McCain addresses King legacy, regrets MLK holiday vote
Memphis, TN– Praising Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a man whose message will be “heard and understood” for ages, Sen. John McCain apologized Friday for once voting against a national holiday commemorating the slain civil rights leader.
“Sometimes…we can be slow as well to give greatness its due, a mistake I myself made long ago…when I voted against a federal holiday in memory of Dr. King. I was wrong, I was wrong…I was wrong and eventually realized that, in time, in time to give full support, full support for a state holiday in my home state of Arizona,” McCain said to scattered boos and jeers from the rain-soaked crowd of hundreds on the 40th anniversary of the King assassination. “I’d remind you that…we can all be a little late sometimes in doing the right thing and Dr. King understood this about his fellow Americans.” (FULL REMARKS AFTER JUMP)
Speaking to the mostly African American audience less than 50 feet below the balcony where King was shot, McCain said that, “even in this most idealistic of nations, we do not always take kindly to being reminded of what more we can do, or how much better we can be, or who else can (be included) in the promise of America.”
During the portion of the speech where he expressed regret over his vote, one member of the crowd could also be heard shouting, “we all make mistakes, we all make mistakes.”
McCain has said repeatedly that he regrets his 1983 vote and began to advocate for a state referendum in support of a holiday by 1990. Arizona eventually passed the referenda and began commemorating the holiday in 1993. More details on his history with MLK here
While members of the crowd I spoke with after the speech said they were satisfied with the speech, the Democratic National Committee is aggressively attacking McCain on the issue today. “It’s frankly disingenuous for John McCain to try and reinvent himself for the general election by distorting his record of opposing a holiday honoring Dr. King. John McCain should be honest about his full record of opposing the federal holiday, opposing a state holiday four years later, using divisive language to defend himself, and voting to cut off funding for the commission working to promote the King holiday as recently as 1994,” said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney in a statement.
The McCain campaign plans to continue outreach to the African-American community and other minority groups with a tour later this month of places “not usually visited by Republicans,” according to advisers. Among the places he is set to visit are rural Alabama, Louisiana, the Applachia and possibly some inner-city areas.
UPDATE–4:17 p.m. : RNC Spokesman Danny Diaz responds to DNC attack on McCain: “It is both sad and disturbing that the Democratic National Committee would use Dr. King’s name in a political attack as Americans are celebrating his legacy.”
PREPARED REMARKS (note that he slightly deviated from the remarks during the speech)
Thank you. Alvieda King, Ralph Abernathy Jr., Dr. Montgomery, members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference: I appreciate your kind invitation, and I am honored to stand with you at this place on this day.
Martin Luther King, Jr., was not a man to flinch from harsh truth, and the same is required of all who come here to see where he was in the last hours of his life. The Lorraine Motel is a civil rights museum now, but in the memory of America it will always be a crime scene as well. On the National Register of Historic Places, there are few sites remembered with more regret, or touched with so much sorrow.
If we think only of that day and that moment, there is no inspiration to be gained here. The man we remember was a believer in the power of conscience and goodness to shape events. But this place will always stand as a reminder that cowardice and malevolence lay claim to their own victories. No good cause in this world — however right in principle or pure in heart — was ever advanced without sacrifice. And Dr. King knew this. He knew that men with nightsticks, tear-gas, and cattle prods were not the worst of what might be lying in wait each day and night. He was a man accustomed to the nearness of danger. And when death came, it found him standing upright, in open air, unafraid.
We see him today from a distance of four decades, more time than the man himself lived on this earth. And it would not be unusual if his stature or reputation had faded with the passing of the years. It happens sometimes that the judgments of history overrule contemporary opinion, indifferent to the fame and approval of the moment. But this has not been the case with the firstborn son of Alberta and Martin Luther King, Sr. He only seems a bigger man from far away. The quality of his character is only more apparent. His good name will be honored for as long as the creed of America is honored. His message will be heard and understood for as long as the message of the gospels is heard and understood.
