State Legislative Staffer Suspended Over 'Non-Racist', Anti-Obama Chain Email

A Louisiana State Senate employee has reportedly been reprimanded and suspended without pay for sending an e-mail to hundreds of government workers with a picture that appeared to show President Barack Obama as a Caucasian.  The email asked, "Do you like him any better now?  No?  Me neither. ... Then you're not a racist."

Senate President Joel Chaisson announced the punishment Tuesday for Tammy Crain-Waldrop after a number of black lawmakers complained the email was offensive. "It is clear that the nature of the e-mail in question was highly inappropriate. Such actions will not be tolerated," Chaisson, D-Destrehan, said in a statement that described Crain-Waldrop's e-mail a violation of Senate personnel policy.

After she sent the e-mail, Crain-Waldrop immediately sent another message, apologizing for forwarding the message to the Capitol e-mail post office box by mistake.

The Associated Press reports that Crain-Waldrop can return to work Jan. 3 but for her punishment, she must send a written apology to Senate and House staffers and attend diversity training.

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh assessed the story Wednesday during his broadcast, outlining Ms. Crain-Waldrop's "real crimes."

"Ms. Crain-Waldrop's real crimes were opposing Obama's policy and, two, defending her opposition as nonracist.  Now, of course such thinking can't be allowed," Limbaugh noted.  "It's hate speech to deny that you can oppose Obama and not be a racist."