John Kerry made a fool of himself at the NAACP annual convention this week, including an indulgence in 60's nostalgia: a pathetic, white-bread "Black Power" salute.
President Bush, correctly sensing a political trap, chose wisely not to attend. His press secretary was unusually direct about why.
The President believes it's important to have a constructive dialogue that brings Americans together around shared priorities. Unfortunately, the current leadership has just shown that they are not interested in having a constructive dialogue by continuing to engage in harsh political rhetoric.
Black intellectual John McWhorter saw the situation without blinders.
The measure of Bush's commitment to African American issues is disconnected from any gestures he makes to the NAACP. The only reason for him to speak at its annual convention would have been as a token gesture. But beside the fact that black Americans have endured quite enough tokenism, why should Bush court an organization whose national leaders regularly rake him over the coals?On Sunday night, Bond charged that the Republicans appeal to "the dark underside of American culture" and "preach neutrality and practice racial division." Earlier, Mfume accused Bush of a "lack of concern" for the black community. But when Bush was touting his faith-based initiatives to help poor communities, Bond and Mfume decried it as discriminatory. How progressive was this of leaders representing a deeply Christian race whose communities are typically rooted in the church? And needless to say, the NAACP does not like private school vouchers. Obviously Bush cannot win here.
In fact, Bush ought not court an organization that considers him a racist, despises any race-sensitive proposal he offers and plays no serious role in addressing the problems of the community they purport to represent.
Secretary of Education Rod Paige came out from behind his desk to issue a little corporal punishment to the Bad Boys.
I have a message for the NAACP's Julian Bond and Kweisi Mfume, who have accused black conservatives of being the "puppets" of white people, unable to think for ourselves: You do not own, and you are not the arbiters of, African-American authenticity.I am a lifelong member of the NAACP. I have a great respect for the organization. Its historical leaders, all visionary thinkers, have been responsible for helping to advance the struggle of African Americans over the past century, making our nation a more equitable and race-blind society. Sadly, the current NAACP leadership has managed to take a proud, effective organization in a totally new direction: naked partisan politics, pure and simple.
The corrosive rhetoric espoused by the NAACP may make headlines and get out the vote in some quarters, but it is counterproductive, damaging and a betrayal of the organization's own origins. I would think our community would be better off looking toward the future, helping our children live up to their potential.
Talking head Bill O'Reilly prostrated himself before Mfume in an embarrassing Fox News "interview." O'Reilly routinely gives a pass to certain guests, but this was just an exercise in open fawning.
Note that the NAACP is legally a tax-exempt non-profit (that takes in about $40,000,000 per year).
The IRS helpfully explains how non-profits must meet certain requirements to avoid paying taxes:
To be tax-exempt as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes set forth in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and none of the earnings of the organization may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate at all in campaign activity for or against political candidates.
But at the convention this week, Julian Bond wasn't exactly hands-off in terms of the presidential and congressional campaigns.
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond called on members of the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization to boost voter turnout to help oust President Bush.During his keynote speech at the group's 95th annual convention Sunday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bond also assailed the Bush administration and the Republican Party, accusing the GOP of "playing the race card in election after election."
The party appeals "to the dark underside of American culture, to the minority of Americans who reject democracy and equality," Bond said. "They preach neutrality and practice racial division."
Many black people are "ready to turn anger into action, to work for regime change here at home," Bond said. "But they have to be asked. They have to be registered, organized and mobilized."
In the address, posted on the group's Web site, Bond took aim at virtually all the administration's top domestic and foreign policies.
Not an isolated outburst, Bond's speech repeated the same themes sounded at a June conference in Indiana.
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond told Indiana lawmakers and business leaders Wednesday that President Bush and other Republicans appeal to a racist "dark underside of American culture."In a wide-ranging speech at the annual Indiana Economic Development Conference, Bond attacked Bush's record on civil rights and criticized the war in Iraq.
"They preach racial equality but practice racial division," he told an audience gathered at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis.
"Their idea of equal rights is the American flag and Confederate swastika flying side by side."
He never specifically used the term Republican, but referred to leaders who control the White House and Congress, where Republicans outnumber Democrats.
Too bad the political culture in our country will not allow an honest appraisal that the NAACP is not only absurdly and openly partisan, and that it should be stripped of its tax-exempt status as well.
Posted by Alan at July 17, 2004 01:09 AM