Right-wing attacks on Coretta Scott King's funeral are utterly shameful

[EarlG]

Coretta Scott King was a civil rights leader. So why was it wrong to say this?

"The struggle for equal rights is not over. We only have to recall the color of the faces of those in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, those who were most devastated by Katrina, to know that there are not yet equal opportunities for all Americans." -- Jimmy Carter

Coretta Scott King's family was spied on by the government. So why was it wrong to say this?

"It was difficult for them personally - with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the target of secret government wiretapping, other surveillance, and as you know, harassment from the FBI." -- Jimmy Carter

Coretta Scott King was a vocal opponent of the Iraq War. So why was it wrong to say this?

"She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on missions way afar. We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there, but Coretta knew, and we know, that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. For war, billions more - but no more for the poor!" -- Rev. Joseph Lowery

This right-wing snow-job is unmitigated BULLSHIT. People got up at Coretta Scott King's funeral and honored her life and work. How is it "political" to reference the very things she spent her life fighting for?

I'll tell you what's "political." It's political for the right-wing to make a calculated, cynical attempt to drag Coretta Scott King, her funeral, and her mourners through the mud in order to score partisan points. And it's disgraceful that the media are just delighted to be able to act - yet again - as a free-flowing conduit for the right-wing talking points of the day. "Please Karl, may I have another?"

Just out of curiosity, who were the mourners at this funeral supposed to be honoring? Coretta Scott King or George W. Bush? Because the way the right-wing is banging on about this, you'd think it was the latter. I guess the president's policies are now so untouchable that they can't even be mentioned at the funeral of someone who spent their life fighting against them.

My advice to George - if he doesn't want to hear what people really think of him and his policies, he should stay away from public events and stick to his pre-screened audiences.

[Spazito]

1. Well said! n/t

[ooglymoogly]

93. well said indeed. the real insult was that b*shco was there with his own

cheering section at all. he needs to stick to his highly screened audiences and does he think no one notices that he is trying to bring back slavery under another name (minimum and unlivable wage)then undercuts that trying to bring as many illegals as possible to drive that wage even lower.

[wicket]

2. They are pulling the same thing they did after Wellstone's funeral

They are so shameless! :puke:

Great post Earl.

[yurbud]

5. Someone should sarcastically ask if the right will piss on the funeral of

everyone on the left that Americans admire.

I'm surprised they didn't go after Rosa Parks. They probably did and we just missed it.

[happydreams]

88. Its meant to enrage. To get your goat. nt

[PegDAC]

174. After he convenient died ! n/t

[seabeyond]

3. so lets do something n/t

[Swamp Rat]

11. I have... though it's only a pic.

:D

[seabeyond]

21. that is funny swamp, that is funny

now i still want a sticker for my car of the womans face.

[PegDAC]

87. Good pic, Swamp!

Is it just me, or does Laura look really pissed? Note, too, that Mama Babs didn't show up!
:evilgrin:

[liberalhistorian]

115. Why should she have wasted

her "beautiful" mind over something as trivial as the funeral of an old black woman? After all, she didn't give a shit about something as trivial as the death of American soldiers and "who's coming back in body bags and all that stuff", so why should she be expected to give a damn about the death of an old black woman? :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :mad:

[upi402]

195. may your pics shine light

up the darkened ass of the Evil Master POTUS.

[yurbud]

4. at first, I thought it was a bad idea to invite him, but then I realized..

it would be a rare opportunity for people to criticize him to his face.

The public must be catching on that when the right screams "partisanship" or "politicizing," they mean someone disagrees with them and they are afraid the public might listen and agree with their critics.

[Pacifist Patriot]

36. I thought it was horrid he was there but as the sitting president

it would have been poor form not to invite him if previous presidents had been invited. I wish he'd declined. Declared an orange alert and disappeared into a bunker somewhere. But I understand why that would have been politically stupid too. Basically he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. Kind of nice seeing him in that position in a twisted sort of way.

[snappyturtle]

51. If your thought is "twisted" then my thought...

of * looking like a goldfish flopping around on the floor is equally twisted. There's just something about the imagery of that that I enjoy! He definitely was out of his fishbowl!:applause:

[shanti]

75. yes, and you can be sure

that he'll think twice about showing up at something similar any time in the near future!

[laylah]

95. I believe I read

somewhere that initially he wasn't going to be there. Rove and Dicky probably ordered him there for "appearances". You could tell he would have rather been anyplace but there. :puke:

Jenn

[MoonRiver]

103. I say he's DAMNED period.

That man is no Christian.

[Vincardog]

6. WE should take the chance to expose jr. for the fraud he is

Why should we say these bad things about prince george? Is it just because he has spent the last 5 years doing everything in his power to tear down and reverse every thing MLK and Coretta Scott King helped us achieve?

[gatorboy]

12. The right treat Bush as if he's the kid with the helmet on the short bus.

If the conservatives treat him like a small child that can't take criticism, how is anyone else going to take him seriously?

[Vincardog]

30. He really can't take criticism. One time he asked Pickles how a speech

went and pickles told him it could have gone better. He drove the car into the wall. The sad fact is that we have a spoiled insane child at the helm.

[Kerrytravelers]

31. Beleive me, a special ed teacher, we don't treat them with such kid gloves

[Jeanette in FL]

7. Isn't that the truth

I have been amazed at how the right seems to think that they can dictate as to how one is supposed to conduct their funerals.

Coming from a large Italian/Irish family, I am sure they would abhor our families funerals as well. We get loud, fight, praise beyond recognition, wail, get drunk, but you know what, it is our family and no one has the right to tell us how we will conduct ourselves.

I just knew that they were going to do this and the comparisons to Wellstone were not far to follow.

My advice to them, stay away, don't watch and don't send your royal highness.

[Just Me]

8. I agree with your every word!

The Kings were activists for social and economic justice,...not politicians. The current leadership are the politicians, do EVERYTHING for political expediency, and serve as the antithesis of everything the King's stood for.

They don't like hearing the truth, they should just stay the hell away rather than insult the lives of those who actually gave a damn about people,...ALL PEOPLE.

I am so sick of the assholes!! EW!!! :grr:

[BOSSHOG]

9. Its just outrageous to tell the truth in an uncontrolled environment

Its just not "conservative." How dare liberal swine speak truth to power.

[Dawgs]

10. This is the rant that everyone needs to see!!!

Beautiful work!!!

:toast:

[ClintonTyree]

13. Just another faux fit of indignation for the GOP......

it's perfectly alright when they do something like this, but when the tables are turned it's a different story. Bubble-boy-bush can't stand criticism, that's why he only speaks in front of hand-picked crowds. He got a taste of the real world yesterday and the GOP doesn't like that, they want their idiot cardboard-cut-out to remain in isolation where he's doted upon 24-7.

Surrounding yourself with "yes-men" 24-7 is no way to run a country. He's lost touch with reality. I only hope Congress gives him a heaping helping soon in the form of impeachment.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Hear hear!

So next time someone dies on "their side" who was political they're not allowed to talk politics at that person's funeral. Let's see how long that lasts. It's so dumb! She was a political person. Doy!

[Blue_Roses]

15. Well, what makes this issue so touchy

is that his horrible policies go against everything that we have been fighting for for so long, especially down here in the south. I watched the entire funeral and I was touched by it and it really doesn't matter what the rwing spin machine thinks as long as it didn't offend her children.

This was about honoring a great lady--not Bush and I'm sick of it being portrayed as a political wedge in the media. My only concern is that there was no lack of revence in honoring her.

[Pathwalker]

16. EarlG, who is the head of MSNBC, and how can I email them?

I've slept on it, but I'm still so mad at the blatant racism involved in the disrespect being shown regarding Mrs. King's funeral that I NEED to tell the head of the company how I feel.
Do you know this info, and can you share it with me? It's going to take me some time to write the 38 drafts to come up with something readable...
Everything you said is 100% TRUTH!

