To Whom It May Concern:
As representatives of Hillary Clinton supporters from the unreconstructed racists’ community and the African American community, we are issuing a statement together for the first time. Our letter addresses the recent issue of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo saying "Shuck and Jive" during a radio interview. In the midst of division, we hope and believe that this is a moment to bring together communities that have been divided for far too long.
A few things are clear.
First, Attorney General Cuomo believes and has stated things about African Americans that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many Americans, most especially to African Americans. This cannot and should not be denied.
At the same time, a great many Americans share Attorney General Cuomo’s beliefs. This also cannot be ignored.
Finally, we believe that the only way for these two sides to find common ground is to do so together.
Not at arms length. Not in a war of words with press and pundits. Only together.
It is clear that Hillary Clinton is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal. In gatherings of African Americans and unreconstructed racists, Clinton has stated that all individuals should be afforded full civil rights regardless of their race, and that racism must be eradicated in every corner of our nation. If we are to end racism and secure full civil rights for African Americans, then we need an advocate within the segregationist community like Hillary Clinton.
At the same time, while Clinton has said that she "strongly disagrees" with Attorney General Cuomo’s comments, she will not exclude from her campaign the many Americans including many unreconstructed racists who believe the same as Attorney General Cuomo.
We believe that Hillary Clinton is constructing a tent big enough for African Americans who know that their race is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for unreconstructed racists who believe that their white supremacy prevents them from fully embracing their black brothers and sisters. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.
We also ask Senator Clinton's critics to consider the alternatives. Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the segregationist community and cuts off millions of unreconstructed racists who believe things offensive to many Americans? Or a panderer who tells unreconstructed racists what they want to hear, at the expense of our black brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Hillary Clinton, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage?
We stand with Senator Clinton. We stand with her because of the solutions she is proposing for our nation. We stand with her because of her character and her judgment. But the most important reason we stand with her is because today, as she has done all along, Hillary Clinton is causing us to stand together.
That's the kind of President we need, and we are proud to support her.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Bugs Bunny
Minaret Institutional Baptist Church
Chair, Clinton National Segregationist Religious Leaders Working Group
Cleveland, Ohio
Elmer Fudd
Chair, Clinton National Black Leadership Council
Former Member of Civil Rights Campaign Board of Directors
Columbus, Ohio
Olive Oil
Chair, Clinton Black Policy Committee
Professor of Opinion, University of Pennsylvania Law School
Philadelphia, PA
The Reverend Daffy Duck
President
National Segregationist Convention of America
Chicago, IL
The Reverend Scrooge McDuck
President
Segregationist General State Convention of Illinois, Inc.
Bishop Wiley Coyote
Office of Political & Urban Affairs
White Segregationist Church
Atlanta, GA
Minnie Mouse
President, The Pylon Group, Inc.
Former Civil Rights Campaign Board of Governors
New York, NY