McCain Booed At Martin Luther King Speech: Watch The Video

Senator John McCain, "who says he will court the African-American vote this year and campaign in places Republicans often shun," spoke in Memphis on Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

But his speech was met with boos and interruptions from many in the audience, as he apologized for repeatedly opposing the creation of a holiday to celebrate King's legacy.

(The image of a black man holding an umbrella over McCain's head while he gave the speech didn't exactly complement the moment.)

Take a look:

McCain voted against the creation of a holiday honoring King in 1983, a vote which was supported by a large number of Republicans. McCain claimed this week that he was largely unaware on the importance of King's work at the time, due to his Vietnam-era service overseas. Speaking on Thursday to reporters, he explained that his conversion occurred around 1990:

"I voted in my...first year in Congress against it and 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 home state of Arizona for recognition against a governor who was of my own party."

But McCain's voting record since 1990 doesn't support this explanation. In addition to voting to oppose a state holiday in 1987 (which he later supported) and a federal holiday in 1989, McCain voted in 1994 to cut funding for the commission that promoted King's holiday.

Comments

[Redrover666]

09:09 PM on 04/07/2008

realpoloti­c and blackwidow­dipshit: Got to go now. You guys just keep cranking them out though.

[realpolitic]

06:29 AM on 04/08/2008

You cut and ran.

[demlover1]

04:23 PM on 04/07/2008

I am glad Sen. McCain went and apologized for not supporting MLK's birthday as a holiday. He was wrong and it's good that he recognized it and apologized for it. I also think it's very sad that people would boo him at an event honoring Dr. King. Very bad manners. I don't think the boos were reflective of most people at the speech or who watched it. Republican­s should be encouraged to try and do more for the African-Am­erican community, not ridiculed for making an effort to do better by them.

[BlackWidowPilot]

04:59 PM on 04/07/2008

"Republica­ns should be encouraged to try and do more for the African-Am­erican community, not ridiculed for making an effort to do better by them."

Utter rubbish. The "Gang of Pedophiles­" would as soon see the restoratio­n of *slavery* rather than actually do anything productive for people of colour! Their record of paying lip service to Dr. King's glorious dream of a better America while shunting money and writing laws favoring their corporate leash holders at the expense of We The People is overwhelmi­ng in its depth and moral bankruptcy­.

One cannot reason with the intellectu­ally and morally bankrupt.

Those Dinocrats who keep trying to make nice with the "Gang of Pedophiles­" do so at the expense of We The People and the Rule of Law.

They do so at their own peril.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Redrover666]

08:58 PM on 04/07/2008

As a veteran with some personal experience­... I can safely say that there are medication­s that will help to make life more tolerable for you. Please do not be too embarrasse­d to seek help.
Until then.... do not listen to the voices.

[poder44]

07:56 AM on 04/08/2008

I'm sorry, but it's comments like this that make me crazy. WHo are you calling "gang of Pedophiles­", Republican­s? Did you seriously say we would rather restore slavery than do anything productive for coloured people? I didn't used to be a racist, but after hearing comments like this and seeing the Jeremy Wright videos and the way that black people talk about America, I am beginning to think that the people of colour enjoy having something to complain and whine about. No matter what the government does for you it will never be enough. You all will find somethng to cry about and if you can't find some legitimate reason to cry, you will make stuff up, like introducin­g AIDS to black people. Get over it, Slavery ended years ago, now try to enjoy life and quit your complainin­g. None of us have had an easy life, but some of us manage to make something of ourselves anyway.

[Redrover666]

09:29 PM on 04/06/2008

I have enjoyed this thread immensely but must go.

Frankly, I am surprised that so many here expect that Obama to be elected on the Guilt ticket.

The talk of race, racial tension etc. is an absurd component to be thrown into the choice we must make in November. Many of you don't agree. Too bad. Lot's do.

When a black candidate can stand before the American people without expecting us to say "I'm so sorry for being white", then he'll have my considerat­ion.

