Posted on 03/07/2005 6:23:14 PM PST by mhking
The College Republicans at Maine's Bowdoin College invited former US Congressional candidate and current Republican Winston-Salem (NC) City Councilman Vernon Johnson to campus as part of their observance of Black History Month. They weren't ready for the firestorm that followed.
The co-president of Bowdoin's College Democrats, Alex Cornell du Houx, appeared on Monday's Michael Medved Show to defend his statements as published in the Bowdoin Orient.
Many found the rhetoric put forward by the College Republicans offensive and unwarranted. The claim, taken from Vernon Robinson's website, that "The Only Thing he has in Common with Jesse Jackson is a good TAN," [sic] which was used in the digest, was both divisive and offensive to many.Also appearing on Medved's show was black Bowdoin student William Gilchrist, who was far more venomous in his letter to the Orient's editorial pages.
Bowdoin College Republicans displayed their lack of openness by inviting an outright "Uncle Tom" to speak during Black History Month. Any black speaker who refers to the Confederate flag as a "harmless display" is a man who has clearly never read a history book.Gilchrist, in defending his use of the "Uncle Tom" slur to describe Robinson not only plays into the stereotype of a monolithic school of black American thought, he actually creates more of the dissention that he and the College Democrats on Bowdoin's campus claim to want to avoid.
Gilchrist also took issue with Robinson's description Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton as "poverty pimps" who hustle the black community to their ends. Robinson is not the only black conservative to use such colorful metaphors to describe Jackson and Sharpton. Many -- myself included -- have used the same term ("poverty pimps") in the same context as Robinson on multiple occasions. But I guess such politically incorrect and frank language offended Gilchrist's sensibilities.
Gilchrist's insistence that Robinson is an "Uncle Tom" who "clearly has never read a history book" belies Robinson's own past as noted on his campaign site.
The son of a Tuskegee Airman and a nurse, I became an Eagle Scout before graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a B.S. in Middle Eastern Affairs and the University of Missouri with an M.B.A.That doesn't sound like someone who has forgotten where he's from or what he stands for.I earned the confidence of the voters and national conservative leaders the same way Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan did - by being willing to stand up for my traditional American conservative principles - no matter what the political cost and no matter what the liberal media try to say about me.
I don't head for the high grass when the Left turns up the political heat. That's just not my style. Indeed, I relish the fiery furnace.
Several questions come to mind when reading the letters in the Bowdoin campus newspaper and listening to the students on Medved's show:
People like du Houx and his College Democrats remind me of some white liberal callers I used to get on my radio show.
- What gives them (the College Democrats and others) the right to determine who the College Republicans invite to speak at their campus functions, whether they are black conservatives like Robinson or other conservative speakers (author and columnist Ann Coulter, whose appearances at other campuses are the target of liberals seeking to ban conservative speakers, immediately comes to mind)?
- Why do Gilchrist and others of his mindset insist that those blacks whose ideologies are not exactly as theirs are "not really black?"
- Why is it OK for confrontational and controversial left wing speakers like Michael Moore and Ward Chuchill to speak on college campuses, yet right wing speakers who are potentially as confrontational and controversial, like Robinson, Coulter, Ward Connerly or David Horowitz are the target of smear campaigns and attempts to have their appearances disrupted or cancelled?
After listening to me and my views awhile, the would call and incredulously ask, "How dare you say the things you do, after all we have done for you!"
And I would answer, "Done for me? Done for me? I don't know you! And you certainly haven't done a damn thing for me but patronize me."
Usually the next thing those callers would hear is a dial-tone.
Robinson's appearance before the College Republicans at Bowdoin was certainly constructive, as are speeches and appearances by black conservatives across the nation. They show that black America is not a simple monolith, but a complex community, not unlike the rest of America. One with diverse views and ideologies and opinions. And they show that we are not the "bad guys" that Gilchrist and others like him want to portray us as. We have an equal stake in black America and in the rest of the nation.
We are proud of who we are. And we want to make a difference for our homes, our communities and our nation.
I have extremely high regard for one black conservative, Alan Keyes. He's one of the best speakers I've ever seen. I also like William Raspberry. That being said, yes, I believe that the black man has a long way to go...so does the white man and the Asian man.
Most "black conservatives" are RINOs who are only taking the positions they hold for their own self-advancement, not because they truly champion the Republican cause.
Too bad if the truth hurts, but its still the truth.
I've read your supposedly erudite posts as well...you are more akin to Jesse Jackson than Alan Keyes...
He's a barking moonbat.
I also like William Raspberry.
Raspberry is my fraternity brother who've I met at one of our national conventions. He's a left-winger.
Most "black conservatives" are RINOs who are only taking the positions they hold for their own self-advancement, not because they truly champion the Republican cause.
Now there's a sweeping statement.
Too bad if the truth hurts, but its still the truth.
You've told nothing but lies thus far.
I've read your supposedly erudite posts as well...you are more akin to Jesse Jackson than Alan Keyes...
And the best part of you dripped between the crack of your mama's butt. Or maybe she swallowed it.
Jesse Jackson will get bitch-slapped by me if I ever meet him. That's not a threat; it's a promise. And I'm glad you said that I'm not like Alan Keyes. He's as self-serving as Jack$on.
You have anything else to say?
Amen!
Excellent commentary!
Too bad if the truth hurts, but its still the truth.
Of course you know this since you've met "most black conservatives," right?
Thank God you aren't the ultimate arbiter of who's conservative and who's not.
I've read your supposedly erudite posts as well...you are more akin to Jesse Jackson than Alan Keyes...
And the personal insults are not necessary, though it seems you like to use them regularly when it comes to black conservatives.
Yep. And they had kittens...
Vernon ping!!!
Ward Churchill would so much more appropriate for that guy instead of a man like HK.
Enough said. Let's call the group opposing Robinson and see if they'll let HK come visit with 'em awhile....
Is William Gilchrist from the South?
This editorial is right on, mhking. Thanks for illustrating the hypocrisy and attempted sensorship of the left. It's almost like the left is afraid of what might happen if the black community received fact and started to think for it/themselves.
The black community needs more people like Vernon Robinson - and you.
Bowidion College Republicans also have these two speakers on tap. I did not get a further notice of the March 3rd meeting so I don't konw if it happened.
Thursday, March 3rd
Benjamin Ginsberg, former chief legal counsel to the Bush-Cheney campaigns, will be joining us. Time and location TBA. For more information on Ben, please visit:
http://www.pattonboggs.com/ourlawyers/a-z/bginsberg.html
Monday, April 4th
Phyllis Shlafly, noted anti-feminist and conservative leader, will be at Bowdoin. Phyllis is the leader of The Eagle Forum, which is a pro-family organization (http://www.eagleforum.org/). Please visit http://www.eagleforum.org/misc/bio.html for a biography of Ms. Shlafly.
We hope that you will be able to attend some of these events. This is one way in which the College Republicans feel that they can help not only in the cause of fighting the Left on our campuses, but also helping those in the greater communities served by these campuses to see our point-of-view, and enable the Republican Party to remain strong.
Christopher K. Averill
Executive Director, Maine State College Republican Organization
Co-Chairman, Bowdoin College Republicans
Typical of the left: Any speaker who differs from their viewpoint can not be permitted to speak.
Wasn't Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain the President of Bowdoin College after he served in the WBTS?
Pray tell....NOT the Viking Kitties!?
Wasn't Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain the President of Bowdoin College after he served in the WBTS?Somewhat hypocritical, don't you think?
How so?
Bill Cosby is right...
And ya mama was wrong...
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