“Racist e-mail aimed at Obama raises hackles in Tennessee.”

I want to know what you think.

An administrative assistant for Tennessee Republican Senator Diane Black sent out a racist joke, in an email forward, of course, regarding the President. She sent it at work to other GOP staff members. (If you care to see it, click through, but I don’t find a need to have it on my blog.) Sherri Goforth is apparently a 20-year government employee with a stellar record. According to “policy,” she received a “very strongly worded reprimand” and she’ll be fired if this ever happens again. Seems fair, I guess. Fair-ish.

But, this email was sent out on government time, on a government computer, through her government email address to more government staffers. Doesn’t that pose a real problem here? Shouldn’t this be taken a little more seriously?

As a Texan, I am constantly sticking up for myself and other Southerners who are not close-minded bigots, people who find this kind of humor offensive and completely unacceptable. Isn’t allowing this to slide saying that the GOP condones this sort of attitude? Isn’t this a poor representation of Tennessee, the South, and the GOP?

But on the flip side, are racist jokes now an unforgivable offense with a mixed-race President in office? Would she have been fired for something like this a year ago? I have said before that I find that sort of humor disgusting, but should a “good employee” be fired over it? I’m conflicted. So, what do you guys think: forgive her or fire her?