Jealous wasn't top choice of search firm

As more details emerge regarding the selection of Ben Jealous as president and CEO of the NAACP, we are seeing how fractious the decision making was among the group's always politically intriguing board.

According to multiple board members, the search firm employed by the NAACP to find a new leader, the San Francisco-based Hodge / Niederer / Cariani / Lindsay,
ranked Jealous second, and Dallas megachurch preacher, the Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, first.

When the recommendations went to the executive committee, Haynes made it clear that he intended to be in his Dallas pulpit every Sunday, a church that he has led for the past 25 years.

That raised a red flag among members, according to a board member, because they wanted someone exclusively devoted to the organization and who was accessible at all times.

Known for his fiery rhetoric, Haynes is considered a top preacher among his peers, and has long preached a social gospel that has greatly increased the stature of his church, Friendship-West Baptist, in Dallas (I'm very familiar with him because I was a member of his church from 1995 to 1999).

Haynes is also very close to his "father in the ministry," the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retired pastor of Chicago' Trinity United Church of Christ. Wright used to often tell his congregation that Haynes would take over Trinity upon his retirement, but his protege - also the son of a Bay Area minister - built a church body larger than Wright's in Dallas.

But Jealous brought his own problems to the table. He was considered "uninspiring" by some board members, and lacked the stature within the civil rights movement to command the respect of civil rights, business and political leaders.

Yet he was seen as the top choice of NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, who recenty fended off a tough challenge to remain head of the organization.

Now the direction of the group rests in the hands of the 35-year-old Jealous, who is tasked with keeping the organization relevant today, and dealing with its financial challenges.

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

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Ben Jealous, 35, named new NAACP president

My buddy, Errin Haines of the Associated Press, has the story:

"The NAACP board of directors has chosen Ben Jealous, a former news executive and lifelong activist, as the organization's next president and the youngest in its 99-year history.

"The 64-member board met and voted in Baltimore on Friday and plans to formally announce its decision on Saturday at a noon press conference.
NAACP national spokesman Richard J. McIntire confirmed the vote with The Associated Press early Saturday after the 8-hour closed door meeting.

"Though he is not a politician, minister or civil rights icon, in Jealous the organization gets a young but connected leader familiar with black leadership and social justice issues. The 35-year-old takes the helm as the NAACP's 17th president just months before the organization's centennial anniversary, as the group grapples with dwindling membership and looks to boost its coffers.

"There are a small number of groups to whom all black people in this country owe a debt of gratitude, and the NAACP is one of them," Jealous told The Associated Press in a telephone interview before the vote. "There is work that is undone ... the need continues and our children continue to be at great risk in this country."

But, as usual with the NAACP, there was drama.

Multiple NAACP board sources tell me it was a contentious debate to select Jealous as president of the NAACP. It was an eight-hour process that began at 7 p.m. and ended at 3 a.m.

The vote was 34-21. One board member said that "when the tally was announced and it was conveyed that Ben would be the next CEO, no one clapped or celebrated."

Another said "when we left the room, many were in disbelief."

Those who didn't support Jealous say he was marked as the primary choice of board chairman Julian Bond, who began calling board members two weeks ago to line up support.

There was vigorous discussion to postpone the vote to allow the board to hear from the other two finalists, but that effort was beaten back by those who backed Jealous on the board.

Be on the lookout for other board members revealing details of the boardroom battle.

He may be president, but already Jealous already faces his first hurdle: bringing healing to a fractious NAACP board at a time when the organization is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.

Ben Jealous lone finalist for NAACP presidency

NAACP interviewing lone finalist for presidency

After more than a year, the NAACP could finally be ready to get a permanent president.

The NAACP board of directors is meeting at this very moment, interviewing Ben Jealous, who is the lone finalist the search committee presented to the full board for consideration to become the president and CEO of the storied organization, according to NAACP sources.

The board is expected to make a decision this weekend, but other NAACP sources say they may want to continue the process and consider two others who the search committee identified as finalists for the job.

Various media reports have stated that Alvin Brown, a former Clinton administration official, and the Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, pastor of Dallas' Friendship-West Baptist Church, were finalists for the job.

Haynes told the CBS affiliate in Dallas that he wasn't selected because he wanted to continue to lead his Dallas megachurch, and the organization said no.

The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville reported today that Brown was also a finalist.

The next president will replace Bruce Gordon, the retired Verizon executive who quit in March 2007, citing considerable friction with the group's 64-member board, especially chairman Julian Bond, and the direction of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.

