Bush's King visit scorned

Atlanta Jounal-Constitution ^ | 01-14-2004 | CHARLES YOO

[doodad]

President Bush's visit on Thursday to observe what would have been the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 75th birthday isn't sitting well with area tribute organizers.

They say Bush invited himself to their party and will potentially force the cancellation of some events due to security concerns. What's more, they say, Bush will profit from a fund-raiser he will piggyback with his visit to Atlanta.

About 3:45 p.m., the president will lay a wreath at the late civil rights leader's crypt at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. The president announced his visit on Friday.

But the MLK March Committee, a group of area civil rights activists who worked with King, say they have worked for months on a program to honor the civil rights leader at Ebenezer Baptist Church, across the street.

"They told us that the Secret Service wanted us out of there by 2 p.m.," said the Rev. James Orange. "We are not leaving the church." The Ebenezer program from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. focuses on human rights.

A White House spokesman said the president's visit has been well-communicated with the King Center.

"The president is looking forward to visiting members of the King family and paying respects at the King Center to honor the important legacy of Dr. King," said spokesman Taylor Gross.

A spokesman for the King Center, Robert Vickers, said Bush called the center to say he would be in Atlanta and wanted to lay a wreath.

"Every president has laid a wreath, outside of Ronald Reagan," Vickers said. "So it wasn't a formal invitation by the King Center, just like none of the other ones are."

The nonprofit King Center is governed by a board of directors.

State Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta) said Bush's planners should have given the visit more thought.

"He has the right to come, but there should have been some consideration on what's going on locally," said Brooks. "That's quite insulting. This is not the appropriate way to honor Dr. King."

[doodad]

Did not see this anywhere. Bush is in a no win situation with this one. I think I would just say "ok, you don't want me there. Fine."

[johnb838]

They don't have exclusive rights to Dr. King's legacy. Can't have it both ways folks. You want him to be the black George Washington? You want him to usurp President Washington's Birthday as a Federal holiday? Yet you don't think it's appropriate for the President to lay a wreath. The implications are... revealing.

[boomop1]

They would squeal like a pig if he didn't show and Peter Pan Osama Jennings, Blather and Brokejaw would have a lead story.

[Prodigal Son]

Bush is in a no win situation with this one.

Yep.

If he doesn't go they'll slam him for being insensitive to Black interests. If he does they'll criticize him for something else.

[uncbob]

Give it up George

No amount of pandering is going to get the black vote

[Floyd]

Contrast this to 1996 when Clintax was in office. He was the keynote speaker at Ebenezer Baptist Church on MLK's birthday. After a hardy round of GOP bashing, everyone went in mass to watch the first black president lay a wreath ...

http://www.cnn.com/US/9601/mlk/clinton/

President Bush wants to simply lay a wreath ...

[doodad]

Considering how much money the King Center and Ebeneezer get from the Fed and State taxpayers they should be told to STFU.

[doodad]

Ping for a potential twofer.

[mystery-ak]

Damn if he does, damn if he doesn't...

[mhking]

Tyrone Brooks (a Georgia state Congresscritter who excels at professional bitching) and everyone else involved have had natural conniption fits because President Bush hasn't been here for the King Day services the past three years.

Now that he decides to come, they whine because of the security?!?

Just damn!

Bush is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't!

This is DEFINITELY worth a double-barrelled megaping (JD! & B/C lists)!

(If you want on either list, let me know!)

[SquirrelKing]

If these people had nothing to b*tch about, they'd b*tch about having nothing to b*tch about.

Now say that fast three times.

[CSM]

Yep, when will GWB learn that no matter how well he treats his enemies, they will continue to slap both his cheeks. He honors TK and then gets slammed, he honors this group and the continue to slap him around. In the meantime, he ignores his most conservative base.

[hchutch]

Bush just can't win with some people on some issues.

[Tax-chick]

If W had true nerve, he'd go to Rev. Peterson's "Repudiate Jesse Jackson" rally on Monday! (We can wish ...)

[Tribune7]

Bush is in a no win situation with this one.

It's a no lose situation. The race-baiters who want to keep blacks voting Dem are the ones looking bad.

[weegee]

Well in 2001 he hadn't even been sworn in as President yet.

In 2002 we were still living in the wake of 9.11.2001.

In 2003 the antiAmericanSocialists were protesting the impending Iraq war.

Now that things are such that he can attend resonably without distraction, they claim that "he invited himself". I guess this is the same as when the Rats told VP Chaney not to come to the Wellstone Memorial-rally, that he wasn't welcome.

[MineralMan]

"But the MLK March Committee, a group of area civil rights activists who worked with King, say they have worked for months on a program to honor the civil rights leader at Ebenezer Baptist Church, across the street.

"They told us that the Secret Service wanted us out of there by 2 p.m.," said the Rev. James Orange. "We are not leaving the church." The Ebenezer program from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. focuses on human rights. "

Uh-oh. Bush doesn't want to be in a position where he forces people out of a church. "What we have here is failure to communicate."

[Mike Darancette]

President Bush's visit on Thursday to observe what would have been the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 75th birthday isn't sitting well with area tribute organizers.

Let's keep Whitey away (but we'll take their money).

[Blue Scourge]

I can honestly say that from talking to my many black friends and coworkers that they either will not vote or will not vote for Bush. For a reason that even they cannot explain they hate him...almost like it's preprogrammed or something...disturbing to say the least.

[Mike Darancette]

Bush should have pulled an "Iraq Moment" and showed up unannounced a day earlier to place the wreath. Then they would have had to compete with the news coverage of the visit and the presence of a nice wreath.