Forty years and more after the great struggles of the civil rights movement, we marvel that such fierce passions could be aroused in defense of such petty cruelties. Separate lunch counters, the preferred seat on a bus, one restroom for whites and another for everyone else — these were among the prerogatives fought for as if on a point of the highest principle. There is no end to human pride when it goes unchecked, no limit to arrogance and presumption when they pass uncorrected. Like every citizen he spoke for, Martin Luther King had seen the underside of life in America, where the rules of respect, and fairness, and courtesy were thought not to apply. It was a humiliating existence, unjust in matters both large and small, merciless in its routine of insult, sparing not even the elderly or little children from its crude bullying.
For black men and women, as Dr. King wrote, it was a life “plagued with inner fears and outer resentments.” And yet, as he knew, fear alone would never right the offense. And resentment alone would never overcome the wrong. “Along the way of life,” he said, “someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil. The greatest way to do that is through love.”
Martin Luther King today is honored by the world, in such a way that it is easy to forget he once knew the scorn of the world. And it wasn’t just force of personality that made him the man he was. It was the power of truth, spoken with a servant’s heart and a voice like no other. He put it this way once, expressing the spirit of both the cause and its leader: “I said to myself over and over again, ‘Keep Martin Luther King in the background and God in the foreground and everything will be all right. Remember you are a channel of the gospel and not the source.’”
When Dr. King and his comrades began to break that chain with their campaign of peaceful protest, there were those who said, “Wait. Just give it a little more time. Be patient. Be patient, and one day America will come around.” But patience had been tried, over many generations, and still millions lived in what he called the smothering, airtight cage of injustice. For his marches in Birmingham, Montgomery, and elsewhere, for his sit-ins and his sermons, he was called an agitator, a trouble-maker, a malcontent, and a disturber of the peace. These are often the terms applied to men and women of conscience who will not endure cruelty, nor abide injustice. We hear them to this day — in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Burma, Tibet, Iran and other lands — directed at every brave soul who dares to disturb the peace of tyrants.
Sometimes the most radical thing is to be confronted with our own standards — to be asked simply that we live up to the principles we profess. Even in this most idealistic of nations, we do not always take kindly to being reminded of what more we can do, or how much better we can be, or who else can be included in the promise of America. We can be slow as well to give greatness its due, a mistake I made myself long ago when I voted against a federal holiday in memory of Dr. King. I was wrong and eventually realized that, in time to give full support for a state holiday in Arizona. We can all be a little late sometimes in doing the right thing, and Dr. King understood this about his fellow Americans. But he knew as well that in the long term, confidence in the reasonability and good heart of America is always well placed. And always, that was his method in word and action — to remind us of who we are and what we believe. His arguments were unanswerable and they were familiar, the case always resting on the writings of the Founders, the teachings of the prophets, and the Word of the Lord.
Perhaps with more charity than was always deserved, he often reminded us that there was moral badness, and there was moral blindness, and they were not the same. It was this spirit that turned hatred into forgiveness, anger into conviction, and a bitter life into a great one. He loved and honored his country even when the feeling was unreturned, and counseled others to do the same. He gave his fellow countrymen and his fellow Christians the benefit of the doubt — believing, as he wrote, that “returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
I remember first learning what had happened here on the fourth of April, 1968, feeling just as everyone else did back home, only perhaps even more uncertain and alarmed for my country in the darkness that was then enclosed around me and my fellow captives. In our circumstances at the time, good news from America was hard to come by. But the bad news was a different matter, and each new report of violence, rioting, and other tribulations in America was delivered without delay. The enemy had correctly calculated that the news from Memphis would deeply wound morale, and leave us worried and afraid for our country. Doubtless it boosted our captors’ morale, confirming their belief that America was a lost cause, and that the future belonged to them.
Yet how differently it all turned out. And if they had been the more reflective kind, our enemies would have understood that the cause of Dr. King was bigger than any one man, and could not be stopped by force of violence. Struggle is rewarded, in God’s own time. Wrongs are set right and evil is overcome. We know this to be true because it is the story of the man we honor today, and because it is the story of our country.
