Sarah Palin lashed out on Tuesday at the NAACP for the group's allegations of racism within the Tea Party movement, saying that the charges were unjust and undeserved.
"I am saddened by the NAACP's claim that patriotic Americans who stand up for the United States of America's Constitutional rights are somehow 'racists,'" Palin wrote in a Facebook note.
"I know how Tea Party Americans feel to be falsely accused," she said. Palin pointed to a charge of racism levied against her in a "frivolous lawsuit" which was later dismissed. "To be unjustly accused of association with what Reagan so aptly called that "legacy of evil" is a traumatizing experience, and one of which the honest, freedom-loving patriots of the Tea Party movement are truly undeserving."
Palin added:
I just spent a few beautiful Alaskan days with some beautiful Americans in my husband's birthplace - they are Todd's family and they are Yupik Eskimo. In the decades that our families have blended, I have never heard one proud, patriotic member judge another member based on skin color. Both Todd and I were raised to measure a person according to their capacity and willingness to love, work, forgive, contribute, and show good character. We're joined by the vast majority of Americans in this belief whereby we measure a man by his character, not his color. Because of amazing efforts and accomplishments by those who came before my generation, it is foreign to us to consider condemning or condoning anyone's actions based on race or gender. Being with our diverse family in a melting pot that is a Native village just days ago reminded me of that.
On Tuesday, the NAACP passed a resolution denouncing what it sees as racism coming from tea party members.
UPDATE: On Fox News Tuesday night, Palin echoed the comments in her Facebook post, rejecting the notion that tea party members were racist.
"Any good American hates racism," she told host Sean Hannity.
Palin added:
"This is some typical divisive politics that is so absolutely unnecessary, especially at this time of turmoil within our country. Turmoil when you consider the state of the economy and so many other challenges that we are facing. This is just so unnecessary.
"No, the Tea Party Movement is a beautiful movement, full of diverse people, diverse backgrounds. Folks of all walks of life who, for the most part, happen to oppose President Obama's policies. Not the color of his skin. They don't care that he's half white or half black."