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King

ous has been done in the past to confront the dilemma of race, poverty and class.

Because for too long we’ve only had leaders

who rarely demonstrate the need to change our society for the better by instituting programs that seek to address health and economic dis- parities, a new president like Obama who wants to do just the opposite is now been perceived in their narrow minds as the

enemy. “We are losing our country to socialism

and communism” is the scary refrain they are using to instill fear among the populace about the Obama presidency, rejecting the notion of a just and fair society with equality under the law.

Well, when King was using non-violence to

seek answers to the political and economic crisis tormenting African Americans and the less privileged, he was called a communist.

When Nelson Mandela and his colleagues

stood against the racist apartheid regime in South Africa to end the decades long subjuga- tion of Blacks, they were called communists. Now Mandela turns out to be the world’s most celebrated statesman, even by governments that once referred to him as a communist or terrorist.

Wherever Mandela visits now, the adulation

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

From page A-1

Nonviolence remains the most effective tool

to social and economic transformation. It is paradoxical to observe how bigots in the Tea Party movement and other fringe groups are using violence in an attempt to change policy, while the gains of the Civil Rights Movement were achieved because of the blood of thou- sands murdered for using nonviolence as their weapon.

President Obama is not a communist or so-

cialist. He is a man with a deep sense of jus- tice. His background informs him about the decades- old problems his predecessors were either too afraid to touch or too compromised to handle.

While it is understandable that not everyone

would support Obama’s policy, human decency requires of us when we disagree to register our opposition in a nonviolent form. That allows for a healthy debate on the issues and how we move forward.

It is disappointing to watch how the media

is fanning the embers of the hate-filled rhetoric from the opposition and cunningly legitimiz- ing the violent acts by creating an excuse for them.

When people are mad, that’s how they act is

how some in the media are cowardly explaining the despicable outbursts with its ever-ready racial undertones. Some of these so-called high priests in the media can barely hold their own as they wiggle through the issue giving the false impressions that they are offering a sane voice to the debate. Afraid to condemn the acts of violence and the accompanying racial nu- ances, the media still wants to be thought of as the first signal in a democracy that shines light on darkness.

One would expect that the media, which

claims to be credible space between the gov- ernment and the people, would play a fair or at least a neutral role by condemning the acts of intolerance.

Instead, what is being fed by the media is no

different from the red meat that the right wing extremists are giving their followers. Some media outlets are equally as culpable as the ex- tremists and the Joe Wilsons of the world.

Wilson, who referred to President Obama as

a liar in the halls of Congress at the height of Obama’s State of the Union Address, barely got rebuked.

and respect shown is unbelievable, a strik- ing contradiction to recent history. In Britain where the former prime minister Margaret Thatcher brushed off the African National Con- gress (ANC), Mandela’s organization as a com- munist inspired group, that nation has recently erected a huge statue of Mandela in Parliament Square in London to honor his legacy.

On King there is a project under way to erect

a memorial for him in Washington, to pay trib- ute to a man who was vilified even by some of his own fellow Black ministers.

Both King and Mandela were scorned, hated

with passion for speaking to the greater ques- tion of equality. If the Tea Party movement had existed during the King and Mandela crusades, they would have spat on both men and call them the “N” word just as they did to civil rights icon and Georgia Congressman John Lewis on the night of the health care legislation victory.

Why is it that when men and women of good-

will raise the issue of justice and equality, they have to be branded a communist or socialist?

Why do we call them communists and so-

cialists and yet decades later we contradict our- selves by honoring their memories for making us all better people and for pushing a better society?

Why should there be an intrinsic fear among

some that rises to the level of violence when- ever a leader in government or in a social move- ment wants to address the social and econom- ic inequality that has entrapped the future and potential for progress?

If you are upset and against any move to

level the playing field for African Americans, Jews, Arab Americans, Native Americans, His- panic Americans, Asian Americans and other groups, use nonviolence not guns.

In fact Wilson was celebrated for insulting

a president who was legitimately and over- whelmingly elected by the electorate to govern because he was deemed qualified to do so. Be- cause democracy urges every voice be heard, Wilson gets a pass.

But when that voice is extended to those

begging for health care reform and are now basking in a legislation that covers precondi- tions, those in support of the reform are now referred to as socialists.