And yet for all of this, forty years and a world away, we look up to that balcony, we remember that night, and we are still left with a feeling of loss. Here was a young man who composed one of literature’s finest testimonies to the yearning for equality and justice under law — writing on the margins of a newspaper, in the confinement of a prison cell. Here was a preacher who endured beatings, survived bombings, suffered knifings, abuse, and ridicule, and still placed his trust in the Prince of Peace. Here was a husband and father who will stand to children in every generation as a model of Christian manhood, but never got to raise his own sons and daughters, or to share in the gift of years with his good wife.
All of this was lost on the fourth of April, 1968, and there are no consolations to balance the scale. What remains, however, is the example and witness of The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and that is forever.
Tags: 1983 vote, civil rights, john mccain, Martin Luther King, Memphis, mlk day
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Martin Luther King, Jr. was good for America - God used him to bring about needed change. Barrack Obama, often orates about change, but the only change he will bring is to rekindle the racial tensions in America that preceded the Civil Rights era.
MCain ‘08!!!
~ The ‘real’ American Conservative (not to be confused with the moronic Mormon one).
The difference between Big O and McCain is that McCain is willing to say I was wrong. Big Os line is always “thats not what I said” or “what I really meant was”. Its very refreshing to have a political figure that has the courage to admit he made a mistake.
Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Rev. Wright, Rev. Moss, L. Farrahkhan, et al.
These people more than anyone else, are determined to keep race and racism the issue in America.
Racism will go away when these race hustlers go away.
Comment by American Conservative & Comment by pmoe
Ain’t that the truth.
When you chose to slander someone, it holds no weight unless you state the facts your opinions are based on. If not, your thoughts appear self serving and hold no credibility!
Comment by tj stelten
April 4th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
When you chose to slander someone, it holds no weight unless you state the facts your opinions are based on. If not, your thoughts appear self serving and hold no credibility!
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OH……..well………DUH………….sorry……my bad………………
Many people regret their vote to obama in the past. if you are one of them please go to
http://www.ITakeBackMyVote.com
to take back your vote!
When slavery was abolished apparently some blacks thought that meant we hand them the keys to the country and then all whites commit suicide.
when was slavery abolished ?….from the sound of some of the black leaders it’s still going on
Good point Tom.
Probably the closest thing to slavery today is americans who hire illegal mexicans by the millions
and the liberals who enable this profound tragedy.
Comments by American Conservative & Comment by pmoe
GREAT POST!!!
Some of you are so sad. I believe that you are taking your own fears and lack of knowledge of the African American population, and your own personal fears of having an African American leader and trying turn all of that fear against Obama. Just plain sad. Why do so many of you feel the need to tear someone down in an attempt to legitimize your own personal choice of candidate, or legitimize your own anger, fear, and lack of knowledge about people who have a different history and heritage than you do. Some of the things the people say on this blog are truly shameful.
Comment by Dee
We are not zombies, which is why we do not support Obama. He claims to be special but he is no different from any other politician. He is full of lies and we are calling him on it. The zombie media msnbc, cnn, and Obama’s supporters are truly sad.
Dee, I’m not sure of exactly WHO you are talking about, but the fact that Rev. Wright is a race bating ethnic slurring, America bashing friend of terrorist is not for lack of understanding African-Americans, it’s based on FACT. The fault of Obama being linked to this is his OWN making with 20 years of sitting in a church like this and his very “dubious” other “friends”.
Next you’ll tell us that his buddies in the Black Panthers are just misunderstood guys in a social club.
It’s frankly disingenuous for John McCain to try and reinvent himself for the general election by distorting his record of opposing a holiday honoring Dr. King.”
Wow, that’s a pretty big stretch. So, if McCain doesn’t believe that everyone should take the day off of work to celebrate someone, he clearly must hate that person right? How many people out there actually CELEBRATE the holiday anyway?
Comment by pmoe
April 4th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
The difference between Big O and McCain is that McCain is willing to say I was wrong. Big Os line is always “thats not what I said” or “what I really meant was”. Its very refreshing to have a political figure that has the courage to admit he
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Pmoe,
Your statement is entirely out of context and bears no relation to what Obama has said in the past.
