So today is the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's most famous speech, which I will not quote here out of deference to the copyright, jealously guarded by his family. While conceding the flaws of the messenger, the message was an important one. And I join the vast majority of American's in expressing my gratitude for his courage and eloquence in a great and noble cause. And it is entirely appropriate that the occasion should be commemorated.
To which end there have been a series of events going on all week in Washington, culminating in an endless procession of speeches and orations by some of our country's great luminaries, including three US Presidents.
All of them Democrats.
Come to think of it, I am trying really hard to name any Republicans at any of these events. Now a number of possibilities come to mind. Maybe the two Presidents Bush were unable to make it. Maybe the entire Republican Party really despises Dr. King and they quietly boycotted the event. Maybe there were lots of Republicans there and they just got blacked out by MSNBC and CNN.
Or maybe, none were not invited.
Charity dictates I give some weight to the first few possibilities. But my gut strong suspects the latter. If anyone has evidence to the contrary I will be more than happy to be proven paranoid in my suspicions of racial politics at such an important anniversary.
A Correct Way to Correct
11 hours ago
3 comments:
"...both House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor—two of the nation’s most powerful Republicans—were invited to speak but did not attend.
Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner, acknowledged to MSNBC that the Ohio lawmaker “was invited, but spoke at the Congressional ceremony instead,” pointing out that Boehner was alongside Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
An aide to Cantor told Roll Call that the Virginian was invited but that he’s in North Dakota and Ohio looking at energy sites."
That said, "GOP Sen. Tim Scott—the only African-American serving in the Senate– was not invited to speak at the anniversar" and neither was the RNC (though I'm not sure the DNC was invited either as an institution).
Roll Call is reporting that Tim Scott was invited to attend the events, but his office sent a polite "with regrets" because he was to be in South Carolina on same day. When the event organizers later sat down to draw up a speakers list, they figured that there was no sense in inviting Sen. Scott to speak, given that he had already indicated that he would not be available.
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