Larry Sinclair Fails Polygraph

Maybe next time Conner won't be so quick to copy/paste baseless accusations.

Some people are frothing in a state of high dudgeon(sp) that Obama is ignoring this silly accusation. Sinclair alleges Obama and company “conspired against” then they were “actively engaged” then are “conducting illegal investigations” followed by being “actively involved” in some conspiracy. While all this engaging and conspiring and conducting and involvement was allegedly going on, what irritated them the most? It was this: “Defendant Obama ignored plaintiffs….”

Ouch! Can you even imagine selling yourself out for a paltry fee and going to court to file papers attesting that you are scum and a drug addict into unsavory sex acts and then being ignored? That’s gotta be a real bummer.

Seems to have excited some people though.

"Baseless accusations"?

But my SOURCE was the Democratic Underground!

Democratic Underground: "Why hasn't Obama just denounced this instead of intimidating the accuser?" Now that is a good question.

One can't help but wonder who "encouraged" this person to come forward at this time. Who would benefit the most? THAT is the story that should be investigated.

Also, Mr. Sinclair filed a lawsuit against Mr. Obama. Who knows whether something similar to a blue dress will surface.

____________________________

“Lie Detectors Are Likely Lying Themselves” Excerpt

It turns out that polygraphy is not only an incredibly inexact science, but that reading the results of a lie detector is almost entirely subjective. In short, lie detectors don't work.

The problem isn't that the machines don't record something — they do: heart rate, respiration, sweat-gland activity, and so on. But what the changes in those numbers mean is entirely up to interpretation.

Except that also on the anti-polygraph side I found the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and 60 Minutes. They all found essentially the same thing: Lie detectors show what the examiners want them to show.

An American Medical Association expert testified before Congress that "the [lie detector] cannot detect lies much better than a coin toss." Further, an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs said in part, "Though the polygraph can recognize guilty suspects with an accuracy that is better than chance, error rates of significant size are possible."

In a briefing paper from 1996, the ACLU wrote: "Despite the claims of 'lie detector' examiners, there is no machine that can detect lies with any degree of accuracy. The 'lie detector' does not measure truth-telling; it measures changes in blood pressure, breath rate and perspiration rate, but those physiological changes can be triggered by a wide range of emotions such as anger, sadness, embarrassment and fear."

People are more willing to believe that a polygraph is actually detecting lies because, unlike tea leaves, there's science involved — there are electrodes and graphs and machines. Technology just seems trustworthy. Unfortunately it's not, because lie detection isn't based on the technology itself so much as on the interpretation of what the tech says. And human interpretation is always subjective, as 60 Minutes proved.

"Some innocent suspects (as high as 50%) are so nervous that they register as guilty."

“Lie-Detector Tests Found Too Flawed To Discover Spies”

"The 245-page report, by experts convened by the National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, said that the scientific basis for polygraph testing was weak and that much of the research supporting its use lacked scientific rigor."

"But critics say all kinds of emotions -- hate, anxiety, depression -- can cause a truthful individual to fail a polygraph exam."

“THE POLYGRAPH AND LIE DETECTION” (National Academy of Sciences)

Almost a century of research in scientific psychology and physiology provides little basis for the expectation that a polygraph test could have extremely high accuracy. Although psychological states often associated with deception (e.g., fear of being judged deceptive) do tend to affect the physiological responses that the polygraph measures, these same states can arise in the absence of deception. Moreover, many other psychological and physiological factors (e.g., anxiety about being tested) also affect those responses. Such phenomena make polygraph testing intrinsically susceptible to producing erroneous results. This inherent ambiguity of the physiological measures used in the polygraph suggests that further investments in improving polygraph technique and interpretation will bring only modest improvements in accuracy.

“Telling the Truth about Lie Detectors” Excerpt

The device's measures — pulse, blood pressure, breathing and sweating — reveal deception about as well as a coin flip. He likens the polygraph to a defective medical test, one whose high false-positive rate, depicting honest people as liars, makes it unreliable as a diagnostic tool.

A 1998 Supreme Court decision allowed such bans [in courts], but read in part, "There is simply no consensus that polygraph evidence is reliable: The scientific community and the state and federal courts are extremely polarized on the matter."

A 1997 survey of 421 psychologists estimated the test's average validity at about 61%, a little better than chance. And University of Utah psychologists published a 1994 report that suggested biting your tongue, pressing your toes to the floor and counting backwards by 7's during control questions would screw up the accuracy of polygraphs.

