Ricky L. Jones

My most recent column, “Support for Donald Trump and Matt Bevin proves America is a nasty nation,” prompted this response from the Jefferson County (Kentucky) Republican Party:

“Once again, the Courier Journal and Ricky L. Jones demonstrate their utter contempt for people who don't think or act like them. Rather than engaging in a debate of thoughts and ideas, Mr. Jones falls back on tired accusations of racism and xenophobia. The name calling and vitriol spewed by Mr. Jones reminds us of the very reason why Governor Matt Bevin and President Donald J. Trump won. People are tired of the baseless name calling by the Left and want tangible, economic results, which the Republican Party has delivered. The Democratic Party can't engage in a debate of ideas, because they simply have none. #JobsNotMobs #WeAreKY #CutTheTape #Republican #Kentucky”

I can’t speak for the Courier Journal, but you’re certainly right about one thing — I have utter contempt for you.

I have contempt for you because you seek out judges and legislators who try to weaken or destroy the Brown v. Board decision of 1954, the Civil and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 and other progressive milestones. In doing so, you attack black Americans. You then try to clumsily flip the script by labeling people who call you on your racism as “racist.” That’s monstrous.

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I have contempt for you because you embrace dilettantes who would turn back the clock on Roe v. Wade. In doing so, you attack women. I have contempt for you because you push immigration policies that only target darker people. In doing so, you bare your global, rapacious racist fangs.

I have contempt for you because you fatten yourselves on kills made by others when you take credit for national economic gains resulting from the efforts of the Obama administration, not yours. In doing so, you prove you are nothing more than political vultures.

I have contempt for you because you are the champions of voter suppression. You seek to crush black voting power because you know, outside of Diamond, Silk, Kanye and a few other lost souls, they will not vote for you. In doing so, you prove you have no respect for democracy.

I have contempt for you because you distort reality by offering mythical, fallacious summations of the past and present. You submit painfully simplistic and foolish solutions to complex problems to your followers. In doing so, you prove you are inclined to prey upon ignorance.

I have contempt for you because, if all else fails, you resort to lies. Your president lies. Your White House spokespersons lie. Your governors lie. Your senators lie. Your House members lie. YOU LIE! In doing so, you repeatedly reaffirm that you have a troubled relationship with the truth.

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I have contempt for you because you pimp God — turning Her into a callous, homophobic, supremacist, gun-toting bigot to justify your nastiness.

You accuse me and others of name-calling. Really? It’s hypocritical for any entity or individual who follows the likes of Donald Trump, Matt Bevin or this incarnation of the Republican Party to cry about name-calling. You have taken the practice to historic levels. This is not name-calling; it is truth. This is not affective, prepubescent pablum; it is a clear and honed illumination of what drives your gaslighting, ideas, policies and inhumanity.

Finally, on this “debating thoughts and ideas” challenge you’re tossing out there — remember a few things:

I am neither a politician nor coward. I seek no office and am beholden to no man or woman. I do not bow to monied interests. I am highly educated. I know history. I know politics. I tell the truth and logically defend it. I have no strings on me. I am free! I am a former housing project kid who now protects the small folk and beats up bullies like Trump, Bevin and you! Know that I was born and raised in the same city as Martin Luther King Jr., live in the town that birthed Muhammad Ali and am a dangerous mix of both. I am an intellectual gunfighter and the people’s heavyweight champion. I take all comers, anytime, anywhere and would grant you no quarter.

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I’ll debate any 10 of you at once. That would make the exchange halfway fair. But, seriously Republicans — you know you don’t want any of that action. YOU actually debating reasonable thoughts and ideas against ME? That’s laughable.

Lastly, remember this — I am not a Democrat, and I am not Michelle Obama. Like you, I fight dirty. When you go low, I’ll go LOWER! And oh, by the way — that’s DR. Jones (not MR.) to YOU, nasty, nasty, naughty little Republicans. As Birdman said, put some “respeck” on my name!

So, you’ve been called out. I’ll be waiting outside. Choose your debate weapons. I’ll be that tall dude, that mobster, that gangster wearing the big, black hat standing in the middle of the street.

Dr. Ricky L. Jones is Chair of Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville. His next book, co-authored with Marc Murphy, is titled, “Colin, Confederates and Con-Artists: The American Tragedy of Erasing History.” His column appears biweekly in the Courier-Journal. Visit him at www.rickyljones.com.