racist you should CHECK yourself how many slaves did your ancestor have? i bet you dont know that ?”none my familes not like that ” Right sure sure they werent . I hate when someone from white america accuse a black person of being racist they can be prejudice but not racist ok. That email was racist PERIOD! dont get mad because the decendents of slaves in this contry are checking you on whats real! just be happy that we are doing it at all!
on June 19th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Wow! A lot of angry people on this posting. The fact that there is such a stir about this act, tells us that this is not okay( Sorry Heather).
The main reason why I believe there is such vigilance behind to discuss this is because it’s not right. The comment was made we are entitled to free speech. That is correct, yet one must filter one’s speech to socially acceptable standards. Failure to do so, puts a stigma on that person(s). Can I say things like people requiring special education should be killed at birth to save resources at public venues? Can I say things like woman should know there place which is at home making me dinner? Can I say things like fat people make me sick because they have no control over their eating habits and smell funny? Can I say things like Baptist are the one’s going to hell because God doesn’t like people making predictions about who is going to hell or who is not for him, no matter what the Bible says.
I think abortion is greatest population control and there should clinics in hospitals to make access easier for the public, since most people aren’t ready for kids in the first place.
I probably could make such comments in public but I’m not going to liked and people will avoid me; I don’t believe any of what I said for the record. My point is, anyone can hold these beliefs and as Heather said we can leave them alone and that’s fine, yet they’re people most people will avoid because they do not reflect society’s views. The point is society looks different from when Washington , Teddy and Ike took office. The world has changed, people ( globally) have changed, what is acceptable has changed, including the interpretation of the Bill of RIghts and other amendments. These expectations and changes are at an even higher standard for state officials because they represent us and make decisions for us.
I know the issue at hand is racism, but take out the word racism and replace it with some other social indignation it is still wrong no matter how you slice it. Complain and make fun of the man because of his actions and character not because of what he looks like. That’s just sophmoric, antiquated, indicative of short comings of one’s self and carries no merit especially in today’s society. FDR was in a wheel chair and he don’t read articles in the newspaper, memoirs speaking about president cripple.
on June 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 am
To Shuwn, You saying that black people “cannot” be racist, I’m sorry to say but yes they can and to what you’re saying about slavery, come on that line is so old and also there wasn’t just blacks that were slaves, there was multiple races in slavery. I don’t think anyone should be talking about anyone else in a negative way no matter what is said. I mean I know that’s not reality though but wouldn’t the world be such a drama free place if we did go by the old saying “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”?
on June 23rd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
When Sherri going to run for President. Just like Sarah…I don’t think so.
What an idiot.
How about helping the handicapped or elderly. If only these so call smart people would do something usefull.
But that would be the eazy way out for them.
on June 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
The picture is hilarious. Americans can take a joke, anti-Americans can not.
on June 24th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Dear Shipemback
Let me guess…a republican white male, high school education at best, sees everything as “your way or the highway” … you typify the reason I can no longer associate with the Republican Party in its current composition. Anyone who disagrees with your views is anti-american….yeah right. You disparage the “left loons” while not realising that you have alienated the sensible people in the middle. I hope you are prepared to remain a marginal political party for at least a generation.
on June 25th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Blacks cannot be racist? Ridiculous claim and an illogical explanation. If blacks cannot be racist, neither can Latinos or Caucasians.
The fact that this staffer has not been fired shows the ignorance and unprofessionalism of the person who she works for. I’m not ready to allow the lowest among us to cause us to compromise rights of expression. This woman, a public employee (as has been pointed out) skirts perilously close to abusing that right.
In “On Liberty” (1859) John Stuart Mill argued that “…there ought to exist the fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it may be considered.”
“Limitations to freedom of speech may follow the “harm principle” or the “offense principle”, for example in the case of pornography or “hate speech”.Limitations to freedom of speech may occur through legal sanction and/or social disapprobation.”