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Was Karl Rove's Fried Chicken Joke Racist?

Karl Rove's joke that Black strategist Donna Brazile owes him some fried chicken falls flat.

Republican strategist Karl Rove has made headlines in recent months for helping to steer the GOP wrong during the 2012 presidential election. Now he's got political observers all a-Twitter over a remark made to Donna Brazile, another well-known strategist, that some are calling racist.

The exchange took place on ABC's This Week during a discussion about the Republican Party's autopsy of the loss and whether the party can remake itself to win future elections. Rove and Brazile, who is African-American and a Democrat, have been making food bets on the GOP's electoral prospects. Brazile reminded him Sunday that he owes her some chili.

“You owe me some fried chicken,” Rove replied, feigning a strong Southern drawl.

The unflappable Brazile didn't appear to be offended, and responded by reminding him that she once saved him from malaria. Liberal blogs and tweeters had their own debate about whether Rove is racist or not.

Saeed Jones @theferocity tweeted: throws iPhone* RT ‪@RawStory: Tone-deaf Karl Rove jokes that black Democratic strategist ‘owes me some fried chicken’

Restore Democracy ‏‪@RestoreDemoc wrote: Great Moments in Totally NOT Racism: Karl Rove to Donna Brazile "You owe me some Fried Chicken"

L. Joy Williams ‏‪@ljoywilliams tweeted: Looks bad, but not racist - On ABC panel, Karl Rove jokes: 'Donna Brazile owes me some fried chicken'

Tyler Jones ‏‪@TylerMJnes said: Did Karl Rove just make a fried chicken joke to Donna Brazile on ‪@ThisWeekABC? Please tell me I didn't.


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