The Georgetowner’s Jeff Malet Up Close with the New Tea Party

In an effort to wash its hands of racism allegations and repolish its public image, the Tea Party Express invited more than a dozen black conservative speakers to Washington’s National Press Club on Wednesday. The conservative-cum-populist group, a former member of the National Tea Party Federation, called the summit to help distance itself in the public eye from former chairman Mark Williams, whose “satirical” — and frankly, ill-spirited — blog post aimed at the NAACP inspired a blistering send-up by the black advocacy organization and a nationwide imbroglio that saw many commentators crying racism. Williams resigned after the NTPF expelled the group from its ranks.

Wednesday’s panelists, which included noted black conservatives Alan Keyes and William Owens, made no bones about their distaste for Williams’ remarks, but said the gaffe of one individual didn’t tarnish the overall platform espoused by the party.

“How many times do they have to pluck that bad apple out of the barrel before people quit focusing on it?” asked panelist Herman Cain, who hosts the conservative radio show “THE New Voice.”

Georgetowner photographer Jeff Malet was on hand to photograph the event. View his photos here.