Dale Robertson, Distinguished University of Washington Graduate, Tea Party President

For those of you--and I know you're out there--who believe the University of Washington manufactures strictly socialists by the bushel, consider the case of Dale Robertson, a man unafraid to appear in public with a sign that reads "Congress = Slave owner, Taxpayer = Niggar."

Wonkette is having a field day with this photo from last year. If nothing else, it demands much more introspection from a man who talks about helping the politically blind see and the deaf, hear.

Robertson, a veteran of the Marines and Navy, with 22 years of service under his belt, got his bachelor's degree in Political Science at the UW. He owns the site Teaparty.org, where he documents his role in the movement's genesis ("Much like Tiananmen Square, Dale stood alone representing the American people"). His political science degree is his second; he earned a degree in engineering at Southwest College, in San Diego.

I don't know Dale Robertson, but I'd like the chance to tell him in person that this sign is not doing his cause any good. It's (highly) offensive to many people, even if you take it in the best possible, in-solidarity light, which is hard to square with Robertson's oft-professed, uncritical faith in the Founders' intent. (Plenty of slave owners worked on the Constitution.) People keep trying to weasel by with this kind of thing, and I prefer my racists bold and proud, so I know where they stand.

It also would be difficult, not to say naive, to take it in the best possible light given the Tea Party's nationally televised animus toward our Commander in Chief. This year, they are planning a "national strike" on Inauguration Day. Perhaps never before has Black History Month seemed so timely.