Yes!!!!! you bet McCain is going to apologize for his efforts to disacknowledge the King Holiday, he’s running for president.
Whether he is sincere remains to be seen but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
My point is that anyone in his position would do the same thing, so I don’t think his apology has any significance in terms of comparing it with Obama’s words.
Jeff X,
The same things you are saying about Obama were said about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in the sixties, not only by citizens, but also by the government, the FBI, and the President of the United States. And today MLK is considered a true American leader. For some reason it seems to take people in this country 40 years to see they are wrong, in your case, maybe even longer.
I don’t know why the Obama bashers are blogging their disgust on this blog - it’s suppose to be a discussion about McCain. There are a few others on this site where they can do that. It’s funny how know one cares about the McCain vote, they just want to bash Obama more. The Obama bashers are the only ones who constantly talk about race.
Jeff X,
Additionally, listen to the speach Rev. Wright gave, and then listen to the speaches MLK gave… there is remarkable similarities of context. Listen to what you say about Rev. Wright, and then read the memos the FBI of this country wrote about MLK. You will see remarkable similarities. Unless it is absolutely perfect, when you look at a diamond through a magnifying glass all you see is its imperfection. But when you take a step back, and broaden your view and perspective its only then that you realize its a diamond… strong, brilliant, and beautiful. Why you choose to ride a rollar coaster built on misguided perception is beyond me. Yes, I have chosen my candidate, but I do not feel a need to beat, bash, and slander those that are not my choice. They all have faults. None of them are perfect. Everyone is entitled to their choice, but why do you have so much hate and fear in your heart.
Jeff X,
Did you serve in the military?
Dee you must be the most ignorant person i have ever run into in a blog comparing MLK to Wright, you must be one of those people that belong to the Obama cult, to be this brainwash. First Of all MLK never preached Hate he was about Unity. So I know You think Obama is the second coming of Jesus but please stop insulting our intellect. Thank U
Obama the Liar,
Why did McCain vote against the holiday if MLK stood for these great things you say?
Did McCain say why he hates black? I’ll still vote for him, but geez…not voting for MLK day
THE ONLY ONE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BLACK PEOPLE IS OBAMA, RIDING HIGH ON THEIR VOTE BUT YET HE’S NOT BLACK ENOUGH TO SHOW UP TO THE BLACK UNION OR MENPHIS AND A PHONE CALL DON’T MEAN ANYTHING IF ARE GOING TO USE MLK QUOTES ALL THE TIME A LEAST HAVE THE RESPECT THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE AND SHOW UP TO PAY YOU RESPECTS.
Unsure,
I guess he didn’t believe blacks should have civil rights. He’s entitled to his opinion.
Obama the liar,
I guess you will avoid the question on why MCain voted against the MLK holiday. I guess I would too if I did not have an answer.
for the same reason Obama didn’t show up to TN
The more I think about this the more it bothers me. Why wouldn’t he vote for Martin Luther King Jr. day? I’m having second thoughts.
Now I can’t speak for Mc Cain I’m not a republican yet, and I don’t use a republican blog name to make my case
Obama the Great Liar,
That doesn’t make any sense. Obama gave a speach about King today - why is it a big deal if he missed a photo opportunity? You avoid the question becasue you do not have an answer. Again, why did McCain vote against MLK day? He must of thought the whole ordeal was unimportant.
Obama the Great Liar,
I like Sean Hannity, but I’m allowed to inject education into this blog. You are uneducated about race and that is why you are so irrational right now. It’s OK everything will be all right.
John Mcain needs to just shut up. He had no right to be there when everyone knows he spent every ounce of his energy and influence to derail the MLK holiday. He will get no forgiveness from the Black community and will get no votes either. Republicans are the racist scum of the earth. Blacks will never again be subjugated. We may be a minority in this country, but we will burn this country down before the Republicans succeed in trying to re-enslave us.
Yes I know he gave a speech today that’s all he does blah blah, and thats fine whatever floats your boat, and once again I’m not defending Mc Cain I’m not a Republican yet, why did he vote against it I don’t know. But I do know why Obama didn’t show because he thinks he has the black vote in his pocket which is true.