"A big problem is that it's not really a test of anything," says psychophysiologist William Iacono of the University of Minnesota. He agrees the polygraph can measure physical reactions, but beyond that, nobody knows how the nervous system acts when it is lying. People who don't believe in the polygraph may be more likely to fail tests, he says. Their disbelief and non-responsiveness may look like deception.

“Polygraph Testing and the DOE National Laboratories” Excerpt

Needless to say, critics see matters differently. They point out that there is no unique psychophysiological response associated with lying or deception. Although the data recorded by polygraph testing may be completely accurate, the proper interpretation of the data will always be uncertain. As a result, some individuals will be incorrectly flagged as deceptive.

After surveying the scientific literature, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded in a 1998 ruling that "there is simply no way to know in a particular case whether a polygraph examiner's conclusion is accurate, because certain doubts and uncertainties plague even the best polygraph exams."

United States v. Scheffer, 523 U.S. 303 (1998) (96-1133)

From YOUR LINK:

"With regards to the $10,000 payout that Larry Sinclair had agreed to for taking the polygraph test, it has been modified upon Sinclair's request and Whitehouse.com's approval. Prior to taking the test, Sinclair asked for a reduced payout to cover some of his mother's debt, and requested $10,000 to be paid directly to a few Minnesota charities. The lucky charities are: the Duluth Salvation Army Housing Loan Program and the Girls and Boys Club of Duluth."

____________________________

Interesting to think about, don't you think? Especially the ACLU's position -- we know how highly you regard their opinion.

I suppose we should not surprised that you lack the character to admit you were wrong.

How can I be "wrong" (how you do pick and choose right and wrong) if I posted current news and from such a reliable source?

As far as character, who's the one who was banned?

And who's the one who's the plagiarist?

Jeff C: "I would be interested in why my posting was duplicated by him/her ["Sniffles"] also. I believe we are owed an explanation of some kind."

The following sources are highly partisan and generally not considered "reliable":
Democratic Underground
World Net Daily
Townhall.com
Freerepublic.com
Whitehouse.gov
Creators Syndicate

If Mommy and Daddy permit you to handle scissors, you should consider printing this list out, trimming it down to size and taping it to the side of your monitor (consider lamination if spittle is an issue).

Just your kind of place, especially the weekly "Top Ten Conservative Idiots."

Democratic Underground, also known as DU, is an "online community for Democrats and other progressives. Its membership is restricted by policy to those who are generally supportive of progressive ideals and support Democratic candidates for political office. DU was established on January 20, 2001, the day George W. Bush was inaugurated President. According to Democratic Underground, as of March 2007, over 101,000 user accounts have been registered and over 28 million messages have been posted."

"DUers are active in U.S. politics in many ways. Many of them attend political protests and rallies, volunteer for campaigns, and write letters to editors of newspapers and members of Congress. Some are among the members of the Democratic Party infrastructure, serving as precinct chairs. Others actually work within the confines of various legislative and congressional bodies as staff. Many active posters at Democratic Underground have worked for various causes in both paid and unpaid positions, in campaigns and for special interest groups such as the AFL-CIO and SEIU. Others are members of the DLC, Progressive Democrats of America, MoveOn, and Democracy for America."

"During the 2004 Presidential Election campaign, the Kerry campaign received criticism for linking to Democratic Underground from the campaign website."

But, as far as those others you mentioned, GREAT sites!

Did you get that deluge of great waves of cut and paste on "lie detectors?"
Waterboarding works much better according to George Bush!

is "Which is more lethal, waterboarding, or Denise's deluge of cut and paste?" keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Too hard on the old eyes?

$niffy can be amusing at times, for someone who acts witless most of the time.

Doesn't look like the American team has much of a chance at the Olympics this year!

Chinese Favored In Olympic Waterboarding

p.s. I fully expected a deluge of cut-and-paste. Cut and paste is much easier on the brain than original thought.

Where was you "original thought" HERE?

Jeff C: "I would be interested in why my posting was duplicated by him/her ["Sniffles"] also. I believe we are owed an explanation of some kind."

Joining the warf rats I see. Wow! Wow! Wow!
This is amazing, even for YOU! Kind of reminds me why I stopped seeking meaningful communication with you.

Kevin "Hack" King

You must not have noticed the SOURCE: the Democratic Underground.

