After we dropped news yesterday that Tennessee Republican Chip Saltsman, a candidate for Republican National Committee chairman, included “Barack the Magic Negro” on a CD sent to RNC members for Christmas, Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary), co-writer of the 1963 children’s song “Puff the Magic Dragon,” is not a happy camper.  He says he is disappointed with how his original piece has been parodied to disparage President-elect Barack Obama.

The song which first aired on Rush Limbaugh‘s radio show during Obama’s presidential run was in response to a Los Angeles Times column that suggested Obama appealed only to white folks who feel guilty about the nation’s mal-treatment of African-Americans.

Saltsman whose come under fire for giving “Barack the Magic Negro” as a Christmas gift to members of the RNC tried to deflect the scrutiny by describing the song as “political satire.” The Children’s songwriter, Yarrow couldn’t disagrees more. Although he didn’t publicly respond to Limbaugh last year he did publish an open letter yesterday in response to the growing controversy.

The sending of a Christmas greeting by Chip Saltsman to the members of the Republican National Committee that includes a recording of the so-called parody, “Barack the Magic Negro” is not only offensive, it is shocking and saddening in the extreme. It flies in the face of America’s deeply held hope for a new era in which common ground and mutual respect characterize the exchanges between our national leaders.

I and my co-writer of “Puff,” Lenny Lipton, have been eagerly awaiting an end to the mean-spiritedness, outright disrespect and bigotry that was commonplace prior to this last presidential election. What might have been wearily accepted as “the way it was” in the campaign, is now unacceptable. Obama is not a candidate. He is the President-Elect, and this song insults the office of the Presidency, the people who voted for him, as well as those who did not — and taking a children’s song and twisting it in such vulgar, mean-spirited way, is a slur to our entire country and our common agreement to move beyond racism.

It is almost unimaginable to me that Chip Saltsman who sent the CD, would seriously be considered for the top post of the Republican National Committee. Puff, himself, if asked, would certainly agree.

I’ve said over and over again that I think we’re all to sensitive and comedy is most effective if its allowed to touch a nerve.  That being said, I’m really not sure why Saltsman still has a gig given the history of how the media has buried folks like Imus.  If he does eventually get canned it’ll certainly be consistent with the trends although I don’t agree with it…this time.

Puff the Magic Dragon


Barack The Magic Negro


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