Jeff X,
Additionally, listen to the speach Rev. Wright gave, and then listen to the speaches MLK gave… there is remarkable similarities of context. Listen to what you say about Rev. Wright, and then read the memos the FBI of this country wrote about MLK. You will see remarkable similarities. Unless it is absolutely perfect, when you look at a diamond through a magnifying glass all you see is its imperfection. But when you take a step back, and broaden your view and perspective its only then that you realize its a diamond… strong, brilliant, and beautiful. Why you choose to ride a rollar coaster built on misguided perception is beyond me. Yes, I have chosen my candidate, but I do not feel a need to beat, bash, and slander those that are not my choice. They all have faults. None of them are perfect. Everyone is entitled to their choice, but why do you have so much hate and fear in your heart.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Dee There is NOTHING aout Wrights & Dr. Kings speeches that were remotely similiar.
Dr. King preached his dream of a COLOR BLIND society. A society where everyone of every race, creed and color would have a chance for sucess in our, (using HIS words” …”great nation”
Wright on the other hand is a con artist like Jackson & Sharpton making bis $ by preaching that you can’t make it in this country because a person is black. Wrights church with his black separatism is EXACTLY the OPPOSITE of Dr. KIngs vision. You couldn’t BE more wrong.
Obama the Liar,
What’s your point? McCain voted against MLK day and then goes to Memphis for a photo opp. You have no problem with that hypocrisy - do you?
Why do people whin and cry about jfk and mlk ? You act like you knew them.
Did they come over for coffee ? were you related to them ? Hey their DEAD !!!
Do you care about homeless people and all the other things going on in America. ?
People act as is jfk and mlk are part of the family when really they would be no closer then some distant kin. Get over it. You can only live in the past for so long.
Harley,
I’m related to the Kennedy’s and I think King reshaped the country for the better? Is that OK with you?
what do you think you know about race? if you Like Sean Hannity you must be white, irrational sure and I know We are going to be allright because if Obama does manage to sabotage the democratic nomination. Well I and every Hillary supporter is going to vote for Mc Cain. Because Your boy is weak and all his skeletons are coming out of his closet.
Obama the Great Liar,
That’s what I want. I want you to vote for the racist McCain - my plan is working - huh huh huh
Hannity the guy admited he was wrong and show up to pay his respects, he didn’t take a vacation or gave a speech about how he has the same priciples. But I know someone that did, the problem is he goes to church call trinity where they teach well………..yes they don’t teach MLK because MLK was not racist.
irrational is to claim that you are related to the Kennedy’s, you know what? too bad I was thinking we’re having a good disscusion oh well…….
Obama the Liar,
You figured it out - vote for McCain. I have three masters one in business, sociology, andpsychology. I love watching you rationalize McCain’s racist views vs Obama’s pastors. You forgive McCain easily, but can’t forgive Obama. This shows your prejudices and fears of blacks. You don’t even know you have them. You are a pond of the media. It’s so fun hearing your analysis that doesn’t make sense. Keep going
You republicans are pathological liars. The same people who MURDERED Dr. King, knifed him and tried with every sleazy lie to defame this Great American, are now proud republicans. It is no wonder African Americans view your racist party in with such disgust. Whether it was the inhuman experiments in Tusgeegee where African Americans were injected with syphillis and then told they were being treated, but in reality were given placebo’s so that whites could observe the devastating effect of the disease, to the countless number of Blacks murdered every year by corrupt and racist police.
Save your lies for your racist constituency.
Obama the Liar,
I am. Obama is related to Bush, Brad Pitt, and Cheney. Hillary is related to Jolie and soem other people. It’s a small world.
Yes Hannity It shows very well, you must be a genius and you are right I’m afraid of blacks I do watch the news. The problem the Mr Hannity is the Obama is biracial, i’m sorry to burst you bubble.
What no one will ever say out loud anymore is that MLK Day fever swept through the US like a firestorm, with Jesse and his people pouring kerosene on the flames with screams of RACIST against anyone who dared to resist.
I can’t speak for what was in McCain’s mind, but MLK Day went far beyond a political statement about race relations and honoring the man.