[stop the bleeding]

26. here is K.O.'s email - [e-mail] n/t

[Hekate]

161. Thanks -- I just sent him a letter based on my earlier thoughts here

As follows:
Coretta Scott King's Eulogies

I'm bemused -- no, to be honest I'm downright offended -- at the people on the right who profess to be offended at the tone the eulogies took for Coretta Scott King. To the end of her life, Mrs. King was in the political spotlight, laboring in the vineyards of the Lord for nonviolent social change, long after her husband was assassinated for working for the same causes. Is it any wonder people wanted to talk about that work, both past and present? If she had fulfilled her youthful ambition of a career in music, would anyone have objected to eulogies based on that career? Why then these false protestations of "politicizing" her funeral?

I believe that people like Bush and his on-air supporters prefer their Civil Rights icons to be safely tucked away in the ground. These calls for "dignity" at Mrs. King's funeral are just another way of telling everyone who was there to sit down and shut up.

If all of us who disagree with Bush & Friends would only shut up, life would be so much more comfortable -- for them. "Let's bury her -- let's give him a holiday -- mission accomplished -- what are you making a fuss over?"

I was not able to watch all of the eulogies yesterday, but I thought they were a wonderful tribute to the unfinished work of the Kings. If the Bushes (and their apologists in the media) took exception to a retelling of the federal government's wrongful persecution of Dr. King, it really is a case of "if the shoe fits, wear it" and no apologies are needed. At least none from the speakers.

(signed) Hekate's Other Name

[EarlG]

32. Rick Kaplan is the head of MSNBC

But I'm afraid I don't know his contact information. Someone else might be able to help you out...

[freefall]

186. Contact info for top people at MSNBC

Hi Notorious,

This information is from the http://openlettertochrismatthews.blogspot.com/ website which I reached by following a link in a DU posting last week. There is a campaign to get MSNBC and Chris Matthews to apologize for recent egregious comments and the site has listed contact info for MSNBC and all the advertisers on Hardball.

Kerri Forrest, Senior Producer, Hardball
202-824-6767

Steve Capus, Pres. NBC News
212-664-3228
[e-mail]

Rick Kaplan, Pres. MSNBC
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Bill Wolff, VP Program.
201-583-5008
[e-mail]

Jeremy Gaines, VP Comm.
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]

John Boxley
Programming Producer
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Good luck in getting any kind of response and please post if you do.

freefall

[LynneSin]

17. Because they weren't sucking up to Bush - that's why it was wrong

:crazy:

[info being]

18. Because these people want everything watered down

Anything that causes any level of discomfort is to be discounted and ignored.

[patricia92243]

19. The MSM will not give Democrats any coverage, so that leaves us having to

get our message out whenever there is an opportunity. Mrs. King would have approved.

[Catherine Vincent]

20. Well said!

I'll bet * will never forget what took place at Ms. King's memorial. You gotta know he was pissed! :)

[Surya Gayatri]

65. Yes, as the nasty, vindictive little turd

he is, just watch him try to get revenge somehow. Expect the smear campaign against Carter and Rev. Lowery to rachet up. He won't forget this. SG

[Metta]

22. Malcolm X said "Everyone needs a scapegoat."

There'll always be that. Projecting onto other, denying one's involvement and acting it out. They go hand in hand.

[TahitiNut]

23. Worse are the left-wingers who seek to please and placate fascists ...

... in the pretense that the right-wingers would 'approve' of ANYTHING about Mrs. King's funeral other than that she was dead!

What kind of fevered and deluded mind would expect anything other than an attack by the reichbots for a funeral service that didn't devote itself to an homage to C-czar Disgustsus?

Their imputed expectation is that the Bigot-in-Chief can only be applauded and honored as he deigns to lower himself in attending. Bullshit!

He came to piss on her grave and got his piss blown back into his face instead! Anything short of hanging that fecal fascist from the nearest tree was more than moderate enough!

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. FREAKIN' Aye! I couldn't agree more!

:thumbsup:

[madrchsod]

25. he will never go to another public event

during the rest of his term. he was forced to go to this one and i bet he`s been screaming at everyone who told him he had to go....poor georgy porgy

[BooScout]

27. WHat's even more shameful....

Is that some here are buying into the RW's little game. Saying that it was not the right time or place and that they wonder what her family thought. Her family thought it was APPROPRIATE people. Get the message out that the RW is the one trying to deflect the truth to an entirely stupid non-issue. If you can't kill the message, kill the messanger. Same old shit they always do. Lord I am sick of it and I am really sick of so-called intelligent people that again and again buy into it all.

[VOX]

28. Remember the mock outrage after the Wellstone memorial service?

Where the right wing claimed that it was turned into a "political rally?"

Right-wingers love to frame the scenario of being the "picked-on victims" at memorial gatherings of the "other side." :grr:

[StarTurtle]

171. They got away with their lies about the Wellstone memorial.

More -- they got rewarded with control of the Senate. They also learned that the eunuch media will "report" exactly the way the RW wants them to, especially if it gives them an opportunity to portray lefties, nonwhites, and women as subhuman.

Now they will do the same thing every time a progressive dies, and then they will turn and accuse us of playing politics.

If I remember the Reagan orgy correctly, we were also accused of playing politics if we didn't fake grief and repeat the script with feeling. So freedom of speech still exists, as long as we're making the right speech.

:hide:

[BookemDano]

182. Wellstone

Oh just a little tid bit of conspiracy theories but,I think this one is true I got a call from the DNC for a donation because they are going into the red states since the whole wire tapping illegalities have come to light and I said to the gentleman on the phone how I missed the Senator and he goes to me"I do not think that was an accident" I agree but,I am afraid the truth would never come out about it the repugnets hated him because he truly spoke his mind and believed so passionately in our party I think he was a threat to the right wingers.I may be crazy for thinking this but as Hunter S Thompson said "It's never healthy to start ?ing your own sanity"So I will listen to the great words from the good Doc and believe it!

[zonkra]

188. As if

Saint Reagan's canonization by the FreiKorp KristoFascist Korporate JesusNazis wasn't a political Nuremburg Rally. Achtung, O'Reilly!

[Stephanie]

29. good answer!

K&R

Please put on the home page.

[gordianot]

33. Ever notice the effect of funerals on Republicans?

I remember a a child the complaints about John Kennedy's funeral. Then there were nasty comments about Bobby Kennedy and how the family was copying Lincoln's funeral train. By the time Paul Wellston passed away Republicans had lost it. Even their hero Reagan did not bring out the best, but backstabbing, grandstanding to get in the picture. Never to be out done they showed up for Coretta King's funeral, then complain when they are not exactly welcome center stage. (If I were George Bush I would have set at the back of the church away from photographers)


I propose when the next Republican politician passes away (don't worry about Republican statesmen they are all extinct) they be shown how it is done, with respect and manage to keep your mouth shut.

[Virginian]

59. Bush is so out of it he thought he was going to a Royal funeral.

Must have been confusing to him that the King was a she.

Sorry, I'm being too sarcastic.

I think it was good for him to hear the things he is normally sheltered from. It might make him realize why he can't get elected and always has to steal elections.

[mzmolly]

34. Nice post. Dems get few opportunities to have media attention

as well. And, the media is angry b/c they couldn't "control" the message - this time.

[Wordie]

148. Ironically, it's backfiring on them. All the coverage of what was said,

DOES get the message out, for anyone with half a brain. Carter would never have gotten so much attention for his comments if they were made in just a speech somplace, for instance. So all the brouhaha has an upside, too.

[mzmolly]

154. That's right.

:hi:

[tlsmith1963]

35. I Think CSK Would Have Wanted...

...people to say things like that at her funeral. She always made political statements, so why not? And anyway, many of the speakers knew her personally. They knew what she would have wanted them to say. Those conservative commentators probably never knew her at all. So they have no right to criticize. Also, it was a rare opportunity to criticize Bush to his face. Maybe if he didn't isolate himself so much, this wouldn't have happened. I say that if you have a rare opportunity to criticize the guy to his face, take it.

Tammy

37. righteous rant yey n/t

[Taxmyth]

38. Radio Whores

Evidently the Radio Whores have been stoking their disciples about this. Anything to get the disciples minds off of corruption probes, violation of US Law and our Constitution, thousands and thousands of dead Americans, an unrealistic budget proposal, and the scary inability to forsee events like 9-11, Hurricane damage on the Gulf Coast, and elections in Venezuela, Iraq, and Palestine despite an abundance of information and intelligence.

