Looks like the Obama campaign isn't interested in new tones and dialogue about race -- as witnessed by the bum's rush given to one of its delegates over a trivial matter.

An Illinois delegate for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama resigned after using the word "monkeys" to describe black children playing in a tree, the Obama campaign said Tuesday.

Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski, a trustee in the Chicago suburb of Carpentersville, was issued a $75 ticket for disorderly conduct after neighbors complained to police. She says the word wasn't meant racially and she will fight the ticket.

"Given the incident, Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski is stepping down as a delegate and will be replaced," said Obama spokeswoman Amy Brundage.

The incident occurred Saturday, when two children were playing in a tree next door to Ramirez-Sliwinski's house.

She said the parents were outside supervising the children, but she went over and told them to get out of the tree because she was concerned about the boys' safety and because the small magnolia tree was being damaged.

The father of one of the boys told her it was none of her business, she told the Chicago Tribune, and "I calmly said the tree is not there for them to be climbing in there like monkeys."

The mother of one boy called police.

Cmdr. Michael Kilbourne said Tuesday a ticket was issued because the ordinance bans conduct that disturbs or alarms people. One of the boys told police he was scared by her comment and a mother said she was disturbed, he said.

Now, let's make a couple of points.

1) It wasn't any of Ramirez-Sliwinski's business what was going on in the neighbor's yard -- especially with the parents there.

2) One the parent -- who presumably owns the tree -- said they didn't have a problem with the kids playing there, Ramirez-Sliwinski should have backed off.

3) If Ramirez-Sliwinski was concerned about the safety of the children, she should have called the police and let them sort it out.

That said, the reaction of the parents -- and the cops -- was absurd.

Disorderly conduct? For saying "monkey" in a context where it clearly didn't have a racial context? Just because a racial grievance-monger didn't like it? You have got to be kidding!

And after all the talk of a "new tone" and "discussion" on race, the Obama campaign didn't waste any time in caving in to those who follow the old paradigm -- that a shout of "racism" by a black person is a scarlet letter that cannot be removed, and that common sense cannot be allowed to enter into the analysis of the events leading to the claim or the motives of those making it.

Nice speech, Senator -- too bad your own campaign won't even try to live up to it.

Posted by: Greg at 10:34 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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