"Amazing" that a Democrat would ask, "Why hasn't Obama just denounced this instead of intimidating the accuser?"

Perhaps this has about as much of the substance as the Dan Rather scam about President Bush. Time will tell.

One can't help but wonder who "encouraged" this person to come forward at this time. Who would benefit the most? THAT is the story that should be investigated.

So, I'm no longer your "favorite girl"? The one whose opinion you respect? You don't want me to meet you for coffee now?

I thought that you threatened, "I'm done reading your repetitive novels." Dare I venture a guess that you still find something irresistible about me? Don't you like "playing in the mud" any more?

Along comes another typical Clinton character assassination.

You are printing this without any proof?
I'm not voting for Obama, but I thought surely that what was done to Ms. Douglas by Nixon in California, and what Dole did to McCain in SC last time he ran, that this sort of poison letter was over with!!

If this is started, they both (McCain and Clinton) will also have all kinds of accusers without time for proof!

Why don't you look into our State House Speaker's problems--his wife could tell you much since the partner judge of the Speakers sealed the information!

It's the political election season, and we'll be seeing all sorts of these baseless charges from now until election day.

The usual suspects here will print any and all unsubstantiated charges, and when confronted will typically either state "I didn't actually SAY he/she did that, I was merely passing this email/link/quote along".
_______________________________________________________
The Question They Will NOT Answer:How Much Jail Time?

Zetatalk: Dirt on Hillary includes college Lesbianism, Serving on Wal-Mart Corp. Board, Illegal Campaign contributions from Bill Clinton, more..

There's no end to the BS that can be served up on any candidadate.

It doesn't have to be true, it just has to be reported and repeted.

That Hillary is a lesbian is really no suprise to me. She's also a meglomaniack and a control freek.

McCain is a homo sapien and once dated a thespian! No kidding!

There's incontrovertible evidence that he's a PRACTICING Homo Sapien.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

... he seems so 'normal'.

Would any normal person run for Prez?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

In a word: Power. Sure, you get the money back eventually ... but I have to believe it's all about the power.

who was once caught masticating at a mall outside Washington. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

I also heard that his former masticating thespian once pontificated defenestrating a rather dithyramb cuneiform but vacillated instead!

Ewwwwwww!!

I realize that this was from yesterday, but that makes absolutely no sense at all. It's like thinking of the most uncommon words you know and putting them in a sentence. Not intellectually intimidating, by the way.

I masticate daily. (I'm SO ashamed!!)

well, river, there goes that run for the Presidency you were contemplating. keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

When will you folks give it a rest? Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

I couldn't get to the 'edit ' button before you replyed.

It should have said, "into lesbianism".

it was your post and I REALLY do not want anything to do with it. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

the Chambliss/Cleland race. The "swifties" are sharpening their swords already. When are we, as voters, going to say we have had enough of this? We cannot keep doing this or we will drive absolutely EVERY qualified individual right out of civic service. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

After watching the youtube video of lovely Larry Sinclair, I would be surprised if he's ever been in ANY "upscale" establishment or ridden around in a limo, just by the way he presents himself. This guy is highly suspect.

Or just high.

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GOD BLESS THIS MESS

Maybe Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Bush's cocaine allegation (he never used it - he had an alcohol problem), Obama's drug use, Bush being AWOL, and on and on and on....

Robert Reich's recent comments speaks volumes:

"I write this more out of sadness than anger. Bill Clinton’s ill-tempered and ill-founded attacks on Barack Obama are doing no credit to the former President, his legacy, or his wife’s campaign. Nor are they helping the Democratic party. While it may be that all is fair in love, war, and politics, it’s not fair – indeed, it’s demeaning – for a former President to say things that are patently untrue..."

Swift Boat indeed. There is nothing new here. Look a little closer to the Clinton Camp sister.

Well, I would give more credit to the 'swifties' than the Clinton camp, on this one.

It sounds like this Larry character was a recent mental patient in a mental institution.

The plot thickens.

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GOD BLESS THIS MESS

Swift boated? You sure? More from the Clintonistas:

What is it about left wingers and plagiarism?

Sounds like Billary is scared to me.

Wow.....I never realized that what foot you kicked with or hand you threw with had anything to do with your affinity for using other peoples ideas etc.?! Interesting.

I'm sure glad that I kick and throw etc. equally well from either side.

"once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right"
"listen to the thunder shouting, "I AM, I AM, I AM"

;>} Have a grateful day ;>}

You just added to the list of lefties lifting lyrics!