Meanwhile the arm chair warriors in the

media are doing their own bidding by giving a false and dishonest intellectual argument about why the new legislation is a bad idea. For some reason, the dishonest intellectuals in the media expect everyone to make sense of the nonsense and hear what the bigots and hate mongers have to say.

They are opposed to anything that creates a

semblance of fairness. Rather, they continue to be the personification of injustice, even leaving scary messages on the voice mail of lawmakers who are compassionate about the health crisis in our communities wishing death on them.

In doing so they are giving the false appear-

ance of vulnerability to attract sympathy and for others to give them the benefit of the doubt that their suspicion of an Obama presidency is legitimate.

Watch senior editor Bankole Thompson’s

bthompson@michronicle.com.

Extremism growth

try. As of 2009, there were 127 militias in the United States — an increase of more than 200 percent.

Arthur Horwitz, publisher of The Jewish

News, one of the collaboration partners, said, “As America and Michigan navigate a difficult economic and social landscape, it is our right and duty to engage in robust discussion about the issues of the day and to hold our elected of- ficials accountable at the ballot box. However, when people of responsibility and power in gov- ernment and the media incite others to express their displeasure through violence, slander and intimidation, they have to be called out. As rep- resentatives of Michigan ethnic media outlets, we appreciate and cherish the freedom and op- portunity our country provides and the respon- sibilities that come with them. We have also felt the sting of bias, defamation and discrimi- nation and are united in speaking out against hate mongers and those who enable them.”

Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab Ameri- can News reiterates this position when he said,

Baker

Care Act.” Shortly afterwards, the

rumbling began in the Georgia House of Representatives to suspend the rules and vote ar- ticles of impeachment against Baker for “failing to uphold the oath of office.” House mem- bers supporting the move con- tend that Baker is obligated by law to file legal motions at the direction of the governor.

Some legislators were al-

ready frustrated when bills in both chambers (SR 794 and HR 1086) failed to create a state constitutional amend- ment that would allow Georgia to opt out of the health care requirements.

The blog Peach Pundit re-

ported that the resolution to impeach Baker has at least 30 signatures and is moving for- ward, despite earlier reports that the House would wait to see how Purdue would resolve the impasse before taking action.

Outside of Georgia, Baker

is probably better known as the African-American attor- ney general who appealed lower court rulings that would have freed Genarlow Wilson, a Georgia teen who was convict- ed and imprisoned for nearly three years for consensual oral sex with a teenage girl.

Wilson was convicted under

a law intended to catch sexual predators and faced a 10-year

Glenn Plummer – Andre Smith photo

Plummer critical of auto bailout, discusses personal tax issue

Second of two parts

Pastor Glenn Plummer, a household name

in the faith community, announced on Monday his run for Congress in the 13th Congressional District currently represented by Congress- woman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. But first Plummer sat down with Michigan Chronicle senior editor Bankole Thompson for an ex- clusive interview about the issues he plans to tackle head-on if elected. In the lengthy in- terview Plummer denies that he is a member of the Republican Party. Though he keynoted the Republican National Convention in 2004 in New York at the invitation of former GOP Congressman J.C. Watts, Plummer said he is a card-carrying member of the Democratic Party, laying out the principles that make him a Democrat. Among other issues Plum- mer said he is concerned about division along racial lines in Southeast Michigan.

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE: Why would the

Republican Party pick you to address their con- vention if you are not a member of the GOP?

GLENN PLUMMER:

Because I had a message to give. Maybe you’ve heard me speak. Have you?

MC: (Laughs) No, I have not. GP: Let me say this. I

have been asked to speak in Israel multiple times. I have spoken at embas- sies. I do that. When I was asked to speak for the Re- publicans I was most sen- sitive because it was in a political context. But it was a prayer breakfast. It was Pastor Plummer they asked to speak. And I was introduced as Pastor Plum- mer.

“They weren’t saying we are bailing out the automobile industry.

They were saying they are bailing out Detroit. What was needed in Congress was

leadership defining the fact that you are not

bailing out Detroit. You are bailing out the auto industry. But to bail out Detroit means a whole

lot more. They didn’t bail out Detroit. Would I have supported it? Probably.”

