Boehner, Cantor Turned Down Chance to Speak at March Anniversary

[brooklynite]

Source: Roll Call

Speaker John A. Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the House’s two most senior Republicans, were invited to speak at the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington — but declined.

That wasn’t a wise choice, said Julian Bond, a renowned civil rights activist, in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday afternoon.

“What’s really telling, I think, is the podium behind me, just count at the end of the day how many Republicans will be there,” Bond told news anchor Alex Wagner. “They asked senior President Bush to come, he was ill. They asked junior Bush, he said he had to stay with his father.

“They asked a long list of Republicans to come,” Bond continued, “and to a man and woman they said ‘no.’ And that they would turn their backs on this event was telling of them, and the fact that they seem to want to get black votes, they’re not gonna get ‘em this way.”

Read more: http://blogs.rollcall.com/goppers/boehner-cantor-turned-down-chance-to-speak-at-march-anniversary/

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Either they don't like what the March stood for, or they were just too afraid of the fringe right. Sad either way.

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Their entire party is "fringe right."

[cstanleytech]

2. No, but the ones who are probably wish it was I bet. nt

[Control-Z]

3. Rush was complaining

as though the republicans hadn't been invited. I could have it wrong, though. I only heard a few seconds when I got in the car this morning.

[djean111]

4. Two things -

firstly, they may, perhaps, have been aware of the extreme hypocrisy of speaking at this event.
Secondly, they are not courting the black votes, they are gerrymandering them away, they are cutting early voting places and hours, they are legislating onerous restrictions as to voter ID requirements, and making the ID as difficult to obtain as possible.

I don't think they care at all about what the March stood for, the March is irrelevant to them, and they are busily rolling back any gains.

[The Wielding Truth]

20. They are to a person shams of American citizens. They disgust and sadden me.

[Voice for Peace]

5. why try to get black votes when it's so much easier to get the supreme court to

roll towards disenfranchisement?

[Marthe48]

6. What the hell did anyone expect?

Civility? From them? Abusive people marginalize their victims. Ignoring a milestone anniversary is an abusive action. Personally, I have enjoyed going over in my mind how I was made aware of the civil rights movement, when I was 10 or 12 years old: the news media, a teacher who read to us, her all whole class, in an all white school, a novel about a black girl who was one of a handful of children segregating an all-white school in the South. I can remember the part of the story where state troopers escorted through the doors, past angry adults. I couldn't imagine treating people like that. I remember exactly where I was when my Mom told me Dr. King had been shot. I can remember the confrontations, the compromises. Even if I haven't been an active participant, I have cheered every triumph, and felt anger over the roadblocks. People like Boehner and Cantor cannot ever minimize the epic struggle of African Americans in this country. History will relegate them to the dustheap, as small-minded bullies who did not lead, but dug in their heels trying and failing to halt progress.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. They are too busy bleaching their laundry. nt

[madokie]

14. Toooo funny

So true too

[awoke_in_2003]

15. How you doing, madokie?

[madokie]

16. Fine, thank you

and you, how you doing?

[awoke_in_2003]

17. Okay, considering I have gone from one pack a day...

to less than a pack a week thanks to my e cig. Haven't maimed any one yet

[madokie]

18. Super.

I remember when I quit. I did a cold turkey and those first few days were tough.
Thats been 36 years and a few days ago. August 14, 1977

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Cool...

I won't give up my pipe, but I only have one bowl a day (if I am lucky) and don't inhale that. I have been vaping for a two weeks now and my lungs are feeling a hell of a lot better. I was getting a cough and stuffy nose, and kept deluding myself that it was allergies. It is nice to start breathing decent again. Now, to lose some weight

[Tx4obama]

8. Additional article

Republican leaders asked to speak at March on Washington anniversary, declined

Conservatives complaining that the March on Washington anniversary celebration seems awfully partisan should note that they have only themselves to blame.

Speaker John A. Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the House’s two most senior Republicans, were invited to speak at the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington — but declined. (…)

“They asked a long list of Republicans to come,” (civil rights activist Julian Bond) continued, “and to a man and woman they said ‘no.’ And that they would turn their backs on this event was telling of them, and the fact that they seem to want to get black votes, they’re not gonna get ‘em this way.”

Boehner instead spoke at a small Congressional ceremony. Eric Cantor's reason for not being there, though, is rather odd:

Cantor, meanwhile, was asked 12 days ago to participate in Wednesday’s event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.’s delivery of the famous “I Have a Dream” speech, according to an aide. The Virginia Republican, however, is currently traveling in North Dakota and Ohio, touring energy sites with Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and participating in “nonofficial events,” according to an aide.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/28/1234584/-Republican-leaders-asked-to-speak-at-March-on-Washington-anniversary-declined

[Javaman]

9. Cowardly tools. nt

[heaven05]

10. We are an extremely divided country

politically, socially, racially and financially. "Divided we fall".

[KittyWampus]

11. recommend thread- hope it reaches top of Greatest.

[kelliekat44]

12. So did the black Republicans. nt

[Enthusiast]

13. If they associate with black people,

it will hurt their popularity with their base.