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Sen. John McCain, who once opposed a national holiday in memory of Martin Luther King Jr., said today in Memphis that he had been "wrong.'' McCain is pictured here greeting a crowd at the Lorraine Hotel, the site where King was killed. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
by Jill Zuckman
Saying “we are still left with a feeling of loss,” Sen. John McCain paid tribute today to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on the 40th anniversary of King’s death.
Most notably, McCain acknowledged that he was wrong to oppose creating a federal holiday in honor of the slain civil rights leader.
“We can be slow as well to give greatness its due, a mistake I made myself long ago when I voted against a federal holiday in memory of Dr. King,” McCain said. “I was wrong and eventually realized that, in time to give full support for a state holiday in Arizona. We can all be a little late sometimes in doing the right thing, and Dr. King understood this about his fellow Americans. But he knew as well that in the long term, confidence in the reasonability and good heart of America is always well placed.”
McCain has said that he knew little of King and the civil rights struggle because he was a prisoner of war in Hanoi and received only sporadic news during his five and a half years’ confinement. But his captors told him and his fellow POW’s when King was assassinated.
“In our circumstances at the time, good news from America was hard to come by. But the bad news was a different matter, and each new report of violence, rioting, and other tribulations in America was delivered without delay,” he said. “The enemy had correctly calculated that the news from Memphis would deeply wound morale, and leave us worried and afraid for our country. Doubtless it boosted our captors' morale, confirming their belief that America was a lost cause, and that the future belonged to them.”
In recent years, McCain has introduced his children to Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), an icon of the civil rights movement, saying he wanted them to get to know Lewis and to learn about his role protesting for equal rights for all Americans.
He has also pledged to campaign in all 50 states, in inner cities that traditionally vote Democratic, and in impoverished rural areas. And McCain has said he will ask for the votes of African Americans, as well as Latinos.
Of King, McCain said, “He only seems a bigger man from far away. The quality of his character is only more apparent. His good name will be honored for as long as the creed of America is honored. His message will be heard and understood for as long as the message of the gospels is heard and understood.”
McCain also tied today’s struggles for freedom and independence around the world to King’s work in the United States.
“For his marches in Birmingham, Montgomery, and elsewhere, for his sit-ins and his sermons, he was called an agitator, a trouble-maker, a malcontent, and a disturber of the peace,” McCain said. “These are often the terms applied to men and women of conscience who will not endure cruelty, nor abide injustice. We hear them to this day -- in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Burma, Tibet, Iran and other lands -- directed at every brave soul who dares to disturb the peace of tyrants.”
Despite McCain's visit to Memphis and his admission that he was wrong to oppose a national holiday in honor of King, the Democratic National Committee accused him of being disingenuous and trying to reinvent his record.
"It's frankly disingenuous for John mcCain to try and reinvent himself for the general election by distorting his record of opposing a holiday honoring Dr. King," said Karen Finney, the DNC communications director. "John McCain should be honest about his full record of opposing the federal holiday, opposing a state holiday four years later, using divisive language to defend himself and voting to cut off funding for the commission working to promote the King holiday as recently as 1994."
McCain, in fact, voted for final passage of legislation that would authorize $2 million for the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission, though he had also supported trying to use private funds. The amendment calling for private funding of the commission failed, and McCain supported providing federal funds.
"It's disturbing and unfortunate that on a day where we are celebrating Dr. King's legacy, the DNC would use his name to try to smear John McCain," said Brian Rogers, a McCain spokesman.
In Memphis, where McCain acknowledged he was wrong to initially oppose the King holiday, people in the audience called out "We forgive you, we forgive you."
Comments
McCain said. “These are often the terms applied to men and women of conscience who will not endure cruelty, nor abide injustice. We hear them to this day -- in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Burma, Tibet, Iran and other lands -- directed at every brave soul who dares to disturb the peace of tyrants.”
He forgot to add the USA to his list.
Posted by: DD | April 4, 2008 12:05 PM
McCain has said that he knew little of King and the civil rights struggle because he was a prisoner of war in Hanoi.
Let's try to keep track of how many times he talks about being a prisoner of war. This is like Rudy and 9/11. Since when is getting captured something to brag about?? Imagine if John Kerry had been captured, they'd have smeared his honorable service even more than they did!
Posted by: Paul | April 4, 2008 12:40 PM
Flip Flop....what will he change his mind about next?
Posted by: jethro | April 4, 2008 12:41 PM
DD, with anti-American rhetoric like that I can't imagine why you guys keep losing presidential elections. Could it be that most Americas don't hate their country like you do?
Posted by: Jeff | April 4, 2008 1:08 PM
I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, so make me president. Then I can start another war in Iran to vindicate the war in Vietnam!
Posted by: abiodun | April 4, 2008 1:11 PM
Could it be that most Americas...