GP: I think it says that I understand what it

feels like to owe money. Everyone doesn’t have that experience. But I will tell you that probably the greatest majority of Americans know what it feels like to owe. I don’t know how many people owe taxes, but there is a certain sensitivity I have for those who do owe and the experience that I’ve gone through in owing those taxes. I am not a person that has great wealth.

MC: So you are not wealthy? GP: No, I would not define myself as wealthy.

That’s a real subjective term. MC: Wealthy economically? GP: I don’t think so. MC: What do you make of the Tea Party

From page A-1

“We must stand together against messages of hate and identify their messengers.”

The partnership is presenting its work

through the weeks of March 29 and April 5. The partnership will publish original editori- als, share the reports of the SPLC report, host interviews and call-in segments on WDET (101.9FM), encourage related media, both ethnic and mainstream, to host conversations and engage the audience through a variety of social media.

Ellcessor summarizes the ultimate goals of

the partnership this way: “We are undertaking this work because we want to contribute to a climate that says hate and extremism are not values that will move Michigan into the future, where average citizens assert the basic fact that we are a nation of laws and that violence is never an appropriate response to the lawful democratic process and where they can expect their media to provide full, accurate and inci- sive reporting on destabilizing influences like right wing extremism.”

From page A-1

term and a permanent listing on the sexual offender regis- try. The law was later amend- ed but the changes were not retroactive, which could have freed Wilson immediately.

Wilson was ordered freed

by the state Supreme Court in 2007, which declared his 10- year sentence “cruel and un- usual punishment.” He is now a student at Morehouse College.

Baker was appointed attor-

ney general by then-Gov. Zell Miller on June 1, 1997 follow- ing the resignation of then- Attorney General Michael Bowers. Baker was elected to a full four-year term in Novem- ber 1998 and re-elected in No- vember 2002.

movement here in Michigan that is working to- gether with Attorney General Mike Cox to opt out of the health care reform?

GP: Look, first of all the Tea Party is kind

of an offshoot, in my opinion, of the Republi- can Party and those who are in the Republican camp. So its no suprise that there is going to be tactics, strategy to unravel what happened. I don’t think they will be successful.

MC: Was it a wise idea to bail out the auto

industry? GP: If the money is paid back I would say

yes. MC: If you were in Congress would you have

supported the bailout of the auto industry? GP: That’s a great question because really

MC: Your company owes $500,000 in taxes

to the IRS. Will you pay that money as you are edging to Congress?

GP: I certainly hope so. I’m not sure yet. The

IRS has very interestingly said a few things to me. One is we want to help you. I have been talking to them for months and the reason why they filed those leins is to secure their posi- tion as I go forward in what my plan has been. So actually they have been help- ful. I signed an agreement with a new network for my TV station. I think that will arguably shift my posture as it relates. Our sta- tion didn’t go digital. We are going digital this summer. So part of the agreement is that we are building a new digital station. Plus the IRS has offered a signifi- cant reduction in payoff If I’m will- ing to do that.

MC: But don’t you think voters

what they were saying was they were bailing out Detroit. And the fact they weren’t bailing out Detroit, that’s my issue. They weren’t saying we are bailing out the automobile industry. They were saying they are bailing out Detroit. What was needed in Congress was leadership defining the fact that you are not bailing out Detroit. You are bailing out the auto industry. But to bail out Detroit means a whole lot more. They didn’t bail out Detroit. Would I have sup- ported it? Probably.

will look at you and say if you are going to be a guardian of the publlic trough, you should be an example?

GP: And I think I have been an example. Let

me share with you. Maybe you are aware but I’m not aware of many African Americans who own a television station in any major market. So let me tell you the example that I have been. I’m still on the air 24 hours a day. I’ve employed over the years — I don’t even know the number — but its got to be well over couple of hun- dred that have been both trained and equipped in this industry. Some are still with me and some have gone into a career path. So it de- pends on how you would define success. If you define success as someone who doesn’t own money....

MC: No, no. I understand what you are saying

about helping a lot of peopple and building a company. I’m talking about public service here. You were involved in the private sector. Here is a candidate who is running for Congress that owes taxes. What does it say?

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