The race pimps have made their demands and named their price (link via Atrios). Because Trent Lott was a bigot, Republicans should now cave in on a bunch of really stupid ideas. Here are the demands:
* Oppose five of President Bush (news – web sites)’s 15 federal judicial nominees who were left in limbo when Congress adjourned in November: Charles Pickering of Mississippi, Priscilla Owen of Texas, Carolyn Kuhl of California, Terrence Boyle of North Carolina and Jeffrey Sutton of Ohio. They have ”records of deep hostility to core civil rights principles,” the Leadership Conference contended. Supporters of the five say they are being opposed because they are conservative.
* Support legislation that would encourage federal investigations and prosecutions of hate crimes — acts believed to have been prompted by race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Most Senate Republicans have opposed the hate-crimes legislation on the grounds that all violent crimes are heinous, regardless of the motivation.
* Support funds for election reform. In October, Bush signed legislation that requires states to improve their voting procedures. So far, however, none of the $3.8 billion needed has been approved. ”That’s a real betrayal of a commitment,” Henderson said.
The election reforms I am in favor of. The rest is just the tired old laundry of the now morally vacant civil rights movement. Just ignore them. I mean, what are they going to do? Stop voting Republican? Call every GOP member a racist? Claim that if you don’t support them on every issue you are a bigot? Pay for commercials all but accusing Republicans of hate crimes and church burnings?
Gee- We wouldn’t want any of that to happen.
*** Update ***
I really regret calling the aforementioned civil rights leaders race pimps. I am just so sick and tired being called a racist because I don’t agree with everything they say. Calling someone a racist for no reason is a bully tactic- and that is why I stated what I did. It remains, however, an unfair statement on my part. I would get rid of it, but that would be dishonest. Leave it up, and suffer the consequences.