No longer helpful

If the NAACP contented itself with promoting strong families, educational opportunities, and role modeling/mentoring, it might actually live up to its name. But frankly, Bill Cosby and Juan Williams have done more in recent years to address the challenges of the black community (naturally, they were roundly criticized for going off-message).

A century ago, at the organization's founding, there was considerable overt racism to overcome. I don't doubt for a second there are still those who would rather judge a person based on their skin tone than their character (to invert the Reverend's famous phrase), but the fact is society no longer considers this acceptable practice, socially or legally. Less than two years ago, Americans of widely varying melanin content elected Barack Obama president. Yet the NAACP and its fellow travelers like the Southern Poverty Law Center (a bigoted organizational name if there ever was one!) would have you believe any instance of a Confederate flag displayed anywhere harkens the imminent return of Jim Crow, firehoses and dogs.

Apparently, it no longer even takes historic emblems to draw their ire... mere espousing of individual liberty and limited government (combined with unsubstantiated yet widespread assertions of poor behavior) is enough to brand an entire group 'racist.'

But a funny thing seems to be happening... playing the race card seems to carry less kick than it used to. Perhaps like the boy who cried 'wolf,' the National Association for the Advancement of Correct Politics has used up its credibility by conveniently hauling out the "R" charge one too many times. If indeed the political spell has been broken, it's not a moment too soon. That emotional trump card has effectively shut down legitimate debate on everything from affirmative action (otherwise known as "good" discrimination) to immigration policy.

It's time to stop pitting groups against each other and making life seem like a zero-sum game. How about we just have a national association for the advancement of liberty? Oh wait... we do. It's called the Tea Party movement. Compared to the NAACP, at least they're diverse...