FreedomWorks Responds to NAACP Allegations of Racism

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, NAACP delegates passed a resolution titled “The Tea Party Movement” in an attempt to expose “bigoted elements” within the Tea Party movement and call for the repudiation of “racist Tea Party leaders.”

“The time has come for [Tea Party leaders] to accept the responsibility that comes with influence and make clear there is no place for racism and anti-Semitism, homophobia and other forms of bigotry in their movement,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous.

FreedomWorks is a colorblind organization advocating lower taxes, less government and more freedom. Along with a majority of American citizens, FreedomWorks is concerned about the policies pursued by Congress and the White House, and has enough respect for the President to question his Administration exactly the same as we would question any Administration advocating irresponsible spending and massive expansions of government.

“Racism is repugnant and has no place in American society or our movement,” responded Matt Kibbe, President of FreedomWorks. “The NAACP’s attack on the good men and women of the tea party movement is baseless, a political attack that undermines the cause of a colorblind society. Ours is a colorblind movement based on principles not race, and has welcomed with open arms all people to our cause regardless of the color of their skin.”

The NAACP’s comments are especially puzzling considering the new generation of black leadership that has been celebrated and embraced by the Tea Party movement, including Colonel Allen West, Deneen Borelli and Reverend C.L. Bryant.

“I have seen posters…where every president from Reagan to Obama has been called a fascist,” added Rev. Bryant, former president of the NAACP’s Garland, Texas chapter and frequent speaker at Tea Party rallies. “Why is it that just because we have a black president, we are hyper-sensitive to posters at rallies?”

FreedomWorks wishes the NAACP had invited us to the convention prior to the resolution vote to share our thoughts on the tea party movement, and to contribute to the diversity of ideas and perspectives surrounding this debate. We would still be happy to meet with the NAACP leaders for such a discussion.