Posted by: Jeff | April 4, 2008 1:08 PM
Hey look!! Jeff believes in more than one America just like John Edwards. It's good to see you've become enlightened
Posted by: jackson | April 4, 2008 1:35 PM
I find it appalling and hypocritical that McNut a couple of days ago is arm and arm with Gov.Barbour,a frequent attendee of KKK meetings in his home state.
Be honest McNut,you and your party are going to dis-enfranchise as many blacks as you can,to WIN!!!!!
Posted by: Raving Loon | April 4, 2008 2:00 PM
"MCCAIN SPEAKS"
MLK DAY, NOT IN MY STATE.
MLK DAY, NOT ON MY WATCH. MLK DAY NOT ON MY BORDER! MLK PAID HOLLIDAY DAY NOT ON PAYROLL, NEVER.
John McCain could care less about Martin Luther King. He WAS MAD AS HELL when it was attempting to be passed in his "ABSENTEE STATE" of Arizona. MR. NO EARMARKS
MR. NO MLK DAY IN MY STATE. could care less about Martin Luther King.
The only thing John McCain would do for Martin Luther King is adopt a Black Child as he says he did and treat the child like "SHEEP"
John McCain wasn't born on AMERICAN SOIL, and that burns him up, because MARTIN LUTHER KING was, and he was a Black fighting against a war. "PUNK" McCain crashed planes after planes dropping bombs after bombs. Prayed, begged, broke, tortured, and tortured. Came back to America and distained himself from the "DREAM" not only of the black man, but WOMEN too.
IT KILLED HIM TO HAVE TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT A WOMAN AND A BLACK MAN COULD VOTE.
John McCain could care less about Martin Luther King or his dream.
John McCain MLK DREAM is giving 11 million people whom came to America with an invite and now he is building a fence using "IMMINENT DOMAIN" to lock them in while they run to the North. All so the "SECRETARY" WHOM EVER HIS SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY WOULD BE" can categorize them as "Z" People.
JOHN MCCAIN COULD CARE LESS ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
He is gritting his TEETH just recognizing him and the fact that a WOMAN can vote and can vote him OUT. That a black man had the nerve to stand up and SAY NO TO WAR, RENDENTION, TORTURE, WIRETAPPING, EAVESDROPPING ON AMERICANS, TORTURE, IMPRISONMENT, HITLER LIKE DETENTION CENTERS IN AMERICA ON AMERICAN SOIL.
NOT PANAMA SOIL! BUT AMERICAN SOIL.
BUT FORGIVENESS IS IN THE HEART! only IF HE HAS ONE. I don't think he has one.
So you be your own judge!
"GOD WANTS WORLD CUP NOT FALSE PROPHETS"
Posted by: Roger Morris | April 4, 2008 2:07 PM
DD, if the U.S. is as bad as you say, then leave. In fact, hurry up and go!
I'm sure you'll be much happier and more comfortable in Cuba, Venezuala, North Korea, Somalia, Zimbabwe or other such place.
Posted by: John D | April 4, 2008 2:16 PM
McCain is lying.
"McCain has said that he knew little of King and the civil rights struggle because he was a prisoner of war in Hanoi and received only sporadic news during his five and a half years’ confinement. But his captors told him and his fellow POW’s when King was assassinated."
King was assassinated about 6 months after Mccain was captured. The great majority of his public work was done before McCain became a POW.
McCain wasn't a POW in 1955 when MLK was a leader of the Montgomery bus boycott.
McCain wasn't a POW when MLK qrote "A letter from a Birmingham Jail" in 1963.
McCain wasn't a POW in 1963 when MLK gave his "I have a dream" to a crowd of hundreds of thousands from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
McCain wasn't a POW in 1964 when MLK was awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
For him to blame his POW status for his ignorance is a shameful twisting of the truth. If McCain was ignorant of Dr. King's life and work, the fault is his, not the North Vietnamese. Apparently the civil rights movement was beneath his notice, and the only part of Dr. Kings career that mattered to him was his death.
Posted by: Luke | April 4, 2008 2:38 PM
The good people of Arizona don't call John W McBush the "pander bear" for nothing.
John W McCain/Bush skipped the minority debates during the Republican primary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhSZfa1dfD4
Posted by: John E | April 4, 2008 2:46 PM
John McCain voted against the Martin Luther King holiday in 1983. Asked about today, he made a startling revelation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ozQz0qe3c&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/
McCain: I voted in my first year in congress against it. Then I began to learn. And I studied. And people talked to me. And I not only supported it, but I fought very hard in my own state of Arizona for recognition against a governor who was of my own party. ...
Reporter: On Martin Luthor King, what do you mean you say you learned?
McCain: Well, I learned that this individual was a transcendent figure in American history. He deserved to be honored. And I thought it was appropriate to do so. In my home state of Arizona, I was not proud that we were one of the last states to recognize Dr. King's birthday as a holiday. And I was pleased to be part of the fight for that recognition.
Reporter: What didn't you know when you voted initially against it that you later knew when you changed your mind?
McCain: I had not really been involved in the issue. I just had not had a lot of experience with the issue. That's all.