Jealous is president of the California-based Rosenberg Foundation. Prior to joining the group, he was directed of the U.S. Human Rights program for Amnesty International.

According to his bio, "he is the lead author of the 2004 report Threat and Humiliation: Racial Profiling, Domestic Security, and Human Rights in the United States, the release of which received coverage by major media outlets in most states and on six continents."

Jealous, former managing editor of the Jackson Advocate, the oldest black newspaper in Mississippi, also worked as executive director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, which is the trade group for more than 200 black newspapers.

He also "began his career as an organizer with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund working on issues of healthcare access," according to his bio.

Huckabee jokes about gun pointed at Obama

Add former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to the list of the "What the hell was he thinking?" Club.

In a speech to the National Rifle Association today in Kentucky, the former Republican presidential nominee said (courtesy of a CNN producer):

"We believe that government ought to get its hands off of us as much as possible. we don't need that much of it; we'd like less of it... and we darn sure would like it to be less expensive.

But the reality is and I'm worried because frankly," then he hears some noises off stage responds:

"That was Barack Obama. He just tripped off a chair. He's getting ready to speak. Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor."

And the room erupted with laughter.

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

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Edwards says no to being Obama's VP nominee

Former Sen. John Edwards, who ran in 2004 as Sen. John Kerry's vice presidential nominee, has said "hell to the naw!" To running with Obama.

OK, he didn't go Whitney Houston on this, but he told the "Today" show that he was not interested.

I've long maintained that it didn't make sense to name Edwards because he really doesn't help the ticket.

1. Three-time loser. He ran for the nomination in 2004 and lost. He ran as VP nominee and lost. And he ran this year and lost.

2. Need better chemistry. I loved his passion, but Edwards came across as a one-note kind of guy. Obama does need a rabblerouser to counter his ultra cool demeanor, but that person must be able to connect differently with the voters.

3. Nominee MUST deliver. In 2004, he lost his birth state (South Carolina) and the state where was senator (North Carolina). He also lost the congressional district and home precinct where he lived. So the logic that he helps the ticket is nonsense. Obama needs someone who will deliver. The swing states for this election will be Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. Go to www.270towin.com. They have a map you can play with. If McCain wins traditional red states and Obama wins the traditional blue states, the other ones I mentioned loom large.

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

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Chris Matthews pimp slaps conservative talker Kevin James

The one thing about about stupid people is they will show how dumb they are time and time again.

Last night on "Hardball," Chris Matthews was interviewing conservative talker Kevin James and liberal Mark Green regarding President George W. Bush's slamming of Sen. Barack Obama before the Knesset in Israel.

As usual, James began to run his mouth, repeating the Bush talking points, not even understanding the historical references.

It's painful, especially with all the yelling, but watch Matthews just destroy this fool. There are some conservative talkers who I really, really like and who know their stuff, but this fool? He's not one of them!

Bush quotes Republican who adored Hitler

President George W. Bush is getting mileage out of saying there were people who wanted to sit down with Hitler.

Well, according to Alex Koppelman of Salon.com, the person in question praised Hitler...and he was a Republican!

Let's see Bush explain this one!

"By the way, the quote Bush used about talking to Hitler was from Sen. William Borah, a Republican from Idaho. It has come into vogue recently, at least in part because of its use by conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer, who has employed it often over the past 20 years in writing about several other countries he saw as the next Nazi Germany; he used it, for example, to describe China in 1989 and North Korea in 1994. It's also stripped from some relevant context -- Borah wasn't saying that solely out of naiveté, as Bush, Krauthammer and others have implied. He was a prominent isolationist and an admirer of Hitler. In 1938, speaking of the German dictator, Borah said, "There are so many great sides to him." After Hitler occupied the Sudetenland, Borah said, "Gad, what a chance Hitler has! If he only moderates his religious and racial intolerance, he would take his place beside Charlemagne. He has taken Europe without firing a shot."

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

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Biden calls Bush's remarks about appeasement 'bulls--t'

You can never say that Sen. Joe Biden isn't willing to call it like he sees it!

From CNN Congressional Producer Ted Barrett

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations

Committee, Joe Biden, called President Bush's comments Thursday suggesting Sen.

Barack Obama and other Democrats want to appease terrorists "bulls--t."

