Distracted By So Much Wrong

I planned to discuss a recent study publication today.

I also considered some sort of tribute to Bastille day. When your dad’s a French historian (who gives you a French name), you grow up celebrating such things.

Then I heard something on the radio. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) passed a resolution calling for the Tea Party movement to expel the racists and bigots in its midst or take responsibility for them.

I am sure we all remember the signs at the demonstrations, and the slurs yelled at people of color, in particular African-American members of congress and President Obama.

The Tea Party response requires some attention:

"I don't recall the NAACP speaking out when George Bush was portrayed as curious George or as the Joker," said Mark Williams, a national spokesman for the Tea Party Express.

I really don’t see that these were racial slurs against George W. Bush. If they somehow disrespect caucasians, I would greatly appreciate an explanation. I thought these characterizations questioned his intelligence and motives, both fair-game for public figures. Unfortunately, Williams goes on to say even more:

"You're dealing with people who are professional race baiters, who make a very good living off this kind of thing. They make more money off of race than any slave trader ever. It's time groups like the NAACP went to the trash heap of history where they belong with all the other vile racist groups that emerged in our history,"

The NAACP is a vile racist group making big bucks?

Nowhere in the response does Williams address the overtly bigoted nature of some Tea Party demonstrators. He never describes their activities as unfortunate or a small minority, nor does he try to deny their existence. Instead, he attacks the NAACP and their lack of response to someone comparing Dubya to the Joker.

You could get the feeling that he condones the sort of behavior the NAACP protests. But I am sure that interpretation makes me some sort of vile racist.

Read/listen to the entire NPR story.

Teacup courtesy of PhotoXpress.