'Obama bucks' illustration was created by a Minnesota DFLer

Updated: October 22, 2008 - 11:30 PM

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A former Anoka County DFLer has become embroiled in a California controversy that cost a Republican Party official her post.

Timothy Kastelein drew a cartoon in the form of a dollar bill with a caricature of Sen. Barack Obama, along with pictures of ribs, chicken and watermelon on it. He labeled it "Obama Bucks" and posted it on the Internet in May.

Kastelein, 31, said the cartoon was meant to satirize "fringes of the Republican Party who fear a black president."

But when Diane Fedele, president of the Chaffey (Calif.) Community Republican Women, Federated, put the illustration in her October newsletter it sparked such criticism that she resigned this week. The critics included some California Republicans and news media pundits, including MSNBC cable host Keith Olbermann.

According to the Press Enterprise of Riverside, Calif., Fedele said she did not know the food items were African-American stereotypes and were considered insulting. "I do not think like a bigot. ..." she wrote in her resignation letter.

Kastelein said he is "a strong Obama supporter." He was elected an associate chair of his Democratic Party precinct in Ramsey in February, said Mike Schroeder, chairman of Senate District 48 for the DFL. Schroeder said he did not know Kastelein.

Kastelein said he never did any work in his DFL post and left Ramsey soon after. He declined to say where he lives now out of fear that he may face hostility for the cartoon. He took down his website Wednesday.

RANDY FURST