Allen West (Photo: West.House.gov)

Florida Congressman Allen West appeared on Fox & Friends this morning to discuss a campaign commercial released by his rival that shows him punching an old white woman in the face. Mr. West, who is African-American, said he believes the ad is evidence of a double standard where liberals are not rebuked for making racially charged attacks that would get conservatives in hot water.

'Think about this, think about if the Republican Party or a conservative PAC ran a picture of a black Democratic politician or congressman punching white women and white seniors. I'm sure that MSNBC, NBC and the Huffington Post and everyone would be going apopleptic right now," said Mr. West. "But once again, there are different rules."

Mr. West said liberals feel like it is open season for them to target black conservatives because the Democratic Party has African-American activists, specifically the NAACP and the reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, "well-placed." As evidence of this, he cited the fact that none of these activists came to his aid when the controversial ad was released.

"I think that on the left, they believe that when you look at black conservatives especially, they feel that they have an open game," Mr. West said. "You know, where's the outrage from Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton and the NAACP about this? They're not going to say anything because they're nothing but an effective wing of the Democratic Party whatsoever. And they have effectively kept them well-placed so that they can continue to make sure that they have a black electorate voting bloc."

Mr. West also said he believes the attack ad ran against him may have been illegal. The ad was released by the American Sunrise PAC, which supports Mr. West's Democratic opponent, Patrick Murphy, and is run by Mr. Murphy's father, Thomas Murphy Jr. PACs are prohibited by law from coordinating with campaigns.

"I would find it hard to believe that the son does not know that the dad is running this super PAC and what the dad is doing," said Mr. West. "And so, again, if this was something happening on the Republican side or the conservative side you would see the liberal media just going just crazy, but there are different rules that apply to them. There's different rules as far as integrity and character."

Watch a video of Mr. West's Fox & Friends appearance below.

Mitt Romney on stage at the NAACP Convention. (Photo: Getty)

Mitt Romney gave a speech before the annual NAACP convention in Houston this morning in which he made the argument his policies "would help families of color and families of any color more than the policies and leadership of President Obama." Despite his best efforts, Mr. Romney was booed by the crowd when he criticized the president's performance and vowed to "repeal Obamacare."

"Of course, you know the opposition charges that I and people in my party are running for office to help the rich. Nonsense. The rich will do just fine whether I'm elected or not," Mr. Romney said. The president wants to make this campaign about blaming the rich and I want to make this a campaign about helping the middle class in America. I'm running for president because I know that my policies and vision will help millions of middle class Americans of all races, will lift people from poverty and will help prevent people from becoming poor in the first place."

Mr. Romney began by complimenting the organ music that played as he took the stage.

"I do love that music. I have to tell you, I do love listening to that organ music, and the piano and during the prayer hearing 'Sweet Hour of Prayer' being played, that was a wonderful thing,"  he said.

Mr. Romney then explained that he believes he is the best choice for African American voters in this presidential election though the black community traditionally backs Democrats.

"With 90 percent of African Americans who typically vote for Democrats, you may wonder--or some may wonder why a Republican would bother to campaign in the African American community and to address the NAACP," Mr. Romney said. "One reason, of course, is that I hope to represent all Americans of every race, creed and sexual orientation....There's another reason. I believe that, if you understood who I truly am in my heart and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real enduring best interest of American--African American families, you would vote for me for president."

Mr. Romney went on to explain that the economic issues facing the country have been "worse for African Americans in almost every way" including "unemployment rate, the duration of unemployment, average income, and median family wealth." He also promised to "defend traditional marriage."

For much of Mr. Romney's speech, the audience responded with a smattering of polite applause. However, there were loud boos when he vowed "to eliminate every non-essential, expensive program I can find--that includes 'Obamacare.'" He was also booed when he said the president's "record of the last four years" proves he cannot improve wages or unemployment.

"My agenda is not to put in place a series of policies that get me a lot of attention and applause. My policy will be; number one, create jobs for the American people," Mr. Romney responded.

The Obama campaign countered Mr. Romney's speech by distributing a statement entitled "MITT ROMNEY: THE WRONG CHOICE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES," which claimed, among other things that Mr. Romney has "consistently opposed efforts that have helped create jobs for African Americans" and would "raise taxes on at least 2.2 million African American families."