Reporter: [couldn't hear question]
McCain: In Arizona, I came from the military where we are the greatest equal opportunity employer in the nation and still are. And I had just not been involved in the issue. There were issues that I had not been involved in when I was in the military, and then I went relatively quickly to being a member of Congress.
Reporter: You just didn't realize the large role in American history?
McCain: I think I just explained it about best I could.
Reporter: It's not really an issue to be involved in, to be aware of his impact on this country, it's more of a knowledge of history.
McCain: I think you're entitled to your opinion on it and I respect your opinion on that, but I had not been involved in the issue. I had come from being in the military to running for Congress in a state that did not have a large African American population.
McCain was 32 when King died. He was 47 when he voted against the holiday. He claims he didn't know about MLK that entire time? That it was merely "an issue"? The reporter is right, this wasn't an issue, it was basic knowledge of American history.
Yet even at 47, McCain still had a lot of "learning" to do before he'd change his mind on MLK, as Steve Benen notes:
If McCain "began to learn" and "studied" after his opposition to the King holiday in ‘83, he was a very slow learner. Four years later, he didn’t fight against a governor or his own party; he endorsed the governor’s move to eliminate a King holiday.
Six years after his House vote he began supporting a state holiday, but still opposed a federal King holiday. Eleven years after his vote, he tried to strip federal funding from the MLK Federal Holiday Commission. Seventeen years after his vote, McCain publicly endorsed South Carolina’s right to fly the confederate flag over its statehouse.
Now, in the interest of fairness, it’s worth noting that McCain ended up, years after the fact, in the right place, and reversed himself on practically all of his previous positions. Better late than never, I suppose.
Now McCain claims he fought his own governor, Benen (who I trust more), says he didn't. So does ABC News' Jake Tapper:
In Arizona, a bill to recognize a holiday honoring MLK failed in the legislature, so then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat, declared one through executive order.
In January 1987, the first act of Arizona's new governor, Republican Evan Mecham, was to rescind the executive order by his predecessor to create an MLK holiday. Arizona's stance became a national controversy.
McCain backed the decision at the time.
So he's a liar. And worse than that, it speaks volumes that he considers MLK not a giant of American (and world) history, but "an issue". I'm sure McCain, Trent Lott, and George Allen would all agree on that.
Posted by: sok | April 4, 2008 2:52 PM
Hey loon, making up lies about republicans again huh? I know you communists get the letters C and K mixed up all the time, but Barbour attends CCC meetings, not KKK meetings. Unlike the (dis)honorable DEMOCRAT senator Robert "KKK" Byrd (D-WVA).
Posted by: Sane Eagle | April 4, 2008 3:33 PM
Guys like McCain were certainly not on King's side.
Americans forget today how controversial King had become in 1968.
No one, except the Bull Conner types, spoke against the early days of freedom marches.
But King became in the 1960s the nation's most eloquent voice against war.
No one put the case better against the war in Vietnam than King. He could send shivers down your spine.
Meanwhile McCain was in Vietnam bombing civilians, and he was indeed bombing civilians around Hanoi when he was shot down. Rather than going on about mistreatment, he should always regard himself lucky he wasn't torn apart on coming down.
King also in those last years had become a powerful speaker for more economic justice, just the kind of subject a McCain would have no tolerance for.
In fact, it was the combination of King's turning his powerful voice on the war and on economic justice that gives so many good reason to believe his assassination was the work of Borgia-like powers in America.
He had become, in the view of some powerful Americans, dangerous. And McCain is an ally of such people, not an opponent.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | April 5, 2008 10:24 AM
I read the article and I read all the comments. It seems to me like alot of people are not willing to let someone change their mind about something unless they are a Democrat. McCain gave sound reasons for voting against the holiday, right or wrong. At the time he was voting against it the country was having some economical troubles. The Holiday does cost a lot of money. There are numerous Federal, State, County, and City employees who get paid double time on this holiday. So the reason, while it was probably wrong, was based on a sound reason. Now he says he was wrong and apoligized for his vote. He says he studied the subject and had a change of heart. Isn't this kind of leader you would like. One that makes the right choice after being presented with the facts. Remember he WAS a POW and was fighting a war that may have been the beginning of the stopping of the spread of communism around the world. You would not even be able to have this discussion if people like him did not fight for this country. Now John Kerry told stories that have proven to be lies about true warrors. So to compare Kerry and McCain is just like apples and oranges, Being shot down is not anything to be ashamed of, lying about people who fought with you is! Most of you who I am trying to reach with this message have probably already stopped reading, but I would like to add one thing. John McCain has served his country well in the Senate, as well. He has many times not given in to partison politics. He has broke ranks with the republican party many times to vote for bills which made sense even though the two parties had drawn lines in the sand and were daring anyone to cross the line. He is courageous and should be seen for being that! He WILL try to do what is best for all Americans, not just the ones that are of any one party.
Posted by: Dan C | April 10, 2008 2:49 AM