As the Federal govt. and each state govt. took up this issue, they were faced with a very real fiscal crisis. The holiday designation would force them to add yet another FULLY PAID holiday to their budgets.
Consider. 261 work days in the year, less an average of 3 weeks paid vacation. 246 work days less a minimum of 7 mandatory paid holidays. 239 days or work left, less an average of 14 paid sick and personal days.
In case you weren’t counting that’s 36 days of full pay and benefits per year, per worker, Add one more and you have just increased non-productive expenditures by 2.7%
Many states balked at adding yet another budget strain. Every union in the land rallied around the MLK Day flag. They would have rallied if it was for Hitler’s birthday if they thought it would get them another paid day.
I recall several Arizona state politicians clearly stating that they would gladly accept MLK day if the unions would give up a matching holiday.
Tempe AZ had been chosen for Super Bowl 27, but they lost it because the NFL bowed to pressure by Jesse and his minions.
MLK Day was rarely ever about honoring the man. For black “leaders” of the time, it was an exercise in political power.
wow at leat You are Funny Hannity.
Sure you are Hannity, as for mlk I guess his words didnt do any good now have they ?
Open up your eyes and take a good look and tell all of us what you really see moron.
Better yet come to my town and take a good hard look then you can judge what I SAY.
Obama the great liar,
Obama is biracial, but 94% of whites consider biracial childeren as black. That is why the media has taken him on as this Black Panther, where in reality he is of mixed race. Why are you afraid of blacks?
Harley,
Why are you so upset? Am I a moron because I respect MLK?
Comment by Nat Turner
April 4th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
You republicans are pathological liars. The same people who MURDERED Dr. King, knifed him and tried with every sleazy lie to defame this Great American, are now proud republicans. It is no wonder African Americans view your racist party in with such disgust. Whether it was the inhuman experiments in Tusgeegee where African Americans were injected with syphillis and then told they were being treated, but in reality were given placebo’s so that whites could observe the devastating effect of the disease, to the countless number of Blacks murdered every year by corrupt and racist police.
Save your lies for your racist constituency.
————————–
Why are you blaming Republicans for Tuskegee? It was implemented under Roosevelt and perpetuated under Democrat administrations. I suspect that by the time Eisenhower took office, few people outside the project even knew it existed. Were you aware that the study coordinator was the only person who stayed on the project from beginning to end? And that she was…black?
And how do Republicans come into play in the death of MLK? I suppose no one bothered to tell you that the most violent opponents of civil rights were southern Democrats.
I find it interesting that you use Nat Turner as your blog name.
“Because the rebels did not want to alert anyone to their presence as they carried out their attacks, they initially used knives, hatchets, axes, and blunt instruments instead of firearms. Nat called on his group to “kill all whites.” The rebellion did not discriminate by age or gender, although Nat later indicated that he intended to spare women, children, and men who surrendered as it went on. Before Nat and his brigade of rebels met resistance at the hands of a white militia, 57 white men, women and children had been killed.”
Comment by Hannity Man
April 4th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Obama the great liar,
Obama is biracial, but 94% of whites consider biracial childeren as black.
—————————-
Comments like that require authentication. Please provide your sources for this tidbit. Without a credible source, this is just another liberal fantasy number.
Andylit,
Yeah, you are right. Blacks do not owe a a thing to Dr. King. All he did was drag this rasist country kicking and screaming, killing and murdering, raping and enslaving, to face the lie that white America likes to delude themselves with. Up until the Civil Rights Movement, America’s promise and boast to the world was that we are the home of the brave and land of the free…(only if you are white). Stick to crossing the street when you see a Black man. You would never tell the lies you are trying to sell here to a Black man’s face. Coward.
Because last year My wife who was pregnant at the time and myself were robbed and carjack at gun point. and just last month my friend was shot at atm after he refuse to get carjack he was lucky the car seat took the bullet. Does that answer your question?
Andylit,
You can put your calculator away. Bottom Line - MLK changed the nation for the better and deserved to have a holiday.
