One of the largest celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was held on Monday at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. Among the honored guests were the embattled American representative to the United Nations, John Bolton; the governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, and recording artist Usher.

Unfortunately, because the words “plantation” and “chocolate” were not used, this highly respectful and distinguished event did not garner any news coverage. It was hosted by the Congress of Racial Equality, a civil rights organization that concentrates on the positive news about race relations, not in playing the race card.

Senator Clinton can be excused for saying, “When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what I’m talking about.” After all, she was speaking to a predominantly African-American crowd at a Baptist church in Harlem, and Democrats seem to feel obligated to inject slavery references whenever they give speeches. Vice President Gore’s imitation of a black preacher while on the campaign trail may have been unintentional, but it was downright hilarious to hear him sputter and shout hellfire when addressing a black audience.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are completely ignoring the strides that have been made in civil rights. CORE’s chairman, Roy Innis, attributed this to a new form of racism that he says afflicts our nation today. He noted that the 19th century philosopher John Stuart Mill said that we should hear opposing ideas, but we must hear them from equally eloquent exponents.

Mr. Innis continued: “The black community in America has not benefited from Mill’s dictum. Media, academia, and the political institutions in both the white and black communities ignore Mill’s wise advice. This is unfair and disrespectful to the black community and bodes ill for the country at large. Decent, thoughtful, eloquent expressions are stifled or outrightly censored. On the other hand, the coarsest, the most hateful and outrageous statements are allowed to permeate and emanate from our community. Those not properly acquainted with the true nature of the black community could conclude that it is the most negative, isolationist, hostile part of America. Tragically neglected in the midst of all of this is the outpouring of love, decency and optimism that reside in the hearts of our people. This invidious censorship of decency in our communities must stop. This is the real racism in America today. It is the neo-racism of the 21st century. A society that continues to proceed along this path does so at its own peril.”

The proof of his statement was apparent by Tuesday, when the press, both left and right – with the exception of The New York Sun’s Out & About column – ignored the substantive, positive speeches made by the speakers at the CORE event. When I contacted a CORE spokesman, Niger Innis, for his reaction, he said, “Obviously both sides of the print media have a stake in racial divisiveness and the utter isolation of black Americans: liberals to apologize for it, conservatives to bemoan it. But both do much to promote it and censor those of us, like CORE, who plan to stop it.”

Those three civil rights workers who were murdered in Mississippi on June 21, 1964 – Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner – were CORE volunteers. Now, CORE has honored the governor of that state, Mr. Barbour, with the Civil Rights Award. He spoke with pride about the fact that his state – once “Mississippi Burning” – now has more elected African Americans than any other state in the nation. This is huge progress, and while there is still more to be made, isn’t this more newsworthy than covering the sad, patronizing rants of self-serving politicians who try to stir up a bitter past because they really offer nothing that truly benefits the black community?

More than 1,500 good people from diverse backgrounds came together on Monday to celebrate the birthday of King, whom Roy Innis calls “our Prince of Peace.” Mrs. Clinton, in your haste to besmirch the Republicans, you sullied everything that King stood for.