The Drudge Report publicized a video showing President Clinton allegedly napping during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service. The first “black” president would have had no trouble staying awake at the Congress of Racial Equality’s Martin Luther King Jr. dinner at the Sheraton Hotel this Monday. CORE’s celebrations are noteworthy for their stellar honored guests, the brilliant inspirational speeches, gifted entertainers, and, unfortunately, for very little press coverage.

This is an important election year and it would have been nice if a presidential candidate were present in person to learn that the fight for civil rights is more than a matter of skin color. Even the New York Times noted that CORE is “one of America’s most venerable civil rights groups.” It has remained so because it focuses on human rights transcending colors and creeds; the many-hued guests at the Sheraton were a prime example that its policy of racial harmony works.

Unfortunately, the Democratic Party finds itself in the midst of what can only be called a self-induced race-gender battle. A white woman is running against a black man and the campaigns of both candidates can’t get beyond that distinction and neither can the flummoxed journalists. Who exactly commissioned that poll that showed Americans are more ready for a black than a woman president, and why was it even necessary? Common sense would dictate the obvious result of this inane study. Who wants to be branded a bigot? All the political news seems to be focusing on who’s got the black vote or who’s got the Hispanics. How about talking about issues?

In her latest commentary, Star Parker, author of “Uncle Sam’s Plantation: How Big Government Enslaves America’s Poor and What We Can Do About It,” writes: “Why, almost a half century after the Civil Rights Act, does black poverty persist at twice the national average?” Ms. Parker acknowledges that despite the failed promises to her community, whoever wins the Democrat nomination will get 90% of the black vote and asks, “When will they ever learn?”

Meanwhile, CORE works with partners to address the most pressing and vital issues of the day. Two of the honorees at Monday’s dinner were the president of Community Financial Services Association of America, Darrin Andersen, and the chief executive of Money Tree Inc., Dennis Bassford. While politicians hem and haw — stewing about the home foreclosures and the subprime loan debacle — CORE cuts to the chase and seeks solutions. The honorees are being awarded for providing access to credit for poor communities and spreading financial literacy. Since consumer naiveté and ignorance created a financial vulnerability to corrupt mortgage brokers and lenders, education is a crucial step in fixing the problem.

Another honoree was Bishop T.D. Jakes. The pastor that Time magazine put on its cover of September 17, 2001, asking, “Is this man the next Billy Graham?” Bishop Jakes drew a standing ovation for his speech when he accepted the Martin Luther King Jr. leadership award for the victims of the Kenyan political massacres.

The “Buffalo Soldier Award” was presented to Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez, who was commander of the American troops when Saddam Hussein was captured. General Sanchez, who has since retired, has been criticized for his blunt speeches criticizing the administration’s handling of the Iraq war and he was just as outspoken and passionate in accepting the CORE award. However, I found that his anger was aimed more toward congressional partisans who, as he said it, “put party loyalty above the needs of our country.” As Roy Innis praised General Sanchez and reached out to President Bush to find a place for General Sanchez back in the military, General Sanchez said, “I would go back to Iraq tomorrow.”

Duane Chapman, aka Dog the Bounty Hunter, was introduced at the press conference that preceded the dinner by Roy and Niger Innis as a man they were pleased to call a friend. If Mr. Innis can recognize an individual he called “a good decent man,” why isn’t he back on the air? I would say that in spite of his fall from grace last year, Dog still has more fans in the minority audience than any other white man on television. Don’t they deserve as much of a choice as the politically correct fringe?

Looking around the crowded ballroom, I viewed people from different backgrounds, colors, and points of view honoring the legacy of a man who dreamed of that day when we would all be judged by the content of our characters, not the color of our skin. Judging by the tone of this presidential race, that day is still far off.

acolon@nysun.com