If Republicans like you are so worried about money, tell Bush to stop spending. The guy is like a teenage girl who just got her first credit card. I call him Earmark Man.
TO HANNITY…iM NOT AFRAID OF THEM, iM JUST SICK OF THEM AND WHAT THEY DO.
i MEAN THE LAZY, WORHTLESS ONES who wont even try to find a job or better themselves.
Obama the Liar,
Oh I thought you were kidding, so I was right you’re scared of blacks. Where do you live for Chripe sake? Your fears are understandable. Usually events like this change us for good. Not all blacks participate in crime. There have been whited who have committed the same crimes. Woudl you be scared of whites if they had committed the crimes. Did you name your baby Obama by the way?
Harley,
Go to some rural areas, especially where I live in PA and you will see Caucasian people who are taking advantage of the system just like these “lazy and worthless ones” you speak of.
To Obama the great liar. I no what you mean. Just around christmas my 13yr old niece was shot in a drive by. They didnt even no who she was.
I have three masters one in business, sociology, and psychology.
and yet Hannity you remain A dumb Piece of XXXX.
Hi Andy my friend how ya doin ?
Comment by Nat Turner
April 4th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Andylit,
Yeah, you are right. Blacks do not owe a a thing to Dr. King. All he did was drag this rasist country kicking and screaming, killing and murdering, raping and enslaving, to face the lie that white America likes to delude themselves with. Up until the Civil Rights Movement, America’s promise and boast to the world was that we are the home of the brave and land of the free…(only if you are white). Stick to crossing the street when you see a Black man. You would never tell the lies you are trying to sell here to a Black man’s face. Coward.
————————————————-
You are a fool, a child, or both. You don’t know your own history.
Eisenhower is a man you should be giving a little credit to. It was his Administration that supported Dr. King’s early work, and early desegregation efforts while Democrats were burning crosses on lawns and killing black activists. Remember this fact and remember it well. If there had not been a vast pool, a majority pool, of sympathetic whites, the civil rights movement would have DIED ON THE VINE.
I have and do tell these simple truths to people face to face, black or white.
There are a number of absolutely GREAT black leaders in the early days of the movement. Dr. King, Medgar Evers, and, after Dr. King helped him to see the way on non-violence, Malcolm X.
With the death of Dr. King, the movement was hijacked by Jackson and Bond and Sharpton. Men who feed their egos and empires by fostering hatred and separatism instead of love and unity. You can choose your legacy.
King, or Jackson.
MLK day was proposed with the best intentions by high minded and patriotic people. It was hijacked and rammed down the throats of American nationwide by racial extortionists.
Obama the Great Liar,
Be a man, don’t x out your words.
Harley, go to hell. Leave me alone.
Andylit,
Yeah, that is right. Nat Turner killed 57 white people. That was only a drop in the proverbial bucket compared with the wholesale rape, murder, enslavement and evil that white racists have visited upon the Black community. We need more like him. He is my hero because he fought for his freedom and took as many as he could with him. White america is in for a rude awakening. We are not your slaves anymore. You have a lot of courage on line. My guess is that you would cry like a schoolgirl if faced with conflict with a Black man.
Coward!
Comment by Hannity Man
April 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Andylit,
You can put your calculator away. Bottom Line - MLK changed the nation for the better and deserved to have a holiday.
If Republicans like you are so worried about money, tell Bush to stop spending. The guy is like a teenage girl who just got her first credit card. I call him Earmark Man.
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I never said otherwise. If you’ve been on thee blogs for a while you will see my praise of Dr. King is nearly endless.
However, my statements remain true. You cannot change the facts as they are with wishful thinking. Obviously, there were many who objected on racial grounds. Some of these almost certainly hid behind the budgetary argument for cover. None of this changes the fact that many legislators around the country objected solely because adding another holiday was a fiscal nightmare.
Andylit has some valid points. Many black leaders have tried to hijack King’s philosophy for personal success. In addition, he gives a valid point that there have been many Democrats who were involved in the KKK.
Looks like I got Hijacked.
Say Mustard!
“Obama the Great Liar”,
No, I am not ignorant. I am a young, African American, college educated, 2 home owning, great job having, woman who believes there is hope for even you.