[laylah]

97. Spot on!

Welcome to DU :toast:

Jenn

[Wordie]

149. Welcome to DU, taxmyth!

:hi:

An excellent first post, I might add. :)

[Stephanie]

39. some photos to illustrate your point >

http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/obits/king/34
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. waves as he and his wife lead off the final lap toward the state capitol at Montgomery, Ala. Civil rights marchers by the thousands moved toward the capitol. With them is the Rev. D.F. Reese of Selma, Ala., where the march started.


http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/obits/king/39

Civil rights figures (from left) Selma attorney Rose Sanders, Martin Luther King III, Coretta Scott King, Lillie Brown and Cheyenne Webb march arm-in-arm across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., during the annual re-enactment of the historic Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march.



http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/obits/king/7
Coretta Scott King sits with tears in her eyes at the funeral of her slain husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Harry Belafonte is sitting at her left. Between them is Christine King Farris, Dr. King's sister.

[sui generis]

40. way to go EarlG!

We expect this bullshit of the republicans and of their capos, but the greater disappointment comes from our vapid major newsdesks who wouldn't know journalistic integrity and political principle if it bit them where the sun don't shine.

To be unable to differentiate commentary on the body of political and social work of Coretta Scott King's life from a partisan political diatribe shows the level of incompetence in the ability of those journalists to present events without personal opinion.

My personal opinion is perhaps a bit cruder. He who smelt it . . .

[politicaholic]

41. This is a very good post...

She's remembered for her life work and there is no way that any republican can piggyback/profit/publisize on any of her achievements, something republicans are great at rather than actually doing anything good for society. This seems to piss them off for some reason. hmmm.

[Neil Lisst]

42. How dare anyone criticize Bush?! Isn't that against the law?

The Bushies have become so accustomed to stopping anyone from saying anything in his hearing range he doesn't want to hear, that they think it's his inalienable right.

While they daily violate the laws we already have, hide and destroy evidence in a CIA requested grand jury investigation, they even demand that Democratic funerals toe the Bush line.

What a bunch of fascists!

[VolcanoJen]

43. Absolutely right, and we have to stand up to it immediately.

Thank you for this post, Earl. I'm enraged today at the reaction and the right-wing attempts to silence the criticisms at yesterday's funeral.

CNN has it as their e-mail question... "Were the comments at Scott-King's funeral yesterday inappropriately political?" Or something to that effect... it's maddening and we have to stop it in its tracks now.

Remember the Paul Wellstone memorial. Don't ever forget it.

I like the way Atrios puts it:

For the Record

When I die, please let it be known that my family and friends are entitled to conduct my funeral in any manner they see fit, including but not limited to talking about the things which were important to me in life.

[bliss_eternal]

It was not wrong. It was merely an event they could not control

and spin in a manner that would make them look good. They can't fathom or understand that this was not about them, about shrub or about politics in the sense that would like to think.

Yes, political statements were made. Statements that addressed issues in Coretta Schott King's lifetime, but many of the issues that were brought up are ironically, contemporary issues.

If the asswipe wasn't engaging in 'illegal govt. wiretapping' it wouldn't have hit home, would it?

If we weren't at war, comments about Coretta and Dr. King being against militarism wouldn't have struck any nerves would it?

If impoverished people of color had not drowned, died, had their homes destroyed and many others stranded for many days with no food, water or shelter in such a callous and uncaring manner, thos comments wouldn't have had any relevance would they?

[BlacknBlue in Red NC]

69. Amen. Well said.

[bliss_eternal]

74. Thank you.

:)

[Just Me]

77. Spot ON, bliss!!!

SPOT ON!!! :yourock:

[Pathwalker]

79. Oh, GOOD POINTS! And so very true!

They're only offended because they're GUILTY of every charge made against them!
They poked at the Chimperor and his army of pigs squeeled like they'd been stuck with a knife!
Thank you, bliss!

[SillyGoose]

44. Very well said. Thank you. nt

[Cosmocat]

45. It is simple greed ...

The right wants to own, control or dominate the country ... To see a crowd of people connect like that just rubs them completely raw ... God forbid all those non-white males show emotion and stand for something ...

It is like the old geezer in the movie "It's a wonderful life ..." No joy or happiness in life, no acceptance or tolerance of others ... He just wanted to control and keep everyone down ... THAT is the right ...

This stuff pops up on a regular basis ... The right is SO envious that minorities are attracted to the left, and when they start with their hateful talk about it, they are so oblivious to how that mindset being a part of what minorities don't trust, as well as being completely oblivious that every part of their agenda works against minorities ...

As for Jimmy Carter ... I have had my fill of the right knocking the guy ... He does more, at his age, in a day, than any of these pukes on the right do in a lifetime to advance those around him ... The man is SHARP, the man ACTUALLY SERVED in the military ... But, they continue to try to marginalize him ...

You also get the sense that he has had his fill of Bushco, too ... He has long broke the "code" of a past president not being critical of a sitting president, and he gets more active and vocal about it each and every day ... I think that this man of GREAT honor is terrified about where this country is headed, and can not help but try to do something about it ...

[LuckyLib]

46. Originally, Bushit was not planning to be there. It was not on

the calendar, even after she had died and the funeral schedule was known. But it must have been clear to Bushco that if the other boys were going to be there, he'd look conspicuous in his absence. This was one rare "unscripted" face-off with folks who might not be looking rapturously at him in the audience. Hooray for Jimmy Carter, Reverend Lowery, and everyone else who spoke truth to power. Bush had to shut up and listen, and if the printed program is any indication, it was a LONG service.

[AnneD]

61. The joke was that they had to stick to the time table,

otherwise they would witness the 2nd coming of Christ before the end of the service. I have to ask Christ for forgiveness, I took great satisfaction that Bush had to endure the entire service. The facial grimacings were priceless. I could just see him writing Laura for permission to go to RR and then opening the door the wrong way. And if I were the Secret Service guy, I wouldn't tell him his fly was open and you could see his shirt. OOOPPPSSS.:evilgrin: I hope God is in a forgiving mood.

[Sparkly]

108. I think it was about even more than looking conspicuous by absence...

I think it was damage control. Either people would soft-pedal their remarks because of his presence, out of concern it'd be unseemly (and who really knows whether they did or not?)
and/OR,
if people did speak about the King legacy in ways that referenced current issues, they'd be able to shift the focus with, "Poor Little Monkey had to sit there and take the ABUSE!! They 'politicized' the event with him right there!!" perhaps even hoping for "beCAUSE he was right there..." as if it was all about mean, unfair political hatred of the Chimp.

[LuckyLib]

127. You're right. Given that something was bound to be said there,

they could blow smoke by immediately focusing on the inappropriateness of "political" comments at a funeral -- imagine! Speaking about political and social issues at the funeral of an individual who spent her life immersed in them!

[aintitfunny]

47. Bravo

:applause:

Well said, thank you.

[deutsey]

48. It was the most fitting tribute to two people who spoke truth to power

Anything else would have been a lie.

[yardwork]

49. Thank you!

I couldn't believe some of the nonsense I saw here last night.

Thank you EarlG and everyone else for speaking out!

[NoAmericanTaliban]

50. The speeches at the funeral were very appropriate

I saw the Clinton's speak & Bill's speech was great. Bush just sat there with a real sourpuss look on his face. It got even worse when Hillary spoke. What was funny - was when Hillary spoke,her hand movements looked like she was slapping Bush in the face. I kept shouting slap him again..:)

[90-percent]

52. Angry?

I'm angriest that Michael Balowtin actually sang at the Service.

Now, THAT'S an insult!

-85% Jimmy

[hfojvt]

53. made me think of somebody else's funeral

"The ideology he opposed throughout his political life insisted that history was moved by impersonal ties and unalterable fates. Ronald Reagan believed instead in the courage and triumph of free men. And we believe it, all the more, because we saw that courage in him."

"President Reagan was optimistic about the great promise of economic reform, and he acted to restore the reward and spirit of enterprise. He was optimistic that a strong America could advance the peace, and he acted to build the strength that mission required. He was optimistic that liberty would thrive wherever it was planted, and he acted to defend liberty wherever it was threatened."

