How can he claim ignorance of MLK's history. he was alive back then wasn't he? matter of fact he was 47 when he voted no. how can a man that age say he wasn't aware of King's significance? it's BS folks. Another lie. He voted with the Rep gov of Ariz when he rescinded the
holiday.

Christ on a crutch, please tell me he isn't delivering that speech at THE motel.

If so this assclown belongs in finishing school, not the most powerful political position in the United States.

A vote for this post is a vote for my boobies.

(or that other post I posted earlier)

Nestea Plunge: Shut it, Johnny, we know you don't like black people.

brap: Christ on a crutch, please tell me he isn't delivering that speech at THE motel.

Yes. That's the Lorraine motel. He's standing below the balcony where King was shot.

noYOUare: brap: Christ on a crutch, please tell me he isn't delivering that speech at THE motel.

Yes. That's the Lorraine motel. He's standing below the balcony where King was shot.

Interviewer: We're asking people today where they were when they heard JFK had been shot.

Man: Well, I was a freshman and I was walking across Boston Common when I....

Interviewer: Wait wait...you were a freshman? In college? You look like you're about 50...55 years old today?

Man: Yeah. But I only found out in 1980. I usually turn to the sports page first, y'know?

/what this "explanation" reminds me of

And there you have the basis on which the Republican nominee will hand over any remaining, few as they are, black undecided voters to the Dems.

He's really speaking at the Lorraine?

LessO2: He's really speaking at the Lorraine?

Yes.

noYOUare: LessO2: He's really speaking at the Lorraine?

Yes.

That deserves another:

Hobodeluxe: How can he claim ignorance of MLK's history. he was alive back then wasn't he? matter of fact he was 47 when he voted no. how can a man that age say he wasn't aware of King's significance? it's BS folks. Another lie. He voted with the Rep gov of Ariz when he rescinded the
holiday.


Well, he was held in a prison camp in Vietnam from '67 to '73. And he was in active duty as a fighter pilot in 1960...still you'd think he would be aware of the March on Washington in '63 and the significance of MLK.

Back in '83, many people did not associate the civil rights movement solely with Martin Luther King. No matter how great Martin Luther King was, the Civil Rights movement was far greater than just one man.

Plus, our government only has 3 federal holidays devoted to individuals: Washington's birthday, Columbus day, and Martin Luther King day. Many people objected (and still do) with the holiday being named after Rev. King, and some states called the day Human Rights Day or Civil Rights Day.

Also, there's the fact that the day was originally intended to be a union-oriented holiday (for King's involvment in unions), not a day for civil rights.

Younger generations, however, have grown up in schools that teach Black History month, and have known MLK day for their entire life.

At least he has the balls to admit his mistake.

Wow.
He just became the front-runner in the search for the Dean of the George Bush School of Public Speaking at Yale

McCain... You fail.

Just another black politician trying to ride on the coattails of MLK.

/stolen from the red-lit Obama speech thread.

The irony is free.

I lived in Arizona during this fun stretch. We had:

- The outgoing governor make it a holiday, illegally (by executive fiat I believe)

- Evan Meecham rescinded it. Then after a huge uproar, he said we could have a Civil Rights Day instead... on Sunday

- Phoenix lost the chance to host the Superbowl because of the no MLK day

- Voter referendums tried to get the holiday passed by the people, either shot down or failed to pass

- Public Enemy, while touring with U2, refused to play in Phoenix and only came out for one song, "By the Time I Get to Arizona"

- Finally, in 1992 we got it

/ so many facepalms to go around

SangamonTaylor: At least he has the balls to admit his mistake.

I thought it sounded more like he was trying to mitigate the damage caused by his bonehead CHOICE that he made. It isn't like he accidentally did what he did. I don't think his attempt worked.

He just lost more of my respect.

He'd be in negative territory if I didn't once respect him so much.

He won't lose many GOP votes, but those ethereal "I'd vote for McCain if Obama/Hillary loses" votes are getting less and less likely.

