McCain At The Lorraine Motel

MEMPHIS -- Those who gathered in the rainy, muddy parking lot of the Lorraine Motel did not expect this presidential candidate to show up.

"Boy, he has some stones," one young woman said as an organizer announced McCain's name.

Even twenty feet away, it was hard to hear his speech. As he began, a few men off to left yelled out, "No more war!."

As McCain began to apologize for his 1983 vote against a national MLK day holiday, there were a few boos, but also a few shouts of "we forgive you."

For the rest of the speech, McCain focused his attention on these sympathizers.

Luminaries in the crowd included Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Comments

The people who forgave spoke quieter, but louder than the boos.

Posted by D | April 4, 2008 1:49 PM

This was a too-cute-by-half, PR stunt aimed not at black voters, but at white suburban America.

Not surprising that the media are lapping this up as some sign of courage.

Posted by RKA | April 4, 2008 1:53 PM

I'm glad Obama didn't go to Memphis on the anniversary of King's death because it would only invite comparisons. McCain or Clinton will not evoke that.

Posted by kara | April 4, 2008 1:54 PM

Isn't it basically a tribute to MLK that Obama is even where he is today? You'd think that he'd want to go to Memphis to reflect on that idea. It's basically the subtext of all the coverage of the event that I heard today.

Posted by Illinidiva | April 4, 2008 2:07 PM

I think the point is that Obama can afford to spend the day in states that haven't already voted while Clinton and McCain want to shore up their cred in Memphis.

Then again, he's going to North Dakota tonight, so...

Posted by neil | April 4, 2008 2:11 PM

Good for Senator McCain. He is running for president of the entire US and needs to continue to reach out to all Americans.

Posted by Gordon | April 4, 2008 2:31 PM

Pathetic ploy to get people to vote for him.

It's really sad when you use the death of someone else to bolster your campaign. Obviously he didn't find the man too important when he voted against a day commerating him.

I'm not sold. At all.

I STILL will not be voting for McCain.

Posted by Aly | April 4, 2008 3:21 PM

I believe this in a tinfoil hat kind of way...If I'm Obama, the last place I want to be is where King was assassinated. I've been to the Lorraine Motel Museum, and it was eery.

It's a topic right in the back of Black folks' minds. We don't perculate it up to the topic of conversation very often, but look at that incident this past week in Philly...I'm looking at that going..

WHERE THE HELL IS THE SECRET SERVICE?

Posted by rikyrah | April 4, 2008 4:34 PM

Aly - so which would it be:

McCain shows up to the motel, and you would say:

"Pathetic ploy to get people to vote for him."

McCain doesn't show up to the motel or do anything.

you would say: "Pathetic."

Posted by bbln | April 4, 2008 10:37 PM

I try to give people a chance to evolve. What's the point in saying 'once a racist, always a racist?' I don't think that's a viable or useful attitude. Of course, you have to stay on your guard. And believe me, I stay on my guard with all these 'post-racial liberals' -- boy, do I know the type. Here's a quote from Malcolm X:

"Both want power, but the white liberal is the one who has perfected the art of posing as the Negro's friend and benefactor; and by winning the friendship, allegiance, and support of the Negro, the white liberal is able to use the Negro as a pawn or tool in this political "football game" that is constantly raging between the white liberals and white conservatives."

In 1983, McCain was under the influence of Reagan, who insinuated that Dr. King was a communist.

Posted by whoframedrudy | April 5, 2008 12:38 AM

Just who supports McCain. Answer is no one except for Lieberman.

Posted by shunaki | April 5, 2008 11:17 AM

At the Civil Rights Museum you would expect people to be civil, right? If I remember correctly the Museum is on a one-way street literally as well as metaphorically. Locals don't go downtown if they don't have to. Crime may be no worse than some neighborhoods, which isn't saying much, but panhandlers are much worse. They just recently hired private guards to shoo them away, although I'm sure many found their ideal target in guilty Yankee liberals.

The last time Memphis was in national news was the murders on Lester Street of four adults and two children and the attempted murder of three other children. How does that compare with being denied service at a lunch counter? Too bad McCain couldn't say something about that.

Posted by Former Native Memphisn | April 5, 2008 12:19 PM

as if this will make us forget that a few years after not voting for the hoiday in 1990, what arizona senator wanted to pull funding related to the holiday and its supporters. oh, that would be john mccain as well. must have been his old memory failing again.

Posted by kravitz | April 6, 2008 2:20 PM

Leave the Past in the PAST....that is where it belongs!!! So what if John McCain went there, it’s a free country!!! All this we forgive you???? For what??? It didn't happen to the people in the crowd!!! Last time I checked we were all FREE!!! I am super sick of this "RACIST NON-SENCE" If you are not part of Dr. Martin Luther King's family...Also; if you weren't even born at the time (1960's)...you have no clue!!! If anybody should be saying we forgive you, it should be Coretta Scott King (deceased) Yolanda Denise King, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King, and Bernice Albertine King!!!! Or the people's family who lost loved one's in the riots. I am not even voting for McCain, but this "we forgive you is ridiculous and even for the boos"...The 1960's was a terrible time, no doubt!!! If you think you can be a better presidential candidate go and run. Don't criticize, Only GOD CAN JUDGE. If you really want to make a change in the world...start on current events. You can't change the past but you can change the future!!!

Posted by Amanda | April 8, 2008 1:30 PM