"And Ronald Reagan believed in the power of truth in the conduct of world affairs. When he saw evil camped across the horizon, he called that evil by its name."


Nothing political there in Bush's speech at Reagan's funeral, and the RW media did not use that death and funeral as an occasion to bash Kerry or other Democrats did they? Because that would be totally inappropriate and disrespectful wouldn't it?

[Tsiyu]

54. Republicans don't appear to worry even a tiny bit

about offending anyone not Caucasian.

They are Revisionists who want to gloss over history and the truth.

No educated, intelligent person would dream of honoring Coretta Scott King's life by failing to acknowledge what she stood for as a human being.

Honoring the dead means honoring their wishes, their achievements and their values. It was entirely appropriate to discuss civil rights at this beautiful lady's funeral. Part of Coretta Scott King's belief was that the struggle continue and that every human must continue to work for peace and prosperity FOR ALL.

Any criticism comes from the guilty, the shamed and the liars.

[Riverman]

84. An Offended White Guy!

I cannot think of anything about this current republican cabal that is in power that does not offend this Caucasian!

[farmbo]

55. Whatdaya expect from these RightWing Bedwetters...

Their Great Protector was attacked...by women and BLACK MEN no less!

Who will protect them now?

Bubba skarred...very skarred...Aaahaa...Ahaahaa...Aaahaaa...Bubba feel Goood now.

}(

[Brewman_Jax]

56. Thanks

you're absolutely right! They're mad because they told the truth out loud and the RW press machine couldn't turn away. Bush* looked like the sorry slacker he is. He had to sit and take it; he couldn't lie with the press cheerleaders making him look good.

[Lochloosa]

57. K/R

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

58. The "outrage", on the part of those manufacturing it, is not sincere. It

is merely propaganda.

The plain fact is that shrub was humiliated going in a non-selected audience, and had to hear the views of those who disapprove of his tenure. The hostility and disapproval was tenfold given that the audience was primarily African American, and the disgraceful handling of Katrina.

That plain, clear message MUST be diluted by a manufactured RW tempest in a teapot over the remarks.

I think these types of tactics are quite effective. A few tentative shrub supporters will get the real message of yesterday, and start to think "what the hell have we gotten ourselves into with this guy?".

However, the majority of shrub-bots and RWers will get caught up in the whole manufactured controversy, and it will all be forgotten tomorrow, except when referred to as the sound bite of the "disgrace of the King funeral". The real message will have been completely lost to the majority of this shrub base due to the propaganda.

They use it to shield their own believers from the truth, and it works pretty well, by and large. Even though it's pretty transparent to those who think, these methods work quite well and that's why they are so aggressive about using them.

"Propaganda must be planned and executed by only one authority."

"Credibility alone must determine whether propaganda output should be true or false."

"Propaganda must label events and people with distinctive phrases or slogans. "

"Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred. "

"Black rather than white propaganda may be employed when the latter is less credible or produces undesirable effects. "

"To be perceived, propaganda must evoke the interest of an audience and must be transmitted through an attention-getting communications medium. "

"Propaganda to the home front must create an optimum anxiety level"

-Joseph Goebbels

http://www.goebbels.info/goebbels-goebbels.htm

[flordehinojos]

60. this sentence is so powerful !!!! Why isn't it the headline all over the

main stream print and broadcast media?


"Just out of curiosity, who were the mourners at this funeral supposed to be honoring? Coretta Scott King or George W. Bush? Because the way the right-wing is banging on about this, you'd think it was the latter. "

in this country anymore, anything is about GEORGE W. BUSH. It is all about a CULT TO GEORGE W. BUSH and the first worshipper in that CULT is BUSH THE MALEVOLENT ELDER, everyone else follows suit, from tweety man, to the blitzer wolfman, to paula zahn, joe scarborough, larry king, bob schieffer, to ...... the neighbor across the street who yesterday said, "Yes, I know Bush is in a hard place. The economy is not good, things are not looking up, but every president would have done the same". To which i cackled in his face and said, i don't think so. lord pissypants had planed the whole thing from day one." for which this morning i got a very cold, "good morning" after I had first called good morning (his name), as i walked my dog in the early morning hours.

[snappyturtle]

62. Super! K&R nt

[grace0418]

63. The only thing inappropriate at the funeral was the Bush's presence.

Those three are the antithesis of Coretta Scott's King vision for the way humans should treat one another. They were the only thing tarnishing the funeral.

[Kingshakabobo]

64. Even Bush admitted that there is STILL institutional racism...

in one of hie post Katrina speeches.

[cyclezealot]

66. hard to believe you can get him out of his pre-screned bubble.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

67. Last night, a right winger even posted an indignant tirade,

partially cut-and-pasted from Drudge, on a site that is not supposed to be political. Then another regular poster, who comes off as sweet but not terribly perceptive in her non-political posts, started ranting about how shameful it was that they criticized the president.

I let them have it (I post there under another name) but they remained all hissy about it.

[katinmn]

68. They did the same thing at the Wellstone Memorial

Who would have ever dreamed our media would sell out lock, stock and barrel to such hate-filled people as the Rove-Mehlman-Bush-Cheney spin machine. (shudder)

Time to get serious about boycotting their advertisers. In this sick society, only money talks.

[malmapus]

70. I agree it is shameful

It is shameful that these truths, I'm sorry "attacks", needed to be said. That the man that signifies everything she fought against was sitting right there. Having her, a great woman and spirit of the civil rights movement pass away on the same day that Samuel Alito, someone who Bush will use to take away even more of our civil liberties gets the nod to be on the SCOTUS, really says something.

It would have been nice to say, she and Dr. King worked hard for a movement all those years ago, that brought to us this great country we live in. Where we enjoy the liberties one and all, where a country comes together to help those in need no matter the color of their skin or amount of money they make. A country we all can be proud of.

Unfortunetly thanks to George, we don't and those truths needed to be said and..IMHO she would have approved to the upmost. I like to think that she and Dr. King were smiling down as King George was having the truths of what his administration is doing shoved in their face.

[radio4progressives]

80. Well said, excellent post...

the fascists, corporate msm needs a public ass whipping on the meaning of all of this - by any means necessary. BAMN!

http://www.bamn.com/

[EFerrari]

71. They put him there, like a potted plant, to attempt to limit

the discourse at the funeral.

Mrs. King probably would have much preferred the real plant.

[Bluzmann57]

72. Schultz was just playing sounbites from DeLay

after the week long orgy on Reagan. No politics there, oh no. My aching ass there wasn't. DeLay said, and I'm not quoting directly, something along the lines that Reagan ended the cold war, set America straight, got the military under control, blah blah blah. And NOT ONCE did the Big Media call him on any lies or, to be diplomatic, discrepancies, DeLay told. They never said anything about politicizing the death of Reagan, but yet always do anytime a prominent Liberal passes. As many have said, they ripped on the speakers at Wellstone's funeral service as they are ripping on the speakers at the funeral of Mrs. King. We have to hold them all accountable and see to it that we get our airwaves back. Please understand, that if any Democrats do or say anything stupid, they should be called on it as well. But this one sidedness is sickening.

[Imalittleteapot]

73. The funeral police strike again.

Weren't they critical of the son of one of their own - Ron Reagan - for the words he spoke at his dad's funeral?

[desi826]

76. Wooo!!! Tear it UP EarlG!

You better go'head is all I have to say. DAMN that was good.
Des

[elmerdem]

78. it would have been political if

he would have been removed from the service & arrested for what he was wearing! The dems need to get out in front on this spin for once!

[wysiwyg]

81. Why would I be shocked by political comments when Newt kicks the bucket?

Someday, when someone like Newt Gingrich dies I wouldn't be suprised by all sorts of political comments about the issues he worked on in his life. Why the heck would I be offended or suprised by that if his closest friends and allies actually have the same opinions?

All of this criticism about the funeral is just the Republicans looking for an advantage.

[earth mom]

82. They "should" be ashamed of themselves...

but they are not because they have absolutely no shame.

We dems/liberals/progressives continually strive to reach the height of altruism and ethics.

While the re-"thugs" don't even know the meaning of these words or really care to know for that matter.