"once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right" "listen to the thunder shouting, "I AM, I AM, I AM"

Jerry Garcia,
The Greatful Dead

But, I was actually referring to this:

Is Jefc/Sniffles?

and the Irony of it all ... but since you added another example of the lefty obsession, I can only conclude that ....... there seems to be a vast left wing conspiracy!

The Left Attacking The Left

"Can't we all just get along?"
Rodney King

since we're being all formal about it on this local paper blog.......I have to deduct 10 points for spelling. It's grateful, not greatful. Also, Garcia didn't write the song where the second quote was "lifted" from, it was John Perry Barlow. Another 10 off,sleuth. And the band allowed their music to be taped and WIDELY circulated for free, so I don't believe they would mind using parts of songs as a tag line for someone on a local paper's blog. Minus 5 In fact, they'd prob'ly encourage it.

not that I'm all for Obama or anything,I'm leaning towards McCain since Rudy got battered but it seems like you're really stretching to find stuff. But when he borrows some wording and ad libs from a good friend in a speech and that's all you can latch on to....
talk about obsession......seems like your more "wrongy" than "righty"

"once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right"
"listen to the thunder shouting, "I AM, I AM, I AM"

;>} Have a grateful day ;>}

I was just attempting to enjoy a moment of levity, and defending Obama, but I see that escaped you.

Perhaps a few less moments as a 'dead-head' would have served you well. I never liked their 'music' or the grunge that followed them around.

Okay ‘dead-head’, if it is that important to you, let’s grade out each other’s blog. Now it is my turn.

since we're being all formal about it on this local paper blog.......I have to deduct 10 points for spelling.(Minus five for starting a sentence without a capital letter and the blog is not ‘paper’.) It's grateful, not greatful. Also, Garcia didn't write the song where the second quote was "lifted" from, (But he did write the first one didn't he?) it was John Perry Barlow. Another 10 off,sleuth.(leaving out a comma is a minus 15.) And the band allowed their music to be taped and WIDELY circulated for free, so I don't believe they would mind using parts of songs as a tag line for someone on a local paper's blog.(Is speculation now legal grounds for copyright infringement?) Minus 5 In fact, they'd prob'ly (Probably, but you should check to be sure. And yet another misspelled word is another minus 10)encourage it.

not that I'm all for Obama or anything,(Capitalizing is not your strong suit now is it? -10 more)l I'm leaning towards McCain since Rudy got battered(?) but it seems like you're really stretching to find stuff. (it was actually a part of the dialog I was having with Main Stream and relevant in that context.) But when he borrows some wording and ad libs from a good friend in a speech and that's all you can latch on to....
talk about obsession......seems like your more "wrongy" than "righty" (Oh my goodness ‘deady’. You have three made up words, a sentence fragment and a run on sentence all in one … ‘statement’. That is minus 15 more at a very minimum.)

Back away from the bong now 'doc', you have done enough damage for one night. Have a g-r-e-a-t night.

By the way, Sniffles, why did you plagiarize JeffC? Is that the new 'Obama Rule'?

I'm finding it easier and easier to ignore Mr. Situational Outrage. You'll note he didn't say a peep about Shadow08 passing off a rightwing column as his/her own the other day.

I'm sure he's beaming about grading out at 75%....this was a blogger who took great delight in bragging a few days ago that Bush's popularity amongst military personnel had skyrocketed in the last year from about 50% to about 67%.

Sure, in the real world when 1 out of 3 of your employees considers you incompetent it's generally considered the sign of poor leadership, but such is the low expectations we have of the Lame Duck that 67% is a blogworthy triumph.
_______________________________________________________
The Question They Will NOT Answer:How Much Jail Time?

Since you noticed Shadow08 and called him on his plagiarism, (I have yet to see the post of which you speak) surely you can explain this: Why did you plagiarize JeffC?

We are waiting sniffles ......

Sounds like Obama ad-libbed that part of his speech, borrowing those words from his good friend. I don't see why the Clinton camp is making such a big deal out of this - so what.

The Clinton camp is losing ground and now they have become desperate. You may be correct, Truth, about parading Larry out at this point in the game. But I hope not. That would be sickening.

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GOD BLESS THIS MESS

... met in a bathroom and planned the whole disgusting thing.

I did notice that Sinclair challenged Obama to a lie detector test.

