Posted on 09/10/2004 6:23:35 PM PDT by blam
NAACP Blocks Paige Invitation to Speak
Saturday September 11, 2004 2:01 AM
CLEVELAND (AP) - The state NAACP has withdrawn a convention speaking invitation to U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige at the request of the group's national office.
Paige, who was invited three weeks ago to discuss education reforms, was cut from the weekend program at the request of the national office, Ohio NAACP President Sybil Edwards-McNabb said Thursday.
The state meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People opened Friday in Cleveland.
Edwards-McNabb said national NAACP leaders told her there was an ``imbalance'' in her slate of convention speakers. She said she had invited President Bush and the Democratic nominee for president, Sen. John Kerry.
Bush agreed to send Paige, she said. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who spoke at Friday's opening session, represented the Kerry campaign, said Brendon Cull, spokesman for the campaign in Ohio.
The NAACP national president, Kweisi Mfume, said Friday night that he was unaware of who in the national office might have sent a directive to withdraw the Paige invitation.
Mfume said the NAACP doesn't withdraw invitations based on partisan issues. He said any past differences with the administration should not be interpreted by national office staff members as a justification for withdrawing a speaking invitation.
Paige's office said the invitation was withdrawn Tuesday. ``They said, 'Thanks, but no thanks,''' according to Susan Aspey, Paige's press secretary, who said Paige was disappointed.
Edwards-McNabb could not be reached for further comment. A message was left at the convention hotel Friday night.
...and, we don't lie either.
Project 21 is on the case: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1212510/posts
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Not a surprise.
Cleveland is a lost cause.
We need an Ohio ping here.
Sec. Paige is a outright victim of discrimination due to political orientation. You have no rights unless you are a Rat.
Wasn't Rod Paige the head of the NAACP once?
He's doing the GOP a disservice if he just stays away.
Nope.
The Republican party has more blacks in positions of real power and responsibility than the democrats. But the Republicans aren't checking melanin levels as an entry exam, IMHO.
Remember people, if you are a black Republican, you are a house nigger, but if you are in the Jesse Jackson elite circle that only gains by keeping blacks down, then you are truly an African American.
Excuse me, but, the city of Cleveland has nothing to do with this.
Paige is GUILTY...
of being a Republican!
I'm from Cleveland.
If George Forbes says jump, you say how high.
I beg to differ.
As am I. This is the NAACP's doing, not Cleveland's.
Have you been following the federal case against the East Celveland mayor (Onanwar)? Did you see the PD article on the third party contact with Cleveland's Mike White and his (can't remember his name right now) parking lot contractor?
Mike White left a bogus $7 million surplus to the city, a bunch of civil servants with bogus degrees, and built a multi-million mansion when he left office. He has never had to account for the financial shenanigans (BP left Cleveland in 1994, etc., etc.,) but it will come to pass.
Cleveland wags Ohio's tail. Always has, and always will for some reason. I vote for Regional Government.
Will the last person to leave Cleveland please put the seat down?
Do you think Onanwar was framed?
I'm starting to think so.....
The article in the PD was too compelling.
Mr Page is a man of honesty, integrity and courage and does not need to grace the National Association of Advancemt of Communism Party with his presence. Queasy has become so uneasy and Julian Bond should jump in the pond.
They're just a branch of the Democrat Party.
And they screamed that Bush wouldn't come there? Who are they kidding...Oh, I think I know.
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