Why do we continue to expect more from these sociopaths?! :banghead:

[NewWaveChick1981]

83. The GOP believes in freedom of speech as long as...

...they agree with it. As long as nobody makes Little Lord Pissypants cry, it's OK. But just try to speak your mind and praise a woman who worked so hard for so many and you'll get bitch-slapped by the FReepers every time...

Fucking GOP fascists...

[PittLib]

85. I sincerely hope the family puts the "outraged" ...

in their place - that RW's have no business whatsoever judging the service of their loved one. I regret that if something were to happen to me, that my right leaning family wouldn't mention my politics ... it would be a shame as it is a huge part of who I am. Much respect to the King family.

Great post, EarlG!

[Burning Water]

86. Hope you're right about

this EarlG.

My concern is how it's going to be spun. In politics, being right isn't enough, you have to be perceived to be right. And the elections have to be honest.

[Joe Chi Minh]

89. I'm afraid in the normal social, never mind political, context,

the Republicans would have some kind genuine grounds for considering biting party-political - even just general political declamations - curiously out of place at a funeral.

However, when someone of the stature of a Mrs Coretta King or her husband, Dr Martin Luther King, die, to any American who cares about their country and its people, to humanitarian souls world-wide, on the occasion of such a loss, no ceremonial formality could reasonably be expected to take precedence over expressions of spiritual, moral outrage at the whole context of the endless battles for justice that their lives represented; endless, because the spiritual battle of Christians has been ongoing, and will continue so until further notice. The nightmarish, ongoing national evils perpetrated in the US by the forces of corporate fascism, which in an earlier age, only the brave and incorruptible patriotism of former marine general, Smedley Butler, had prevented from murdering the then President, Franklin Roosevelt, in due course, recrudesced to compass the death of Mrs King's husband, Martin, and of course those other two great progressives, respectively, President and President-in-waiting, John and Robert Kennedy.

As for the Republican Party, they and their media myrmidons have sought to cover up the conspiracies to murder those great Democratic leaders, the Kennedy brothers, but evidently didn't consider covering up the murder of Dr Martin Luther King, worth the bother. So, when we lose Christian leaders who were epoch-making giants, please forgive us if we express anger at those who fought to maintain those same unjust structures, and would presume to pretend that they too are sorry for their untimely deaths. They are just our expressions of contempt for the travesty of power, worldly power you think is going to continue to protect you. But while the mills of God may grind slow, exceeding fine is manner of it.

Now get over your grizzling and move on. Before you get a boot up the backside.

[Initech]

90. And the republicans say WE'RE the crybabies.

:eyes:

[goodboy]

91. What if I spoke at RayGun's funeral and said, "Ketchup is now a vegetable

thanks to Ronald who loved them so much he was one through most of his presidency"

Coretta King probably despised the Bush Crime Family.

Coretta King fought for peace and justice and equality - and the Bush Crime Family makes War, rapes justice and divides our country.

[chelsea0011]

92. The Republican Party is the party of hate. Nothing should surprise.

[tom_paine]

94. Just a VERY RUTHLESS tactic of theirs: projection

They have so successfully stifled the Democratic voice in the media and have also been aided by the Vichy Dems utter capitulation in almost all things.

It is simply to do the very thing they accused the Dems of, but even worse. To create a sort of media vortex that will suck up any discussion of the legitimacy of those comments, nor the simple fact that the lives of both Kings were about social justice.

The news story has a lifespan. What this insures is that, for it's entire spectrum of this story's life, it will be a Right-Wing shriek-fest. Just like Wellstone.

They can commandeer the entire media apparatus whenever they wish. They can rewrite history at will. Just saw a special on the History (Bushevik Hostory, that is) Channel that informed me that the toppling of the Saddam statue was quite legtimate and a "Berlin Wall" event (a staged event which was exposed in the foreign press with overhead shots of the sealed square).

Phaugh! It smells of Soviet fucking Pravda in here.

The History Channel also informed me...

Andrew Jackson made a "preemptive strike" in Florida in 1818
Ulysees S. Grant waged a "War on Terror"
The KKK was the "Terrorist Wing of the Democratic Party".
James Madison was just like Bush, the War on 1812 was just like Iraq, opposed by "anti-war Democrats" (except the party was still the Democratic-Republican Party, and the stretch on this particular fact is pretty far compared to the others, which are also fabrications, but less audacious Orwellian Twisting of the words)
The War on Tripoli was also just like Iraq (except we didn't occupy and we didn;t strike first for no provocation and...)

[robbedvoter]

96. Bullhorn W on top of dead people - who can match the class?

I was looking for the pic to make my case without words - but no luck.

[MoonRiver]

98. Another * photo op gone awry.

Awwwww, :nopity:

Wonderfully stated EarlG! K&R!! :yourock:

[Generic Other]

99. We don't take our politics to the grave? Don't count on it neo-cons!

I remember the day Martin Luther King died. In the town where I live, school got out early and there were riots in our town for 7 days. Rightwingers dare criticize how "political" Coretta Scott King's funeral was? Unreal!!

[calimary]

100. Kicked and recommended.

HIGHLY.

I'll shut up when they do. Not until OR unless.

[SeattleGirl]

101. Excellent post, EarlG

Especially the question you asked near the end: ....who were the mourners at this funeral supposed to be honoring....Coretta Scott King or George W. Bush? From the looks on George and Laura's faces, I think they thought it should be about them.

[MarianJack]

102. The Same Shit...

...they did with Wellstone.

WE have to be the media!

WE have to raise hell with these assholes.

I wish we could be surprised, but really, after 5+ years, did anyone expect different?

[Patsy Stone]

104. All the outrage was manufactured by the Bushies, for the Bushies.

The RW pundits are cowards, as we know, and avoid arguing the real issues of the day. Instead, the media and the wingnuts ALWAYS choose to take the easy way out. They are not "outraged" or "disgusted" at the political nature of the eulogies, they are upset because there were people -- real, unscreened, living, breathing people -- speaking truth to power.

That won't do in Bush's America, don'tcha know? In Bush's America, dissent is stifled. In Bush's America, never is heard a discouraging word! In Bush's America, disagreement and discussion of the government's policies cause one to be ostracized. Hmmm. That sounds like a few other countries not so long ago, no?

No, this was an event which they couldn't spin in order to show how wonderful our Fearless Leader is, because it WASN'T ABOUT HIM!! Since it wasn't about him, however, there was no choice but to try and spin it so it WAS about him.

Let's bring it home with this pearl from El Drugbo (moral compass that he is):

"You've got Bill Clinton, you've got the Reverend Jackson, and you have Teddy Kennedy, and those are just the known culprits. I'm sure that there are others who fit the mold. They're all in the House. So here's the little office pool that we have going here. Here you might want to have your own version of this in your office or your home today. The end of the funeral, when it's all over, how many women will be picked up? The next question we're asking ourselves, how many babies will be born nine months from today?"

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_020706/content/coretta_scott_king_funeral_2.guest.html

K&R!

[Jesterstear]

105. Forgetting Reagan so quickly?

I know the Repubs would love to have us forget this, but I seem to remember how the Repubs politicized Reagan's death and funeral. They did practically everything but embalm Ronnie's corpse and take it on a cross-country tour, letting Georgie sit in Reagan's decomposing lap to deliver stump speeches.

[HockeyMom]

106. How many programs for the Poor would JESUS cut?

NONE. He certainly wouldn't be funding the BLING BLINGS of the RICH on the backs of the poor and middle class. What did Mr. Bush expect TRUE Christian Clergy to say?????

[goodboy]

107. and it was a MEMORIAL, not a FUNERAL...who the hell do they think they

are criticizing what Coretta's closest family and friends remember about her life?

WHO THE FUCK DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?

[blue cat]

109. What shows are covering the repuke's fake outrage?

I don't watch cable news, but I would like to catch some of their coverage on this.

[goodboy]

123. Fucker Carlson, Joe (dead intern) Scarborough, Shammity and colmes

I heard Miles O'Brian mention something about it this mornning calling it a "partisan attack"

[democrank]

110. Know what pissed them off?

The mere fact that a couple Democrats found a forum that wasn`t properly pre-screened...and actually
used it.

