WorldNetDaily.com columnist and Project 21 national advisory council member Mychal Massie decried incoming Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) criticism of Justice Clarence Thomas as “arrogantly racist” and likened Reid to segregationists T. Eugene “Bull” Connor and Orval Faubus. Massie also claimed Reid was “simply being true to his inbred familial heritage” as a Mormon, then cited racist statements from 19th-century Mormon leaders. Massie's comments echo other conservatives' attacks on Reid.

From Massie's December 14, 2004, WorldNetDaily.com column, titled “Come on, Harry, it's because he's black”:

Sen. Harry Reid's, D-Nev., arrogantly racist condemnation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is but the latest racial [sic] tinged hate speech directed at conservative blacks by liberal Democrats. His Uncle Bull Connors [sic] and his Uncle Orval Faubus must be proud of him.

Reid's comments should surprise no one -- repulse, sicken and anger, yes, but surprise, no. He is simply being true to his inbred familial heritage. Mormons believed, as Reid's comments indicate he still does: “Cain slew his brother ... and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, pages 290-291).

[...]

Joseph Feilding [sic: Fielding] Smith wrote: “He [Cain] become the father of an inferior race.” (The Way of Perfection, p. 101) Smith posited that blacks were born so because, unlike the white Reid's, blacks weren't obedient in their prior estate. (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p.61)

As a black man, I am insulted by his racist comments, notwithstanding from a man whose tenets of faith include “blacks have a black heart,” (Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, p. 857); “that blacks have dishonorable bodies,” (Elder Orson Hyde, April 27, 1845); the book of Mormon is replete with references to the accursed mark of Cain upon blacks.

In addition to being a WorldNetDaily.com columnist, Massie is a member of the national advisory council of the black conservative leadership network Project 21. Project 21 is a program of the right-wing National Center for Public Policy Research overseen by David Almasi, the center's executive director, who previously worked for Reed Irvine's right-wing Accuracy in Academia group.* Massie also hosts an Internet-based talk show called "Straight Talk" and has guest-hosted WorldNetDaily founder and editor Joseph Farah's radio program. In the past year, Massie has been a guest on CNN's Paula Zahn Now and Daybreak; FOX News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor; and National Public Radio's The Tavis Smiley Show.

This item originally stated that David Horowitz was associated with Accuracy in Academia. In fact, Reed Irvine was the group's founder.