Ben Jealous, CEO, NAACP
During a speech at the NAACP National Convention in Kansas City, Mo, .Ben Jealous, president and CEO, asked the Tea Party to : "Expel the bigots and racists in your ranks or take the responsibility for them and their actions. We will no longer allow you to hide like cowards."
In later contacts and appearances, Jealous went out of his way to emphasize that his group is not making a blanket charge of racism. "We have never called the Tea Party racist". But speaking of Tea Party leaders, he added: "We've seen the signs, we've heard the slurs, and all we're asking is for you to act responsibly and say there's no space for bigots in the Tea Party."
Aunt Sarah (Palin) struck back Tuesday on her Facebook page, declaring herself "saddened by the NAACP's claim that patriotic Americans who stand up for the United States of America's constitutional rights are somehow 'racists.' "
Of course, that's not what the NAACP is saying. She went on to refer to "America's past racism," and identified herself with Ronald Reagan, who said it was "a legacy of evil." And then Palin brought the conversation back to herself.
"Having been on the receiving end of a similar spurious charge of racism," she said, "I know how Tea Party Americans feel to be falsely accused."
Washington Post Columnist E. J. Dionne, Jr. calls Palin's remarks "a shameless, narcissistic dodge."
"Palin wants to construct a false argument," Jealous said in the interview with Dionne. "Palin wants the terms of debate to be about people calling her racist, and nobody's calling her racist." The NAACP, he said, is simply challenging her along with other Tea Party leaders to separate themselves cleanly from "racist behavior" by some in the movement.
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