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Sunday, June 18, 2006
Blackwell Courts Racists?
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
This is a media round-up of some recent articles documenting J. Kenneth Blackwell’s known association with former Klansmen and other anti-black racists.
First, check out the photo to your right: Ken Blackwell speaking at the “Council for National Policy” (CNP). This photo appeared on Blackwell’s web page, briefly. It was immediately archived by activists monitoring Blackwell’s web presence—who immediately started researching the CNP, attempting to find out why Blackwell would change his mind about showcasing that connection.
Check out this story at Daily Kos. The following excerpts are particularly noteworthy:
The CNP was founded in 1981 as an umbrella organization of right-wing leaders who would gather regularly to plot strategy, share ideas and fund causes and candidates to advance the far-right agenda. Twenty-five years later, it is still secretly pursuing those goals with amazing success.
Since its founding, the tax-exempt organization has been meeting three times a year. Members have come and gone, but all share something in common: They are powerful figures, drawn from both the Religious Right and the anti-government, anti-tax wing of the ultra-conservative movement.
It may sound like a far-left conspiracy theory, but the CNP is all too real and, its critics would argue, all too influential.
CNP’s first president was Tim LaHaye famed millenialist preacher and writer of the Left Behind series of popular books about the “end-times” and the Second Coming of Christ. LaHaye,like the whole of the nation’s Religious Right leaders, nurtured a strong contempt for the First Amendment principle of church-state separation, because it seriously complicates their goal of installing fundamentalist Christianity as the nation’s officially recognized religion.
Many members of the CNP are part of the Christian Reconstructionist movement. Reconstructionists espouse a radical theology that calls for trashing the U.S. Constitution and replacing it with the harsh legal code of the Old Testament. They advocate the death penalty for adulterers, blasphemers, incorrigible teenagers, gay people, “witches” and those who worship “false gods.”
Bob Fitrakis, Green candidate for Governor set to oppose Blackwell in the upcoming race, co-authored with Harvey Wasserman an article entitled ”Why did J. Kenneth Blackwell seek, then hide, his association with super-rich extremists and e-voting magnates?”
Some well-known figures affiliated with the CNP include Rev. Jerry Falwell, anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly and the Rev. Pat Robertson. But its the lesser-known CNP mainstays that are more indicative of the organization’s politics. They include:
* Richard Shoff, a former Ku Klux Klan leader in Indiana.
* John McGoff, an ardent supporter of the former apartheid South African regime.
* R.J. Rushdoony, the theological leader of America’s “Christian Reconstruction” movement, which advocates that Christian fundamentalists take “dominion” over America by abolishing democracy and instituting Old Testament Law. Rushdoony’s Reconstructionalists believe that “homosexuals . . . adulterers , blasphemers, astrologers and others will be executed,” along with disobedient children.
* Reed Larson, head of anti-union National Right to Work Committee.
* Don Wildmon, TV censorship activist and accused anti-Semite.
* Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver North, Major General John K. Singlaub and other principals from the Iran-Contra Scandal.
Seem impossible that an African-American could court such relationships? Fitrakis and Wasserman address that aspect:
Curiouser and curiouser!
The Ohio political landscape indeed seems quite the Wonderland!
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18 Jun 2006 at 03:39 pm | #
for the record all democratic members of the senate caucus with a former klansman as well in robert byrd. He is no differnt then shoff is
Nice job of research there to put dailykos (known liberal)and bob fitrktas who is running against blackwell as sources. Care to get on your soapbox about the enquirer bias again today?
When the leader of Right to work is described as “anti-union” we know what bias we are dealing with. All right to work wants is that it not be mandatory to be in a union. I must be anti-catholic because I dont want people that worship to be forced to join a catholic church
Exploit minor facts as important ones- check. Use words that cause alarm- check. Show only one side of a story- check. Gather information from only opposition sources- check. Seems to pass the test as a political hit piece to me.
18 Jun 2006 at 06:18 pm | #
the enquirer, and all the corporate news, reports only one side. the dean has reported the other. I see no problem.
18 Jun 2006 at 08:06 pm | #
"f” as in fucked. Byrd renounced the Klan decades ago.
f, Do you know that you’re stupid or is that knowledge only shared by everyone with whom you come in contact?
18 Jun 2006 at 08:20 pm | #
f:
You discredit the sources because of their alleged bias, but you don’t provide any reasons as to why the sources—in this specific situation—should be denied.
Do you deny the picture? Doesn’t it plainly show Blackwell with the CNP?
Do you deny the CNP? Are they not clearly in cahoots with known supremists?
What, specifically, is a claim here that you dispute—and on what basis do you dispute it?
Now, when I call foul against the Enquirer, I provide reasoning to support my claims. I mean, check out the other strand entitled “Pepper v. Heimlich” about the recent media war concerning the alleged Colerain site for a jail.
Not only did I accuse the Enquirer of a bias, I made a phone call to the Colerain Township Trustee president—verifying that he had ALREADY talked to Pepper, and that Pepper had ALREADY told him no jail would go in Colerain.
