Hey, What About All The Others Who Were Wrong in the Sterling Scandal?

I will say at the offset that I don't have a problem with what the NBA owners did.  Not because I think private speech should be punished or that racist speech is worse than other type of "hate" speech, but because I believe in the rule of law.  Part of that rule of law is contract law.  The NBA franchise agreement gives the owners the right to fine and suspend others with a simple majority vote.  When you sign that, you agree to the terms and conditions.  Mr. Sterling doesn't have a legal leg to stand on to stop the suspension or the fine.  

But there is a great number of people who are being left out of this conversation.  We can start with former commissioner David Stern.  It isn't like Mr. Sterling's comments should come as any surprise.  He was fined one of the largest fines in the history of the country for discriminating against minorities in housing.  His racists views were well-known long before that phone call became public.  David Stern did nothing about it.  Neither did any of the other owners, well at least as far as we know.  There may have been talk behind closed doors, but publicly no one did anything.  

We then can move onto the Los Angeles Chapter of the NAACP.  To me they come out looking far worse in this than Sterling ever will.  It shouldn't be overly surprising that a 80-year-old white man has racist tendencies.  It was a perfectly acceptable way to be and to think when he was growing up.  Yes, he should have "evolved" by now, but he is far from the only one from that generation that has not.  What I can't possibly fathom is the fact that organization  was about to give him a "Lifetime Achievement" award knowing full well he has history of discriminating against minorities.  Apparently to the NAACP it matters none if you actually are racist if you write some big ol checks along the way.  Did the NAACP not know about his housing discrimination issues?  Or did they just want the money more?   Sterling is just a racist.  The NAACP Los Angeles chapter are a bunch of money-grubbing opportunists that will allow the people they are said to be protecting to be violated against as long as they get theirs.  They will close their eyes to the very serious offense of housing discrimination as long as they are getting paid to.  Which just further proves that the organization has long since outlived their usefulness and should disband.  How can they possibly be taken seriously after this?  Not that I took them seriously about this beforehand, but I hope that some people will open their eyes.  Especially when you consider they are still saying today, they are "willing to work with him" as long as he finances some things.  Another words, write them another check.  

Now we can move onto the Congressional Black Caucus.  They seriously want the government to get involved with the NBA and how they set up their franchising?  Really?  They pounced on this to keep themselves in the news and to prove to the few people in the country who think that they actually accomplish anything are doing something.   C'mon the very last thing any professional sports franchise needs is the government getting involved.  They are actually profitable.  That will turn around quickly if the feds get their grubby mitts involved.  

We then have dear ol' Rev. Al who couldn't wait to get his five minutes in front of the camera.  He is now calling for more diversity in the game of basketball.  I suppose close to three-quarters of the players being black isn't good enough.  The NBA has more minority coaches and front office personnel than any other major sports in the country.  They have done the job of letting the free market decide who does and who does not have ownership as well as management positions all their own.  They don't need any interference from others.  

I now that many people are upset that Sterling is being punished for a private conversation.  I agree that shouldn't happen.  The problem is that we just can't ignore the conversation now that it is out there.  That conversation shined a light on his other transgressions that were wildly well-known within basketball circles that no one bothered to do anything about.  Yes there is a great deal of faux outrage involved.  But the NBA is far better off without this man in their ranks.  They real shame of the whole thing is that they waited so long to do it.    

But I have to say the most ironic part of the entire story is this:

Sterling was investigated, tried and convicted for housing violations by none other than that "racist" George W. Bush administration.  His AG office tried and fined him.  The NAACP of Los Angeles was going to give him a lifetime achievement award. You really can't make this stuff up folks.  

To Curtis Johnson - Online & Social Media Specialist for the NAACP

You may remember that I did a post a few weeks ago on the NAACP siding with the unions and filing a lawsuit to stop New York City from closing down some of the worse schools in the entire country.  As many of you know I am a contributor to the blog PotLuck bloggers.  A group of diverse conservative women who are trying to get their ideals out into the blogosphere. 

I got a reply from Curtis Johnson from the NAACP inviting me to participate in the Twitterview that they would be doing regarding the lawsuit.  I received the message too late and was unable to participate.  He then invited me to send him questions directly.  So here it goes:

1. It is very obvious that our public school system is broken in this country.  Why is an organization such as yours raising objections to using innovative ideas such as vouchers and charters to help the children get a better education?