SangamonTaylor: Hobodeluxe: How can he claim ignorance of MLK's history. he was alive back then wasn't he? matter of fact he was 47 when he voted no. how can a man that age say he wasn't aware of King's significance? it's BS folks. Another lie. He voted with the Rep gov of Ariz when he rescinded the
holiday.


Well, he was held in a prison camp in Vietnam from '67 to '73. And he was in active duty as a fighter pilot in 1960...still you'd think he would be aware of the March on Washington in '63 and the significance of MLK.

Back in '83, many people did not associate the civil rights movement solely with Martin Luther King. No matter how great Martin Luther King was, the Civil Rights movement was far greater than just one man.

Plus, our government only has 3 federal holidays devoted to individuals: Washington's birthday, Columbus day, and Martin Luther King day. Many people objected (and still do) with the holiday being named after Rev. King, and some states called the day Human Rights Day or Civil Rights Day.

Also, there's the fact that the day was originally intended to be a union-oriented holiday (for King's involvment in unions), not a day for civil rights.

Younger generations, however, have grown up in schools that teach Black History month, and have known MLK day for their entire life.

At least he has the balls to admit his mistake.

You're really not reactionary enough to participate in the political discussions here.

Ooof...Something tells me his campaign PR secretary is going to be showing up Monday with a red-mark on his temple the size and shape of McCain's ring-hand.

He can be grumpy, if this turns out to make him look like a big fool, somebody's gettin' their ass whooped.

ChewbaccaJones: if this turns out to make him look like a big fool

Son, that horse done left the barn.

LOL. WHAT A F*CKING FAILURE.

Everytime I see that asshole on TV he is either putting his foot in his fott or trying to pry his foot out of his mouth.

me fail engrish

*putting his foot in his mouth or trying to pry his foot out of his mouth.

/o, sweet irony!

ChewbaccaJones: Ooof...Something tells me his campaign PR secretary is going to be showing up Monday with a red-mark on his temple the size and shape of McCain's ring-hand.

He can be grumpy, if this turns out to make him look like a big fool, somebody's gettin' their ass whooped.

Sometimes I wonder if they all use the PR firm Sofa, King, & Wetoddid.

There's black people in Arizona?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ozQz0qe3c (new window)

What a dumbass...

/not a rickroll

neglogon - yup

After watching it...I have to say: not as bad as I thought.

People weren't booing as far as I could tell and he was, after all, apologizing.

But still; underneath the balcony where he was assassinated?

Piss Poor decision.

Just to clarify, not that any of y'all really need it, but the Lorraine is open to the public and anyone who's paid their admission to the Civil Rights Museum is allowed to stand on the balcony and say anything they want, or at least that's how it's been the several times I've gone. I'm certainly not defending McCain, his position on the holiday, or his decision to gratuitously use this opportunity to speak, but I just didn't want anyone to think I was implying that he'd commandeered the Lorraine balcony or was doing anything other than taking advantage of the opportunity to speak there.

Hobodeluxe: How can he claim ignorance of MLK's history. he was alive back then wasn't he? matter of fact he was 47 when he voted no. how can a man that age say he wasn't aware of King's significance? it's BS folks. Another lie. He voted with the Rep gov of Ariz when he rescinded the
holiday.

Hmmm...supposedly, Hillary gave a press conference about MLK and got "emotional."

Yeah, that's real sincere, I'm sure.

ChewbaccaJones: But still; underneath the balcony where he was assassinated?

This one (pops) has him standing on the balcony outside the motel room, but that doesn't necessarily mean he spoke from there.

Fart in an elevator
Stinking it up when you're going down
Fart in an elevator
Making 'em cry 'til you hit the ground....

This is the dumbest farking thing I've ever heard. Did he expect this would go over well?

noYOUare: Yes. That's the Lorraine motel. He's standing below the balcony where King was shot.



EPIC FAIL

ChewbaccaJones: neglogon - yup

After watching it...I have to say: not as bad as I thought.

People weren't booing as far as I could tell and he was, after all, apologizing.

But still; underneath the balcony where he was assassinated?

Piss Poor decision.

There were both people booing and others shouting "we forgive you."