[LuckyLib]

131. And the fact that Bush had to be there, but the whole thing

was out of their control. Uncomfortable place for their little puppet to be -- in the lion's den, forced to sit for hours, with that smirk on his face. You could just tell he was wishing he could be clearing a little brush in on the "ranch". The whole time the spinmeisters were working on how to respond to the "attacks by partisan Democrats." Before those spoken words about Mrs. King could settle gently on the populace, they put the smoke machine to work -- poor Bush, how inappropriate, etc. That's right, W, it's all about you.

[enki23]

111. bush had no fucking business being there at all

the woman was opposed to damned near anything he's done in the last five years. it's incredibly disrespectful to allow that fuck to be present at all. whoever let him in the door should be ashamed.

[demgrrrll]

112. I am enraged that Republicans are telling a brilliant and accomplished

Black minister that he does not know how to behave at a funeral. Their remarks reveal deep seated racial prejudices.

[mountain man]

114. What really angers me

I'll tell you what angers me---the fact that Bush was allowed to speak at Ms. King's service. Bush has always been completely opposed to everything Dr. King and Ms. King ever fought for. I blame the King children for this---they certainly have not carried on in the path of their parents,

[desi826]

165. could they have stopped him?

"I'll tell you what angers me---the fact that Bush was allowed to speak at Ms. King's service. Bush has always been completely opposed to everything Dr. King and Ms. King ever fought for. I blame the King children for this---they certainly have not carried on in the path of their parents."

I don't think that they could have if it was what he (Bush) wanted to do. But if you think for one minute that they weren't aware(allowing Bush to attend) that criticsm wasn't going to be there, you are wrong. They did.
Des

[AbbyR]

180. Ouch ---

Do you mean that if when I die, if Bush wants to speak he can? (I have a life-sized picture of that)God, I hope not. I'm telling you, I would rise up from the dead and tell the little twit to get the hell out of my death.

I did not know Mrs. King or follow her after her husband died, but if she was anything like him, she would have been appalled that Bush dared to set foot anywhere near her and she would have applauded every word said against him.

Her funeral, I would hope, would be a celebration of her life of service and activism - activism in support of everything Bush is against.

And after the show that was made of Reagan's death, it takes huge nerve to even suggest that a funeral should not be politicized.

I don't want a funeral - I want a big party for all my friends and family. And when they remember me, I hope they remember that I was a liberal Democrat for as long as I lived.

God bless you, Mrs. King, and bring you peace. You deserve it.

[desi826]

187. To be clear

"Do you mean that if when I die, if Bush wants to speak he can? (I have a life-sized picture of that)God, I hope not. I'm telling you, I would rise up from the dead and tell the little twit to get the hell out of my death. "

LOLOLOL at that. So right. But>>>>


"I did not know Mrs. King or follow her after her husband died, but if she was anything like him, she would have been appalled that Bush dared to set foot anywhere near her and she would have applauded every word said against him."

Of course, especially after Katrina.
But I don't know whether or not you have noticed, but they have, since 2000, been taking every opportunity to speak out AWAY from blacks.
Why?
Cause we have no prob speaking out against him.
So what do they do?
Take the mike away.
This was my point.
Her funeral let us do what we do: speak truth to power.
I'm willing to bet that's why her family said yes.

"Her funeral, I would hope, would be a celebration of her life of service and activism - activism in support of everything Bush is against."

Agreed

"And after the show that was made of Reagan's death, it takes huge nerve to even suggest that a funeral should not be politicized."

I know it's the truth.

"I don't want a funeral - I want a big party for all my friends and family. And when they remember me, I hope they remember that I was a liberal Democrat for as long as I lived. "

If you are as fiery as your post then you will be missed.

"God bless you, Mrs. King, and bring you peace. You deserve it."

Amen.
Des

[Joey Liberal]

113. The repukes are mad because the crowd cheered Clinton

It was only a matter of time before the republiNazis complained about the funeral. Bush was embarrassed because Bill Clinton got a long standing ovation, Jimmy Carter's remarks were cheered, and Rev. Lowery's remarks got cheered. If anyone other than the republicans (the few that attended) were offended, it sure didn't look like it to me when they were on their feet, cheering. It's just more sour grapes from the Faux News/Limbaugh crowd.

[freedomfries]

116. k & r

right on EarlG! You nailed it!

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

117. Seriously

No matter what side your on it was disrespectful. I do find it amazing that the Republicans are being accused of 'attacking'. If you're being honest with yourself, you know that isn't true. Love him or hate him (I suspect which) he said very eloquent things about Ms. King. That forum shouldn't have been used for anything else but to memorialize that beautiful lady. It was disrespectful, most of all to the family.

And as for Jimmy Carter's remarks about wiretapping. He only told half the truth. It was the Democrats who were in charge that ordered the wiretapping of MLK led by none other than Kennedy (hic!) himself.

But that's just me.....

[Sparkly]

118. You're right.

It IS just you. :eyes:

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

120. Go on?

Do you disagree with what I said? Let's discuss.....

[Sparkly]

129. Take the advice in your own sigline.

1. The Repugs have doing nothing BUT attack. If you're honest with yourself and aren't living in a cave, you know it.

2. Chimp reading a speech is hollow; as Rev. Lowery said, "in the morning... will deeds meet needs?"

3. Did you see the family's response to the speakers? Have you heard a word from any them about "disrespect?" Or are YOU the arbiter of how others should feel?

4. Which Kennedy are you referring to as "Kennedy (hic)"?

5. Is the surveillance of MLK and CSK, no matter WHO did or didn't authorize it, justification for illegal, unwarranted domestic spying today? Or does it shed MORE light on its being wrong?

Now, "put the glass down and slowly step away."

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

134. Hmmm.

Your opinion of Bush's remarks being hollow is just that...opinion. Is Rev Lowery the arbiter of how CSK felt??? It would be Bobby Kennedy that authorized the wiretapping of MLK. Do you actually have proof that the NSA wiretapping was illegal? I mean actaul proof, not opinion or wishful thinking. Proof.

[Sparkly]

135. "By their fruits ye shall know them."

His words are HOLLOW because his actions are CONTRARY to the life's work of Martin & Coretta King. That's not a matter of opinion -- it's a matter of FACT.

Rev. Lowery was very close to the Kings -- so yes, I believe he knows how she felt, what she believed, and what she'd consider "disrespectful" far better than YOU do.

The law requires a warrant; BushCo didn't get a warrant as the law requires. Simple -- that's illegal.

Edited to add: Why did you refer to Robert Kennedy as "Kennedy (hic)"?

Are you having fun yet?

[demgrrrll]

157. I want to see a link on this Bobby Kennedy thing. I have not seen

any type of verification of this statement. I believe I would have read about this long ago if that statement were true. J Edgar Hoover monitored Martin Luther King.
Prove me wrong.

[MaraJade]

197. shows how little you know of history. . .

Kennedy's wiretap of MLK was based upon information provided by J Edgar Hoover (a notorious liar and cross-dresser) who despised King. Hoover was a racist who despised black people and thought that the civil rights movement was an action by people who did not know their proper place. Hoover had created and made up so-called proof that some of the people surrounding King were traitors and he used this fabricated information to convince Robert Kennedy that certain King associates
(not King himself) were members of the Communist Party. In 1963, (at the peak time of tensions between the US and the USSR) fear was rampant and Kennedy wiretapped them, not wanting to take any chances on having potential spies and terrorists in the US. Sound familiar? What any student of history MUST remember is that the Cold War was on at that time. It wasn't too long before this that
Khrushev banged his shoe on the table at the UN and announced that "we will bury you." Kennedy acted not out of wisdom, but out of fear.

King wasn't the only American Citizen named as Communists by Hoover.

History has now shown that J Edgar Hoover (then the head of the FBI) was a kook who saw Communists and enemies everywhere.

Hoover was staunch Republican who hated Civil Rights. He DESPISED King and wanted to end the movement.

Now, it's Deja Vu all over again as a fearful public hands their freedoms over to those who claim to
be acting in their best interests.

I think that the only thing proved by the whole sordid episode is that we must be exceedingly careful
not to believe any government agency that presumes to name our enemies for us, and that wiretapping anyone should only be a last resort measure resorted to after due process.

Please, do yourself a favor--do some research before you speak. Get Wise.

