Here is a funny thing about the programs for this year’s NAACP national convention. Amid all the lists of speakers and seminars there’s a full page, full color picture of President Barack Obama, touting him as the speaker at the final plenary session of the convention in downtown Houston.
There’s only one problem: The president isn’t coming.
The convention organizers are already talking about their main concerns, from economic opportunity to what critics call “voter suppression” efforts to block African-Americans from voting. But they’re also pardoning the president for declining their invitation and instead dispatching Vice President Joe Biden, even though Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney plans to speak next week.
“As long as the issues are addressed that I’m concerned about, where he’s addressing them from doesn’t make a big deal to me,” said Stan Jones, a customer dining on a fried catfish lunch.
His co-worker, Ferdinand Morrow, agreed and added that Romney probably won’t win any support by showing up here next week.
“Mitt Romney coming to this convention doesn’t mean anything,” Morrow said. “He’s not going to persuade any black voters. That is the reality.”
Let's face facts. The reason that Obama is given a pass and that Romney is dismissed even before he opens his mouth is because Obama is black (well, half of him, at any rate) and Romney is not.
Prejudice is ugly, whatever form it takes. The NAACP and its members would end up having a far better world for its members if they would at least give every political candidate a fair shake and weigh who they are and what they plan to do. Irrespective of their race....
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