When I was a kid, my black dad spoke with what felt like admiration about Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Powell was a handsome, articulate, famed, and powerful black minister and congressman. Despite adulterous affairs with women in his church, charges of financial misconduct and wild parties on his yacht, it was said that women joined Powell's church several times for the thrill of coming to the front of the congregation to shake his hand. My dad has been the epitome of character all of my life. And yet, something about Powell's persona and ability to deliver a riveting sermon fascinated my dad. As a kid, given Powell's lack of character, I did not hold the smooth talking playboy minister in high regard. Conservative intellectuals' rave reviews of Obama's memorial speech for the Tucson shooting victims give me an insight into my dad's positive view of Powell. Obama's speech struck me as more of the same; his masterful sleazy bait and switch talking from both sides of his mouth. In a...(Read Full Post)