Via Afro Netizen, the news that ColorofChange (the same group which so successfully organized a pullout of Glenn Beck's advertising by informing sponsor's of Beck's racist remarks) has apparently persuaded the Harlem Gospel Choir not to perform with Beck on his Christmas special. (They're saying it didn't pay enough):

The Harlem Gospel Choir just canceled their performance as part of Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater," a live performance that's scheduled to be broadcast in movie theaters across the country this Thursday.

The Harlem Gospel Choir has backed out of a holiday performance with controversial conservative talk-show host Glenn Beck, the Daily News has learned. The famous choir, which has performed for Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II, was set to appear in the simulcast film of Beck's novel "The Christmas Sweater - A Return to Redemption," which opens Thursday in theaters nationwide. The choir canceled the appearance Monday, citing financial reasons.

James Rucker, executive director of Color for Change - which has helped persuade more than 80 advertisers to ditch Beck's show - said the group did an about-face after he called the choir. "We wanted to make sure they understood who Beck was," Rucker said. "We believe their mission is about spreading the Gospel and and promoting harmony, and we thought Beck was the antithesis of that."

Before we contacted the Harlem Gospel Choir about Beck, they didn't know much about him. After learning more about Beck and his history of race-baiting, the choir quickly came to the right decision and cancelled their appearance with him. The choir told the Daily News that their reasons for canceling with Beck were financial, and it's understandable that they would want to avoid getting involved in what could be seen as a political fight -- the choir is about faith and music, not politics. And it's hard to blame them for wanting to avoid starting a fight with Glenn Beck -- he is a powerful man with a large megaphone and a large audience that includes some very hateful people (based on some of the email we've received after launching our campaign against Beck, we know this first-hand at ColorOfChange).

"The Christmas Sweater" is part of Beck's effort to present himself as someone who represents mainstream American values. His desire to work with the Harlem Gospel Choir serves that goal, and it would have helped him position himself as embracing Black people while his rhetoric works against the interests of not only Black folks but most Americans.

That's what makes the Harlem Gospel Choir's refusal to perform with Beck so important -- they are world-famous for spreading a message of peace, love, unity and respect. They've performed for Nelson Mandela, in honor of Dr. King, and before Pope John Paul II. They have proudly represented one of Black America's oldest musical traditions around the world, and now they have refused to allow their name and their legacy to be used by someone like Glenn Beck.

The danger of having "intellectually incurious" people in charge of foreign policy...

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When asked by a reporter how long he thought the American people would be willing to wait for Bush to force the Iraqi government to reach benchmark goals, Bush veered bizarrely into a claim that Saddam was responsible for the deaths of the "Mandelas".

Part of the reason why there is not this instant democracy in Iraq is because people are still recovering from Saddam Hussein's brutal rule. I thought an interesting comment was made when somebody said to me, I heard somebody say, where's Mandela? Well, Mandela is dead, because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas. He was a brutal tyrant that divided people up and split families, and people are recovering from this. So there's a psychological recovery that is taking place. And it's hard work for them. And I understand it's hard work for them. Having said that, I'm not going the give them a pass when it comes to the central government's reconciliation efforts.

Um, WTF??? Not only is Nelson Mandela very much alive, but he's also been very vocally critical of the Bush Adminstration:

"What I am condemning is that one power, with a president who has no foresight, who cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust."[..]

"If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America. They don't care."

Maybe it was a bit of strange projection on the part of Bush to want another critic gone...something others in this administration have some experience with as well.

UPDATE: Obviously not everyone understands mangled metaphors: After Bush remark, Mandela Foundation issues statement that former President is still alive.

Shakesville: Bush trys to re-ignite the Cold War

Rising Hegemon: Like a "Smokeless" Klan rally.

TPMCafe: The Associated Press' crappy reporting makes Obama's remarks sound really threatening  Here's some more shoddy newspaper work

The New Editor: Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela's wife, is barred from Canada

Feministing: Feminists want to have sex without getting pregnant and therefore are murdering whores.  Scott has more...

Boozhy: American soldiers patrol Afghani marijuana fields (sound track gets an X rating)

If, like me, you're having trouble keeping track, go over to Lies from the Bush-Cheney administration

Bitch Ph.D. Anti-contraception zealots move to their own "Plan B"

The Existentialist Cowboy: Americans are paying for Bush's war of aggression at the bank, the store, the pump, and at the graveside.

The Osterley Times: Remember when Nelson Mandela was a 'terrorist' and Dick Cheney voted to keep him in prison? Obviously, Steve Biko must've been a terrorist, too.

Lassiter Space: Jim Dean, chairman of Democracy For America, talks about the impact of blogs on American politics.

The Aristocrats: Catchy little ditty, brought to you in part by the man who single-handedly put the = sign between "conservative" and "incompetent, corrupt, dumbass."

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