You are in great error and there are three possibilities why:

1.) You are ignorant of the facts:  Alford was there to represent African American interest in the economy.  He said so.  Its in the frickin video above.  His organization is the National Black Chamber of Commerce, for crying out loud.  Boxer's counter examples where EXACTLY relevant.  They are the very definition of relevancy.  What in God's name are you talking about?

2.)  You are sincere but didnt think it through very well and posted just on an emotional level, based on passed experiences.  You didnt deconstruct your own logic before writing.  In that case Im just embarrassed for you but not angry.

3.) You are a troll for either dirty energy companies or a Libertarian organization.

Which is it?  

By the way, Liberals are the first to look at their own language and self examine for hidden racism.  In this case, there was none.

Alford is a paid off clown.

Apparently your being there had nothing to do with your clarity on the dynamic being played.

Hey, can I quote Van Jones now? Hmm? Do I have permission? Is it relevant? Will you call me a racist?

All of this is moot anyway. Alford's testimony is now tainted and wont make a difference in the bill.

1.) you accused ALL of Grist, including the reporter, Kate Sheppard, as not being sensitive to racial issues (thats why its personal)

2.) you accused our primary political ally in the Senate as using racist tactics.

3.) you are indirectly attempting to cast the climate bill as racist.

4.) you are lying about the role Alford was there to play.

Its not "mean" to call foul when you walk in here and start slinging mud at the exact moment a critical law is about to be put into place. Quinn, you haven't even begun to start hearing the nice guys speak up and tell you how it is. My parents marched with King in DC and I have spent my time working on documentaries about hate groups, white supremacist, and human rights. I know what racism is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59kAsbK9rc0

Quinn94 was not posting here as an individual with hurt feelings.  Quinn94 is a saboteur, attempting to gain sympathy from Liberal guilt about *real* racism and divide support for the bill.

The man claimed to be representing black citizens of the U.S., including WORKERS, not just business owners.  I think putting the NAACP, or Van Jones, or the Unions, next to him for comparison is the definition of fairness.

Alford was purposefully insincere when he said his testimony was not about race, but "about energy".

Its all a trick. Theatrics.

Now lets all have some PINKBERRY to celebrate that Friday is here.

I cant speak to the depth of knowledge of the NAACP statement. One would assume that they have knowledge of how green jobs will impact the African American community (through government stats, ACORN, and other community groups). Maybe there did need to be an equivalent study. But the intent to gather other evidence from people "in the know" in that community is not a logical fallacy at all. Its the opposite.

The man was there about impacts on African Americans. And if he was misrepresenting that case (which is likely) then where and when else would one gather info that contests his tainted point of view? I'm at a loss here.

Where is the logic? Anne Coulter? That's a poor analogy. The analogy would be if a conservative Senator brought in a statement from a thoughtful and long standing conservative women's organization saying that the repeal of Roe v. Wade would not have a significant impact on their lives, just after NOW gave their testimony.

Completely 100% relevant.

Ashley Braun,

The term "liar' and "lie" may be interpreted as personal insult or flame, but I mean it its purest dictionary form.  I mean it as literal.  It is a legitimate word with value and meaning.

To say "Alford was not proclaiming to speak on behalf of all blacks" was lie and completely misrepresents the entire event.

Additionally, I was defending both the logic and good name of your reporter, who was being attacked.

From the dictionary:

Lie

an intentionally false statement : David felt a pang of shame at telling Alice a lie | the whole thing is a pack of lies.

• used with reference to a situation involving deception or founded on a mistaken impression : all their married life she had been living a lie.

Madam Chairwoman, ladies and gentlemen of the Committee. On behalf of the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), thank you for the opportunity to address you today.
I come to you, not as an economist, but with a deep understanding of small and minority-owned businesses and as someone who has experience with consumer behavior.
Climate change is a vital issue that must be addressed. It will take time and cost real money to mitigate humanity's influence on our climate. The thing that concerns me and many of the 95,000 business members of the National Black Chamber is that any legislation Congress enacts must consider the impact that costs will have on small and minority-owned businesses, their ability to create jobs and the impact on the communities that they serve.

I'm sorry, but where in that does he say that he is speaking on behalf of the entire Black community?

I think I'll take a break.  I'm not in the mood for "Alice in Wonderland" tea parties.

HERE: "I come to you, not as an economist, but with a deep understanding of small and minority-owned businesses and as someone who has experience with consumer behavior." (emphasis added)

HERE: "The thing that concerns me and many of the 95,000 business members of the National Black Chamber is that any legislation Congress enacts must consider the impact that costs will have on small and minority-owned businesses, their ability to create jobs and the impact on the communities that they serve." (emphasis added)

and at the end of the video above when he says, "The benefits do not meet the costs... especially for urban communities and let me speak for the African-American community since I am African-American."

Mr. Alford was clearly trying to create the impression that he represent of all minority business owners and "the communities that they serve."

• The NBCC and their study, funded in part by Exxon-Mobil

• NAACP

• Van Jones

• ACORN

• Whatever mayors organizations that exist

• The U.S. government sectors who watch unemployment and trends

Which?

Mr. Alford , and the the Republican's who invited him as a contrarian for the hearings, made the topic about racial impacts, not Boxer.

You want a racial impact? How about category 5 hurricanes? There is a racial impact for you, Mr. Alford.

I think the problem with me is that I don't care how it "looks", I care about the core morality of what is transpiring. For blacks, for gays, and for the environment.  Thats why I didn't go into state diplomacy as a career.  Its not my job to be a diplomat around this.

The calls of "racist undertones" and "this is racial" are petty and laughable in the face of what this topic is all about: Global ecological and atmospheric changes that put our current society at risk. Mr. Alford is a bought off tool. And the complaints against Boxer go into the "diversion" bin.

If he speaks, then he represents a black person.

Can it get any clearer?

Alford was obviously playing the race card, which I've seen before.  In Berkeley, California I've seen a guy who is the head of a purported group called the Small Property Owners Association (I don't know whether the group has any members aside from this one guy) lobby against rent control.  The guy is African-American and accuses anyone who supports rent control of being racist.  Few if any take him seriously, and that should be the same reaction to Alford.

http://cooltheearth.wordpress.com/

"HERE: "I come to you, not as an economist, but with a deep understanding of small and minority-owned businesses and as someone who has experience with consumer behavior." (emphasis added)

 "HERE: "The thing that concerns me and many of the 95,000 business members of the National Black Chamber is that any legislation Congress enacts must consider the impact that costs will have on small and minority-owned businesses, their ability to create jobs and the impact on the communities that they serve." (emphasis added)"

These quotes do NOT indicate anyone purporting to be speaking for an entire community.

However, ""The benefits do not meet the costs... especially for urban communities and let me speak for the African-American community since I am African-American." seems to fill your bill perfectly.

It seems that part of your thinking has lead you into a trap whereby you can find racism in anything that someone you apparently don't care for writes or says. Chill out, chum.