In Change of Plans, Bush Will Attend King Funeral (minister has WH ties)

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: In a Change of Plans, Bush Says He Will Attend King's Funeral
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: February 5, 2006


CRAWFORD, Tex., Feb. 4 — The White House announced here on Saturday that President Bush would attend the funeral of Coretta Scott King in Atlanta on Tuesday, postponing a scheduled trip to New Hampshire.

White House officials told reporters on Friday that Mr. Bush would be speaking about the federal budget on Tuesday in Manchester, N.H., but on Saturday afternoon the White House sent out an e-mail message saying that Mr. Bush would attend the funeral instead and was switching the New Hampshire trip to Wednesday. The president is also expected to speak at Mrs. King's funeral.

Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, said in an e-mail message on Saturday that the change had been made because "the funeral arrangements were only very recently finalized" and the White House had not been ready to make an announcement until then. Mr. McClellan said "the president and Mrs. Bush are honored to be attending."

But Bishop Eddie Long, who will be officiating at the funeral services at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, said in a telephone interview on Saturday that he had initially heard from the King family that Mr. Bush would not be attending and that he planned to send Mrs. Bush and his father, the former president, instead. Mr. Long said he found out only on Saturday morning that Mr. Bush would be present after all.

Mr. Long is the senior pastor of New Birth, a 10,000-seat suburban megachurch, and is also one of the African-American ministers who has developed a relationship with the Bush White House as it tries to appeal to black voters through black evangelical churches....


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/national/05bush.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[MaineDem]

1. I'm surprised the family wants him there n/t

[blm]

18. They may have no choice. Blackmail always worked wonders for Bush family

over the past 40years. I doubt they just one day decided to stop.

[AndyTiedye]

23. The Youngest Daughter Drank the Kool Aid. Big Time.

Kool Aid being the sacrament of choice at most mega-churches.

[me b zola]

25. Boy, did she ever

I was channel surfing one night and stopped on a religios station because I saw her preaching(I don't recall how I knew it was her). I almost fell out of bed when I heard her preach hatered against gays. I was sad beyond words to hear that from a child of Dr. King.

[Benhurst]

2. Gosh, thanks for nothing, Dubya. NT

[rodeodance]

3. photo-op from Jr and disrespect for Mrs. King.

[Missy M]

4. PR opportunity and nothing more. Why didn't he say he...

would be attending from the beginning, even before the arrangements were final. What a feeble excuse old Scotty came up with on this one. Bush is an opportunist to the core and nothing else.

[calimary]

14. He's an opportunistic infection.

He doesn't have the moral authority even to breathe her air.

[Missy M]

15. You are so right!!! He doesn't even know the meaning of...

Civil Rights, or does he care.

[shanti]

26. and there was plenty of armtwisting, to be sure

this type of event is not something the chimp is good at. he never planned to go from the beginning, but had to be shamed into it. remember how he handled katrina?

nothing's changed.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. Brings to mind gwb's laying of a wreath at King memorial Jan 2004.

Their were protestors banging drums and yelling, disrupting the ceremony. I remember gwb dropping the wreath with a sheer look of terror on his face and turning and practically running back to the safety of his entourage.

I hope the protestors are out in full force. Let them be heard in the church. Civil disobedience was MLK's forte...MKJ

[CottonBear]

7. Bush had buses parked to block the view of the protest across the street.

I'm not sure when the buses were moved into place. It was shameful. The Auburn Avenue site is in the middle of the city and very open to the street.

[CottonBear]

6. Great. GWB & Fred Phelps will attend. Sorry Mrs. King.

GWB only comes to GA (I live here) to desecrate MLK's memory.

[Virginia Dare]

8. That is repulsive.

I hope he at least shows up sober.

[peekaloo]

9. Ironic and symbolic. The man attempting to bury our civil rights.

Will he have that serious, lip licking monkey face or attempt humor?

Disgusting.

p.s. Didn't he make a remark about "couldn't wait to hang" her husband's portrait a couple of years ago?

[recovering democrat]

10. Disgusting.

New Birth is in the suburbs and can only be justified as where 10,000 people can be seated. But it is so sad that Mrs. King's funeral becomes a photo op for Bush because it is unlikely many protestors will be in Lithonia for the service.

Mrs. King, on the other hand, deserves a respectful and serene send-off, reflecting the honor she is due. The Bushes SHOULD BE "honored to be attending". I just hope everyone involved remembers this is about Mrs. King, not about Mr. Bush, or Bishop Long, or anyone else.

[cliss]

11. How DARE he show up

at Mrs. King's funeral. Even Fred Phelps would be more welcome than Bush. And to top it off he's even going to make a speech.

After Katrina.

Bush is the skunk at the garden party. I hope they let him have it.

[OKthatsIT]

12. I hope he is TURNED AWAY!

[journalist3072]

13. He is not worthy to speak at her funeral.

He stands for everything that Coretta Scott King stood against. He's just not worthy to attend her funeral, let alone speak at it.

I'm disgusted.

[alarcojon]

16. This disgusts me

I wonder how many of his black "friends" he'll pat on the head.

I bet he's rehearsing right now for the photo ops - working on smirk suppression 24/7.

[Gman]

17. If the images of thousands of African-Americans in New Orleans

being left to suffer by the Bush administration wasn't still burning in America's AND especially African American memories, Bush wouldn't even be thinking about going to this funeral.

Its all about they're scared to death they're going to lose the House and they're all going to be impeached and go to jail.

[Erika]

21. I hope W is at least booed n/t

[corporatemedia]

19. Why don't they just send Darth Cheney so he can explain his opposition ...

to having a MLK Day to honor King's legacy.

[annagull]

20. I wonder if he will have another smart ass remark for mrs. king

"This is a beautiful portrait, I can't wait to hang 'em" is what he said during a ceremony at the WH when Dr. King's portrait was to be inducted into the gallery.

[HuffleClaw]

22. i bet he gets booed.

surely he's not going to speak?

[NEOBuckeye]

24. Yet another photo-op with black people.

Big surprise. :eyes: