Monday, July 18, 2005
Two Steps Forward...
Excellent one-two punch on advancing race relations from the GOP perspective last week:
1) George W. Bush speaks at the Indiana Black Expo:
2) RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman speaking at the NAACP Convention in Milwaukee, repudiates the 1960s "Southern Strategy."
(Dissenting voices -- hush, Rush! -- aside. And is the name "Jesse" just an invitation to automatically be stupid over anything having to do with race? ) Yes, Julian Bond is a radical NAACP Chairman. But Mehlman looks much taller going into the lion's den, despite Bond's obnoxious comments to open the conference.)
...One Step Back: I cringed hearing Mehlman say this on CNN Sunday: "The NAACP unfortunately in the 2000 campaign likened the president to James Byrd, who was a racist killer in east Texas, who the president brought to justice."
I know Ken just misspoke here, but this is a rather embarrassing flub. James Byrd was the black guy dragged to his death in Texas. He wasn't a "racist killer." And, yes, the NAACP was totally out of line in 2000 suggesting Bush tolerated the murder (even though the guys convicted were sentenced to death).
Oh well. Moving on. Moving on.
