Planned Bush Trip to MLK Site Upsets Some ( Bush was not invited)

[jbfam4]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19225-2004Jan15.html

Planned Bush Trip to MLK Site Upsets Some

By LOUISE CHU
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 15, 2004; 8:51 AM


ATLANTA - President Bush's plan to observe the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 75th birthday at his Atlanta grave site Thursday upset some civil rights leaders, who say the president's politics and poor scheduling conflict with their plans to honor King.

"For him to have entered the war in the manner in which he did and now to come to lay a wreath for Dr. King is the epitome of hypocrisy," said the Rev. Tim McDonald of Concerned Black Clergy, which was planning a protest.

McDonald said the president's appearance shows "that he wants black votes, that he wants to give the appearance that he's not a racist, that he's not a war hawk, but we can see through that veil."


Bush planned to lay a wreath Thursday afternoon at the late civil rights leader's crypt at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. King Center officials said they extended no formal invitation to Bush but accepted his offer to come.

"The president is coming because he called to say, 'I'm coming by to lay a wreath on the 15th. Mrs. King, will you join me?' And as we do for all the presidents and dignitaries who come through ... out of respect for that office and out of respect for Dr. King, he's coming," said Lynn Cothren, special assistant to Coretta Scott King at The King Center.

[bif]

1. Why did they accept his offer to come?

I would have been the ultimate slap in the face to that two-faced asshole.

[wtmusic]

2. Can't join in the chorus here

King's memory and legacy deserve it, whatever the motive.

[Caution]

4. Agreed.

Hopefully this is a step in the direction towards making MLK a national holiday. Politically motivated or not, it is the right thing to do. I hate Bush as much (and probably a lot more) than the next guy, but even he can occasionally do the right thing even if it is by mistake.

[beanball]

11. Dr King

was a man of peace and to have this warmonger place his bloody hands on a wreath for Dr. King is a disgrace.

[zbdent]

3. Ya think he'll say anything about "hangin'" MLKjr again?

Oops, slip of the lip. Bushism.

[candy331]

6. I think he should sent a representative

but of course he thinks this will make him look good but he is oh so wrong, blacks are not dumb they see through it.

[dweller]

5. interesting wording

in the last paragraph you've shown there.
does anyone else read something like intentional sarcasm (?) there?

dp

edit: what i read is:

The president is coming because he called to say, 'I'm coming by to lay a wreath on the 15th. Mrs. King, will you join me?'
And as we (King Center) do for all the presidents and dignitaries who come through ... out of respect for that office (presidency)
and out of respect for Dr. King (whom we represent) he's coming," NOT 'we will join him or accept his invite' etc.

sounds like they feel forced to accept.

[ewagner]

12. The political technique

he used is called "the little trollop" technique.

It refers to accepting an offer the other person has not actually made.

[ithacan]

7. massive protests...

that is absolutely required.

With signs from MLK's speeches from 1966-1968, especially the one "Beyond Vietnam"
http://www.ratical.org/ratville/JFK/MLKapr67.html

some excerpts:

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."

"War is not the answer. Communism will never be defeated by the use of atomic bombs or nuclear weapons. Let us not join those who shout war and, through their misguided passions, urge the United States to relinquish its participation in the United Nations."

"We can no longer afford to worship the god of hate or bow before the altar of retaliation. The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of hate. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of hate."

[montanacowboy]

8. What better opportunity would the King

family have than now to just say NO to *? Someone has to confront him nationally - and on national pravada TV - how can they stand to have this slap in the face of Dr King portrayed as the compassionate conservative...blah blah.. oh, by the way, this won't make me late for my fundraiser will it?

[tex46]

9. Excellent Post and Excellent Quotes

Dubya obviously doesn't know much about the history of Dr. King. Unfortunately neither do the good doctor's family.

[madrchsod]

10. since i`m in atlanta

to raise fucking millions of dollars from my good white friends ,i thought i`d drop by . ok? thanks for the photo op...
oh yes the secret police want the church across the street to cancell or cut short thier services today...

[young_at_heart]

13. Protests..........everywhere he goes!

When are the "Bush-lovers" going to notice?

[ScholarSeeker]

14. Time to start accounting for the protests where he visits