On April 29, 2008, 14 leaders of Alaska's black community met with Gov. Sarah Palin to voice discontent with her minority hiring record. Palin's response, which was first reported by journalist Earl Ofari Hutchinson, only compounded her icy relationship with her African-American constituents.
Gwen Alexander, the president of the African-American Historical Society of Alaska, told me that Palin stated defiantly that she had no intention to hire any minority staffers. And according to Bishop Dave Thomas, senior pastor of Anchorage-based African-American church Jesus Holy Temple, the Palin administration excluded black business owners from the Alaskan oil and gas pipeline board. "We wasn't even able or allowed to go into the meetings" to seek contracts for the pipeline, Thomas told me.
Palin further alienated Alaska's black community by becoming the first Alaskan governor in recent memory to not recognize the Juneteenth celebration of the emancipation proclamation. "She doesn't hire any black people, she doesn't have any on her staff, so it's not a surprise that she doesn't support our Juneenth celebration," Alexander said.
These revelations and many more are contained in my latest video, which was produced with support from the Nation Institute Investigative Fund.
Update: Sarah Palin's rural affairs director has abruptly resigned, citing Palin's lack of commitment to hiring Native Americans.
This article certainly sheds new light on that statement.
Translation: “That black man doesn’t see America the way we white folks see America. Be afraid...be very afraid.”
The McCain camp made it clear that their strategy for the last month is attack, attack and attack Obama's character. If all what Obama is planning to do is ignore the attack (like Kerry) he will lose. Any day the Obama's don't attack Palin and McCain on their character (on top of the positive economic/national security message) is a day they leave the field for negative campgaining for McCain to rule. That means doubt in voters minds about Obama that transates to votes for McCain on election day when these voters walk into the poll booth. That's the whole idea of negative campaigning. It is more than needed when you are being attacked.
Of all of Bush's many flaws, and heaven knows when they were handing them out he got in like twice, the one I truly don't believe he has is racism.
Black people help subsidize this culture of corruption - otherwise known as Alaska -- to the tune of a stunning 1/3 of their annual State Budget w/the Federal tax dollars of ALL Americans. Ditto, their no. 1 rank as PORKER of the year.
We won't be subsidizing these secessionists and white supremecists much longer. Believe it.
Blacks make up a significant percentage of the high population areas of Alaska. Aside from the city proper, you have significant numbers of blacks on the numerous military bases throughout Alaska.
She is not worth the words we write, and not worth the effort it takes to write them.
http://earlofarihutchinson.blogspot.com/2008/09/palins-blank-sheet-on-diversity-and.html
Perhaps that is why this isn't getting picked up by the mainstream media.
And if she really did say that, why wasn't there an immediate lawsuit?
I do think Palin is really wrong for this country, but it seems more harmful to one's own side, to throw unsubstantiated charges out there that are easily disproven. I think we have enough 'facts' to turn people off to her, we don't need to resort to tabloid fodder.
As for not celebrating Junteeth, that is the day that the Emanciaption Proclamtion began being enforced in TX. Why would AK (which was part of another sovereign country at the time and had no interest in the newly freed slaves thousands of miles away) celebrate a TX holiday?
As for not having any blacks in her administration. According to the 2000 census only 5% of the people in Alaska are black and I'm betting most didn't apply for government jobs. It seems plausible that since they comprise such a small amount of the population that someone of a different ethnicity who was also applying was better qualified for the job.
Obama/Biden '08
Keep HOPE alive
Personally I think she really should go and have that eye twitch checked, I would hate to see her get any blinder than she already is! Arlene from Wisconsin