That would make some good pay per view! I still say this smacks of Clinton. Did you see where Bill lost it on an Obama supporter today? He's not helping her any ......

face to face on national television. Man against *ahem* man. Fox would do it. Imagine the ratings. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

“We are a congregation which is Unashamedly White and Unapologetically Christian. This church has adopted the White Values System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These White Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Whites are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:

1. Commitment to God

2. Commitment to the White Community

3. Commitment to the White Family

4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education

5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence

6. Adherence to the White Work Ethic

7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect

8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”

9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community

10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions

11. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Values System

12. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Values System.”

Is there anything wrong with this system of beliefs?

These are the same principles and mission statemets from obama's church only you substituted "white" where they say "black".

Am I the only one who thinks that it is wrong for ANY church to discriminate based on color??

Now that you subsititued "white" for "black" everyone is crying, and sniveling.

Thanks for your understanding. Believe me I value people way too much to go to a church that the mission statement talks about race. I would be out in a flash.

No, you are not the only one who thinks that it is wrong for ANY church to discriminate based on color- or to come to think of it anything in life.

My question is my church does not speak on white heritage - what am I seeing on the front of Obama's church webpage? What is this all about?
If God sees our hearts- he does not see color. Church is not our color heritage.

I think if the table were reversed and it was a white- some would have the same question- I know they would.

I value people way too much to see their color. I have taught my child this - easy as pie- he gets it- started when he was young- never has he asked about the race issue. In our house we don't see it- I think it would help alot of us in USA to let go of the race issue- we are people of value. All of us.

To any that disagree, fine- I respect that and please respect me.

_______________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

Well, your general philosophy of no color is good.

Now tell me how many races, of any consequence, are in your church?

Why are there "Traditional" minority schools?

Why are political and protest meetings held in minority churches?

Who guides the dogma and qualifications of leaders in your church so that no one person (pastor) can go his own way?

If these things don't exist, then you do not have organized religion but a system of determining, often, what is right and what is wrong!

How are you? For all the answers to your questions:

click here

click here

Thanks again for the info. Check e-mails.

why limit it to churches? Isn't it wrong to discriminate based on color under ANY circumstances? Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Yes, I think discrimination is wrong.

The only way we will become a cohesive melting pot of a country is when we stop asking what color and race anyone is on any form, or application. Whether it is a job, school, or loan application I think the question as to ones race should be illegal.

We will never all be equal until we stop asking what someones race is first, before we consider them.

Have a good day.

Am I the only one who thinks that it is wrong for ANY church to discriminate based on color??

Agreed, skyspy, but the Southern Baptists aren't going away anytime soon.

I find it vaguely amusing that so much attention is being given to a political candidate's church. "We can't touch the guy, let's go after his church!"

Perhaps you give me some clues as to how to keep those colored people from sitting in front of me each Sunday. And that Negro named Michael and wife that right next to me in Sunday School most every Sunday. And to see those black folk speckled around the congregation just ain't Christian. My goodness... what is going on in the Southern Baptist Churches these days is tremendously unacceptable.

I suppose it's time for a church split.

Perhaps if you went to church once in a while to see what really takes place in a Southern Baptist Church it just might make enlighten you as to how kooky some of the things you say are. I can promise you that my church leadership doesn't teach the message of hate and prejudice that Obama's shameful and so-called man-of-the-cloth does.

________

"I'm Pro Choice - On Light Bulbs

This is happening at your church also- mine too- has been for a long time- I still say: Love sees no color.

Hey, everyone is welcomed where I go to church-

_______________________________
"Hope Changes Everything"

I am not familiar with the southern baptist church. What is their church mission statement? Do they explicitly say they will only help whites and only allow whites into their churches?

What concerns me about obama's church is the racist messages he listens to every Sunday. I don't understand the need to only serve one race or color of people. If he is listening to a message of poison and hate, it concerns me that he would want to be the leader of the BEST country in the world.

Have a good day. signed American Jew. Proud to be an American!

Hi Skyspy, there's a great high level summary of Southern Baptists here:
Wikipedia on Southern Baptists

Basically, the Southern Baptists split from the national Baptist convention prior to the Civil War because they interpreted the Bible as saying Jesus wanted them to own slaves (or something like that).

Their reputation of treating blacks as second-class citizens followed them closely for the next century or so. As the Wikipedia article stated, as of 1968 only 11% of the congregation was African-American.