That made the Enquirer blog report by Kimball Perry FALSE.
What, here, is false?
18 Jun 2006 at 09:19 pm | #
Well well well, f. has finally been revealed. He is no less than scumbag attorney Chris Finney, Filthy Phil\’s butt-buddy and shill.
Say hello to all of the boys & girls Chris!
18 Jun 2006 at 09:31 pm | #
Yes, Byrd denounced the Klan years ago, but he was still part of it once. I find it hard to believe he changed completely.
19 Jun 2006 at 06:26 am | #
I was not aware that I had endorsed any candidat with ties to Byrd. I plan to vote Fitrakis.
19 Jun 2006 at 08:09 am | #
What, here, is false?
Thank you, Dean. Let’s stick with the subject, which is Ken Blackwell. “f” (for Finney?) and “PoliticalCritic” (for PC?) are just trying to change the subject.
But I’ll defend Robert Byrd any day. He’s the most principled senator in Congress, a man who admitted his mistake and went on to a career of outstanding public service.
Byrd is also the finest orator in either house. In a time of misleading soundbites and statistics-reading that passes for public speaking, Byrd’s dramatic speeches are vestiges of a fading great American tradition.
19 Jun 2006 at 10:18 am | #
""f” as in fucked. Byrd renounced the Klan decades ago.
f, Do you know that you’re stupid or is that knowledge only shared by everyone with whom you come in contact? “
I know byrd left the KKK Had you been smart enough to read the part where I said that he was a “former klansman” you would know that. I also know that Shoff left the KKK in 1973. I submit you cant blame shoff for his past mistakes and forgive byrd and be consistent.
“Do you deny the CNP? Are they not clearly in cahoots with known supremists?”
From the citation you provided I would say they are not i cahoots with known supremisist. Teh two antiblack people it list are one gentleman who used to be a KKK member but is no longer (30 years ago now) and John McGoff who has been dead 8 years. (see the bias in your sources yet)
Now about the CNP
“Our members are united in their belief in a free enterprise system, a strong national defense, and support for traditional western values. They meet to share the best information available on national and world problems, know one another on a personal basis, and collaborate in achieving their shared goals.”
It doesnt not lobby for legislation it only advances conservative ideas.
Your source claims that “The CNP was founded in 1981 as an umbrella organization of right-wing leaders who would gather regularly to plot strategy, share ideas and fund causes and candidates to advance the far-right agenda. Twenty-five years later, it is still secretly pursuing those goals with amazing success.”
When in reality:
The Council for National Policy ("CNP") is an educational foundation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We do not lobby Congress, support candidates, or issue public policy statements on controversial issues.
http://www.policycounsel.org/24508.html
So they are not funding candidates as your source claims
Membership in an organization does not mean that the organization believe everything that you do. It means that you believe in the mission of the organization.
Lets use your logic that if you are a memeber of an organization you have to be saddled with the baggage of all members of the organizations. You, being a green party member, are associated with tre arrow who firebombs buildings that he doenst like as an eco terrorist. Please renounce yoru green party memebrship immediatley we will assume you like firebombers if you dont.
Doesnt make much sense does it.
19 Jun 2006 at 11:06 am | #
Your source is the CNP’s web page.
You know what doesn’t make sense? Blackwell taking the picture off his website.
If there is nothing to hide, what’s he hiding?
19 Jun 2006 at 11:07 am | #
"You, being a green party member, are associated with tre arrow who firebombs buildings that he doenst like as an eco terrorist. Please renounce yoru green party memebrship immediatley we will assume you like firebombers if you dont.”
f,ull of shit. Now back up your non-sense. No green party member ever blew up a building that belonged to the toxic polluters your organization admires. If you really supported the free market you’d make these polluters pay for their dumping and clean ups. You support socialism for the rich and the “free market” for the poor. You support US funded terrorism. You are engaged in class warfare. The members of your organization do fund these candidates.
19 Jun 2006 at 11:15 am | #
CNP at Sourcewatch:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Council_for_National_Policy
Also, from Wikipedia:
CNP was founded in 1981 by Tim LaHaye, author of the Left Behind series of books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_for_National_Policy
Here is a site that watches the CNP:
http://www.publiceye.org/ifas/cnp/index.html
It just goes on and on…
http://www.alternet.org/story/21372/
C’mon, f… complain about source bias all you want—but you went to the most biased imaginable!
19 Jun 2006 at 10:17 pm | #
let me spell it out for you since you seem to not understand what i posted
“The Council for National Policy ("CNP") is an educational foundation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.”
Now if you dont know what a 501 (c) 3 is let the IRS explain it to you with regards to their political intervention
“The Prohibition on Political Campaign Intervention
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. The prohibition applies to all campaigns including campaigns at the federal, state and local level. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. Those section 501(c)(3) organizations that are private foundations are subject to additional restrictions that are not described in this fact sheet.”
