Editorial: Moral hypocrisy alive and well in the nation

To find a classic example of a moral hypocrite look no further than Buddy Witherspoon, one of the Republican Party's national committee members from South Carolina. Witherspoon believes that the Republican National Committee, which holds its annual meeting this week, should reject campaign donations from gambling interests.

Witherspoon believes he occupies the moral high ground, calling gambling "unconscionable." But Witherspoon has a peculiar sense of morality. This is the same man who belongs to an ultraconservative organization, the Council of Conservative Citizens, which calls itself pro-white.

So what does Witherspoon have to say in his defense of belonging to this group? "Never have I ever heard anything said about race in any way, shape or form," he said. This is hard to believe. The council's website and newsletters have carried articles that demean blacks and intimate that whites are under attack. An Associated Press story said that on Tuesday visitors to the group's website were urged to forget "petty pretenders," such as Martin Luther King Jr., and instead honor the birthday of "the greatest American who ever lived" -- the leader of the Confederate forces during the Civil War, Gen. Robert E. Lee.

The group came under scrutiny in December after it was revealed that prominent members of Congress -- Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga. -- have spoken before it. To his credit, Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson said this week that any "member of the party of Lincoln" should quit the Council of Conservative Citizens.

But Witherspoon said he has no intention of resigning. Despite Witherspoon's belief that the moral fabric of this nation is imperiled by gambling, his moral selectivity blinds him to the fact that the more ominous threat is the hatred and racism espoused by groups such as the Council of Conservative Citizens.

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