An Example of the Racism We Can Expect Against Obama

This is a picture of the T-Shirts being sold by one Mike Norman, proprietor of Mulligan's, a tavern in my hometown of Atlanta, GA.

Below is a link to the full story, with my commentary, and what we can do about it.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports.

Just down the street from Marietta's famous Big Chicken, Mulligan's has carved a provocative niche in an increasingly multicultural area, thanks to its owner's ultra-conservative political views. If you live in Marietta, it's impossible not to know what's on Norman's mind, as he posts his views on signs in front of Mulligan's.

Among his recent musings: "I wish Hillary had married OJ," "No habla espanol -- and never will" and the standard "I.N.S. Agents eat free."

Charming.  So, we already know that this SOB is one of the Coulter-fed wingnuts, the kind of guy who has no notion of decency or tact, and who will raise his hands when he's called on his bullshit and say, "who, me?"

Norman said those offended are "hunting for a reason to be mad" and insisted he is "not a racist."

Norman said he sees nothing wrong with depicting Obama as Curious George. "Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears, he looks just like Curious George," Norman said.

Isn't that the first refrain of the racist?  To dismiss the offended as merely oversensitive, or worse, "hunting for a reason to be mad."  Then, of course, the racist justifies their disgusting behavior as merely telling the truth, and how can the truth be racist.

This is but a small taste of the kind of outright bigotry we can expect against Obama in the coming months, but I want this guy to understand that bigots can no longer hide in the woodwork.  If they poke their head out of their hole, I want a bright, shining spotlight pointed at them so they understand that this kind of attitude will no longer be tolerated.

Here's what you can do.  If you live in the Atlanta area, you can go to Mulligan's at the following address join the protests already happening.

698 Roswell St SE
Marietta, GA 30060

If you don't live around here, I want you to call Mr. Mike Norman (be polite) at [phone].  I want his phone ringing off the hook.  I want him to know that when racism rears its ugly head in one corner of the country, all corners find it revolting.  

Let's show this asshole what for.

Update:

Some of the commenters have suggested that we should contact Houghton Mifflin as well, since they own the rights to Curious George.  I agree.

Houghton Mifflin Company Headquarters
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-351-5000

•  Tips.

  I'll joining the protest on Thursday, if anybody wants to join me.

  by filmgeek83 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:45:14 PM PDT

  •  Put a heads-up in your diary

    re: that damn poll on the AJC website; it desperately needs some dKos attention.

    by sbdenmon on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:05:34 PM PDT

    •  unbelievable

      It's racist 52.03% 7514
      It's fine 47.97% 6929

      ain't amurka grand

      by FireCrow on Tue May 13, 2008 at 07:18:24 PM PDT

•  I'm so disgusted, I'm speechless.

  by kenjisan on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:51:10 PM PDT

•  WRONG MULLIGANS

  Right Mulligans.
  698 Roswell St SE
  Marietta, GA 30060
  [phone]

  you should be way more careful posting addresses.

  by Burned on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:53:23 PM PDT

  •  Fixing now.

    Thank you.

    by filmgeek83 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:55:03 PM PDT

    •  Mulligans Bar and Grill in Marietta

      Mulligans Tavern in Decatur is a whole different sort of place. Decatur would not allow the other, believe me.

      I sure hope no one has called based on your diary before you fixed it.

      by Burned on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:00:07 PM PDT

•  That guy must really be stupid

  Atlanta is one of the blackest cities in the country.  He better watch his back.

  by dlh77489 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:54:31 PM PDT

•  Don't call Mike Norman...

  ...instead, call Houghton Mifflin, the publisher and rights-holder of Curious George.  Or send them a copy of that photo.  I'm pretty sure their legal department will take it from there...

  by Roddy McCorley on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:54:38 PM PDT

  •  you are right!

    Hey everybody. Call Houghton Mifflin too. Perfect.

    by lascaux on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:09:30 PM PDT

  •  this is actually a very good idea n/t

    by TrueBlueMajority on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:10:43 PM PDT

  •  OK I sent an email 2 the children's book division

    of Houghton Mifflin with a link to this diary and the contact information for Mulligan's.