2. Can you honestly tell me that you don't accept the reality that unions are part of the problem of school reform in this country?  If so, why?

3.  How long do these families have to wait before we close a school that performs in lowest 1% of the entire country?  Is it 1 year, 2 years, or simply as long as it takes? 

4. Can you look the families of these children who have been in this failing school for years and honestly say that you care about their child's education? 

5.  Are you willing to send your child (or niece, nephew, friend's kid) to this same school why they are waiting for it to "improve"?  If not, how do you justify telling another family that they must? 

6. What do have to say about the report that came out after the DC voucher program ended showing that this program also helped to improve the public schools, by making them compete with the private schools for the money?  This report seems to indicate that vouchers/charters do help all students not just the students that are attending the other schools.  ***

7. Do you think that the result would be different in the public school system in New York than it was in D.C.?  ***

***While the DC officials and many within the democratic party have disputed it, the results for DC have been positive.  I have back-up of this if you need it.  I am very passionate about education reform and have kept a close eye on the voucher program in DC. 

I look forward to your answers. 

Sincerly,

just a conservative girl

Guess What? You Agree with Conservatives

Today I was out doing some canvassing for Tito Munoz's senate campaign.  I was sitting at a local grocery store that happens to have WiFi and looking up some addresses on Mapquest.  The restaurant section was pretty full and this man asked if he could sit at my table.  Of course it was no big deal to me, I was not doing anything with state secrets or anything.  For some reason the man felt like he needed to have a conversation with me. 

He made a joke and asked me if I was a tax assessor because I had a clipboard of addresses.  I said no worse, I was doing work for the upcoming elections for the state legislator.  He asked me if the candidate was a minority or not.  I said as matter of fact yes he is.  I told him that Tito is a naturalized citizen who was born and raised in Columbia. 

We got to talking about politics and I told him that I have gotten very involved since 2008.  I think this man assumed that Tito and I are both democrats.  I then told him that no we are republicans and conservative republicans at that.  He then looked at me and said "oh, you are part of the tea party.".  Why yes we are.  This man happened to be a minority as well, a black man.  He told me that he would never vote for a republican because they don't care about him.  I asked him where he was from and he wasn't in Tito's district, matter fact he was from Maryland, so I figured I could say what I wanted to say without affecting anything as he didn't recognize Tito's name. 

So I explained to him my insight into the black community as it is and asked him some questions.

1. Are you a religious man and regular church goer.  Yes he is.
2. Are you against gay marriage on religious beliefs.  Yes he is.
3. Wouldn't you say that if a family is going on third or fourth generation living in poverty and public assistance the system has failed them?  Yes, I guess so.
4. Shouldn't a poor black child get a good education?  Of course.
5. Shouldn't the poor black family have access to better schools like richer people?  Of course.
6. Would you agree that the high levels of black unemployment have a relationship to the less effective school systems in the poorer communities.  I guess so.
7. Would it shock you to learn that the NAACP has sided with the teachers unions in Harlem, NY to keep one of the lowest performing schools in the country open instead of allowing the students to attend a charter school?  He doesn't believe that is true.  I assured him it was. 
8. Do you think it is fair that public school teachers in New Jersey put in approx. $100K towards benefits and the tax payers pay them almost $1 Million in return.  He doesn't believe that is true.  I googled it for him. 
9. Do you  believe that tax payers should fund abortion?  No. 
10. Do you understand that the founder of Planned Parenthood was a racist who gave lectures to the KKK and wanted to rid the world of "undesirables?  Did you know that she considered blacks undesirables?  Did you know that many of the PP clinics are in minority neighborhoods?  Do you think that is just happenstance?  Did you know that the black community would be almost doubled in size in this country if Roe V. Wade had not become legal in this country.  He was dumbfounded.

My final question was

You vote for the democrats why?  He didn't have an answer.  Will he become a republican.  Maybe, maybe not.  But I gave him something to think about. 

One person at a time is how we will win the fight to get our country back on track.  Don't name call, just ask serious questions and give factual answers.  One person at a time.

The NAACP Chooses Unions over Education

Not this comes as a surprise to me.  The public school system in this country is broken.  Of course there are some very good public schools in this country, but we also have far too many that are failing our communities and our children.  One such community is Harlem. 

