If this is an example of the kind of competition Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis has in his campaign to become the next chair of the Republican National Committee, he should have an easy road to victory. One of this competitors has sent out a Christmas greeting to other RNC members featuring the song “Barack the Magic Negro” on it:
 

RNC candidate Chip Saltsman’s Christmas greeting to committee members includes a music CD with lyrics from a song called “Barack the Magic Negro,” first played on Rush Limbaugh’s popular radio show.

Saltsman, a personal friend of conservative satirist Paul Shanklin, sent a 41-track CD along with a note to national committee members…

The following month, Shanklin debuted his version of the song, sung to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon” and performed in Shanklin’s impression of Al Sharpton.

“See, real black men, like Snoop Dogg, or me, or Farrakhan, have talked the talk, and walked the walk, not come in late and won,” one verse in the song says.

Reaction from other candidates for the RNC post has been split. Current chairman Mike Duncan told the Washington Post, “The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party. I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate, as it clearly does not move us in the right direction.”

Saul Anuzis told the Post, “In my opinion, this isn’t funny and it’s in bad taste. Just as important, anything that paints the GOP as being motivated in our criticism of President-elect Obama by anything other than a difference in philosophy does a disservice to our party.”

Kenneth Blackwell, one of two African-Americans seeking the RNC chairmanship, defended Saltsman, blaming the controversy over the song on “hypersensitivity in the press regarding matters of race.”