I vividly recall Jimmy Carter talking about how he and his family (and one other) were the only members of his Southern Baptist congregation to vote to include Negroes.

Personally, in my lifetime I have seen Southern Baptists as being the least inclusionary of any major Christian denomination. I was surprised to learn that the Southern Baptists actually apologized for their racist past back in 1995. Nowadays, they seem more interested in demonizing liberals and Democrats as opposed to African Americans. I'm told some Baptists might also be interested in salvation through Jesus Christ.

Sniffy had to go back almost 150 years to the Civil War, although he did acknowledge that in 1995 the SBC "adopt[ed] a resolution renouncing its racist roots and apologizing for its past defense of slavery." He just forgot to mention that it occurred when conservatives took back control of the SBC.

"They interpreted the Bible as saying Jesus wanted them to own slaves (or something like that)."

Wikipedia (which is not always a reliable source): "Baptists in the South believed that the Bible supported the practice of slavery."

There's a difference between the Bible allowing a practice (such as divorce) because of the hardness of men's hearts and saying "Jesus wanted" it.

"Does the Bible Support Slavery?"

"As of 1968 only 11% of the congregation was African-American." That was 40 years ago.

Wikipedia: "Today there are many diverse and even self-consciously ethnic churches within the convention." However, Southern Baptists are mostly conservatives and moderates and many "African-Americans" are liberals; so, today some may prefer the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) or another denomination, such as Obama's.

"demonizing liberals and Democrats" Another unsubstantiated claim.

I'd be "surprised" if Shifty Sniffy ever did anything but slant the truth to try to stir up trouble. I'm not a member of a SBC church, but I know a lot of fine people (with different skin tones) who are.

It only took me a minute or less to find the following articles, but I'm not surprised that Shifty didn't bother to look.

_______________________________

"Black Southern Baptist Pastors Move Past Slavery" Excerpts

NASHVILLE (AP) — It might seem odd for an African American to join a faith that once supported slavery, but black pastors of the Southern Baptist Convention say much has changed since the issue split Baptists in America nearly 200 years ago.

"Yesterday and today, they are different days," said Robert Anderson, president of the African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md. "The convention as a whole has come a long way, obviously from the days of slavery and Jim Crow. We have a lot more African Americans involved in the convention than ever before."

About 3,000 black churches are affiliated with the convention of about 16.2 million members.

In addition, the denomination has 23 ethnic fellowships, of which the African American group is among the largest with nearly 300 churches.

But E. W. McCall Sr., pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church in La Puente, Calif. [and second vice president of the SBC] [PICTURE], said many of the convention's black members are Republicans who are frustrated with the Democratic Party's support of abortion and homosexuality.

(See "Black Southern Baptists Decry Homosexual Claims.")

"All those are liberal tendencies that go against the grain of what the Bible stands for," said McCall, who is a former president of the African American Fellowship.

"That was 40 years ago!"

I realize that FORTY YEARS probably seems like an eternity to you worldly twenty-somethings who know all the answers. Trust me, it wasn't that long ago.

And if you think things have truly changed since 1968, I urge you to think again, particularly with regard to racial issues.

I can't speak for the late 60s, but I sure can for the early 70s. In high school, I played football and basketball for one of the first integrated teams in metro Atlanta (Atlanta was a tad behind the times back then). We had a whopping 3 African-Americans on a basketball team of 15. We were known as "that nigger team". And no, Denise, it wasn't a term of affection. Despite my handsome Caucasian features, more than once I was called a "white nigger" by opposing crowds.

I learned how to distinguish between true racists and race-baiters. True racists (the "beavers" of yesteryear) would boycott our games on principle. The race-baiters (the "skyspy"s and "Denise Conners" of yesteryear) were the ones who used to shout the N-word from the upper stands...I guess it made them feel important.

So why the history lesson? Because I feel that things haven't changed all that much since then. Look at this blog, for instance. Cal won't let you race-baiters use your favorite pejorative, so we have euphemisms like "Riverdale thug" and "Clayton County gangsters" being used instead.

Make no mistake, the underlying hatred of you race-baiters hasn't changed one iota... you've simply put a politically correct gloss on your hatred.

And the institutional racism of yesteryear has largely been supplanted by the "wink nudge" de facto racial segregation of today.

and you, sir, while staunchly hidden beneath your insecurity continue to constantly rant jumping from one negative instance to another without either the insight or apptitude to acknowledge that anything significant has occured.