    I have a feeling they will take care of it.

    by TrueBlueMajority on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:19:02 PM PDT

  •  done. (n/t)

    H-M is aware of this and is in the process of contacting slime Norman.

    by genespleen on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:19:19 PM PDT

•  What you should do ...

  ... is call on McCain to "reject and denounce" his support.

  Look, this stuff is gonna come up all the time in the general election. Make McCain accountable for the racism of his supporters.

  by Fozzie Bear on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:54:55 PM PDT

•  Wrong Mulligans!

  The Mulligan's in Marietta, the racist one, is

  698 Roswell St SE
  Marietta, GA 30060
  [phone]

  The Mulligans in Decatur is a fine place, as are most others in Decatur.

  by dolcissimo1 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:55:27 PM PDT

  •  Fixed.

    You all must be questioning my ATL cred, since I don't know the difference between Decatur and Marietta.

    My sense of direction sucks, bigtime.

    by filmgeek83 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:57:35 PM PDT

•  I thought Bush looked like Curious George.

  If course, appearances can be deceiving. George Bush has been the most uncurious President ever, even if he is the most monkey-like.

  by Judge Moonbox on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:55:32 PM PDT

•  Great Idea!

  Consider it done!

  Everybody be very polite and forceful.

  Each and every time. Yes We Can!

  Mike is the baboon not Obama. I want each and  everyone one of these people to know that it is not ok to be cruel. This is not America anymore, if it ever was.

  If someone can post a pic of Mike, we can do a little photoshop for him, just to remind him.

  thank you

  by lascaux on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:56:09 PM PDT

•  Sounds like a big fan...

  ...of George Felix "Macacawitz" Allen, Jr.

  by wiscmass on Tue May 13, 2008 at 05:59:14 PM PDT

•  Not the racism Obama needs to be concerned about.

  This is just a stupid thing for this guy to do...on many levels.

  But I disagree that this is the type of racism Obama needs be concerned about.  This racism...while disgusting...is obvious, and is rightly dismissed and reviled by most Americans...Democrats, Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives alike.  And anyone who find this garbage funny would never vote for Obama anyway.

  No, the racism Obams should be concerned about this kind that this much more subtle.  The kind that exists under the surface, that shows its head in subtle ways in editorials, punditry, local news, national news, talking head shows, and newspapers.  

  The kind of racism that isn't overt...but they kind that insidious enough, but powerful enough, to cause people to pull the lever for the other guy.

  by BraveheartDC on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:06:34 PM PDT

  •  Like the 1/3 of Dem voters in WV....

    ... who won't vote for Obama if he wins the nomination? That type of subtle racism?

    by lesliet on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:33:49 PM PDT

•  think that's bad? ck this

  obama may be a fine man but a poor candidate. i mean, if the dems want to win. this is just the beginning. here is what i received today:

  http://www.eyeblast.tv/...

  by tohbi on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:15:32 PM PDT

•  That's why I move from Atlanta!!

  As a progressive upwardly mobile AA, I started to feel increasingly unwelcomed in Atlanta at least in the the business centers. That's why I moved to Austin.

  by RighteousisRight on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:32:52 PM PDT

•  Don't feed the racist's ego

   I live in New Jersey.  If I send an e-mail to Mulligan's, will he care?  Even if I tell him I will drive through Atlanta on my way to visit my family this summer, will he care?  No.  He isn't losing any money from me.
   On the other hand, he will EAT UP all the attention.  He'll relish the fact that he upset so many of us "libruls".
   The only thing that will really make him change his mind is for locals to tell him they don't appreciate his racist, hate-filled T-shirt.  Local media exposure may shame him, but my e-mail from New Jersey won't.
   But those e-mails to Houghton-Mifflin, the owner of the copyright on Curious George, sure would like to know about this infringement on a source of income.

  by Augustine on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:34:33 PM PDT

•  Yep

  And he is waiting for Saltines to put pictures of Hillary on their boxes like Wheaties.

  by paul94611 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 06:44:20 PM PDT

•  Houghton Mifflin is a good approach. They

  strongly protect their intellectual property, sometimes overly so. For example, there was a band called "Curious George" that played in NYC in the 1990s and they sued the band. The band couldn't afford to fight and renamed themselves "Furious George".

  by crankyinNYC on Tue May 13, 2008 at 08:15:00 PM PDT