The City of New York has a plan to close 22 failing public schools and to open 19 charter schools using the same properties to do so.  It is no surprise that the unions are fighting this, as they always do.  But, what should come as a surprise the NAACP has joined with the unions to force the city to keep these schools open.  These schools that serve a mainly minority population. 

One of the schools that they are trying to save is PS 332 Charles H. Houston.  PS 332 finished in the bottom 1% of public schools last year.  The combination of the schools that the city is planning on closing is as follows:

Average English/Language proficiency is 16%.  (Citywide average is 42%, still dismal, but much better)
Average Math proficiency is 19%.  (Citywide average is 53%, again dismal but much better)

One of the most frustrating things for the parents in this community is that this suit was filed so late into the school year that it is putting the parents in a position that they don't know what is going to happen to their children for the new school year that is only a few short months away.  The parents that fought to get their kids into the open slots in the better schools are left not knowing if they will still be able to send their children for the September school year.  At a rally last week in Harlem a parent said:

"My child cannot be told that she's not going to get to go to her school in September.  I cannot look her in the eye, as a parent, and tell her, 'Well, the problem is that this group of people that Mommy told you about during  Black History Month, that did all those great things a long time ago - they want to stop you from doing great things." 

The main point from this woman's statement is "a long time ago".  The NAACP has shown it's true colors.  They are no longer fighting for the rights of minorities and has become nothing more than a shill group for far left policies and the unions.  This action smacks of a organization that has lost it's true mission.  Fighting for equality for the black community.  Why should a poor black child be stuck in a failing school because the unions are refusing to accept the changes that are necessary to in order to improve our public school system?  Why should these 7,000 students give up the chance at a better education so that union teachers can save their jobs?  These parents are fighting for the future of their children.  Having a substandard education is one sure way to keep a person living on public assistance, denying them a chance to get a higher education.  We live in a world that is becoming more and more competitive.  While having a college education is no guarantee for a brighter future is certainly helps. 

The statement from the NAACP:

Charter Schools serve only a tiny number of students and that the NAACP is fighting for equality for all students

How, by throwing good money after bad to a school that is one of the worst public schools in the City of New York?    The teacher's unions have proven over and over again that they are not student centered.  The union is more concerned about the pay scales and job security of the teachers than they are of the students.  Remember this?



The fact that NAACP has chosen to side with an organization that is more concerned with paychecks and benefits than they are with student achievement is just more proof that the NAACP no longer has the minority community best interests at heart. 

School Chancellor of New York Dennis Walcott says:

"These figures are nothing to brag about, the unions should be with us.  That's probably too much to expect, considering the union's past intransigence.  Surely, though, it's not too much to hope for from an organization with a history of fighting for civil rights."

It is high time that the people who give money to the NAACP to ask themselves if they are getting their what they pay for.  The NAACP is no longer an organization that fights for minorities it is an organization that is intent on keeping the minority community on the far left plantation.  They pretend to be about the black community being able to have the same opportunities as everyone else in this country.  Except when it comes to getting a good education.  

There is nothing more fundamental than an education.  These parents have the right to choose a good education for their children.  The City of New York has not only the right, but the responsibility to close failing schools.  The unions and The NAACP should have nothing but shame for trying to force these kids into one of the worst schools in the country.  

Read Ben Jealous, the CEO of the NAACP defense here.  My question to Mr. Jealous is how long do these parents have to wait?  How long do they try and fix a failing school?  How much money do we waste before we decide that the school can't be saved?  None of those of questions are answered in his defense. 

Cross posted at PotLuck

The Communists Are Coming, The Communists Are Coming....

On Saturday there will be the left's answer to Glenn Beck's Restore Honor Rally.  Oh, looking at the list of "sponsors" was eye opening. 

It was not all that long ago I was talking to several people who not only voted for President Obama, but actually think he is doing a good job. One of which grew up in Africa where the government has basically total control of your lives.  He refuses to see that there are forces in this country that would like nothing better than to turn the U.S. into another one of those countries.  What is truly scary to me that I don't think President Obama sees them either.  He doesn't see that he is merely a puppet of those forces. 

What  I would like to know is why is the NAACP is working so closely with GLSEN?  The black community regardless of how they may vote are pretty generally social conservatives.  I am not too sure that they would be all that jazzed to find out the NAACP is closely working with an organization that sole purpose it to push sexually explicit information on the acceptability of homosexuality starting with children as young as kindergarten.  Remember the fisting demonstrations done for teenagers?  That was sponsored by this group. 