Was it not because of the heroism of people such as Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, Nathaniel Rogers (the first black to integrate my high school back in 1965), and countless others who facilitated the change in the mindsets of America? Was it not because of these efforts that the Civil Rights Act was made into law over the wailing of fellow Democrats like yourself?

Wink/nudge, my 235 lb butt, after years of Affirmative Action and other crutches to assure minorities equal, and at times preferential, opportunities from schooling to professions the bottom line is still the same-you as an individual have to earn your way. Unless you were born of priviledge, the stipulation of having to earn one's way in life is what has not changed.

It is you, sir, who is in need of a history lesson.

Insecure, me? *shaking head* I can assure you, Mr. King, that I am quite secure in my own skin (or "quite secure in my own white skin, unlike [insert random African American name here]" if you prefer skyspy-speak) and I don't depend on the adulation of others here to validate my own sense of self-worth.

Can YOU make that same claim?

I will agree with you to a point, though. Things HAVE gotten better over the past forty years. They had to! But make no mistake, we're not there yet. You and I can sit around the campfire and toast s'mores and sing "kumbaya" until the sun comes up but it won't change the fact that there is a significant amount of under-the-covers racism and race baiting going on today.

To totally dismiss the events of 40 years ago, as Conner is attempting to do above, as "ancient history" is both specious and disingenious.

We appear to be roughly the same age, Mike. I'm glad you had "smooth sailing" through the 1960s (did you attend private school? just asking). My experience seems to have been a bit different from yours. Signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not magically eradicate racism from my world as it seems to have done in yours.

Sure, it made it a bit more difficult for the race baiters in the short term, but they adapted with the times and adjusted their "code words" accordingly. (Remember "states rights"?) Today we have people here spewing the code ("Riverdale thugs" and "Clayton county gangsters", anyone?) while the Mike Kings of the world stand passively by with a slightly bemused look on their faces.

The sad part is, I'm not sure you realize that they take your silence as tacit agreement with their positions.

We'll get to a colorblind society eventually, though with little to no help from the likes of you.

Sing it with me, brother! Kumbaya, My Lord, Kumbaya!
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Truthsleuth Speaks!
Don't Click This Link, Denise!

Glad you feel secure in whocares the color of your skin (somehow I did not notice that race had anything to do with blogging).

The sixties were indeed formative for many of us--somehow when I reflect upon those years I see both the best and worst of our nation struggling to find identity. This I leave to another time.

I would like to share with you a lesson I learned during the desegregation of my high school back in the sixties. My father having grown up as a millworker and part time farmer explained to me that even though the law was enacted (Civil Rights Act of 1964) that it would take a generation to eradicate the hate and distrust prevalent in the south at the time. He was only partially correct for now the most pronounced bias or racism seems to eminate from those who feel disenfranchised or that they are owed something for previous wrongs.

While I do not profess to hold all the answers, I do judge others by the content of their character and ther actions much more than their rhetoric.

Didn't you kick basmati off here once......can we give him some medicine and put him in the same hospital room as dollar?

I guess in some ways he is useful, he does cause controversy.

Read the above post he sounds manic.

Hit a little too close to home, did I?

You, the originator of "Clayton County Gangster".

But you're not a racist, are you?

No I'm not racist. I'm not the one using blatant racial slurs on here either. YOU ARE!

Didn't you get kicked of here once for that? Go take your meds. Get some sun today you will feel better.

unlike michele obama I'm proud to be an AMERICAN.

No I'm not racist. ....

unlike michele obama I'm proud to be an AMERICAN.

There you go again!
You claim not to be a racist and a few short sentences later you're defining yourself as superior in comparison to a black woman.

What a great "AMERICAN" you are!

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Truthsleuth Speaks!
Don't Click This Link, Denise!

obama said herself she is only now proud to be an American "for the first time in her life" because her husband is running for office. She said that in front of news cameras, and ABC replayed the whole incident last Wed. 2-20-2008. On ABC World News.

I think her statement was both appalling and very revealing as to her true feelings about our great country.

At no time did I throw around blatant racial slurs like you do.

I am proud to be an AMERICAN! If you are not, then you should move to a country you can be proud of.

Guess what we sing this everyday at school-Yes I am Proud to be an AMerican- just like Sky!

I suggest you listen to this - if you don't agree maybe another country would be better for you.

Click here- I am proud these kids will remember this song. and btw we are singing it for parents at the end of year program.