He added that if the president disagrees so strongly with the idea of talking to Iran, then he needs to fire his secretaries of state and defense, both of whom, Biden said, have pushed to sit down with the Iranians.

"This is bulls--t. This is malarkey. This is outrageous. Outrageous for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, sit in the Knesset ... and make this kind of ridiculous statement." Biden, D-Delaware, said angrily in a brief interview just off the Senate floor.

"He's the guy who's weakened us. He's the guy that's increased the number of terrorists in the world. His policies have produced this vulnerability the United States has. His intelligence community pointed that out, not me. The NIE has pointed that out.

"And what are you talking about, is he going to fire (Secretary of State) Condi Rice? Condi Rice has talked about the need to sit down. So his first two appeasers are Rice and (Secretary of Defense Robert) Gates. I hope he comes. home and does something."

He quoted Gates as saying Wednesday that U.S. officials "need to figure out a way to develop some leverage and then sit down and talk with them."

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

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Two more superdelegates back Obama

Just got this statement from the Obama camp:

Chairmen Henry Waxman and Howard Berman Endorse Barack Obama

Senior congressmen are California superdelegates

CHICAGO, IL—Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman Howard Berman, major committee chairmen and California superdelegates, endorsed Barack Obama today, citing his ability to unite the country and put and end to eight years of failed Bush policies. Congressman Waxman chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; Congressman Berman chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Both are respected leaders in the American Jewish community and major voices in Democratic policymaking.

“Senator Obama’s vision for change has inspired tens of millions of Americans,” Chairman Waxman said. “And he’s also proved that he has the experience, judgment, integrity, and toughness to bring real reform to Washington. Our nation faces big challenges. We need to bring our troops safely home from Iraq. We need to solve global warming and finally enact universal health care legislation. And we need to create new jobs and strengthen our middle class. Senator Obama is the leader we need both here and around the world. He will be an extraordinary President, and I look forward to working with him to make his vision for change the new reality in Washington.”

To view Chairman Waxman’s full statement, click HERE .

“Barack Obama has laid out a foreign policy vision driven by principle and conviction, and he understands that our moral authority and our safety as a nation go hand in hand,” Chairman Berman said. “I spoke with him about a number of foreign policy issues that most concern me. He assured me that he shares my views. The moment President Obama takes office, we’ll send a powerful message to the world that America is back and ready to lead again—that we haven’t abandoned the values that made us the light of the world, and neither should anyone else.”

The endorsements bring Senator Obama’s superdelegate total to 292.5. Obama is now 130.5 total delegates away from the nomination.

“Chairmen Waxman and Berman set the standard for leadership and judgment in Congress,” Senator Obama said. “I’m humbled to have their support and grateful to have their counsel in this campaign. They know that this will be a defining election, and they know better than anyone the grit and hard work it’s going to take to turn things around and deliver for the American people again. We couldn’t ask for two more gifted or dedicated lawmakers to lead this coalition for change.”

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

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Bush goes after Obama in Israel speech

President George W. Bush has said he wasn't interested in getting in the middle of the presidential campaign, but during a speech today before the Israeli parliament - the Knesset - he took dead aim at Sen. Barack Obama's comments about meeting with the leaders of Iran, Venezuela and other countries if he's president.

Bush didn't mention him by name, but it was clear who he was referring to.

During his speech, Bush called such talk "appeasement" and said that it's wrong to even dialogue with nations that he says are sponsors of terrorism.

It didn't take long for the Obama camp to push back.

"“It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a false political attack. It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel. Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power - including tough, principled, and direct diplomacy - to pressure countries like Iran and Syria.

"George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the President's extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel.”

Sen. John McCain was more than happy to weigh in.

During an interview on his campaign plane, McCain said: "It does bring up an issue that we are will be discussing with the American people and that is why does Barack Obama , Sen. Obama, want to sit down with a state sponsor of terrorism? What does he want to talk about with Ahmadinejad, who said that Israel is a stinking corpse. Who said that he wants to wipe Israel off the map, who is sending the most explosive devices into iraq killing Americans. What does he want to talk about?"

Why is this a big issue? Because of the Jewish vote.

Democrats have a lock on the Jewish vote, and their number one issue is Israel. And with reports suggesting that Jews are uneasy about Obama, even though he has significant Jewish support in Illinois and has said nothing that should give them pause, the Republicans want to exploit the issue.

They also want to make as much hay out of the issue to show that Obama is naive about dealing with the world on foreign policy matters.

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

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