I understand wanting to push the boundaries.  I do.  I understand wanting to use controversy to gin up a little extra cash or to knock folks out of their comfort zones... I absolutely 100% abhor when folks who pretend to be clergy cross clear biblical thresholds to get there but the NAACP isn't a faith based organization, you're welcome to do whatever you'd like to do I suppose... but this?  Then again, maybe this just speaks to your membership:

The Rev. Nicholas Hood III, pastor of Plymouth United Church of Christ and a former Detroit councilman, said he has known Wright for about 30 years. They met at clergy events and seminars because they share a denomination -- the predominantly white United Church of Christ -- and Hood said he thinks of him as a true biblical scholar, generous teacher and linguist. He has invited Wright to speak at his church revivals the past 15 years...

"I've never heard him say anything unpatriotic," Hood said. "I know there have been sound bites that have been characterized in that way, but I've found him to be a tremendous human being."

Hood, who acknowledges that Wright sometimes uses "racy, raunchy and raw language" to make his sermons relevant (sic) to younger churchgoers, said the man is far more complex, humorous and open-minded than how he is being portrayed. Before his retirement he welcomed gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people to his congregation, a move that cost him a significant number of members who left the church in disagreement.

In response to the Hood's defense of racy and raunchy language from the pulpit I'd submit the third chapter of the Epistle of James.  From the Bible.  Something folks claiming to be clergy should know something about.  

And because the cat's apparently been living under a rock the last couple months he might want to check this out.

Barack Obama has sworn off these comments.  Barack Obama says he disagrees with them.  I know, convenient timing... didn't have a problem while the venom was being spewed but now that he's been caught... but still... Anthony, Hood, the NAACP leadership team... the hate's in plain view and they're not only cool with it, they're embracing it?

What's happened to the NAACP?  This was once one of the proudest and best respected institutions for good in the United States of America.  That's the USA.  Not the USKKKA, Jeremy.  

But there's a political angle here too... Lets remember, this is a racist who canceled events in Texas in the run-up to the primary there because Obama's instinct for self preservation finally kicked in.  He drives down Obama's support.  He's an albatross.  He reminds people of the real Barack Obama, the Barack Obama even Barack Obama wishes he could hide for forever.

And listen, I'm all about Barack Obama's supporters burning his chances to the ground here in Michigan.  Seriously, I am.  And make no mistake, this is not a move that's going to HELP him win any of the white, blue collar Reagan Democrats in Oakland and Macomb Counties he so desperately needs.  You want to give the election away piece by piece, support group by support group that's your prerogative.  But don't do it like this.  

Stick a hate monger in front of a crowd of folks pre-disposed to his message in the most racially polarized place maybe in the world and you're not doing anyone any favors, least of all your likely Presidential nominee.

People of conscience should boycott the event.  More than that, they should put their checkbook away and take the NAACP off their annual charity list.  Folks in the blogosphere use hyperbole every day but there's really no way of stating just how bad a decision this is for the organization, for Obama and more importantly, for Detroit.  We've been working for more than forty years to heal the all-too-often raw wounds of racism in motor city.  This decision does not help.