At the core of tea partiers’ “outrage” over the NAACP resolution condemning racist elements of their movement is the idea that the new Black Panther Party is overtly racist and the NAACP doesn’t see fit to condemn it. It’s part of the very old and very worn trick of using “hypocrisy” to shrug off any responsibility for racism.
But, for the record, NAACP president Benjamin Jealous tells TPM that racism by the new Black Panthers has to go, too: “Our message to them is the same thing. They should not tolerate racism and bigotry in their ranks. Move those people out of your organization.”
Jealous also puts the new Black Panther wannabes in what I think is proper perspective: “The Black Panther party is a flea compared to the tea party dog.”
Evan McMorris-Santoro has our report on the right’s high dudgeon over the NAACP’s tea party resolution.