[bpilgrim]

121. 'disrespectful' to whom, the chimp? get real

tell reTHUGs the TRUTH and they ALWAYS think it's HELL - TRUMAN

same as it ever was

peace

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

122. No....

It was disrespectful to the family (as the post stated). And, yes, it was disrespectful the the President. It would've been disrespectful no matter who was up there. Is there anything else that you disagree with in the post?

[BulletproofLandshark]

124. Respect is earned, not handed out freely.

Bush has earned nothing but disrespect for the last 5+ years

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

125. No it wasn't

And how do you know what "the family" wanted?

As for "the President" 'e can go fornicate with himself.
(And so can all his supporters)

[Beaverhausen]

128. Why would people attending the funeral of a civil rights leader respect...

...Bush?

Really- I'd like to know.

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

136. It was disrespectful...

....because he's a person. I wouldn't support him if he did the same thing. Seriously.

[Sparkly]

137. How many times did they mention his name? nt

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

142. Who....

the hell else would they be talking about?

[Sparkly]

146. Well, according to you...

When Carter mentioned the fed surveillance of the Kings, he was talking about Robert Kennedy.

I'm sure discussions of peace were all praise for Chimp, who's working to hard to spread peace around the world.

And poverty? Well, you KNOW how much Chimpy cares about poverty. I mean, he's such a fine Christian and all.

Katrina? They did they BEST they could -- it was all the state and local officials' fault, right? Brownie did a heckuva job!

WMDs? Intelligence failures, of course. Not Chimp's fault, was it? He didn't KNOW! Why, EVERYbody had the same intel he did!!

"Misdirection?" Considering what a great job Chimpy's doing, who would possibly assume they were talking about HIM??

"Who the hell else would they be talking about?" Well gee, I don't know... Maybe the rightwingers actually believe Chimpy's guilty of these things, if they're so worried it was about him. Ya think?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

130. The family did not object and the only person who spoke that did not

know Coretta Scott King personally was...guess who...wait for it...yep, gwb. So, friends and families lovingly spoke of her and reiterated those things which she held dear and for which she had passion..

And gwb's widdle feelings got hurt. So, now it's disrepectful. Enjoy your stay. MKJ

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

139. No one...

said his feelings got hurt. All things considered he handled very well. I don't no anyone that would've felt comfortable if that happened to them. He could've said any number of things had he wanted to. Carter being the worst president (outstanding person, shitty President). He could've called Ted Kennedy the worst friggin' example of morality there is, but he didn't. Like it or not he didn't stoop to that level.

[Sparkly]

141. Chimp could have used that forum to bash Ted Kennedy's morality?

That parallels with statements based on the Kings' lives and beliefs that didn't even mention the Chimperor's NAME? That's the same "level" or "stooping" to you?!?

Unbelievable.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

147. Thanks for enlightening me. Now I see what a stellar guy gwb is.

And here I was thinking that the only reason gwb showed up was not to look bad in comparison to his predecessors. And, that Rove forced him. But the overpowering logic of your post convinces me that he some kind of stand up guy. :sarcasm:

Perhaps, if his administration hadn't gutted social and educational programs, and, if they hadn't sat by idly while at least hundreds, and likely thousands of non rich, non white people died, he wouldn't have been at the receiving end of those truthful remarks.

And, with that particular crowd, starting an illegal war to enrich his oil buddies doesn't sit too well, either.

So, decent president, decent reception. Lousy, suck ass, corrupt, criminal president, you gotta sit and hear the truth of the consequences of your greedy, money sucking, Constitution destroying, war mongering ways. MKJ

[stepnw1f]

133. If the TRUTH is disrespectful to YOU

then you got bigger problems than just a dented ego.

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

140. Hahaha

I don't give one hoot in hell that it happened. It was just disrespectful. No ego damage here.

[stepnw1f]

143. yuh.... you just post like you do

have another

[AbbyR]

183. I always told my kids...

respect has to be earned. It is not an entitlement.

[BookemDano]

184. Remember

Hmm I seem to remember RFK bailing DR King out of jail so oh yeah Koolaid slowly step away!!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

132. J. Edgar Hoover, anyone? n/t

MKJ

[desi]

144. Two points..

1- Carter did not claim that it was the wingnuts who were spying on MLK.

2- RFK was AG

..what's in that Kool-Aide..??

[Bridget Burke]

176. No, you are not the only one to mention the MLK wiretapping.

We've already heard that Right Wing Talking Point. J Edgar Hoover was behind it & the Kennedys did approve it.

Then JFK, MLK & RFK were murdered. J Edgar Hoover died a natural death. The current administration & its tools (in the media & online) are on the side of J Edgar. JFK, MLK, RFK & most of us are on the other side.

Coretta Scott was politically active before she became Coretta Scott King. She supported her husband in his fight for Human Rights & against unjust War. Then she carried on the fight after his murder. Where has the King family complained about the memorial?

Poor Bushie--his speech was not that bad, but was poorly delivered. At least Ronnie could ACT sincere, even in early dementia. The other speeches were delivered beautifully & were applauded loudly. Especially President Clinton's. Bushie couldn't even act interested & his wife impressed us all with the Gorgon impersonation.

[MaraJade]

193. You are right. . .

and the BEST WAY to memorialize that Queenly Lady was to reinforce the very things that she and her late husband-- believed in. To emphasize that she was taken too soon, and that her work was not finished, that MORE MUST BE DONE--that people in power MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

I think the larger disgrace would have been to disrespect her by dismissing every thing she believed in and having a "gentle going into that good night" sort of ceremony.

I believe that Coretta would have strongly approved of her funeral.

Your statements reveal to me that you are completely unfamiliar with the woman, her work and her legacy.
Do yourself a favor--do some reading up and some research. It is clear to me that you know little about the civil rights movement and even less about Coretta Scott King. Your ignorance is showing. Get Wise.

[highnooner]

119. When you have four Presidents on the stage,

It is political.

[neuvocat]

138. And Congressional members too.

[Cleita]

126. I didn't see anything like it when Reagan's funeral

was played in the media.

Instead the coverage was reverential, as the funerals of our leaders should be. It should be the same for our liberal heroes too, but I guess it's too much to as of the RW idiots.

[DontDrinkTheKoolAid]

145. That's my whole point....

It should be respectful no matter who it is.

[davidthegnome]

151. Wow

Is it really so hard to see? I'm surprised that nearly everyone on this forum thinks it's just fine to bash a man attending a funeral. Surprised... and ashamed.

[Sparkly]

152. I didn't hear anybody "bash a man."

I heard a FEW remarks, during hours of eulogies, that upheld peace, justice and truth, and put down war, lies, poverty, racial division, and domestic government surveillance and wiretapping of innocent Americans.

Why is that odd at a tribute to a woman whose life upheld peace, justice and truth, and put down war, lies, poverty, and racial division -- and who was harrassed by domestic government surveillance and wiretapping?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

156. gwb's record on civil rights, helping the poor, etc. is dismal. He

hasn't even attended the NAACP convention in the last five years.

And, no one mentioned him by name. They just truthfully referred to the current policies of this administration.

He f*&^ing fiddled a guitar while NOLA drowned. He is a criminal murderer. I think the orators at Mrs. King's funeral actually reined themselves in. MKJ

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

158. You've been a member for a month, and already ashamed of us DU'ers.

You've got a tough road ahead. MKJ

[PittLib]

164. Yeah, wow ...

people lose children, spouses and parents because of choices this man made - and I'm supposed to feel bad about his feelings? Are you f$%king serious? THAT is bashing? The man's attendance was obligatory, period. Since when does the memorial revolve around him? Should soldiers' memorials revolve around him? Where am I? Has the entire country lost its collective mind? Un-fucking-believable.

[Bridget Burke]

177. We've been bashing Bush for some time here.

Get used to it.

Bush's speech didn't get much applause, but there were no boos.

Some of the speakers criticized current administration actions, but there were NO personal attacks. Nobody said "Bush is the worst president, ever." Or "That unelected idiot is trying to destroy the country." Or "He's got blood on his hands." Remarkable restraint, in fact.

Bush couldn't even manage to look interested & his wifie's face will give many of us nightmares for years. She's not a bad looking woman, but she was apparently channeling the Mother In Law From Hell.

