Sherri  Goforth, a staffer in Tennessee GOP state senator Diane Black’s office sent out this racist image. Then she apologized

For sending it out to the wrong email list. ThinkProgress reports:

Nashville Is Talking asked Goforth about the email:

When I asked her if she understood the controversial nature of the photo, Goforth would only say she felt very bad about accidentally sending it to the wrong list. When I gave her a second chance to address the controversial nature of the email, she again repeated that she only felt bad about sending it to the wrong list of people.“I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button,” Goforth told NIT. “I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.”

Sen. Black’s staffer is still in place, so a Facebook group, BAD ELEPHANT has stepped up and is asking everyone to email a nice, respectful letter to Sen Diane Black (sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov) and maybe post on her facebook page.

Sample letter:

Dear Senator Black:

I am deeply concerned about your response to an email that was sent by one of your staffers depicting our President, Barack Obama, in a racist manner. Though I completely understand that you don’t want to lose a valued employee, I was wondering if you realize that you have alienated the 1.2 million African Americans who live in Tennessee? At issue is not that your staffer emailed someone a racist email. For me, the bigger issue is the response.

Just the thought that there could be a “right email list” on your computer for distribution of this type of email – as implied in the staffer’s response to the outcry over this offense, is frightening. If your morals allow you to have such disregard for another race, then how can we possibly trust your decision making on key issues that affect that race, or on any issue, for that matter?

I have a deep concern about the rising use of racist epithets by the Republican fringe and the fact that a seated State Senator is reinforcing this is unconscionable.

Thank you for your time, 

Have at it.