I was talking to Howie Klein a couple of day ago about the anniversary of MLK’s “I Have A Dream I remembered that McCain voted against the proposed national holiday back in 1983.
In a Feb. 9 “Hardball” interview with Chris Matthews, McCain compared his evolution to that of one of his political heroes, former Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater. “I believe that Barry Goldwater, to start with, regretted his vote on the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” McCain said. “I think that Barry grew, like all of us grow and evolve. In 1983, when I was brand-new in the Congress, I voted against the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King. That was a mistake, OK? And later I had the chance to … help fight for … the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King as a holiday in my state.”
Just think about the fact that he voted against the holiday to begin with. What does that tell you about him and his views of race in America? Why did it matter to him that he was brand spanking new to Congress when he denied MLK his rightful day of celebration? He brings up Goldwater in 64 as some sort of wingnut justification. Well, he had almost twenty years to think about it by then and he still voted against MLK day. I’m glad Sam Stein caught this too and wrote a good piece on it.
In 1983, McCain voted against passing a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of King. Four years later, then-Arizona Governor Evan Mecham rescinded Martin Luther King Day as a state holiday, saying it had been established through an illegal executive order by his Democratic predecessor.
McCain said he thought Mecham was correct in his decision.
Two years after that, McCain’s viewpoint began to change, but only gradually. In 1989, he urged lawmakers to make Martin Luther King Jr. day a state holiday, but said he was “still opposed to another federal holiday.”
Filed Under: John McCain, Racism/Bigotry
Tags: John McCain, racisim
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Of course he did.
[sinks into a slump in chair]
he was against the holiday before he was for it
Yeah, but he flip-flopped on the issue when his paleo-racism became politically unpopular. This, to McCain, is “integrity.”
we kill all the good people
give them a day?
no!!!!
MLK had issues but he was truly great…unlike McCain
We aren’t ready for people that want peace and love!
Who cares!? We need to talk more about Obama’s former minister!
I would happily trade a lip-service holiday for, oh say… equal treatment before the law.
That being said, Fuck McCain.
Hows ur’ finances doing.
What a total bastard McBain is…he is full of fecal matter.
I remember this case - if I’m not mistaken the city of Phoenix lost the privilege of hosting the Super Bowl that year - I know, big deal…
Looking at myself 25 years ago, I don’t like that either.
Important to focus on the problems with McCain the way he is today. We’ll learn a lot more about that if the general election campaign ever begins.
/looking at McCain 25 years ago, he was 46 years old.
McCain claims that he has “evolved” from voting against the MLK holiday in 1983. My question for John McCain is “evolved” from WHAT to WHAT? Talk about an “empty” speech!
You know, each time someone brings up Reverend Wright to Senator Obama, he should ask them (if they are a member of the media), if they are going to look into those crazy pastors that McCain has supported the endorsement from.
Now as for McCain, I would like to know now from African-American Republicans why they would vote for McCain? I’m not saying they should vote against their own party necessarily, but why vote for this man who only seemed to change his mind about honoring the memory of the greatest figure in the Civil Rights movement, after it became politically popular for him to do so?
In the latest stop on his biographical trip down memory lane, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain returned to his old high school in Alexandria, Virginia. As it turns out, that may have been an odd choice for a man trying to reintroduce himself to the American people. Years after leaving the august halls of Episcopal High School, John McCain became a Baptist.
Even more curious is McCain’s shifting positions when it comes what he religion now considers himself to be. In June 2007, McClatchy reported, “McCain still calls himself an Episcopalian.” But as the 2008 South Carolina approached, McCain had a change of heart as he appealed to the Palmetto’s State’s massive evangelical base. By September 2007, McCain announced he had in fact switched teams: “It plays a role in my life. By the way, I’m not Episcopalian. I’m Baptist.”
For the details, see:
“New Baptist John McCain Returns to His Old Episcopal High School.”
Let’s not play the race card.
Dr. Hussien Matt @ 5:
and he’s BLACK!…and his middle name is Hussein!!!!
Brettster @ 14:
Specially when the Pretzelnit and the GOP nominee for Pretzelnit both aren’t playing with a full deck.
There shouldn’t be any holidays recognizing individuals by name including MLK or anyone else. Our holidays should recognize qualities such as peace, equality, service, etc. rather than personalities.
Liberal AND Proud @ 16:
My Happy Meal is short a few fries an a lead-coated toy.
Liberal AND Proud @ 15:
AND he’s secretly a muslim (who went to a christian church for years as a cover) who wants to convert all our white women to Islam….and did I mention he’s BLACK!!!
Reach.