"This election offers African American voters two fundamentally different visions of how to grow the economy, create middle-class jobs, and pay down the debt. President Obama believes that we need to grow the economy from the middle out by investing in education, clean energy, infrastructure and energy. Mitt Romney and his allies in Congress believe that if you let Wall Street write its own rules again, take away rules that protect consumers and workers, and cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans, the market will somehow grow from the top down," the statement said. "For African American communities, this choice has significant consequences."

Al Sharpton listening in to Charles Rangel. (Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

Civil rights veterans led by Rev. Al Sharpton, Harlem congressman Charles Rangel, and the NAACP announced a new campaign against new voter fraud laws that could prevent five million Americans from casting their ballots next year.

Stand For Freedom, the new coalition, will hold a national day of action Dec. 10 – also United Nations Human Rights Day – to protest the laws. In New York alone, they hope to gather 10,000 people outside the offices of the Koch brothers, octogenarian billionaires and major donors to conservative activist groups.

“Many old people don’t want the hassle [of getting an ID] and young people don’t feel like they need it without a car,” Rangel, 81, said outside City Hall. “They are looking to go after anyone President Obama depended upon to get elected. It’s right out in the open! It’s the Ku Klux Klan without hoods!”

Recently, many state legislatures have passed or introduced laws attempting to prevent allegedly widespread voter fraud. Though they vary in scope from state to state, the majority of them demand voters present photo identification at the ballot box, ban same-day voter registration, or end early voting.

Pointing to the miniscule number of actual recorded instances of voter fraud in recent years, the activists charge this is an attempt by the GOP to disenfranchise minority, elderly, and poor voters who played a large part in President Obama’s 2008 election. Already, the laws look set to have a big impact on next year’s presidential race: the states who have already passed them comprise 63% of the 270 electoral college votes needed to win.

“The generations ahead of us had to face Jim Crow. We have to face his son, James Crow Jr., Esq,” Rev. Sharpton, who, like Mr. Rangel, was on the Selma to Montgomery marches organized by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1965. “We know this is about an election, but it’s also about a selection. Those of us who had to fight for the right to vote, we now have to fight for the right to maintain it."

The author of the email, Ken Cohen, referred calls to the NAACP, which did not respond to inquiries.

-----Original Message-----

From: William McDonald <#### @ gmail.com>

To: William McDonald <#### @ gmail.com>

Sent: Sat, May 28, 2011 9:12 am

Subject: URGENT: IMMEDIATE RESPONSE NEEDED - Emergency Mobilization Meeting for NAACP Press Conference

To ALL Education Chairs,

Please note the letter below sent by our regional director

to the Branch Presidents. There will be a full Mobilization

on Friday, June 3, 2011.

Time and place to be announced.

William H. McDonald

718-### -####

To All Presidents

As you all know the NAACP was assaulted yesterday at 125 Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. by Charter Schools. The schools used parents and children to publicly ridicule the NAACP and our NYS President Hazel N. Dukes. It has been decided by our State Conference President Hazel N. Dukes, President Ben Jealous, and the Legal Staff of the Association to hold series of actions. The first will be a letter that will appear in the Amsterdam News. The second will be a Press Conference to be held Friday, June 3, 2011 time and location to be announced. The National Association is taking the actions and responses of the past 10 days as a direct attack on the integrity of the NAACP. Therefore President Dukes has ask that Presidents from each Branch in the Metropolitan Council meet on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 6:00 PM 1065 Avenue of the Americas Suite 300. There are several actions we have been asked to do. The first is PARENTS, we are to find a parent that is working closely with each Branch that could speak at the press conference, that parent should NOT be a member preferably. We need parents to stand with us preferably women, but we will take male parents. Finally we are to mobilize our Branches and bring a list on Tuesday as to who in your Branch can attend. This meeting is of the utmost importance the National Legal staff will be in New York City, as well as our National Leadership on Friday. We need to have our act together. Please confirm receipt of email and confirm your attendance at Tuesday's meeting.

Have a wonderful and safe Holiday weekend

Ken Cohen

646-###-####

Main messages:

We sued to make schools better for all children.

We’re fighting for all the students to have a great education, not just the lucky few.

We have an order from a judge saying we should make these schools better rather

than closing them down and co-locating well-resourced schools across from those that are being starved.

We’re looking at an old-school Brown problem in a new way. This is the new separate and unequal.

20% of charters give a better opportunity, 80% will do the same or worse. We want a consistently better

system for all our kids.

We represent all the parents, and are expanding opportunity for all.

 

Beth Glenn

Education Director

NAACP National Office