The thing that most people don't realize is that MLK day was originally supposed to be a labor oriented day, not a general 'civil rights' day. That is why most people originally opposed the federal holiday.

Actually, I've spoken with my parents about this. My mother grew up in Memphis, and my grandmother lived there almost her entire life. The people that had mixed feelings about Rev. King were conflicted because while they supported his stance on civil rights, they often times did not care for his "pro-union" involvement.

ComicBookGuy: Hillary gave a press conference about MLK and got "emotional."

She was at Mason Temple COGIC, where King gave his "Mountaintop" speech the night before he was killed. From a NYT Article:

At times Mrs. Clinton's voice broke, as when she recalled learning of Dr. King's death as a student at Wellesley College. "It's hard to believe it has been 40 years," she said. "And it is also heartbreaking to know that Dr. King has been gone from this earth longer than he was here."

Frankly, I find them both disgusting today.

SangamonTaylor: The thing that most people don't realize is that MLK day was originally supposed to be a labor oriented day, not a general 'civil rights' day. That is why most people originally opposed the federal holiday.

Hmmm....

I haven't googled it, but this sounds like ex-post-facto justification to me.

SangamonTaylor: they often times did not care for his "pro-union" involvement.

I heard that a lot when I lived there as well. Then again, when King was there in '68 people were a little upset about all the garbage piling up in the city, the fact that the mayor wasn't working to solve the problem, and the Union organizers who'd come down from up North with their lawyers and their promises. By the time King arrived on the strike scene in Memphis, a lot of those sanitation workers were ready to give up. His "Mountaintop" speech was intended to keep them going (which it did; damned if that isn't one of the most beautiful examples of American oratory that century produced) but by some accounts King hadn't been absolutely certain the SCLC wanted the strike to continue; it seemed unwinnable at the time.

noYOUare: SangamonTaylor: they often times did not care for his "pro-union" involvement.

I heard that a lot when I lived there as well.

Same here. I have a lot of family up there. My uncle explained it to me when he took me to see the Lorraine when I was ten. He's very much pro-civil rights, too, which is why he took me to see where Dr. King was assassinated. Sadly, at the time, there was very little to commemorate what had happened there, except I think there was a glass booth around the balcony where he was shot. It's since been expanded to a museum.

Hobodeluxe: How can he claim ignorance of MLK's history. he was alive back then wasn't he? matter of fact he was 47 when he voted no. how can a man that age say he wasn't aware of King's significance? it's BS folks. Another lie. He voted with the Rep gov of Ariz when he rescinded the
holiday.

To be fair, he remembers Washington Carver better. They were classmates.

Devastating Dave (the turn table slave) finds this disturbing.

Nabb1: It's since been expanded to a museum.

Which is not without its own controversy; arguments about eviction of residents and gentrification in general still rage all over that city block (wiki "Lorraine Motel" and check the source notes if you're interested). Still, I visited the Lorraine several times in the 10 years I spent in Memphis, and each time I learned something new. Its expansion and educational facilities really are making it more than just about King - the kids' programs, the art installations - and I think that enhances the experience. And that's what makes me sad about McCain's behavior today. If he wanted to apologize or admit he was wrong, he could've done it from umpteen other places in that city. To do it from that motel, that balcony... that's just self-serving.

Wow. That might be a bigger MLK-related failure than Bono's lyrics for "Pride (In the Name of Love)," and that's some HARD shiat to do.

The fact that he gave his speech there means he has a special sensitivity to racial issues now.

I'm glad he decide not to don his swimsuit and give the speech in this pool.

McCain is an old rich white man.

muck4doo: There's black people in Arizona?

Yes but they are Mexicans who worked in the farm fields too long in the summer.

You know who else cheated on his wife...

noYOUare: If he wanted to apologize or admit he was wrong, he could've done it from umpteen other places in that city. To do it from that motel, that balcony... that's just self-serving.

Maybe he could have done it from Dealy Plaza? Anything bad ever happen there?

Etchy333: Maybe he could have done it from Dealy Plaza? Anything bad ever happen there?

either that or the Ambassador Hotel in L.A...

Headso: i25.tinypic.com

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