What's this about Michele Bachmann using the term tar baby?

Here is an article which talks about Bachmann and other politicans who have said it. The first time I remember hearing the expression was here on fluther talking about a candy.

Do you think she used it innocently, or to rile up racists in her party? I think no matter what it shows the expression is used in her circles. It may not be racist at all in their intention, but the expression has at least gone through a time in history where it was considered derogatory and still is by most.

As many of you know, I find it very interesting the differences in language among the Christian right and the rest of the country. I don’t think this is exactly the same, because previously I was talking about how Christians define certain words like submissive and cult. Tar baby I would not put in the same category, but it is only used by a certain group of people, or certain regions in the country maybe? I don’t know.