The rift grew as Mfume continued to reach out to the Republican Party. Mfume realized that by reflexively voting Democrat in every election, the black voting populace has given away most of their political bartering power. After all, what incentive is there for either party to go out on a limb for blacks, if it is taken for granted that blacks will automatically vote Democrat?And a little later in the article:
The final tear came after the election. Mfume suggested sending a letter to President Bush, mapping out ways that they could work together to help the community. Bond rejected the idea. Mfume sent the letter anyway. To Bond, this was an unforgivable.I wrote in this post that Mfume's defense of Condoleezza Rice would have me looking out for low-flying non-kosher livestock. Unfortunately it appears I was right. The Democratic establishment that rules African American leadership cannot allow this sort of breath of fresh air with respect to racial politics. Furthermore the NAACP cannot be allowed to actually become the non-partisan political entity its tax-exempt status purport it to be. I find this deeply troubling and unfortunate.
On the other hand I hope Mfume continues to pursue his course without the NAACP behind him. I honestly think working with whomever is in power, Republican or Democrat, to address important racial issues is the best way to go about things. Unfortunately the NAACP puts politics above that.
As a side note, I'd like to point out that the National Rifle Association is the oldest civil rights organization in the US. It was formed at the end of the nineteenth century, the NAACP was formed at the beginning of the twentieth. Last I checked, the Second Amendment is a civil right and, as importantly, one often infringed upon in order to oppress minorities like formers slaves in the post-bellum South.
(HT: LaShawn Barber)
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