Bush has a lot of nerve showing his face at Coretta King's funeral

[Lefty48197]

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060207/opcom07.art.htm

I remember a few years ago (1996?) when Colin Powell said something at the Republican Convention similar to this: We need a Republican party that doesn't just pretend to support African-Americans during an election year.

I can add something to Powell's words: We also need a Republican party that doesn't just pretend to support African-Americans at funerals.

"Three years ago, on the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Bush announced his opposition to an affirmative action program at the University of Michigan. King was a strong supporter of “compensatory or preferential treatment” for blacks who have been disadvantaged by the combined effects of nearly 250 years of slavery and the Jim Crow century that followed. It was a view King's wife shared."

"Shortly after Bush announced his opposition to the Michigan affirmative action program, Mrs. King said she was filing a legal brief in support of the school's admission policy."

"In 2004, a day after laying a wreath at the grave of Martin Luther King Jr., Bush made a recess appointment of Federal District Court Judge Charles Pickering to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Opponents of Pickering's nomination accused him of taking positions that threatened black voting rights."

"...Mrs. King said nothing publicly about the symbolism of Bush's action..."

[mula_triestina]

1. "we need a Republican party that doesn't just pretend"

I don't know, frankly, I don't see a need for this Republican party at all!

The funeral was wonderful. It was refreshing to see Christians on the TV.

However, the Right-wing talking heads couldn't control their true natures even one day.

[Lefty48197]

6. First post?

That means I get to extend the first official "Welcome to DU"! :toast:

[Skittles]

2. that bastard should have been barred from attending

it's obscene

[Straight Shooter]

3. I think he had no choice.

If he had not attended, it would have been considered a great slap in the fact of Mrs. King's memory. It was strictly a political decision based on his squatter status in the Oval Office. If he had not been there, the uproar would have been just as great. At least he didn't seem to be having his usual jovial good time with pre-screened audiences. I bet the contempt in the room was palpable.

Lord, Lord, though, why did they have to put him right behind the podium. I just finished talking with a friend on the phone, (who is only casually interested in politics), and he said, "If bush is going to attend a funeral, he should have the decency to leave his smirk at home."

[Name removed]

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[Lefty48197]

7. Sorry, but he and his party have a long history of squashing attempts

at extending full rights to African-Americans. It's not only their party orchestrated agenda of eliminating affirmative action programs, but there's also their well documented history of opposing the correct census counts, in lieu of the ones that undercount African-Americans. Personally, I think he has a lot of nerve calling himself President of the United States of America, while supporting a party agenda such as that. Their attitude towards "Black America" is appalling, and his visit to Mrs. King's funeral only highlights that deficiency.

[bread_and_roses]

8. It's somehow never "the right time" - if the speaker is Black

There is no way that any tribute to CSK would not be derogatory of the racist Junta in power. Too bad that nasty little Gargoyle and his Demon Spawn of Hell handlers had to hear the truth for a change.

[Name removed]

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[rjhill2]

10. We got back, though

Saw that funeral, turned into a six-hour Bush-bashing session!! I loved it!! I was always down with Mrs. King, she made some significant strides towards helping the GLBT community in its struggle to achieve thier rights.

[SenorSanchez]

11. Bush had to go

Bush had to go. He still is the president of the United States and generally the President attends high profile funerals like this. I do not believe President Bush is a racist, but Al Sharpton sure did let him have it.