Herman Cain (Photo: Getty)

Former Republican presidential candidate blasted the New York Times on the website of his online TV network today in a column that claimed the paper put on "a white sheet and hood" by publishing an editorial that was critical of black Republicans on Wednesday. The Times article, which was written by University of Pennsylvania political science professor Adolph Reed Jr., was entitled "The Puzzle of Black Republicans" and argued "modern black Republicans have been more tokens than signs of progress."

"It’s a shame the New York Times is such a racist newspaper," Mr. Cain wrote in his response.

Mr. Reed's editorial labeled conservative praise for Tim Scott's appointment as the first African-American Senator for the South since the Reconstruction era as "cheerleading over racial symbolism" that "plays to the Republicans’ desperate need to woo (or at least appear to woo) minority voters." Despite this desire to court the black vote, Mr. Reed said "modern-day Republicans have deployed blacks to undermine black interests" by weakening the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Commission on Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with African-American officials.

In his response, which was entitled "The New York Times is a Racist Newspaper," Mr. Cain criticized Mr. Reed's characterization of "black interests."

"To hear Professor Reed tell it, blacks are a monolithic group of people whose best interests are served when they can be recipients of redistributionist policies at the hands of big government," Mr. Cain wrote. "Let me simplify that for you: He thinks black people need welfare, and can’t make it under the kinds of free-market policies advocated by the likes of Samuel Pierce, Clarence Pendleton, Clarence Thomas and Tim Scott. And Herman Cain."

Mr. Cain, who is African-American, accused Mr. Reed, who is also African-American, of suffering from self-hatred.

"Since Professor Reed is also a black man, I wish him well in dealing with his obvious self-loathing," wrote Mr. Cain. "But he might learn a lot if he spent a little time moving in the circles I move in. He would meet lots of highly accomplished black men and women who have pursued their dreams in the capitalist system and have done exceedingly well. They vote Republican because they understand that free-market policies open up this same kind of opportunity for others."

Mr. Cain closed out his column by blasting the Times for publishing the article, which he described as "denigrating blacks."

"Any newspaper that would publish a piece denigrating blacks as needing the benevolence of big government in order to serve their interests is obviously racist and deserves widespread censure for making such an insensitive and racially biased editorial decision," Mr. Cain wrote. "It’s a shame the New York Times is such a racist newspaper."

Former Klan leader David Duke in his video endorsing Charles Barron for Congress. (Photo: YouTube)

Former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke went on his radio show today to say he did not appreciate the media referring to him as a former Ku Klux Klan leader in the coverage of his endorsement of Charles Barron. As The Politicker first reported, Mr. Duke (a former KKK leader) released a video on Wednesday endorsing Mr. Barron in his race for Brooklyn’s 8th Congressional district against Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries.

"We've had an incredible two days of media invective against me because I dared to say positive words in the congressional race between Charles Barron in New York and his Zio-African American--really all I can say is Zionist stooge opponent Mr. Hakeem Jeffries," the former Ku Klux Klan leader Mr. Duke said. "It's been an amazing bit of hate that has been launched against me and against Mr. Barron."

Mr. Duke said the headlines identifying him as former KKK Grand Wizard were evidence of the "incredible bias of the Zionist media."

"I've looked at the headlines and there have been articles--if you do a news search in David Duke and Charles Barron, there are just literally hundreds of news stories," said Mr. Duke, a former Klansman. "Almost every story headlines 'Former Klansman' or 'Former KKK Leader Endorses Charles Barron.'"

Ex-KKK leader Mr. Duke said he would have preferred it if the (completely accurate) headlines noting his former Klan affiliation referred to his time in the Louisiana Legislature instead.

"I was in the Klan now 35 years ago," Mr. Duke said. "Since that time--a long time since that time...I got elected to the [Louisiana] House of Representatives. That should be, it seems like, my title--'Former Representative David Duke."

Mr. Duke is indeed a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He is also, as he admitted, a former Ku Klux Klan leader.

Along with complaining about the coverage that noted his status as a former KKK grand wizard, Mr. Duke addressed concerns other self-described "white nationalists" might have about him endorsing Mr. Barron, an African American politician who is a former member of the Black Panther Party. He reiterated his point the endorsement was due to his support for Mr. Barron's strong criticisms of the Israeli government.

"Now, I know a lot of people in the movement might be taken aback," former Klu Klux Klan leader David Duke said. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's again, it's political theater. The truth is that the endorsement really brought a lot of people to understanding the power of Jewish extremism."

Though ex-Klansman David Duke described his endorsement as primarily "political theater," he also said it was heartfelt.

