The National Association for Colored People issued a statement following Tuesday’s elections. Rather than highlight the historic wins of black Republicans, the NAACP focused on voter suppression.
“This election was not about who won but the rather the citizens who lost the right to participate. This first election post the Shelby vs. Holder decision resulted in problems in every single state previously protected by the Voting Rights Act. For 49 years, these states were singled out because they had a history of discriminating against American voters. The Election Protection Hotline we manned with other concerned organizations fielded over 18,000 calls yesterday, many in those same states previously protected by the VRA. As we move forward—it is imperative that our newly elected Congress work with the NAACP and our partners to pass Voting Rights Act Amendment legislation that assures that all Americans have the franchise—our very democracy depends on it.”
Raffi Williams is the Deputy Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee. He took offense to the NAACP’s comments charging that they do not represent all blacks, just liberal blacks. In an interview on Fox News, Williams took the NAACP to task for it’s failure to acknowledge the accomplishments of black people of all ideologies.
“There is no one way to be black in America”
Williams took to Twitter to point out that the NAACP overlooked the historic wins of black conservatives. Tim Scott was the first black person to be elected to both the House and the Senate. Scott is also the first black Senator from the South since Reconstruction. Mia Love is the first black Republican woman elected to Congress. Will Hurd will be the first black Republican Congressman from Texas. All of these historic wins were completely ignored by the NAACP.
can we take a moment to understand how the @NAACP didnt congratulate the first black person ever elected to both the House and Senate?
— Raffi Williams (@Raffiwilliams) November 6, 2014
I wish an org like the @NAACP would support black ppl of ideologies. unfortunately they are proving how out of date they are
— Raffi Williams (@Raffiwilliams) November 6, 2014
Williams is not shy about pointing out double standards. Earlier this year an editor at Ebony Magazine called him “some white dude” and told him to shut up. Williams pointed out that he is an African American and that people of any race should not be attacked for the color of their skin. Ebony Magazine formally apologized to Williams.
Do you believe the NAACP supports blacks regardless of their ideology?