NPR: McCain Hails Civil Rights Marchers in Selma

McCain Hails Civil Rights Marchers in Selma

Sen. John McCain started his "Time for Action Tour" today in Selma, Alabama, where he praised Democratic Rep. John Lewis, one of the leaders of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, and his fellow marchers for their courage.

"That evening, millions of Americans watched in stunned silence as ABC News broadcast the clash of might against right. They watched brave John Lewis fall. They watched the marchers -- peaceful, purposeful, loving, kneeling in humble resistance -- scattered and overrun by the troopers, who struck them with clubs and whips, chased them as they fled, trampled them beneath their horses' hooves. They watched old men and women fall. They saw dignified people claiming only their constitutional rights; affirming the promise of the Declaration of Independence without anger, malice or the least threat of violence, whipped and clubbed for their patriotism. They watched, and were ashamed of their country. And they knew that the people who had tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge weren't a mob; they weren't a threat; they weren't revolutionaries. They were people who believed in America; in the promise of America. And they believed in a better America. They were patriots; the best kind of patriots" ...
"When I care about something," John Lewis wrote, "I'm prepared to take the long, hard road." I've seen courage in action on many occasions in my life, but none any greater or used for any better purpose than the courage shown by John Lewis and the good people who marched for justice with him. All his life, John Lewis has believed in Dr. King's concept of the "beloved community;" a country "not hateful, not violent, not uncaring . . . not separated, not polarized, not adversarial."

The Associated Press reports that the speech in Selma is the start of "a weeklong tour of communities he said are suffering from poverty and inattention from presidential candidates." (Although Selma itself hasn't lacked for attention - last year Senators Clinton and Obama, along with former President Bill Clinton all visited to mark the anniversary of the march.) After Alabama, McCain goes to Youngstown, Ohio, eastern Kentucky and New Orleans' Ninth Ward, an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

10:13 AM ET | 04-21-2008 | permalink

Comments

The deceit continues unabated.
Go McCain!!!!!!

Sent by Concern | 11:45 AM ET | 04-21-2008

What! McCain praises Rep John Lewis...as we know Rep Lewis followed one of the great leaders of America, Dr. Martin Luther King who used a "peaceful" approach to evoke change in American society. Fast forward to present and you see a man who initially supported Hillary Clinton then changed his mind (he blames that on pressure from his constitency...even though being a Superdelegate means you have to be able to make an independent decision for the good of the Party and ultimately America)...to support a candidate who is entangled with Rev. Wright and who couldn't be more opposite in his delivery to the masses than Dr. King....so it is with irony that Rep. John Lewis is praised for courage displayed during that terrible time in American History and in present day has seemed to have lost his courage to make the tougher choice (it shouldn't be that tough to stand on your word)...time does have a way of changing things...

PS: While I admire McCain for reaching out and attempting to make amends...I couldn't help but feel the jolt of ironic hyprocisy on behalf of Rep John Lewis...I wonder what Dr. King would have to say today to "all" those he stood for regarding the progress made...

Sent by ard | 2:02 PM ET | 04-21-2008

I am almost to the point of cussing. The nerve of McCain going to Selma and trying to praise those that marched bravely in Selma in 1965. It is utter hypocrisy. Hindsight is 20-20, you gd right it is. This ard fellow and McCain are oth unashamed Repulican that means in the presence of a political moment they will shun the progressive forward thinking view of the issue and opt for slow measured social change if any change. Conservatives say things are going pretty good, let's ungird the status quo or let's go back to a time when we seem to a time in America when we seem to have done this better. This is colloquially conservative ideaology, and it informed McCain's decision on the King Holiday in the early 90's

Sent by mak | 9:47 AM ET | 04-22-2008

and it will inform his decision on future social change. The truth of the matter is McCain would have been standing with George Wallace more or less in the 60's and ard too. Jesus said it best, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. (Matthew 23:29-31)

Sent by mak | 9:53 AM ET | 04-22-2008

Whether John Lewis was right or wrong for changing his political support. ard, you of all people have no right to question his integrity.
ard, you so to me like the kind of guy that would be pretty comfortable throwing a certain rock as long as you were in a crowd.

Sent by mak | 10:00 AM ET | 04-22-2008

Mak,

You are entitled to your opinion, but I respectifully disagree with your finding that McCain was wrong to make acknowledgements recognizing the civil rights struggle...I challenge you to avoid being an emotional reactionary and consider that McCain is operating more in a philosphy that Dr. Martin Luther King supported...the problem I have is that some people want to make Dr. King's message all about race (black vs white) when his message's foundation was built on a much broader insight...(something Rep John Lewis should really understand)...I wonder if it makes people uncomfortable to forgive the pass and move towards a more productive and positive future, one that refuses to engage in perpetuating the attitudes of unforgiveness, hatred, racial bias, etc...it's time for us to stand up and strive to be more, period.

PS: I give McCain the credit for "growing" and coming to the realization that his past stand on this issue was incorrect and he has the courage to publicly denounce his previous decision...why can't this be viewed postively, no matter what your political affiliation? By the way, I'm an Independent and believe we should study of "all the candidates" fairly before the Presidential Election...

Sent by ard | 10:40 AM ET | 04-22-2008

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