This past Martin Luther King Day The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) gave out honors as they do annually. But one particular invited guest has caused the Lefty spin machines to spew some vicious race-bait, towards an organization run by Black Conservatives. CORE was a champion during the Civil Rights movement and fought for the rights of minorities, along with groups like the NAACP and SCLC. As time past, CORE was better able to adjust with changes in society. While groups like the NAACP and SCLC are still crying “racism” when it often is not the case, CORE has shown more reason and better judgement in my opinion. CORE is now viewed as a Black Conservative organization and the heads of the organization are proud Republicans.

This year the organization honored:

• The people of Mississippi
• U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton
• Marian Anderson String Quartet

Mississippi’s Republican Governor Haley Barbour was invited to accept on behalf of the people of Mississippi. The award was given because of the state’s tremendous progress in the way of race relations.

Here is part of CORE’s Press Release:

Those are the facts minus the spin direct from the group giving the award. But once a Liberal news outlet reports on this, all the facts are turned to race-bait mush.

Here is what BET.com reported:

So BET.com’s report goes from the award being given to the people of MS, to it being an honor for Governor Barbour. In my opinion, this was done so that BET could deliberately discredit CORE and launch attacks against Republicans. They totally spun information about the purpose of the award and only offered the facts as an explanation from Mr. Innis. It really does not matter what Governor Barbour did himself, because the award was not for him individually. It was for the people of MS and given he is the state’s top elected official he was invited to accept the reward on behalf of the people of that state.

Personally, I’m no fan of the Confederate Battle Flag as I have mentioned before. But that really is beside the point, because this award was not for an individual. Also, while I dislike the flag, it is only a flag. It does not prevent anyone from getting up in the morning and going to school or working a job. The state of MS had a vote and an overwhelming majority of the state voted to keep their flag as-is with the Confederate Battle flag on it, including Governor Barbour who was not Governor at that time. That is their choice. They had the vote, I dislike the outcome, that’s how the process works and I have no desire to change it. Having lived down here in the South I’ve known plenty of people who like that flag, but really are nice people. Just as I know people who celebrate Kwanzaa and are also nice people, despite my disagreement with them as well.

In BET.com’s attack on Governor Barbour, it is also mentioned that he spoke to the Council of Concerned Citizens. This group is what is known as a “neo-Confederate” group and they are racists. However, they attempt to sugar coat their racism big time. To the casual observer they might never realize the group’s racist ways. Well Governor Barbour has made it known that he did not know the full background of the Council of Concerned Citizens when he spoke at an event they were part sponsor of. And if he is not to be believed, then there are plenty of others who also have some explaining to do.

As Jewish Newspaper the Forward reported:

So even (now Governor) Barbour’s opponent who was trying to be re-elected has met with the group. Democrat Ronnie Musgrove was the person behind trying to have MS’s flag changed. So if Barbour is to be viewed as a “racist” for speaking with the Council of Concerned Citizens, it would mean that Ronnie Musgrove is also a racist. But it seems that Liberal media outlets never mention how Democrats also meet with this controversial group. The real bottom line is that politicians are a bunch of political panderers and their true view on matters of race can only be judged by their record, keeping in mind they love to pander. Governor Barbour went to CORE’s Martin Luther King Ambassadorial Reception and Awards Dinner and received the award. If he has a problem with Blacks and just wanted to pander for Black votes he had little to gain politically by going to the awards ceremony. He has already been elected, is not up for re-election until 2007, won the last election by over 7% of the popular vote and CORE’s event usually does not attract much media attention.

Also Governor Barbour has some people vouching for him on the far Left:

The article also mentions:

Now how come BET.com and other left winged news outlets never mention that Barbour stood against David Duke? Because it does not fit their political agenda, that’s why.

And the accusations about John Bolton “allowing illegal arms shipments to Haiti”, are made because friends of Jean-Bertrand Aristide made that claim. Leftist nut and Congressional Black Caucus member Maxine Waters is a big buddy to Aristide as well. Never mind the mass violence in the streets and the USA helped to try and maintain order. Lefties just go making these attacks against Bolton, when Aristide was escorted out of Haiti for his own safety by US forces. The new government is not “illegal”. And the only people who don’t like it are Aristide and his nutty friends, like members of the CBC. They never say a word about Aristide’s corruption and manipulation of the long distance phone industry during his time in power. (Talking about Aristide’s abuses here would take several posts, but it is no surprise people ended wanting him to leave in armed rebellion.) Aristide resigned, got US help to leave and then claimed it was a setup to save face.

I’ve explained all this, to expose how an outfit like BET.com can twist the news to suit their own agenda. And once you understand this, you can more easily see why their readers would vote for Farra-the-Con in an online poll for 2005 Person of the Year.