"If you've got a choice between two African Americans for Congress and one is a Jewish stooge--a Zionist stooge I should say, and one is a person that opposes Zionism, I'd sure rather have the person that opposes Zionism, because the Zionists have this country locked down," he said.

Both Mr. Barron and Mr. Jeffries have spoken out against (former KKK leader) Mr. Duke's endorsement.

Dr. David Duke in his video endorsing Charles Barron for Congress. (Photo: YouTube)

Former KKK Grand Wizard and member of the Louisiana Legislature David Duke released a video yesterday endorsing Charles Barron in his race for Brooklyn's 8th Congressional district against Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries. Mr. Barron, a member of the City Council and former member of the Black Panther Party who, over the years, has made a series of controversial statements against Israel and in support of African dictators including Muammar Qaddafi. He would seem to be an odd choice for a self-described "white nationalist" like Mr. Duke, but in the video, Mr. Duke explains that he thinks Mr. Jeffries has "sold his soul to the international Zio-bankers" while Mr. Barron's strong past criticisms of Israel outweigh their other differences.

"In a race for Congress between an anti-Zionist black activist and a black activist who is a bought and paid for Zionist Uncle Tom, I'll take the anti-Zionist any day," Mr. Duke says in the video. "In this election of limited choices, I believe that Charles Barron is the best choice. Why? Because I think there's no greater danger facing the United States of America and facing the world than the unbridled power of Zionist globalism. ... Charles Barron stands against that power. If I lived in New York City, I would certainly vote for Charles Barron."

Mr. Duke begins his video by noting that Mr. Barron has been labeled the "David Duke of New York City" by his political opponents.

"The possible election of a dedicated anti-Zionist to the U.S. Congress has thrown the Zionist influenced media and the Zio-political establishment in a tizzy," Mr. Duke says. "The Jewish-controlled New York media is now calling Barron the, quote, 'David Duke of New York,' unquote. I've been deluged by media inquiries as to whether I would endorse Barron because of his very strong anti-Zionist and anti-Israel positions."

The nearly nine minute video continues with Mr. Duke outlining his "agreements and disagreements with Charles Barron." He begins by discussing Israel.

"I certainly agree with Barron that Israel is the worst rogue terrorist state on Earth. It's not Iran folks," Mr. Duke says. "Barron is certainly right about Zionist control over the media and our government, and the treason that's existed in our Congress and he's right about the fact that Zionist wars have caused the death or harming of hundreds of thousands of Americans and cost you trillions of your tax dollars. Barron's opponent, on the other hand, is a complete Zionist sellout of both the black people and all the people of America."

Mr. Duke goes on to say he disagrees with Mr. Barron's support for affirmative action.

"I certainly deeply disagree with Barron's position in favor of so-called affirmative action. Affirmative action is the Republican and Democratic establishment program of naked racial discrimination," Mr. Duke says. "If you want to call me a racist for defending equal rights, then so be it....It should be pointed out that Barron's opponent, Mr. Jeffries, is also a strong advocate of the racial discrimination called 'affirmative action.'"

He also says he disagrees with "with Barron's extreme racist, even violently anti-white rhetoric."

"He even once stated in 2002, quote, 'I want to go up to the closest white person and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing.' And then, slap him just for my mental health, unquote," Mr. Duke says of Mr. Barron. "Barron's statement shows why the media comparison between Barron and me is quite ridiculous."

However, Mr. Duke also claims "the mainstream media and our Hollywood-controlled establishment is even more violently anti-white than anything Barron has said." As an example of this, he cites Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film Django Unchained, which is about a freed slave who becomes a bounty hunter. Mr. Duke concludes Mr. Barron's past anti-white statements are the product of a divide between blacks and white that was created by the "Zio masters."

"Black leaders like Barron should work to lessen the enmity between blacks and whites and realize that the Jewish extremists in America keep whites and blacks from mutually solving our interests and differences," Mr. Duke says. "The Zio masters want constant conflict between the two groups so they can utilize a divide and conquer strategy over us all."

Mr. Duke wraps up his endorsement of Mr. Barron by criticizing Mr. Jeffries, who he says, along with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, are working for the interests of "the Zionist Club FED and the international banking establishment."

"As far as Barron's opponent, he's already sold his soul to the international Zio bankers," Mr. Duke says.

Mr. Duke's reasons for supporting Mr. Barron in favor of Mr. Jeffries are clear. However, Mr. Barron has recently tried to distance himself from some of his more controversial past statements as he tries to reach the House of Representatives and Mr. Duke's endorsement could easily be a liability in a district that has substantial Jewish and black populations.

Update (2:48 p.m.): Both Mr. Barron and Mr. Jeffries have now responded to Mr. Duke's endorsement.

Watch Mr. Duke's video endorsing Mr. Barron below.