King's son says Clinton erred- - But adds that controversy is overblown

[babylonsister]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/16/kings_son_says_clinton_erred/

King's son says Clinton erred
But adds that controversy is overblown
Globe Staff / January 16, 2008


Martin Luther King III, in Boston for an announcement that the city will build a statue to honor his parents, said yesterday that Senator Hillary Clinton made a mistake by saying his father's call for racial equality was realized only with a president's action.

The statement has drawn sharp exchanges in recent days between the campaigns of Clinton and Senator Barack Obama.

King, son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, said he thought the controversy had been blown out of proportion. However, he also said that Clinton's words were potentially denigrating.

"I wish it was said in a different way," he said before addressing a packed Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, where his father once preached.

snip//

In an interview after his address, King said he has not ruled out making an endorsement in the presidential campaign.

"I've been neutral," he said. "I don't know if that's going to change. I was very excited about the fact that Senator Obama was able to win the Iowa primary. I think that was extremely significant. I'm not endorsing anyone at this point. You don't ever want to say you're not going to, but some of that will be a family decision."

He said he wants to see "the best candidate emerge to the top."

"We're blessed to have three candidates still in the race on the Democratic side who would make great presidents," he said. "On the Republican side, I'm not as clear. What I mean by that is that I haven't seen them come forward and embrace the agenda for black and poor people."

[Colobo]

1. Cool.

[H2O Man]

2. Very good.

Nominated.

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. We have reason to question this generation's judgment. Sorry,

but the son is not his father ... not even close. He opened his mouth now and that was just unnecessary. As for this young man, when African Americans in Florida needed him, he was AWOL. Saw him later when there was money to be made.

'nuff said?

[H2O Man]

4. Too much said.

[cali]

7. We seem to have been struck by the same thought at nearly

the same time.

[Fredda Weinberg]

10. Do you know anything about this generation of Kings? If not, then ask

But don't scoff when I did the work.

[H2O Man]

11. clown

[Fredda Weinberg]

12. Laugh @ history, anonymous critic. When it was required, I did

what had to be done because no one was else was qualified. But that's show biz and I'm happy to be back engineering computer systems.

[cali]

5. you always say more than enough

and it's always the same slime. 'nuff said indeed.

[Fredda Weinberg]

9. Well, I was there. Still have contact info. If you don't want to know

that says something about you. But the King name is not a franchise, though some treat it that way.

[cali]

13. gee, I'm really going to take your word over

King's word. Sell it somewhere else.

[Fredda Weinberg]

15. I said question. If you can't, there's something wrong w/your thinking process

It could be clouded by emotion ... you seem compelled to respond to my posts ... why not PM if you wanna be friends?

[rodeodance]

16. umm. I have not followed his career. Interesting. thanks.

[Bluerthanblue]

29. when your father is

murdered while giving his life for the betterment of mankind, I might take your words on the issue of what was said by Hillary concerning MLKjr. with as much credibility as I do his.

You are not responding to his perspective on this issue- you are angry with him for something else, and allowing that to distort your vision.

I'm sure I've said too much-

But some things need to be said.

peace~

[no name no slogan]

6. Most sane voice on this whole thing yet

And he's absolutely right. There would be no civil rights laws in the 1960s without it starting at the street level, but the laws never would have been signed by an unsympathetic political establishment.

I really hope this whole thing is over and done with.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. Just a weak, luke-warm criticism

But, I think this acorn fell a long way from the tree.

[suston96]

14. King's son is wrong.

Hillary is correct. Political activists need elected connections in high places to achieve the goals of their political activism. Without such connections their efforts can and have failed.

Sorry, that is a fact of political life.

[ellacott]

17. They needed each other

You needed the movement to agitate and create the atmosphere for legislative actions.

I think that's what she was trying to say but it came out very awkwardly.

[wyldwolf]

19. of course he is. How would King's dream had been realized without the legislative process?

The mindset some have on the left change will happen if you wish hard enough for it or wave a magic wand is a fairy tale.

[rodeodance]

21. as an analogy--LOOK at the present anti-war movement--UNLESS the WH mentality

changes, we get nowhere. Very illustrative to me.

[PATRICK]

25. Argh.

That absolute statement is gracelessly wrong. Look at frederick Douglass chastising and educating Lincoln who never made a move to free the slaves or let them fight until absolutely necessary to win the war. Lincoln who had the basic good man's racism of the day as much as Robert E. Lee. Pols stand in the way always at first and quite a ways beyond, hostage to the "make no sure enemies for the chance of making new friends" axiom of successful politics. Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" is a lamentable exercise in trying to portray the heroism of politicians in doing their duty as opposed to that of breaking new ground or defeating large enemy armies.

Both the Kennedys and LBJ had the same type of meeting with MLK. The deal, demanding they demonstrate their people power and delivering some temporary advantage to the pols. The courage comes from the long term white backlash damage they knew would change things forever. In the balance, the Dem pols chose to do what is right coupled with the need to do what was possible. Neither party nor pol was about to lead on these issues ever at all for any reason without a movement that made a decision not only inescapable but a way to combine advantage with idealism. In the end MLK felt himself roped into supporting the Vietnam War as a price very unlike the reluctant use of blacks in the Civil War. That devil's price is still ground into the skin of our politicians and their souls. getting that removed from the game is the final victory that politicians- if they lead for a change- can really have bragging rights about- although that too is the final satisfaction of a deep public longing by men of good will in a world of intentional evil divisions.

King's response is diplomatic, gracious, calm and thoughtful, realistic. I am not surprised or shocked to see anyone rising to the defense of refexive political self-aggrandizing myth with a very different type of argumentation.

[Bluerthanblue]

30. It is also a fact of life that

without the approval of the House and Senate LBJ might has well pissed into the wind- But did Hillary mention that??

Without a spark- a catalyst to ignite the passion that lies within us, without a courageous inspiring leader to stoke the fire, a leader that can lead without dominating- one who has the ability to keep a movement centered and yet still headed forward, all the politics in the world won't change anything for the better. We haven't seen enough leaders like this. MLKjr was one of them.

peace~

[AtomicKitten]

18. I agree -- on both counts.

[rodeodance]

20. My opine is that he just stirred the pot some more!--added fuel for those

who want to believe that Clinton's comment were racial!

[ellacott]

22. He said this Monday

The paper that printed it stirred the pot.

[rodeodance]

24. AFTER several days of the pot being stirred. He could have made the comment

that Clinton's comment was not racial MUCH sooner. But he was silent till much damage was done.

[ellacott]

26. Many could have spoken out sooner

Charlie Rangel and John Lewis just spoke out this week.

[rodeodance]

27. Obama portrays himself as a leader---He did not lead in this case.--he was

Silent.

[ellacott]

28. I see no fault in how he handeled it

We will just agree to disagree.

[Major Hogwash]

23. Well, that settles that then, I guess. Obama was the bigger of the 2 to play it down.

I wonder if Hillary will tell any more of her "it's personal" lies about this issue again.

Last night during the debate she said "it's personal" at least twice, but she didn't cry again, so I guess it wasn't "personal" enough!

[rodeodance]

31. I believed both played it down last night. But here we more Playing it UP with this IP