.
(ABC News) – The [NAACP] resolution said the Tea Party members have used “racial epithets,” have verbally abused black members of Congress and threatened them, and protestors have engaged in “explicitly racist behavior” and “displayed signs and posters intended to degrade people of color generally and President Barack Obama specifically.”
Jealous specifically pointed to signs at rallies portraying President Obama as a witch doctor … [see video in article of North Iowa Tea Party billboard]
“They need to be unequivocal and they need to be responsible and get the bigots out of their organization. It’s that simple,” Jealous added.
Tea Party supporters have denied allegations of racism.
Former Alaska Gov. Palin , a vocal advocate of the Tea Party movement, jumped into the heated race debate, assailing the NAACP resolution as an example of “typical divisive politics that is so absolutely unnecessary.”
“The Tea Party movement is a beautiful movement, full of diverse people, diverse backgrounds. It’s very unfortunate that they are taking this tactic because it’s a false accusation that Tea Party Americans are racist. Any good American hates racism. We don’t stand for it. It is unacceptable.”
Palin in turn called on President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to “repudiate” the resolution and “set the record straight.”
The former GOP vice presidential candidate tweeted her support for the Tea Party again today:
- “I’m busy today so notify me asap when NAACP renders verdict: are liberty-loving, equality-respecting patriots racist? Bated breath,waiting…”
Hartford Courant Op-Ed: Does Tea Party Have No Room For Racism?
(Online WSJ) – Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that he strongly disagreed with Sarah Palin’s call for New Yorkers to reject a proposed Muslim community center and mosque near Ground Zero–and, for a brief moment, it sounded like he called the former Alaska governor a racist.
Sarah Palin plunged into the raging debate over a proposed Islamic community center and mosque two blocks from Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, saying in series of posts on Twitter that the project should not be built.
“Peaceful New Yorkers, pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too raw, too real,” Ms. Palin wrote.
An hour later, she added, “Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing.”
“Sarah Palin has a right to her opinions, but I could not disagree more,” the mayor said in response. “Everything the United States stands for and New York stands for is tolerance and openness.”
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