In 1992 several groups pressured the IRS and tried to take the 501 c 3 status away On appeal it was determined that they did not intervene in campaigns. So you may post as many conspiracy theories from left leaning websites as you wish but it turns out that the courts said they do not lobby Congress, support candidates, or issue public policy statements on controversial issues. Had the courts ruled that they did any of those things they would lose their status.
So you have your left leaning websites saying “watching” cnp (sounds unbiased to me) and I have the courts saying another. I will go with what the courts said as being less biased.
19 Jun 2006 at 10:28 pm | #
“Tre Arrow” ran for congress on the green party ticket in 2000. He is currently in jail in canada fighting extradition back to the US whre he will stand trial facing his fingerprints and three coconspirators (who worked for him as a candidate for the green party) who were with him when he firebombed a gravel and logging company.
So yes virginia some members of the green party do blow things up. Does that mean that all memebrs of the green party do? Of course not, no more then all members of teh CNP are klansman
19 Jun 2006 at 10:48 pm | #
Before the reference material—I have read in several places that they don’t even want the existence of their meetings, or the list of attendees at their meetings, known. That could have changed recently, but the fact that the Blackwell pic and blog entry about his speech there were pulled indicate otherwise.
Now, According to Wiki, here is a list of reported members, which pretty well square with other lists I’ve seen. You’ll notice several African-American names on the list (Star Parker, Ken Blackwell, and Ward Connerly, at least).
(begin excerpt)
CNP was founded in 1981 by Tim LaHaye, author of the Left Behind series of books. It employs about eight people. Its first executive director was Woody Jenkins; later, Morton Blackwell served in this role, followed by Steve Baldwin. Presidents have included Nelson Bunker Hunt, Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, Pat Robertson, Paul Pressler, and former Reagan cabinet secretaries Ed Meese and Donald Hodel.
Other reported members include:
Howard Ahmanson, Jr.
Dick Armey
John Ashcroft
Ted Baehr
David Barton
Gary Bauer
Joel Belz
Ken Blackwell
Morton Blackwell
Brent Bozell
Bill Bright
Ward Connerly
Holland Coors
Jerome Corsi
Tom DeLay
Rich DeVos
James Dobson
Stuart Epperson
Jerry Falwell
Joseph Farah
Michael Farris
Steve Forbes
Foster Friess
Ed Fuelner
Frank Gaffney
C. Boyden Gray
Donald Hodel
Nelson Bunker Hunt
David Keene
D. James Kennedy
Jon Kyl
Stephen Norrim Lackey
Wayne LaPierre
Trent Lott
Rod D. Martin
Ed Meese
Don Nickles
Grover Norquist
Oliver North
Marvin Olasky
Star Parker
Paige Patterson
Tony Perkins
Paul Pressler
Pat Robertson
Richard Mellon Scaife
Phyllis Schlafly
Alan Sears
Jay Sekulow
John Shadegg
Lou Sheldon
John Singlaub
Kenneth Starr
John Templeton
Tommy Thompson
Richard Viguerie
Paul Weyrich
(begin excerpt)
A 1998 list at this like has MANY more names, including that of “our” beloved carpetbagging former Congressman Bob McEwen:
http://www.publiceye.org/ifas/cnp/name98.html
An additional African-American on the 1998 list is Alan Keyes. Another interesting local name is John Wilkie of prolife fame. There are others on the 1998 list who will raise eyebrows. The list is also populated with a disproportionate number of people who have appeared as speakers at Amway/Quixtar rallies or who have been Amway/Quixtar “independent business owners” (IBOs).
The point about CNP is this: Going after it on the basis of racism is IMO very misguided; there’s nothing there.
Going after it for being a secret cabal of holier-than-thou conservatives with a overtly fundamentalist Christian (and perhaps anti-Catholic) view of where this country needs to go, and which sets some kind of agenda for accomplishing that, has SOME (emphasis SOME) potential for traction.
Or it could be a group of conservative people who consider themselves accomplished who just like to hang out three times a year and want to be left alone—sort of a conservative MENSA, if you will.
But it’s going to take digging beyond what I’ve seen anyone do to establish whether there’s any reason to be truly concerned about them.
19 Jun 2006 at 10:49 pm | #
Oops, meant to say “end excerpt the second time. Got rattled by the frequent rejections before posting.
19 Jun 2006 at 10:54 pm | #
f is for f inney
f inney is a disingenuous f ucker
f inney is Heimlich\’s attorney, shill and bitch
f inney is a right wing religious wacko and a neo f ascist
f inney is as biased a right wing hack as they come
Don\’t believe anything that this lying sack of shit f ucker says
20 Jun 2006 at 02:12 pm | #
12:54
I am not nor do i know chris finney. I know who he is but have never met him.
All i have done is point out facts like that the CNP doesnt enodrse candidates and lobby like was alledged. I also point out that of the supposed racist one left the KKK over 30 years ago and the other one was dead.
sorry if the truth hurts
20 Jun 2006 at 02:21 pm | #
f. ucker is a disingenuous right wing lair and he is f. inney alright.
f. inney, do you catch while Phil pitches or is it vice-verse?
Heres a question for you f. inney; why did the catholics collaborate with the Nazis during the war???