You know how conservatives were complaining that Tim Scott wasn't invited to the MLK event? Well....

[Cali_Democrat]

It turns out he declined the invitation:

Tim Scott Didn’t Speak At MLK Event Because He Declined Invitation To Attend

A source connected to the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington said Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the only sitting black senator, was not invited to speak at the event because his office had declined an invitation to attend the commemoration as a spectator, Roll Call reported.

An email exchange obtained by Roll Call showed that an invitation to the 50th anniversary commemoration appeared to be sent to all members of Congress, as the form letter identified the recipient as "Representative" rather than by name.

The exchange showed that a staff assistant to Scott, Rachel Shelbourne, sent a reply to the invitation that read in part, "Unfortunately, the Senator will be in South Carolina during this time, so he will be unable to attend the event. Please do, however, keep him in mind for future events you may be hosting," as quoted by Roll Call.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/tim-scott-didnt-speak-at-mlk-event-because?ref=fpb

He wasn't the only GOPer to decline the invitation:

At 50th Anniversary of March, No GOP Speakers

No elected Republicans will speak at today’s event marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, but that hasn’t stopped GOP officials from honoring the occasion.

Snip
The Republican National Committee went a step further by organizing its own event at the Capitol Hill Club to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the civil rights landmark. A number of black conservatives attended the event, including former U.S. Rep. Allen West of Florida and T.W. Shannon, speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Former NAACP Chairman Julian Bond told MSNBC Wednesday that event organizers invited “a long list of Republicans to come,” but each declined. A spokesman for Speaker John Boehner acknowledged that Mr. Boehner was invited to speak but instead had marked the anniversary by speaking at a July event commemorating the march in the Rotunda of the Capitol, with other top lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.).


http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/08/28/at-50th-anniversary-of-march-no-gop-speakers/

Republicans aren't even trying anymore.

[Cha]

1. Of course, he didn't want to attend.. that would make him look bad

to stupid racist teabaggers. How much of tool do you have to be to live in tim scott's shoes?

Glad the goprick/teabaggers showed their collective ass to the world. You really can't get more non out-reachy to "minorities" than that.

thanks Cali

[Cali_Democrat]

3. It's clear the have no intention of reaching out to African Americans after the 2012 election

They are instead ramping up their voter suppression efforts.

[kentuck]

2. FOX News reported that he wasn't asked to attend?

Par for the course.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Yup. Bill O'Reilly was positively outraged yesterday. n/t

[Thinkingabout]

5. It must be bad when our Congressional members are unable to accept invitations because they

Are afraid of their bigot base. I think one of these days when the angry old men die off there will not be much left of the GOP and they are not moving off their bigotry ways and platform to get new voters. What a mess

[freshwest]

6. *Abraham Lincoln has left the building* that formerly was his party.