Actually what it tells me is that in ‘83 he voted the way his constituents wanted him to. Which, like him or not, is what a legislator is supposed to do. AZ and NH were the last two states to adopt MLK Day. Not sure but I think NH still calls it Civil Rights Day and hasn’t officially adopted MLK Day as of yet.
Brettster @ 14:
Don’t jump to defense conclusions. McCain should NOT be allowed to give vague answers to a vote that was very important to many Americans. And if he “evolved” from something, I’d like to know what he WAS and now IS and why.
GOP line is that brown people are irrelevant and that the only real Americans are whites.
I don’t know. While there’s plenty of reasons to go after McCain, I don’t think that his admitting racist tendencies and changing them is a valid one. Most of us (including those on the left) have latent, racist attitudes as part of our makeup. It’s only by confronting and rejecting these attitudes that this problem can be addressed.
Mc100yearwar would jump at the chance to vote for a GWB day.
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 19:
And he can’t bowl, but can play basketball very well!
Dr. Hussien Matt @ 25:
A holiday for the intellectually deficient?
dennis @ 20:
Aaahahahahahahaha!!!! No more than the Obama/Wright bullshit.
i’m sure the msm will ignore this too….
Samson- @ 29:
Of course, they rather cover “flashbacks” of Hillary and Obama’s former minister.
McCain says he’s “evolved” since 1983? I thought evolution was only a theory.
fiver @ 24:
I love these philosophical thoughts on racial understanding now. Where were you deep thinkers when Obama was being slammed as a racist three weeks ago? At least Obama explained his thoughts on race. Give the old man a pass, I guess.
Dr. Hussien Matt @ 30:
and bowling… nothing more important than a candidate’s bowling score. now, i want to see who throws the best bocce ball, then i will know who to vote for.
what is this 1957?
I’m glad someone brought this up / is looking in to it, as I was listening to Public Enemy’s “By the Time I get to Arizona” the other day and wonderded…”Hmmm…I wonder where McCain stood on this whole MLK holiday issue back in the day……”
This, of course, would be a particularly tricky issue to pursue if Obama is the nominee.
Samson- @ 33:
I prefer pétanque.
Ah yes, McCain changed his political mind back in the day. He’s a man of change. He’s the exact opposite of GW.
The only change McCain can make that would benefit society is if he changed his overloaded diaper.
Yellow Elephant Safari @ 31:
So he’s theoretically evolved since 1983
Left&Left @ 28:
That only went back 20 years, L&L!
Aside from that, I don’t read too much other than here so I’m not all that much up to speed on the Obama/Wright bullshit other than people telling me he was mostly right and I’m only seeing cherry-picked snippets. What else do I need to know?
There is only one question people need to ask themselves when they go to the voting booth in November.
ARE YOU BETTER OFF NOW THAN YOU WERE 8 YEARS AGO?
If your answer is “yes”, then there is blood on your hands.
If your answer is “no”, then you’re like most Americans struggling with skyrocketing costs of living and a drastically devalued dollar.
Did McCain vote against a federal MLK-Day because he was anti-MLK (or anti Black Civil Rights) or because he was against federal holidays in general?
Liberal AND Proud @ 15:
and he can’t bowl!
In my state, MLK day was completely ignored until they also designated it Robert E. Lee day. Racism is alive and well in the south!
Dr. Acula @ 41:
Donny, who loved bowling…
fiver @ 27:
No, the morally corrupt
Samson- @ 33:
How about a rousing game of croquet? Or Jarts, jarts is probably better because there is always the threat of someone being mortally wounded.
Figures. What do you expect? he’s a bigot and proud of it unless he needs you. McCain as president? He’s whacked, clinically diminished mentally, and just a very, very poor choice. Ah, but in a America anyone has a chance. Even the people’s politician. I believe he’s got dementia already. Besides those problems he’s fine.
Peace, brandon
“denied MLK his rightful day of celebration?”
When do I get my “rightful day of celebration?”
Who cares if McCain voted for some silly holiday 30 years ago?? We have bigger thing to worry about…
chris @ 47:
Please enlighten us chris…
BobD @ 21:
Well…..legislator’s can also lead and show the electorate where they are wrong or ill-informed. And I don’t mean to deny you the importance of your quote - you do raise a valid point. Still, he is running to be the “leader” of the nation so being able to point to instances in the past where he challenged the status quo would be a good thing for him.
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 48:
Don’t hold yer breath, lib.
Come on people, in 1987 McCain was only 47 years old. Can’t we forgive and forget a youthful mistake?
chris @ 47:
It says a lot about his character, since this issue was a total ethical no-brainer. Was there any good reason for voting against a day honoring MLK?