What happens when you don't read the news for a few days because it's Christmastime, and you're doing other festive, holidayish-type stuff, and sleeping a lot because you've had a chest cold for two weeks, is that you miss out.  E.g., you miss out on the "Barack the Magic Negro" fiasco.  If you missed this three days ago, as I did, what happened is this: Republican operative (and candidate for RNC chairmanship) Chip Saltsman sent out a music CD to RNC members containing a song entitled "Barack the Magic Negro" (sung to the tune of Peter Paul & Mary's "Puff the Magic Dragon").  The song was originally broadcast on Rush Limbaugh's show.

So, the Republican party really isn't the "party of Lincoln" anymore, is it.  And no, I don't think that most Republicans are racists (and anyway, as we were reminded during the primaries this past spring, Democrats have their share of bigots).  But I wouldn't blame anyone, post-"Barack the Magic Negro," for thinking, "damn, here's a party that really doesn't seem like it's all that friendly to black people."