Ramblings' Journal

My ugly mug is gonna be on your TV tonight...

Well, let's do it again.

I'm set to be on Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes tonight in the 9:15 segment. The subject this time around is Ketchup Boy's "lack of diversity."

Darryl Fears has a piece in this morning's Washington Post where he discusses "concerns" among black America with John Kerry's lack of outreach among blacks in America.

"You pick up the paper . . . and you see a picture where he's surrounded by all whites," Ronald Walters, a University of Maryland political scientist who helped run two presidential campaigns, said of Kerry. "That's sensitive to black Democrats. It raises questions about the lack of blacks and Hispanics in his inner circle."

"What [Democrats] usually do is wait until the last minute and try to stir up interest in the black community, which would be a serious mistake," said the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta and current chairman of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda. "They tend to take us for granted."

There is a tangible, visceral hatred for Republicans in general and for George W. Bush in particular among many blacks. With that element in play, most of the black support for Kerry (and it is considerable at this stage) is not so much a ringing endorsement for the presumptive nominee, but a stingingly vocal denoucement of George W. Bush.

There is a fundamental perception that conservatives not only hate minorities, but are actively seeking to do away with them. This perception is fostered by half-truths, innuendo and outright lies by those on the left, and the simple fact that the right has neglected to counter those stories and lies.

And of course a lie told enough times becomes truth in effect if not in fact.

Historically, all truth, wisdom and knowledge in black society came from the pulpit. One's minister was (and still is) held in highest regard among the black community. By extension, every and anyone who is invited to speak in that same pulpit is accorded the same measure and level of respect. Because of that, many of the "civil rights professionals" and black intelligensia who have pushed their views on blacks in America, have done so and been able to do so from the pulpit, lessening the chances that their statements, whether true or not, would be challenged.

Conservatives in general and the GOP in particular has ignored those statements and speakers. And when combined with historic missteps during the Civil Rights era, a picture has been created that paints conservatives as an evil "boogieman" who would rather turn back the clock on black progress than to extend a hand of friendship.

When someone like myself shows up, who can see beyond the veil of the half-truths and innuendo painted by the man in the pulpit, we are derided as heretics and heathens. Names like "uncle tom" and "lawn jockey" are hurled our way. It's easy when using the power of raw emotion to not only imply that there is a hatred of blacks on the part of conservative blacks (it ain't true), but then to use that emotion to create a hatred of conservative blacks who have supposedly "sold out" their souls to the "white devils" in exchange for "a few pieces of silver."

But I digress. There's plenty more time for that conversation. Just not right now.

I am supposed to be on opposite Ron Daniels, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Daniels says that while Kerry is not quite doing enough, blacks are supported by the Democratic party far more than the Republicans do or would. [shrug] So what else is new. New day, different mouthpiece.

I'm just hoping that I don't get beat up again by Alan Colmes like I did last time. I'm supposed to be at their Midtown Atlanta studio tonight at around 8:45 for the 9:15 appearance.

Anyhow, that's on Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes, tonight.

I'll have a debrief online here after the fact (don't I always?). I'll see you then...

Posted by mhking at June 29, 2004 03:32 PM