Sarah Palin responds to allegations of Tea Party racism
(CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin published the following message on her Facebook page on Tuesday night:
The Charge of Racism: It’s Time to Bury the Divisive Politics of the PastI am saddened by the NAACP’s claim that patriotic Americans who stand up for the United States of America’s Constitutional rights are somehow “racists.” The charge that Tea Party Americans judge people by the color of their skin is false, appalling, and is a regressive and diversionary tactic to change the subject at hand.
President Reagan called America’s past racism “a legacy of evil” against which we have seen the long struggle of minority citizens for equal rights. He condemned any sort of racism, as all good and decent people do today. He also called it a “point of pride for all Americans” that as a nation, we have successfully struggled to overcome this evil. Reagan rightly declared that “there is no room for racism, anti-Semitism, or other forms of ethnic and racial hatred in this country,” and he warned that we must never go back to the racism of our past.
His words rang especially true in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 presidential election. It seemed that with the election of our first black president, our country had become a new “post-racial” society. As one writer in the Washington Post stated: “[Barack Obama’s] election isn’t just about a black president. It’s about a new America. The days of confrontational identity politics have come to an end.”
We, as a united people, applauded that sentiment. We were proud of that progress. That’s why it is so sad to see that 18 months later, the NAACP is once again using the divisive language of the past to unfairly accuse the Tea Party movement of harboring “racist elements.”
Having been on the receiving end of a similar spurious charge of racism (in a recent frivolous lawsuit which was finally dismissed by a federal judge), I know how Tea Party Americans feel to be falsely accused. To be unjustly accused of association with what Reagan so aptly called that “legacy of evil” is a traumatizing experience, and one of which the honest, freedom-loving patriots of the Tea Party movement are truly undeserving.
On this subject, I can recommend the statement issued by a man I was proud to endorse, Tim Scott, the GOP candidate from South Carolina’s First Congressional District. Tim, poised to become the first African-American Republican Congressman from the former Confederacy since Reconstruction, is himself a sign of a hopeful, truly post-racial future for our country. It gives added meaning to his warning that “the NAACP is making a grave mistake in stereotyping a diverse group of Americans who care deeply about their country and who contribute their time, energy and resources to make a difference.”
The only purpose of such an unfair accusation of racism is to dissuade good Americans from joining the Tea Party movement or listening to the common sense message of Tea Party Americans who simply want government to abide by our Constitution, live within its means, and not borrow and spend away our children’s futures. Red and yellow, black and white, this message is precious in all our sights. All decent Americans abhor racism. No one wants to be associated with any organization that is in any way racist in sentiment or origin. I certainly don’t want to be. Thankfully, the Tea Party movement is not racist or motivated by racism. It is motivated by love of country and all that is good and honest about our proud and diverse nation.
Like President Reagan, Tea Party Americans believe that “the glory of this land has been its capacity for transcending the moral evils of our past.” Isn’t it time we put aside the divisive politics of the past once and for all and celebrate the fact that neither race nor gender is any longer a barrier to achieving success in America – even in achieving the highest office in the land?
I just spent a few beautiful Alaskan days with some beautiful Americans in my husband’s birthplace – they are Todd’s family and they are Yupik Eskimo. In the decades that our families have blended, I have never heard one proud, patriotic member judge another member based on skin color. Both Todd and I were raised to measure a person according to their capacity and willingness to love, work, forgive, contribute, and show good character. We’re joined by the vast majority of Americans in this belief whereby we measure a man by his character, not his color. Because of amazing efforts and accomplishments by those who came before my generation, it is foreign to us to consider condemning or condoning anyone’s actions based on race or gender. Being with our diverse family in a melting pot that is a Native village just days ago reminded me of that.
So to leave that remote village and return back to “modern civilization” only to hear of the NAACP’s resolution today suggesting that we Tea Party Americans don’t respect equality makes me sad for those who choose to divide these great United States. It is time to end the divisive politics.
– Sarah Palin
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Palin please tell us who wrote this for ya. YOu aint too bright to put two sentences together. Also you keep repeating Reagan over and over. Even your writers cant be more originals. Palin you cant tight the shoes of Reagan or even have your name next to him. He would turn on his grave if he knew you ran for the VP of the USA.
YOU keep telling the USA that you know so many things yet you were not aware that your daughter, the teen who love to have sex before marriage and got pregnant , is engage now?
We just cant trust you. YOU didnt even finish your governor term in Alaska after voters got you in. You let all those folks down, then you got out to write a book and become famous. Is all about money and lying.
Really? Post racism? Palin lives in a fantasy land.....
Oh Please, Sarah Palin everybody has your number and the racist tea party, I'm white and have been to a few rally's, for you guys to say you are not racist is the biggest lie you have told this year. If Obama were a white president the tea party would of never started. Thats why when you ask them where were they for the last 8 years that just look at you like you have a problem. You want your white country back, guess what it's not going to happen times have changed and it's time that these old time racists got with the program.
Nicely said, Mrs. Palin. Very nicely said. That being said, there are a very small minority of members who are racists...and they need to be weeded out. The same goes for teh NAACP; there are a few racists in that group too.
"The only purpose of such an unfair accusation of racism is to dissuade good Americans from joining the Tea Party movement or listening to the common sense message of Tea Party Americans who simply want government to abide by our Constitution, live within its means, and not borrow and spend away our children’s futures." Who wrote this for her? Whoever wrote it must not see the signs that people are holding up at these Tea Party Rallies. Again, the question has to be asked "where were these people the eight years prior to Pres. Obama being elected?"
