'African-Americans for Obama' Revived; Media Double Standard Obvious

It wouldn't take more than a nanosecond for the establishment press and TV talking heads to rip into any white political candidate -- Democrat or Republican -- who carved out a web site devoted to "Whites for Candidate X."

About a week ago, President Obama, with his powers of incumbency in tow, decided to revive something he created back in 2007: "African-Americans for Obama." And, as seen in the Obama video which appears at the site and in what appears to be a new twist, the Obama campaign is driving a Mack through the alleged wall of separation between church and state by finding so-called "congregation captains" to maximize African-American support on his behalf. As would unfortunately be expected, the press has not covered campaign's move; A Google News search on "African Americans for Obama" (in quotes) returns only 17 results, only four of which are arguably mainstream media items.

The results for CNN and Mediaite are only listed because commenters at otherwise unrelated posts brought up the "AAs for BHO" launch. One found at Kansas.com simply lists readers' brief comments, and also isn't a result of the publication's original work.

The fourth mainstream result comes from the Times Herald in Vallejo, California. It too isn't a product of the papers journalists or editorialists, but is instead a letter to the editor from a Doris Robinson. It's worth posting most of it here, especially its delicious final sentence:

Of the million ways our first black president could have honored Black History Month, he chose to debut "African-Americans for Obama." Once again, this self-indulgent man plays the race card, creating social and political division, and ignores the many, many accomplishments of past and present black Americans.

Are you aware, Mr. President:

* That it was Republicans who supported the Civil Rights Act while the Democrats conducted a 57-day filibuster against racial equality. Sen. Robert Byrd, the late Democrat from West Virginia, spoke against the civil rights bill for 14 straight hours.

* That it was a Democrat governor (George Wallace) who blocked the schoolhouse door to keep out black students

* That the police chief of Birmingham, Ala., was Eugene "Bull" Connor, a Democrat and KKK member who ordered the police attack on thousands of peacefully demonstrating black children. They assaulted with high-pressure hoses, clubs and dogs and then jailed nearly a thousand children. "Bull" Connor was Alabama's Democratic National Committeeman and was later elected to statewide office.

* That it was a Republican federal judge, Frank Johnson, who in 1956 ruled in favor of Rosa Parks and who in 1965 ordered the Democratic governor, George Wallace, to allow Martin Luther King's voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery.

African Americans have suffered greatly at the hands of your political party, Mr. Obama.

... What have you really done for black Americans in the last three years? You have used them and their painful history to create your own personal playground while they stand outside the fence looking in.

You should be as ashamed of rallying "African-Americans for Obama" as I would be if Newt Gingrich was pushing "Whites for Gingrich" or Mitt Romney's campaign slogan was "Mormons for Mitt."

... you call yourself the "great uniter" while you systematically pit one half of your heritage against the other whenever it suits your political career.

Ouch.

It should also be noted that the 2007 version of "African-Americans for Obama" was marred by its original selection of a certain person to represent it in Nevada:

In other Mayweather news, it was reported by the AP last week that Floyd was MIA from a Las Vegas campaign event for Illinois Senator Barack Obama after the campaign had concerns about his rap sheet. He had been billed as the co-host of African Americans for Obama in Nevada.

In 2004, Floyd was convicted of misdemeanor battery for punching two women at a Las Vegas nightclub in 2003. He was given suspended prison sentences, $1,000 in fines, and ordered to complete impulse control counseling.

In 2005, he was acquitted of a felony domestic violence charge after his accuser, former girlfriend Josie Harris, changed her story. He was also convicted of misdemeanor battery for a bar fight in Grand Rapids.

This is the same Floyd Mayweather who recently tweeted is disdain for New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin's sudden and unprecedented breakout success as follows: "Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he's Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don't get the same praise." It shouldn't surprise anyone that Mayweather won't back down.

Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.