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Commentary: Give Me a Bleeping Break!

Montana’s Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull owes more than an apology to President Obama for his racist email: He should resign.

As an observer of American politics in general and the 2012 presidential race in particular, I thought I had heard and read it all when it came to Republicans insulting President Obama. At some point, I have seen all of the GOP presidential candidates take pot shots at Barack Obama. They have questioned everything from his policies to his U.S. citizenry, even the validity of his Christian faith. 

Did some of the rhetoric go too far? In my opinion, yes it did. But I knew in my heart of hearts that anything that the likes of Republicans such as Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum would dare utter in public would pale in comparison to some of the stuff these GOP politicians must say behind closed doors when discerning ears aren’t listening.

On Feb. 20, an email containing a racially charged joke implying that President Obama may have been the product of a sexual liaison between his mother and a dog was forwarded by Montana’s Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull, a George W. Bush appointee, to six of his friends. The missive, which was intended to be private, mysteriously found its way into the email of the Great Falls Tribune, which reported it immediately. According to the Tribune the joke reads as follows: "A little boy said to his mother: 'Mommy, how come I’m black and you’re white?' His mother replied, 'Don’t even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!' "

Judge Cebull has apologized to President Obama and his family in a letter dated March 1, but it is hard to overlook the indiscretion.

Needless to say this is a sick and twisted joke that is both racist and misogynistic. Anyone with half a brain can see that, including Judge Cebull, who, when pressed about why he sent the offensive email, admitted that it is racist. Yet he insists that he didn’t send it because it was racist — he sent it because it was “anti-Obama.” Wait a minute, you mean to tell me you are a sitting U.S. federal judge who decides important cases that affect the lives of people every day and you had no better judgment than to forward an email that you knew was racially offensive. And to add insult to injury you expect us to believe that you didn’t meant it to be perceived as racist? Please, give me a bleeping break!

   
As a matter of fact why don’t you give us all a break and issue your letter of resignation from the bench. 

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of BET Networks.

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