The Communist Party USA is also a sponsor!  What is it supposed to say when a former candidate for the presidency in the democratic party is working this closely with communists?  The squishy middle and the people who have their heads in the sand need to wake up and ask themselves these questions. 

We live in democratic republic, people are allowed to their views and are allowed to express them.  But, the issue is how long are going allow them to push this country into their vision?  A vision that has nothing to do with the founding documents of this country.  Here is a good example of what I am talking about:



What Van Jones doesn't understand I have no desire to "run his family" or "run his community".  I want limited government that doesn't run anyone's family.  I am not the one that is trying to tell people what to put their thermostats on.  If they want their a/c turned down to 60 in the middle of summer, have it at.  As long as I don't have to pay the bill it is none of my concern.  I also am not the one that doesn't think that this country is running out of money.  Jones' said that Haliburtion has plenty of money.  Maybe they do, but it doesn't belong to me nor to the US treasury.  I don't want the government telling me what food to eat, what doctor I can go to, or what choices are put into vending machines.  San Francisco is working towards closing pet shops because people decide not to keep hamsters after buying them.  I agree if you get a pet you should be responsible for it, but why are they punishing everyone?  There are plenty of responsible pet owners; even in San Francisco.  If a business can make boatloads of money for themselves and their stockholders, more power to them.  As long as they are doing it honestly and legally, again it is not my business.  Nor, do I think that they owe me some of that money. 

There is a part of me that longs for the days that I thought communists only existed in the Soviet Union, and socialism in the guise of government totalitarianism was a thing of the past. 

Sherrod and a Lesson in Using the Race Card

Apparently Shirley Sherrod is not a racist woman who was using her position of power to block people from getting equal treatment under the law.  The full video has been released and apologies have been made.  But it shouldn't be the end of the story. 

The story really isn't about Sherrod, she just got caught in the middle of it.  The story is about people who are all too willing to label someone a racist and the fear that it brings out in people.  This happened because the NAACP is starting a fight unnecessarily with the Tea Party movement. 

Sherrod's side of the story is that the Obama administration pressured her into resigning; a charge they deny.  She also said that the NAACP never contacted her before releasing it's original statement condemning her statements of not helping a white man save his farm.  Both of these things are just as disturbing as Andrew Breitbart releasing a video without the full context, and not reporting it in such a way that made that clear. 

Calling someone a racist or even implying it can have very damaging results.  This woman has been publicly ridiculed across the blogoshpere and national television.  She has lost her job (something that should be corrected immediately), and she has been thrust into  a spotlight that she neither asked for or deserved.  This is a lesson in why using the race card should only be done with careful consideration and more than just a single soundbite. 

If you take a look around the conservative blogosphere, you will see the apologies to the unnecessary interruption to Ms. Sherrod's life.  I am still waiting for the left to apologize for the non existent N word incident at the Tea Party Protest in March. 

Quote of the Day

"Therefore, if the NAACP's preoccupation with white racism reflects the thinking of most or even many blacks, it means that there is nothing white America can do to undo the ongoing perception of endemic racism in this country -- a perception that is now considerably more destructive to blacks than to American society as a whole."

Dennis Prager


read article here

The Continued Hypocrisy of the NAACP

It is abundantly clear that the NAACP has long outlived it usefulness.  Shirley Sherrod, an employee of the USDA bases her decisions on who will get farmer loans based on color.  First, she is a government employee, so her admitting this is totally unacceptable.  Second, she is giving this speech at a meeting for the NAACP.  If any person in this country is treated differently based on skin color, it is an affront to us all.  We cannot move forward as a society until we let go of all the bull that surrounds race. 

Does she have a point that many black farmers are losing their land?  Maybe.  I am very much against farmer subsidies, because they are mainly going to large corporate farmers as opposed to small family farmers.  How much of that is based on skin color is not something that I know that much about, except for the fact that she just admitted that she does that.  She has resigned her position as of today.  She should not have been allowed to resign, she should have been fired for cause.  She is government employee, will she be able to keep her benefits? 

What is the most disturbing part of this video, is the fact that if you listen carefully, you can hear people agreeing. 

Go West - Allen West on the NAACP

Everyday I love this man more.  The good news is that he is ahead in the polls.  It is a very slight lead, but a lead all the same.  Please give to his campaign if you can.  There is a donate button on the sidebar.