[Samantha]

150. You need to "speak" out more here -- it's always great to read you

Thank you for this thread -- it's a great read.

[carolinalady]

153. I gotta agree with you. The classiest thing they could have done

would have been to say nothing. But they aren't very classy.

[VPStoltz]

155. I just knew there would be some flap so I tuned into NSNBC to see

what the "media" had to say.
Scarborough was going on about picking on * about such LITTLE THINGS, LITTLE DETAILS like the war, which he said would be over in 2,3, or 4 years and wiretapping. He question why the speakers would take on these trivial issues and not stick to the message of Dr. and Mrs. King.
My God, I wanted to jump into the t.v. and strangle that fucker.

[Mr_Spock]

159. RW babies are crying about being criticized?? HAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!!

These son-of-a-fucking-bastards attack their enemies from dawn to dusk and they are whining like little babies when they finally have to hear what people who aren't hand picked really think of them???


HAHAHAHAHA!!! Republicans - whining babies - BOOHOO!!!

There is NOTHING respectable about Republicans.

[Hekate]

160. The RW prefers its Civil Rights icons tucked away safely in the ground...

I believe that people like Bush and his on-air supporters prefer their Civil Rights icons to be safely tucked away in the ground. These calls for "dignity" at Mrs. King's funeral are just another way of telling everyone who was there to sit down and shut up.

If all of us who disagree with Bush & Friends would only shut up, life would be so much more comfortable -- for them. "Let's bury her -- let's give him a holiday -- mission accomplished -- what are you making a fuss over?"

I was not able to watch all of the eulogies yesterday, but I thought they were a wonderful tribute to the unfinished work of the Kings. If the Bushes took exception to a retelling of the federal government's wrongful persecution of Dr. King, it really is a case of "if the shoe fits, wear it," and no apologies are needed. At least none from the speakers.

Hekate

[BelgianMadCow]

173. Perfectly stated. "If the shoe fits, wear it!"

[Rainscents]

162. Excellent post, EarlG!

:applause:

[Up2Late]

163. I'm so glad I stopped watching the MSM (CNN, MSNBC, Fox "news")

Actually, I never did watch Fox, and have only watched MSNBC a few times.

Public Radio is the future. :evilgrin:

[upi402]

196. me too. real information is bliss!

do you like Air America?

[bling bling]

166. They (the RW) can't handle the truth.

It is completely and totally relevant at her funeral for any of the speakers to remark on the ways in which the current state of affairs reflect (or don't reflect) CSK's life work. The speakers pointed out the facts and truths at her funeral. The right-wing can't handle hearing the truth because as we all know, they are much happier living in some distorted reality. Therefore, they did the only thing they know how to do, feigned insult and attacked the democrats and the speakers. That's their method of operation. It's a lot easier to run to the media and use it to divert the issues that were brought up than to have to face those legitimate issues.

Your comments about the media are spot-on ("And it's disgraceful that the media are just delighted to be able to act - yet again - as a free-flowing conduit for the right-wing talking points of the day.") Typically, and in this case, the actions of the media make me sicker than anything the right-wingers say or do because I EXPECT the right-wingers to act like they do. For many of the right-wingers such as Karl Rove, shamelessly manipulating every situation to the Repubs advantage is a fundamental element within the scope of their job descriptions. But I EXPECT the media to be a middle-man between the B.S. spewed by the right and what they present to us as the facts. But they don't seem to care about any of that. Anymore it's like our "media" is nothing more than a tripod with a camera attached to it that the Republicans freely access to broadcast their talking points to the nation. It's disgusting.

Anyway, excellent OP. Thanks.

[kentuck]

167. Ab-so-damn-lutely !

Another clear case of projection. Jimmy Carter never mentioned George Bush - he only referenced historical events and the right-wingers start jumping up and down like maniacal chimps, slinging feces at whomever is close to their cage.

[fortyfeetunder]

168. R-Wingers forgot to consider the words...

...of a sage President: If you can't take the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen!

[Tigress DEM]

169. Right Wing is BANGING themselves again, what are ya gonna do?

And I am sorry if that sounds VULGAR, but it's the truth. They are out there getting off on this little slice of power they "think" they got from the funeral. That is the thing about BANGING - it's all fantasy all the time.

I should call that into Air America Radio. We need to make them see how foolish they are and slap this back on them just like GannonGate.

Damm, *ush, you wanted that funeral to be about you? Sheeat, just hop in a box and let us put you six feet under for oh 5-6 hours and we'll lie as much as you want us to about you.

But it was Coretta in the box, her funeral, truth was her choice in life and they respected it in death. At least most got that.

[Tigress DEM]

170. Politics versus real power. KING'S funeral was POWERFUL.

Politics is knowing who you can buy that will stay bought.
Power is knowing who your friends are and trusting they can never be bought.

Politics is thinking everything someone says is about you somehow cause you're the pRes.
Power is saying what needs to be said no matter what fool shows up.

Politics is dammed if you do/dammed if you don't and taking bribes to ease the pain.
Power if facing the same equation and chosing the correct path and action.

Politics is manipulation - smoke and mirrors.
Power is real and it will bite you if you abuse it.


You can't fight the power
The power of the people, cause the power of the people don't stop.

Say What?

You can't fight the power
The power of the people, cause the power of the people don't stop.

Say What?

You can't fight the power
The power of the people, cause the power of the people don't stop.

Say What?

You can't fight the power
The power of the people, cause the power of the people don't stop.

[Paradise]

172. Bravo! n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

175. Yes, exactly

Those words were honoring her legacy. What better way? For once, Bush had to just sit there and LISTEN to his subjects, er um, fellow citizens. He didn't like what he heard. Too bad.

What a topsy-turvy world where it's ok for us to live with constant infringements on our rights, but he shouldn't have to hear things he doesn't like.

How strange to point fingers and scream "politics!" -- as if he was sitting there due to his deep and abiding respect for Mrs. King and her legacy.

[NewJeffCT]

178. They've already fired up their LTTEs on this

My local paper (the Hartford Courant) had one in the newspaper already... basically bashing the Democrats for turning the funeral into politics.

I will write a response today.

[otohara]

179. This Post Is On Salon.com

http://daoureport.salon.com/default.aspx#ece087a4-6ec8-4117-9b7e-109386532a28

Way to go EarlG

[Solomon]

181. Extremely well said Earl. You expressed my outrage perfectly.

What a snow job. They have really disrespected Mrs. King.

[Wordie]

185. Thanks so much for this thread, EarlG. A suggestion:

I think those posts that get over a certain threshold of recommendations should get extra time on the Greatest page. Say, over 50, or?

If a post is that important to DUers, it should stay up longer, imho, so more people can read it. Yours quite definitely falls in this category, as far as I can see.

Thanks again. (I recommended it yesterday.)

[freefall]

189. Great suggestion, Wordie! n/t

[freefall]

190. Terrific post, EarlG. As for your final suggestion, do you think it is

possible that one of the reasons * hasn't been sticking to his old habit of only speaking to pre-screened audiences (There have been one or two other occasions recently where he had mixed audiences who asked tough questions.) is that they can no longer find enough supporters to fill the venues? Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were the case? :yourock:

[MaraJade]

191. Bravo!

:kick:

Well said!

To hear the RightWingNuts say it, Mrs. King's funeral was supposed to be some sort of namby-pamby whitewash of her life, a "gentle going into that good night." I say that Coretta would have heartily
agreed with the statement of Frederick Douglass when a young man asked at the last what he should do with his life. Douglass' answer-- AGITATE, AGITATE, AGITATE!

Mrs. King wanted us all to agitate until things are set right! She wanted all of us to never give up and to speak absolute truth to power at every single opportunity. The BIGGER disgrace would have been to have a pablum ceremony where the very things that MLK and CSK believed in and fought for were not discussed.

I agree with you assessment--if the Chimp wanted to hear lies and pablum, he should have stayed home and
had a briefing with his privy counselors. He should have stayed away from the funeral.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

192. About time he heard some non censored feedback! n/t

[savemefromdumbya]

194. Did anyone make a statement from the King family?

[catzies]

198. You should rant more often, EarlG. You are spot on!

You certainly nailed this one!

K & R :kick: