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Monday, January 19, 2009
BBC video of MLK: Perhaps a ‘Negro president’ by 1988 or so
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In 1964, the BBC asked Martin Luther King Jr. about a comment by Bobby Kennedy — that the United States might elect an African-American as president within, say, 40 years.
See the video here
Both RFK and MLK were a tad off. Said King, ever the optimist:
“I think we may be able to get a Negro president in less than 40 years. I would think that this could come in 25 years or less.”
Then again, there was Jesse Jackson’s ’84 campaign for president.
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Republican rumors: ‘Polishing Bush’s legacy’ and other disinformation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over at redstate.com, Erick Erickson passes on the latest rumor in the race for chairman of the Republican National Committee.
This one involves Michael Duncan, the current chairman — who wants to be re-elected when the RNC assembles this week.
Writes Erickson:
This weekend individuals who will be involved in the election process for the next RNC Chairman told me of being cornered by two Senior Administration Officials trying to push votes toward Duncan. According to my sources, the White House guys said Duncan is their choice because he’s committed to the RNC leading a role in polishing the Bush legacy.
Even in a hardcore Republican context, this is disinformation intended to harm Duncan’s chances:
I emailed Anne Hathaway at the RNC about this. She said she was, “not sure where this is coming from and I’m not sure what this is about. Given all the charges and counter-charges in the last few days I am suspicious as to the credibility of this suggestion. I am not surprised that Mike’s opponents would try and tie him to the White House.”
In the meantime, Politico has this:
Sean Hannity has written a supportive letter to RNC members about Michael Steele, who is currently in the running for the chairman post. Hannity calls Steele, the former Lt. Governor of Marlyand, “the best kind of conservative.” (Steele has been a substitute host on “Hannity & Colmes”).
On the same topic, Congressional Quarterly reported today, via Twitter, that NBC’s “Tonight Show” was on the Mall in Washington, hosting a shoe-throwing competition in President Bush’s honor.
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Rick Warren at Ebenezer: ‘Can we not all just get along?’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Protestors jumped up as the Rev. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church began his MLK Day address at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Atlanta.
The two women were quickly escorted out.
It took nearly three hours for Monday’s ceremony to get to Warren, the featured speaker of the program, who also will give the invocation at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Protestors, who object to Warren’s stand against same-sex marriage and abortion, also stood outside and shouted.
Here’s one line from Warren that sounded like a theme for tomorrow: “Justice is a journey, and we’re getting further and further along.”
Warren’s strongest reference to the hoopla surrounding his participation in the Obama inauguration came at the very end of a 50-minute address:
“I am a white, overweight, southern California mega-church pastor. I love you. And I reach out my hand to you and I say to you and to anyone of good will — to quote that great theologian Rodney King — ‘Can we not all just get along?’
“You don’t have to agree on everything. You don’t have to agree to be agreeable. You can disagree without being disagreeable. You can walk hand-in-hand with out seeing eye-to-eye.
“You know what I love about America? It’s diversity. I don’t know if you’ve figure this out, but God likes variety.’’
Otherwise, Warren’s remarks were largely King-oriented and inspirational.
Perhaps the most interesting was the rousing defense of Warren offered by Isaac Farris, CEO of the King Center, from the pulpit:
“When Pastor Warren was selected to deliver the invocation at the inauguration tomorrow, it sparked a bit of controversy because of his views on same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
“”But you know, Pastor Warren is not so easy to pigeon-hole as your average conservative on the political spectrum. Because he holds views on issues like poverty, compassion help for people with AIDS, global warming — what some people might characterize as liberal or progressive…
“Here at the King Center we would just call it the social gospel. There are those who feel that because of his conservative views on some issues, Pastor Warren shouldn’t be a speaker at this service.
“”I submit to you that these are people who, quite frankly, don’t understand the beloved community of Martin Luther King Jr. In the beloved community, you will find both conservative and liberal Christians, people of Jewish, Islamic and Hindu faiths. People of all races — gays, lesbians.
“”I would urge his critics to rise to the challenge of Martin Luther King Jr., who said — if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition.
“”And let us remember that followers of Martin Luther King Jr. hold diverse opinions on topics like abortion and same-sex marriage. All of the great freedom movements in America are based on free speech.”
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Is Kia plant about to become a GOP icon in the stimulus debate?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a Q&A with former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich, today’s editorial section of the Washington Times has an interesting mention of the deal that brought the Kia auto plant to Georgia.
By the phrasing, you have to wonder if the Kia deal — a package of incentives not at all different from those offered by other states — is about to become the Republican ideal.
Here’s the section in question:
Times: The Obama team and congressional Democrats can’t wait to push through an infrastructure plan, one they say will turn around the economy. Can America afford such a plan? Or would public-private partnerships like the one between Kia Motors and West Point, Ga., where the state government opened a new I-85 access for the company’s auto plant, be preferable?
Gingrich: Of course we should look for public-private partnerships where we can. However, I am comfortable with direct federal spending on infrastructure - so long as it is on projects that will set the stage for long-term economic growth, not pet projects like the list that mayors have asked be included in the Obama stimulus package.
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SNL’s Coulter: ‘I think torture is good and Christiany”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No longer obsessed with Sarah Palin, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” takes on conservative anorexic Ann Coulter in this web-only video below.
The skit is a send-up of Coulter’s appearance earlier this month on NBC’s “Today.”
Says Coulter, a.k.a. Michaela Watkins:” ”I think torture is good and Christiany, and history will bear that out.”
