Of the visitors to Bob Jones University (thanks for the correction), only Alan Keyes stands out as the odd ball. Reagan started this presidential pilgrimage and the stragedy has generally worked: reviving racism.
Here are some excerpts from Keyes speech at Jim Jones. Even he could not forget who he was.
“There are folks who don't think I should be talking to Bob Jones University, in fact. You know that, don't you? I hope you understand this. They said I shouldn't come here, because I am a black person, and there are these terrible policies about interracial dating. They said I shouldn't come because I am--I say it with pride and certainty--a Roman Catholic Christian. And that I would not be received in this place, on that account.”
He goes on,
”It is for us, as Christian people, to reject religious bigotry, to reject racial bigotry, to stand before America to example that which we are called upon to example--whether we be Americans, whether we be Indians, whether we be Asians, Jews, whatever it is. We are called upon by the Lord God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go and preach to all nations the truth that we stand before the Lord our God, one in His mercy, if we are willing to accept that Christ which is the messenger of His truth, and whose life and whose blood has saved us for our God by His love.”
And still further along,
”But then why on earth would God take a black, Roman Catholic Christian, and send him out in order to inspire the hearts of people whom the whole world believes to be against blacks and Roman Catholics, in spite of their Christianity? If the demon of racial prejudice stands between you and what God wants, then I'm here to challenge you: you won't get what you want for this country until you cast that demon out. If the demon of sectarian bigotry stands between you and what God wants, you won't get what God wants for this country until you cast that demon aside.”
Keyes knew where he was in spite of his sermonizing and he spoke about another Bob Jones specialty: antiSemitism. Has Bob Jones cast out the demon and will Bush appear there again?
Can you really believe any explanation for this. He was criticized at the time and the purpose of his visit made obvious in the press. The 'I'm a uniter' nonsense did not notwithstand it. McCain didn't go and he has to be respected for that, by all who are not racist or who are not willing to use it. But that is just the point. Where would the Republican party be today without it?
