One of the top names being floated for head of the Republican National Committee is Michael Steele, whom some will recognize as Maryland’s former Lieutenant Governor, former candidate for Paul Sarbane’s Senate seat, and, as it happens, an African-American.

Perception, especially in politics, is everything. What would it say about the Republican Party that a political organization so long associated with racism made as its head a black guy? Actions are, as they say, louder than words. Frankly, I’ve got more pressing problems with the Republicans then their past record with race — namely, their current pandering to the religious extreme, but I think it’d still be nice for Republicans to forever seal off that ugly past.

And then …

A candidate for the Republican National Committee chairmanship said Friday the CD he sent committee members for Christmas — which included a song titled “Barack the Magic Negro” — was clearly intended as a joke.

“I think most people recognize political satire when they see it,” Tennessee Republican Chip Saltsman told CNN. “I think RNC members understand that.”

The song, set to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon,” was first played on conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh’s radio show in 2007.

Its title was drawn from a Los Angeles Times column that suggested President-elect Barack Obama appealed to those who feel guilty about the nation’s history of mistreatment of African-Americans. Saltsman said the song, penned by his longtime friend Paul Shanklin, should be easily recognized as satire directed at the Times.

The CD sent to RNC members, first reported by The Hill on Friday, is titled “We Hate the USA” and also includes songs referencing former presidential candidate John Edwards and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, among other targets.

I think, if I were a top-ranking Republican (especially one supporting Saltsman), I’d call for Saltsman to apologize and to take himself out of the race. And I’d then immediately throw my support behind Michael Steele. This isn’t a time for namby-pamby wish-wash like “oh, it’s political satire!”: Saltsman just handed the Republican Party a golden opportunity to renounce racism within its ranks, and then stand behind that renouncement by appointing an African-American to national leadership.

Is Saltsman racist? I don’t know. But politics is always about perception, and I think most Americans remember how ugly some of those McCain/Palin rallies started to get, and I think most Americans remember rhetoric like this, and I think most Americans would like to see the “Good Old Party” become the “Good New Party” and wake up, smell the coffee, and join the 21st Century already. Maybe they’ve got to ruin Saltsman to do that — and it sucks for him — but it’s hard to imagine a politician in this day and age thinking anyone could find anything funny in any connotation of the word “negro.”

Even if they do, I promise I won’t be surprised to see Ted Danson scheduled for entertainment at the ceremony.

Editorial Update 12/27 3:36p:

Commenters on other blogs regarding this issue are claiming that a Democratic writer at the LA Times first used the term. Well, sort of. Here’s the article. I like how John put it in his comments on this post:

“The LA Times coined the term in an article that was a non biased observation piece. Taking that term and then connecting it to the playful tune of a child’s song is taking it into another context. Would you say a professor talking about the origins of the word ‘nigger’ and someone calling someone else a ‘nigger’ is the same thing? Of course not. This is no different.”

Last: yes, of course I’m about free speech. Walk down the song singing “Barack the Magic Negro” ifi you want, top of your lungs, I’ll shoot you a dirty look but I won’t staple your lips shut. But, yes, even free speech has consequences, and if that means you give people the reason to continue believing your political party is racist, that’s on you.

And here’s a link to Barack The Magic Negro on YouTube. I prefer Puff The Magic Dragon, myself.