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March 09, 2006
The Depressing Saga Of Andrew Young
Andrew Young began his career began as part of MLK's inner circle. He was Jimmy Carter's ambassador to the UN, then mayor of Atlanta in the 1980s.
Now, he lends his credibility to fake grass-roots "astroturf" PR organizations such as something called "Working Families for Wal-Mart."
Unfortunately, this piece eviscerating Young quotes a major chunk of a 1997 New Republic article that happened to be written by Steven Glass, the guy who got busted for fabricating stories. I don't know if anything from that part was made up. But the rest of the piece is completely credible, and very disappointing.
I guess Young has to make a living, just like everybody else. He also has foundations and other philanthropic organizations to keep bankrolled. But it's possible to be a political mover and shaker without selling out your civil rights legacy to become a corporate shill. Just look at John Lewis, the great Georgia congressman.
Posted by tedf at March 9, 2006 05:18 PM
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