Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
The NAACP recently dissed the tea party movement at its annual convention, issuing a resolution that accused the movement of "harboring racist elements that are a threat to our democracy." According to the NAACP, the protestors have "displayed signs and posters intended to degrade people of color generally and President Obama specifically," and have used "racial epithets."
Clarence Page, over at the Chicago Tribune, quipped, "I'm sure tea party supporters, who are almost indistinguishable from other far-right conservatives, would love to pass a resolution of their own to condemn racist elements of the NAACP." Page explains that the tea partiers are
offended [that] anyone, including the NAACP, would make the accusation. After all, they point out there were numerous examples of similarly rude signs depicting President George W. Bush as Hitler, Stalin, Satan and the like during Bush's eight years in the White House without much objection from left-progressive leaders. The tea partiers have a point.
Needless to say, when you mess with the tea partiers, you mess with the tea party queen, Sarah Palin. Palin called the NAACP's accusation "regressive" and "diversionary."
But isn't the NAACP itself--not just its political huffing and puffing--a bit of a diversionary and regressive organization? Tunku Varadarajan makes this point at The Daily Beast, adding a dose of humor:
NAACP: Can we all agree that it stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Cynical Politics?
The proper expansion of “NAACP” has a profoundly archaic ring to it. I know, I know: The retention of that primordial name—the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People—has to do with safeguarding history; and an irrefutably impressive history it is, too. But can anyone deny that the “colored” part of the organization’s name is no longer preservative of anything that is at all meaningful?
Colored: Who the heck says that in the America of today, unless you’re a very, very old friend of the late highwayman (as in dedicated asphalt, not armed robbery) Robert C. Byrd?
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
Morgan Freeman once said (I'm paraphrasing) that racism is kept alive by people calling each other black and white. The NAACP, like the ethnicity question in so many forms and statistics, does more to keep racism alive than anyone.
When "regressive" and "diversionary" are the most forceful language our leaders can come up with, I find little hope for honest politics.
May '10
Re: Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
The NAACP to the nation: "These are not the droids you are looking for...move along....move along..."
Jul '10
Re: Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
Are Asians or Hispanics welcome in the NAACP? They are in the Tea Parties.
Jun '10
Re: Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
Never have I ever met a black person or a white person. I have looked and looked and am now convinced they do not exist. I have seen all shades of brown, dark brown, ivory, tan, and light brown peoples. I have even seen some reddish brown and yellowish brown. But black or white...never seen a one. So the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is an organization to which we all could belong. It makes us all more homogenous, doesn't it? Black and white are polar opposites. Just who gains by describing people, incorrectly, as polar opposites? I wonder, don't you?
May '10
Re: Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
Palin's commentary was the best response I saw to this today, which is a bit of a surprise. Breitbart's Biggovernment series by notable persons (of color) is also a good strategic move. The Republicans ought to take out a few full page ads featuring those people's responses to the last-century obsoletes at NAACP.
May '10
Re: Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
Discovering and protesting "racism" is their Means of Production. Maintaining ownership of the MoP is crucial because the owners decide how the profits are spent.
Jun '10
Re: Tea Partiers v. the NAACP v. Sarah Palin
Duane, I agree that the Brietbart round-up of notable blacks was excellent. It's a shame that Palin's response is being overshadowed by her daughter's engagement news.