To everyone who thinks the tea party are/is racist, they are still offering that $100,000 reward for anyone who can provide video proof of those black congressmen who said they were called racist names during the healthcare debates. Surely someone out there has it on video who can PROVE something. I'm a conservative but $100,000 would go a long way for me. I guess when you scream racist these days you don't need any proof, just allegations. Kinda sad that it's always liberals who cry racism. Oh well...
It seems the New Black Panthers and NAACP have been emboldened by the election of President Obama and rather than celebrate the inter-racial effort it took to make that happen use it to spew racial hatred. These (and those who support them) are the true biggots who may eventually prove Charles Manson right. Are you helping fan the embers of Helter Skelter?
Can't get much more racist than the NAACP
For once i agree with The Palin- at least on the title for her piece.
It is LONG past time to bury these divisive tactics.
Why then, does SHE continue to use and abuse them? She uses racist dog-whistles at every opportunity, and SHE is the one calling for civility on race issues?
Give it up CNN. She isn't worth your time, my time, or anybody's time.
How does Palin's quoting Reagan defend the teapartiers against racism? She would do her case better by showing evidence of a non-white attending a tea rally. JUST ONE! I say tis because I have yet to see any color at one of these circuses except white - and red and blue, of course.
Sarah Palin has a good ghost writer!
If there's anyone in this country who knows how to practice divisive politics it's Sarah Palin.
A RACIST NEVER ADMIT RACIST ACTIONS.
It's the same way a woman never admit she is jealous.
Actions speaks more than volume.
You don't need to tell me you are a racist before i realise you are racist.
You exit a store, a bar or a swimming pool because a black man enterred.
You hold your purse tight because a black man is passing by you.
You refuse to dance with me on my invitation at the club but jump in the hand of another unknown white boy or girl.
You change sit in the bus, plane, train because a black man is sitting next to you.
You display dedained attitudes toward me or trying to avoid me with no reason.
You display racist signs and chant racist slurs.
The list goes on and on and on.........
NOW YOU WANT TO TELL ME YOU ARE NOT RACIST.
EITHER YOU ARE STUDID OR THINK EVERYBODY IS AS STUPID AS YOU
Someone must have hacked her Facebook account and posted that. Because she is no way believes what she posted.
Typical Palin. Wrap herself in the Flag and do NOT address the specific issue on the table.
I prefer people who directly respond to the charges/issues and then move on.
Ask yourself this question: When was the last time any Republican or Democrat front-running candidate responded to a yes or no question with a simple "yes" or "no?"
And yet more drivel from the half term governor of Alaska. Blah Blah Blah.
The NAACP is the Dem's lapdog. If things are going badly, the dems throw this group out to deflect the criticism.
There are racists in BOTH parties. It is not surprising that as we have seen Obama's policies fail more frequently and his ratings drop for the NAACP to come out like this. THe tea party is a threat because it shows people angry, but it is not racist.
Palin is right in this regard (and I can't believe i am saying this). It is time for the dems to stop playing the race card. America moved beyond that when we elected Obama. Small amounts of racism will always exist in both parties.
I find it amazing that there is no problem calling the tea party racist, but dems refuse to call groups like Hamas terrorists.
"Time to end the divisive politics" lets see if she can live up to her own statement. I bet she won't last a day without saying another divisive comment. I guess the tea party is trying to cleanup its image before the elections. I for one won't forget the Obama zulu witchdoctor posters or tom tancrado's divisive statements or rand paul's divisive statements or sarah palin's divisive statements or erik erikson's divisive statements come election time. CNN might want to give these statements credibility but I see them for what they are, the very divisive politics that sarah wants to now condemn.
Yes, that is what Reagan said, but the real question is what are YOU doing. Action is a lot louder than words, the real issue is not about racism. The REAL issue is about the HATRED you have and the narrow-minded thinking you have about EVERYBODY who dared disagree with YOUR way of thinking. Even though it can be clearly demonstrated that failed policies of the past do not work for the majority of Americans, you still want to do the same dumb thing hoping for different results. Unfortunately, it is the same results you want, screw the hard working American people while you scam millions for yourself. That is what all the hate talk is about.
Just look at the faces and listen to the "buzz" words and rhetoric at any Tea Pary meeting. The allegations by the NAACP are correct.
Does this woman (Sarah) understands that actions speak louder than words. Instead of quoting what Reagan said, she should had told her Tea Party followers , that it is not acceptable to call the President of United States of America, Hitler. Hasn't she seen those signs?????????
Sarah Palin is calling the kettle black and she's the pot that started the smoke and inflamed it. Stop the covering up of this movement! Anybody can disagree and not walking around with signs using racial epithet. Where were these signs during eight years of Bush/Cheney!
let me say first, this article has to many BIG words so sarah did not write this and second off stupid sarah has reopened the LEGACY OF EVIL in this country! sarah has set racial tone back to the early sixties with her hate babblings about our president. she has no respect for the office that our president holds and shows total ignorance in how government works other than shouting hatred over an over on barack obama. sarah palin is a fool and anyone that would waste a precious
vote on this wacko is as evil as she is.
who,s writing her face book it,s not sarah
I'm not a big fan of Sarah Palin. But she's right in this case. There is racism indeed. And the NAACP is one of it's biggest practitioners. When you consider public policy only on the basis of skin color, or sex, or religion, you're pretty certainly a bigot. Too many of those folks around these days. Sad.