Stuck In The Past

Hey Republicans?  If you don't want people thinking some of you may not be telling the truth when you vehemently declare there's no possible way you could be remotely considered racist, let's not use the perjorative "tar baby" to refer to the nation's first black President, mmmkay? Think Progress:

Appearing on the Caplis and Silverman radio show last Friday, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) said, “Now I don’t even want to have to be associated with [Obama], it’s like touching a tar baby and you’re stuck, you’re part of the problem now. You can’t get away.” The term “tar baby” is often considered a slur towards African Americans. Indeed, the term has such a derogatory history that the Oxford American dictionary revamped its definition to reflect the word’s racial undertones. If Lamborn wishes to cross-check, he should ask both then-Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Sen. John McCain (R-MA) — both of whom caught controversy for uttering the distasteful phrase.

And as TP notes, it's not like this is the first time Republicans have used the phrase in reference to President Obama.  Feigning ignorance here, especially by a sitting member of Congress, is not an excuse. 

But then again, what do you expect?  Can't help themselves.