I love this- hey alot are proud to be Americans

Click here alot are glad to be here.

I'll see your Clay Aiken and raise you...Mo Cheeks!
...and the crowd goes WILD! (LINK)

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Truthsleuth Speaks!
Don't Click This Link, Denise!

I chose Clay - great singer-
I like it by alot of people- Clay is my favorite, but I love these also.

Click here- I also like this one.

Click here- great!

This one is great also.

Is being disrespectful of our country and what we stand for really all that funny?

Lets see blatant racial slurs and now this.....good one. The best thing you can do at this point is to keep pusing for obama, and district voting.

I was simply pointing out in that amazing video that the whole crowd ends up helping that girl sing the National Anthem.

It wasn't until you brought it up did I realize that in the video an African American basketball coach was actually touching a white girl.

I know that is a hot button issue with you.

Please accept my apologies, it wasn't my intent to offend you.
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Truthsleuth Speaks!
Don't Click This Link, Denise!

I thought you were making fun of our National Anthem by linking us to video with a girl messing it up.

The fact that the crowd helped is GOOD!

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The viedo you showed:

What I saw was a sweet young girl that got nervous and a kind man came over to help her out and that sweet girl said thank you to him at the end.

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"Hope Changes Everything"

It is not all about race- that is so silly- It's about people-

I have read Sky's posts - Sky is not racist. You can disagree- but I say Sky is not racist.

Did you see on SBC about Race- no it's not there-

Now sir, I do have a concern with our upcoming President and the website about his belief system- where does someone who is not their race fit in?

BTW if SBC had anything about race I assure you that Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sharpton would have their say. That is their job- but who pays these guys- what job do they have? These are questions I don't know about- do you know?

I asked you in respect- please return it. We are adults.

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"Hope Changes Everything"

From one proud American to another THANK YOU!

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Maybe some will stand up for what they believe- and ROCK with us!
What to see how many will? Hummm what do you think?

I am proud of my Country! I am thankful I was born here- alot would give anything to be here.

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"Hope Changes Everything"

Yes, we ALL have a lot to be thankful for.

Have a good day.

PS: I keep getting put on hold at the Trinity United church hmmm I wonder why??

We have something in common- We both love to Rock for the USA! Because we are proud Americans!

I am glad to teach the kids that song- glad I have that freedom.

I tried to get a DVD of a sermon I wanted to see and got voice mail twice- I will try again- I don't want to talk to voice mail, I want to talk to a person to get the correct DVD.

I'll keep trying- I tried online and you can't tell what you are getting- I need a person to be sure I get the correct one- usually there are samples- could not find it.

Keep warm and Rock for the USA!

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"Hope Changes Everything"

Calling someone on what they said has NOTHING to do with RACE.

If any candidate's wife (for Hillary, husband) had said for the first time in their adult life, they were proud of this country, they would be called on it!

Guess she wasn't proud of the rescue workers on 9-11.

Guess she isn't proud that millions of women in Afghanistan no longer live in burkas and can go to school and be elected.

Guess she isn't proud that rape rooms are closed in Iraq and mass graves are no longer being filled.

Guess she is ashamed of those purple fingered Iraqis finally having free elections.

No to have no pride in America since she turned 18 means she has a very negative view of our country.

She could at least be proud of the oppotunity she and her husband enjoyed.

She could be proud he won state office and then election as a US Senator.

Am I the only one that thinks she may be really hard to please?

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Fighting for truth, justice and the American way, while ignoring the ignorant!

Beautiful sunny day isn't it? Ok maybe it could be a little warmer.

Have a good day.

It is a beautiful day- a bit cold- but hey I am glad to just have my freedom.

My husband has done some traveling to other countries with his job- well I can tell you I am Proud to be an American! Anyone that isn't should go to one of those countries they think is so good- hey if we could have a fundraiser and let them take a visit to see what it is like- they would change their mind.

We have a good life here- what is wrong with it here- I guess they don't know about the other countries and how government runs them.

I still stand for freedom.

Did you read about "Hope For The Entire World" what a joke.

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"Hope Changes Everything"

I couldn't agree more.

At least it didn't rain last night.

Talk later...good job on the links.

And I definitely will not vote for Michelle Obama. Not after those comments.

Kevin "Hack" King

What about Barack Obama?

Barack has successfully stolen the votes I was going to cast for his wife. He now gets my delegates.

Kevin "Hack" King