GOP leaders to skip Selma event

[RandySF]

Scores of U.S. lawmakers are converging on tiny Selma, Alabama, for a large commemoration of a civil rights anniversary. But their ranks don’t include a single member of House Republican leadership — a point that isn’t lost on congressional black leaders.

None of the top leaders — House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy or Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was once thought likely to attend to atone for reports that he once spoke before a white supremacist group — will be in Selma for the three-day event that commemorates the 1965 march and the violence that protesters faced at the hands of white police officers. A number of rank-and-file Republicans have been aggressively lobbying their colleagues to attend, and several black lawmakers concurred.

“It is very disappointing that not a single Republican leader sees the value in participating in this 50th commemoration of the signing of the Voting Rights Act. I had hoped that some of the leadership would attend, but apparently none of them will,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina. “The Republicans always talk about trying to change their brand and be more appealing to minority folks and be in touch with the interests of African-Americans. This is very disappointing.”



Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/gop-leaders-to-skip-selma-event-115801.html#ixzz3TaYLd4og

[malaise]

1. Disappointing?

Why would you want hypocritical racist ReTHUGs anywhere near Selma?
Fugg em! Let them show their true 'colors'.

[keroro gunsou]

31. not really...

surprising, definitely not.... i guess they didn't want to be late for a cross burning...

[JI7]

2. they aren't even trying to hide anymore

[Enthusiast]

6. Racism is right up front now, in our face. As is corruption and injustice.

[world wide wally]

3. I think that Republicans have basically doubled down on pushing for an overwhelming white racist

vote to propel them into the 2016 elections and they have no intention of trying to appeal to any minority.
Let's wish them the worst.

[atreides1]

4. At least they got

Tim Scott...BFD!!!

[Enthusiast]

5. How close do these

Republicans actually have to be to Nazis before we can call them Nazis?

[Lochloosa]

7. Majority Whip Steve Scalise is having his suit pressed and will not be able to attend.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. DUzy...

I was going to say "Give them a break, their hoods are at the cleaners"

[no_hypocrisy]

8. W (43) is supposed to be going.

My guess he's surrogate/proxy for Jeb.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. That too. But one of W's few relative positives was that he had cross racial divide friendships.

I'm not talking about how his policies enabled institutional racism, but he was personally very close to people like former AG Gonzales, Condi Rice, Colin Powell etc. I'm willing to not be overly cynical about him attending this event.

[PragmaticLiberal]

28. Its probably not a popular view to have (on DU) but I never got the sense that Bush was a racist.

I just think he was wasn't particularly bright and that got him (and us) into trouble.

[Rex]

10. Of course they will! Racists don't like to be reminded that they are racists!

FUCK THE GOP.

[bullwinkle428]

11. Knock me over with a feather.

[ND-Dem]

12. I can't believe no one in the GOP will attend. It's too blatant.

[Iliyah]

13. None of them showed up for MLK memorial in DC.

[jwirr]

14. This just makes the memorial more real. They - the bigots -weren't there 50 years ago either.

[nxylas]

15. Bbbut MLK was a Republican!

Vote Republican because the Democrats were as racist 50 years ago as Republicans are now. This makes perfect sense inside the "alternative knowledge system", apparently.

[blkmusclmachine]

16. Of course they will. They'll be too busy burning crosses on your neighbors front lawn.

[bigtree]

17. that's a remarkable statement on the republican party

...where they stand.

[randr]

19. Would anyone expect anything else from these self professed antiAmerican bigots?

[AwakeAtLast]

20. And they criticize Obama for not going to France!

We know they are hypocrites, but why do they have to continue proving it?

[Jamaal510]

21. With Bush ll going and not the other R's,

he actually looks reasonable and kind-hearted in comparison to them.

[CatholicEdHead]

22. Even when they do go they are attacked

Tom Emmer is Michele Bachmann's replacement in MN-6. The Tea Party is incensed that he is going down there for the event.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S3726826.shtml?cat=1

U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer has disappointed some Anoka County Republicans who say he canceled a speech at their convention Saturday to attend the anniversary of the Selma march.

Emmer, who was elected to represent the 6th Congressional District in November, left Friday morning for Alabama and plans to spend the weekend marking the 50th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The march led to the 1965 passing of the Voting Rights Act. Emmer said Friday he has had the trip scheduled since January.
...
Jack Rogers, president of the Minnesota Tea Party Alliance, said Emmer has to explain to constituents his votes to fund the Department of Homeland Security without getting concessions from the president on illegal immigration. He also said Emmer should not have voted for U.S. Rep. John Boehner for Speaker.

"Why would you go to Alabama when you had people in your own (district) accommodate your schedule unless there is reason you do not want to respond to your voting record so far," Rogers said.

[spanone]

23. they wear their racism proudly.

not a shred of shame.

[packman]

24. And why should one expect otherwise?

Like the scorpion who bit the frog carrying it , "It's my nature." couldn't do anything else even if it costs them what they want so dearly.

[father founding]

25. Bibi fever

They are still in orgasmic bliss from Bibi's visit.

[SummerSnow]

26. of course, they hate the Civil Rights movement or any human rights movements.

[heaven05]

27. who needs them???

they are useless and showing their true color. Yellow, and their true nature...cowardly bigots. FUCK THEM!!!!!! Nothing disappointing, to be expected since the gloves have been off for the last 6+ years.

[Cha]

29. Boner.. "Hooks and Slices America.."

Dr. David Romei @DavidRomeiPHD
Follow
#Golfing on the day of the #Selma anniversary. #JohnBoehner has his priorities just right. Hooks and Slices America.
6:20 AM - 7 Mar 2015 531 Retweets 214 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/03/07/selma/

[titaniumsalute]

30. So THAT is how they are reaching out to minorities?

[hopemountain]

32. they will reap what they sow. nt

[rladdi]

33. The people of the USA knows that the GOP is waging a war on voting rights. All

the Republicans controlled states have passed and is passing more laws to prevent people from voting. Boehner and Congress needs to address voting rights immediately and get the states bill voided. But with the absent of the GOP in Selma, that sends a strong message that DC Republicans agree with suppression of voters rights.

[Sarcastica]

34. If anyohne wanted conservatives there, maybe they should have been invited to bring attack dogs, and

high pressure hoses!! They love that sort of thing.

[nxylas]

35. Stolen from Twitter

They'd all have shown up if Netanyahu had been speaking there.

[Bartlet]

36. Right wing racists

were there in 1965 and they are still here in 2015. They were southern Dixiecrats then, they are southern Republicans now. Same ideology, same racist attitude, same ignorant arrogance, different suit.