I am sorry if you can’t do anything but resort to name calling. But ignorance is making unfounded conclusions as you do. READ. READ from Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech on February 4th 1968 (below). He was called anti-American today, similar to Wright; and now America finally sees that this man is a hero and gave his life for the betterment of this country. I am not passing judgment on Wright, I am just saying, if you investigate a bit. You may see that you, along with alot of people have been duped by the media to stir up your fear.
EXCERPT from MLK SPEECH on 4 Feb. 1968
And not only does this thing go into the racial struggle, it goes into the struggle between nations. And I would submit to you this morning that what is wrong in the world today is that the nations of the world are engaged in a bitter, colossal contest for supremacy. And if something doesn’t happen to stop this trend, I’m sorely afraid that we won’t be here to talk about Jesus Christ and about God and about brotherhood too many more years. (Yeah) If somebody doesn’t bring an end to this suicidal thrust that we see in the world today, none of us are going to be around, because somebody’s going to make the mistake through our senseless blunderings of dropping a nuclear bomb somewhere. And then another one is going to drop. And don’t let anybody fool you, this can happen within a matter of seconds. (Amen) They have twenty-megaton bombs in Russia right now that can destroy a city as big as New York in three seconds, with everybody wiped away, and every building. And we can do the same thing to Russia and China.
But this is why we are drifting. And we are drifting there because nations are caught up with the drum major instinct. “I must be first.” “I must be supreme.” “Our nation must rule the world.” (Preach it) And I am sad to say that the nation in which we live is the supreme culprit. And I’m going to continue to say it to America, because I love this country too much to see the drift that it has taken.
God didn’t call America to do what she’s doing in the world now. (Preach it, preach it) God didn’t call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war as the war in Vietnam. And we are criminals in that war. We’ve committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I’m going to continue to say it. And we won’t stop it because of our pride and our arrogance as a nation.
But God has a way of even putting nations in their place. (Amen) The God that I worship has a way of saying, “Don’t play with me.” (Yes) He has a way of saying, as the God of the Old Testament used to say to the Hebrews, “Don’t play with me, Israel. Don’t play with me, Babylon. (Yes) Be still and know that I’m God. And if you don’t stop your reckless course, I’ll rise up and break the backbone of your power.” (Yes) And that can happen to America.
Nat Turner,
There is no place for your hate on this board. Obama the Liar and Harley have problems, but you top them for sure.
Comment by Nat Turner
April 4th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Andylit,
Yeah, that is right. Nat Turner killed 57 white people. That was only a drop in the proverbial bucket compared with the wholesale rape, murder, enslavement and evil that white racists have visited upon the Black community. We need more like him. He is my hero because he fought for his freedom and took as many as he could with him. White america is in for a rude awakening. We are not your slaves anymore. You have a lot of courage on line. My guess is that you would cry like a schoolgirl if faced with conflict with a Black man.
Coward!
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Like I said, a child or a fool. I’m just north of Green Bay and I get down into Chicago every week. Let’s meet and chat over lunch. I’ll bring my history books, you bring yours.
I can’t recall owning any slaves. I’ve had black supervisors and have supervised blacks in my time, but no slaves.
My family got to this country about 1900, from central Europe. They were part of the last of the land serfs (look it up) in what was and would again be Poland. Serfdom was supposedly abolished in the mid 1800’s, but no one bothered to mention that to the Russians and the Poles and the folks in the Balkans.
Yeah, I’m really feeling that collection guilt from the original sin of…oh yeah, they weren’t my ancestors. Never mind.
I’m starting to like Andylit!
Mustard
Comment by Dee
April 4th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
God didn’t call America to do what she’s doing in the world now. (Preach it, preach it) God didn’t call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war as the war in Vietnam. And we are criminals in that war. We’ve committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I’m going to continue to say it. And we won’t stop it because of our pride and our arrogance as a nation.
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Please list these war crimes that we’ve committed more “almost than any nation in the world, and I’m going to continue to say it. And we won’t stop it because of our”.
I’m very curious.