First, let me state that the publication and distribution of the "Obama Bucks" drawing is both despicable and highly inappropriate. That much has been made clear, both by my initial reaction to learning of the image, and the response of the public.

Without a doubt, it is this sort of material that makes Republicans look bad on issues of race. Republicans have been trying, particularly at the highest levels, to recruit minority support. There has been a very limited response. It is things like these that make those high-level efforts ineffective.

Based on what little I know of the Chaffey Community Republican Women, they generally seem to be a well-regarded group. They have been involved in charitable activities supporting military personnel who have been deployed to Iraq, they have been donated books to local libraries, and they have provided a forum for local candidates and elected officials to reach out to the public.

As far as I can tell, this sort of activity is completely out of character for the group. I have no idea how this newsletter is produced; perhaps if someone new were responsible for its production this month, it would help to explain (but not excuse) this act. However, based on published reports, that does not seem to be the case.

Several commenters have called for Diane Fedele, the president of Chaffey Community Republican Women, to resign. Under the circumstances, I suspect that her resignation would be welcomed and eagerly accepted by the members of her club (which includes numerous elected officials).

To justify the calls for her resignation, let us examine the particulars of this situation (as reported by the Press-Enterprise):

1. Fedele admits that she herself received the image in a chain email.
2. Fedele says that she herself decided to reprint it personally. I.E., according to the PE story, she personally printed the image, not a subordinate in charge of designing the newsletter.
3. Fedele says that she didn't connect the image with racism. However, she seems to clearly link Obama with food stamps (though in her interview she didn't admit it). The fact that he was placed on a food stamp could, in and of itself, be construed as racist (setting aside the types of food depicted).
4. Fedele claims that she didn't link the various foods depicted on the drawing with racism. She is either lying, or so unaware of racial stereotypes as to be ineffective.

So, Ms. Fedele cannot claim that she didn't know the image was going to be printed. She cannot claim that she made no connection between Sen. Obama and food stamps (her introductory text in the newsletter itself makes that clear). Any claims that she didn't know the foods could have a racist connotation will be rejected outright, as they ought to be. And it is obvious that this situation has offended African-Americans, even African-American Republicans (as reported in the Press-Enterprise).

While I'm not sure it is appropriate for the public to demand Diane Fedele's resignation as she is not responsible to voters or to the taxpayers, Fedele should step down out of respect for the pain she has caused members and associates of Chaffey Community Republican Women.

Frankly, from a political perspective, it would be better for Republicans is she were to be ousted by the members of her group, rather than allowed to resign. That would show an outright rejection of this sort of activity by even members of her own Republican club--Every notable Republican in the area, and some statewide Republicans, have already condemned the publication of the illustration. A rejection of this sort of activity is necessary not just for Republicans, but for society.

This action cannot be allowed to stand. Though I do not speak for Red County in an official sense, I am sure that every editor and contributor would criticize the publication of this drawing in the strongest possible terms. Rightfully so.

Write SB Pietas at sbpietas@yahoo.com.