BET Wire: A Lot of Shade Was Thrown on MLK Day

Rev. William Barber calls Sen. Tim Scott a Tea Party puppet.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - The shade was flying around the nation on Martin Luther King Day from Democrats and Republicans alike; Glenn Beck apologizes for "tearing the country apart"; Rep. Tim Scott is hosting a Black History Month event honoring the nation's African-American senators; and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

Barbed Wire - In a pre-Martin Luther King holiday speech, Rev. William Barber, who heads the North Carolina NAACP, denounced U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) as a puppet who articulates the Tea Party agenda. “A ventriloquist can always find a good dummy,” Barber said at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Barbed Wire - In a pre-Martin Luther King holiday speech, Rev. William Barber, who heads the North Carolina NAACP, denounced U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) as a puppet who articulates the Tea Party agenda. “A ventriloquist can always find a good dummy,” Barber said at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

NAACP Stands by Its Man - After Republicans called on the NAACP to denounce Rev. William Barber's criticism of Sen. Tim Scott, the organization issued a statement to Fox News. “Unless we stand for justice we cannot claim allegiance to or pay homage to Dr. King,” it read. “In a state such as South Carolina, politicians, whether they be Black or white, should not be echoing the position of the far right.” (Photo: Raleigh News & Observer/MCT/LANDOV)

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NAACP Stands by Its Man - After Republicans called on the NAACP to denounce Rev. William Barber's criticism of Sen. Tim Scott, the organization issued a statement to Fox News. “Unless we stand for justice we cannot claim allegiance to or pay homage to Dr. King,” it read. “In a state such as South Carolina, politicians, whether they be Black or white, should not be echoing the position of the far right.” (Photo: Raleigh News & Observer/MCT/LANDOV)

Swinging Low - Joshua Black, an African-American Republican candidate for a seat in the Florida state House of Representatives, isn't content with impeaching President Obama, the Tampa Bay Times reports. In a MLK Day tweet he wrote, "I'm past impeachment. It's time to arrest and hang him high" for treason.The post prompted a call from the Secret Service and a call from Gov. Rick Scott, also a Republican, for Black, who is standing his ground, to drop out of the race.  (Photo: JoshuaBlack2014.com)

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Swinging Low - Joshua Black, an African-American Republican candidate for a seat in the Florida state House of Representatives, isn't content with impeaching President Obama, the Tampa Bay Times reports. In a MLK Day tweet he wrote, "I'm past impeachment. It's time to arrest and hang him high" for treason.The post prompted a call from the Secret Service and a call from Gov. Rick Scott, also a Republican, for Black, who is standing his ground, to drop out of the race.  (Photo: JoshuaBlack2014.com)

Sarah Says - As Obama and family volunteered at a D.C. soup kitchen, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin offered the president some advice. "Mr. President, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and all who commit to ending any racial divide, no more playing the race card," she wrote on her Facebook page.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Sarah Says - As Obama and family volunteered at a D.C. soup kitchen, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin offered the president some advice. "Mr. President, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and all who commit to ending any racial divide, no more playing the race card," she wrote on her Facebook page.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Black GOPers Team Up in CT - Regina Roundtree has founded a new organization called Connecticut Black Republicans and Conservatism, to help the party broaden its base and build a better urban agenda, the Associated Press reports. The GOP has neglected urban and minority voters, who, according to the group's website, "can reduce the level of poverty among its residents with the introduction of conservative values."  (Photo: Courtesy of the Connecticut Black Republicans and Conservatives)

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Black GOPers Team Up in CT - Regina Roundtree has founded a new organization called Connecticut Black Republicans and Conservatism, to help the party broaden its base and build a better urban agenda, the Associated Press reports. The GOP has neglected urban and minority voters, who, according to the group's website, "can reduce the level of poverty among its residents with the introduction of conservative values."  (Photo: Courtesy of the Connecticut Black Republicans and Conservatives)

Save the Date - Sen. Tim Scott will honor the nation's Black senators at a Black History Month event at the Library of Congress on Feb. 25. A panel discussion will so far feature former Democratic Sens. Carol Moseley Braun and Roland Burris of Illinois and former Massachusetts Sen. William “Mo” Cowan, also a Democrat. Invitations have been extended to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke and President Obama.(Photos: Andrew Burton/Getty Images; Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

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Save the Date - Sen. Tim Scott will honor the nation's Black senators at a Black History Month event at the Library of Congress on Feb. 25. A panel discussion will so far feature former Democratic Sens. Carol Moseley Braun and Roland Burris of Illinois and former Massachusetts Sen. William “Mo” Cowan, also a Democrat. Invitations have been extended to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke and President Obama.(Photos: Andrew Burton/Getty Images; Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

Way Down in the Cookie Jar - Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, and wife Maureen, were indicted by federal investigators on 14 counts of corruption for allegedly accepting more than $150,000 in gifts and loans from Virginia entrepreneur Jonnie Williams in return for endorsing his firm, Star Scientific. The loot included designer dresses, a Rolex watch and paying for the McDonnells' daughter's wedding caterer.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Way Down in the Cookie Jar - Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, and wife Maureen, were indicted by federal investigators on 14 counts of corruption for allegedly accepting more than $150,000 in gifts and loans from Virginia entrepreneur Jonnie Williams in return for endorsing his firm, Star Scientific. The loot included designer dresses, a Rolex watch and paying for the McDonnells' daughter's wedding caterer.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Beck Apologizes - “I remember it as an awful lot of fun and that I made an awful lot of mistakes, and I wish I could go back and be more uniting in my language,” said the controversial, conservative commentator Glenn Beck during an appearance on Fox News on Jan. 21. “I think I played a role, unfortunately, in helping tear the country apart.”(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

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Beck Apologizes - “I remember it as an awful lot of fun and that I made an awful lot of mistakes, and I wish I could go back and be more uniting in my language,” said the controversial, conservative commentator Glenn Beck during an appearance on Fox News on Jan. 21. “I think I played a role, unfortunately, in helping tear the country apart.”(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

A Papal Audience - When Obama travels to Europe on business in March, he will make a stop at the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis for the first time. "The president looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality," according to a White House statement.(Photo: Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

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A Papal Audience - When Obama travels to Europe on business in March, he will make a stop at the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis for the first time. "The president looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality," according to a White House statement.(Photo: Franco Origlia/Getty Images)