Greenfield: 'Do you really do this at a funeral?' (Sickening political statements at King's funeral)

cnn ^ | 2-8-06

[LouAvul]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Four U.S. presidents -- including President George W. Bush -- were among the luminaries at Coretta Scott King's funeral Tuesday. Among some speakers' accolades and tributes to the civil rights icon were criticisms of the current administration's actions -- the war in Iraq and domestic eavesdropping.

CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield talked to CNN anchor Miles O'Brien about politics raising its head at the funeral.

O'BRIEN: It was quite a funeral, six hours. And the full range of emotions as Coretta Scott King was laid to rest. There were songs, prayers, praise and a healthy dose of politics.

Former presidents Carter and Clinton, and civil rights legend Joseph Lowery used their time at the pulpit to take some jabs at the current administration with the man, as you see, seated a few feet away, President Bush.

Jeff Greenfield is here to talk about the implications of all of this.

Before we get going, we will share video of former President Carter making reference to wiretaps, which of course has historical parallels here to Martin Luther King Day.

(Video clip begins)

CARTER: It was difficult for them personally with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the targets of secret government wiretapping, other surveillance.

(Video clip ends)

[Inkie]

Completely classless remarks from Clinton about Bush 41, particularly given the public generosity of the latter regarding his successor.

[70times7]

That's no ordinary rabbit! That's the most foul, cruel and bad tempered rodent ya ever laid eyes on!

[sportutegrl]

Probably why BET didn't want to cover the funeral. Knew it would turn into a political event and GWB's apolitical speech would look respectfully appropriate by contrast.

[Doogle]

That's the most foul, cruel and bad tempered rodent ya ever laid eyes on!

..and it attacked jimmah

[CyberAnt]

You could be right!

[top 2 toe red]

Clinton could have come out in blackface with a watermelon under each arm and the crowd(as well as the MSM) would have yuked it up.

... and balancing a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken on his head, ;-)

[Loyal Buckeye]

The Dems'idea of a funeral brings new meaning to the term ho-down.

[ConservaTexan]

I am surprised that Bubba and Billary did not slap a "Hillary '08" button on Correta's lapel before they closed the lid!!!! I cannot believed they missed that opportunity.

[Lando Lincoln]

A remarkable element of this is that we as a society like to remember Dr. King as a man of conciliation "among all people, regardless of their race, color or creed". Yet, at his wife's funeral, Lowery and Carter can trample that memory with their bombastic, divisive rhetoric. What a shame.

[Semper Paratus]

I am still steamed at the lack of courtesy shown the President with the First Lady.

I've been so busy recently -- what happened?

The gratuitous comments directed at the President by many o fthe speakers and Carter deliberatly not shaking his hand as he walked by.

[top 2 toe red]

and did i hear right or did that sick pervert clintoon make more than one passing referance to what a hot babe Corretta King was??? at her funeral for cripes sake????

You heard right! Sounded like he had to go take a cold shower [or something!] after seeing how hot a seventy-something year old could be the last time he saw her. Pervert!

[outofhere2]

That mindless audience at the funeral made me sick. They'll clap at anything Bill Clinton, Marion Barry, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Hilary Clinton, even Jimmy Carter tells them to clap to.

[Froufrou]

She probably thought of it too late...right after the lid was shut. Evil witch.

[Richard Kimball]

You have once again proven that subtle humor is often not understood on FR. Next time try this one. "A John Kerry walks into a bar. The bartender says, 'Hey! Why the long face?'"

[savedbygrace]

This is so strange. A few weeks ago, I Googled this, and found several sources that said they were court-approved. Several.

Today, using the exact same search terms, I can't find any of them.

So, since I can't find them again, I'll agree that I'm wrong about this.

[jaydubya2]

At laest Bill and Hill were able to stay awake during this funeral!

[FreedomPoster]

>>Somehow they will blame it on Eisenhower and Nixon

Actually, I've seen it blamed on J. Edgar Hoover, which I guess is like blaming it on Calvin Coolidge.

And RFK was AG, and I believe directly approved it.

[top 2 toe red]

She probably thought of it too late...right after the lid was shut. Evil witch.

I think I saw the Goodyear blimp flying over, flashing..."Coretta, Rosa, remember round everybody up and vote-vote-vote, Hillary 2008!"

[outofhere2]

I don't watch CNN anymore. I know how unfair that network is so I never saw this report but it doesn't surprise me Greenfield and O'Brien's liberal bent.