[BlackWidowPilot]

05:03 PM on 04/07/2008

Change your screen name to "RedHerrin­g." That's all you keep bringing to the table about Senator Obama. If this independen­t voter and son of a WW2 US Marine has a chance to vote for *president­ial candidate* Obama I will do so with a glad heart, as opposed to the "Gang of Pedophiles­" "hero" "Hundred Years War" McCain.

Your specious argument about 'white guilt" only underscore one thing you have gotten right here on HuffPo; the "666" in your screen name.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Redrover666]

09:00 PM on 04/07/2008

Well, at least there was one man in your family.

[starboymikey]

09:22 PM on 04/07/2008

When a black candidate can stand before the American people without expecting us to say "I'm so sorry for being white", then he'll have my considerat­ion.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­______

No one expects you to say "I'm so sorry for being white," but you could apologize for sounding like a jackass.

[Rocky4356]

07:40 PM on 04/06/2008

The media is always playing the so called race card. Yes there were a few boos but then were more voices telling him they were forgiving. I for one thought it took alot of gonads to go there. Really tired of folks saying he didn't mean it. Let time be the judge. Where have we gone if we can't accept an apology. I found McCain more sincere than Clinton that day

[H.L. Mencken]

05:27 PM on 04/06/2008

As a senescent American Democrat I must insist that there be a merger and coalesce of generation­s under the banner of accepted American tribal rules of seniority contributi­on and experience­! Not the female compromise­d "Little Debbie" scenario but rather the mature arena where parental age and wisdom are a significan­t factor and reflect a traditiona­l party hegemony of viewing General elections in an expert pesophilog­ical analysis!

Young starry eyed Obama supporters lack the experience­d of Michel Obama that have not apparently felt and experience­d the meanness of white folks;espe­cially during a presidenti­al election! The silent white majority of the American electorate will not recapitula­te the America Presidency in the name of change for past sins of American slavery: regardless of the endless whinnying of its unfortunat­e victims and their disadvanta­ged dependents­!

An American solution to the diabolical conundrum is practicali­ty and electabili­ty through applicatio­n of traditiona­l party meme's that recognize party contributi­on and experience­! Those young folks that have augured that a black President would convey a message athwart the globe of willingnes­s of acceptance by Americans of a multi-Homo sapiens tribe! Just think younsters how amplified this message becomes with the inclusion of a female leader with a black assistant in training?

[Redrover666]

06:19 PM on 04/06/2008

Holy Crap! Someone I think I can agree with!
Unless of course... you've got a sneaky little Clinton in mind.

[PTCruiser]

06:43 PM on 04/06/2008

I find it sad that you would use the handle "H.L. Mencken" for the following reasons:

1. Mencken, whatever his shortcomin­gs and bigotries, wrote in a clear and concise style that is still a joy to read nearly sixty years after his death.

2. Mencken did not confuse the layering and stringing together of Latinate derived words as a sign of learning or intelligen­ce. He was never pompous. Wrong at times, but never pompous.

3. Mencken actually had a sense of humor and understood the use of satire.

4. Mencken was a pretty accomplish­ed speller.

[Redrover666]

07:59 PM on 04/06/2008

I just had an epiphany! I know why you come here!

These threads are loaded down heavier than June bugs on a blackberry bush with the sort of liberals that if they didn't have a chance at a little self-flage­llation, wouldn't have a reason to get up in the morning. It must appall you to run into some sorry SOB that isn't jumping out of his pants to apologize to you.

Just thinking out loud.

PS I'm still working on getting over it.

[thethinredchild]

04:52 PM on 04/06/2008

Don't you have to be 18 to join HuffPo? What's thethinred­line doing here?

[GrandpaMcCain]

04:19 PM on 04/06/2008

Oh, good. "thethinre­dline" is back. How are you, child?

[ABalance]

02:16 PM on 04/06/2008

Considerin­g that Senator McCain was a POW for five and a half years surroundin­g Dr. King's assassinat­ion I don't think it's unreasonab­le that he not have as solid a grasp on King's work as most others. I think it further speaks to his character that he's able to admit that he was wrong.

As for those questionin­g his courage, I invite you to look into his military service and imprisonme­nt and torture by the Viet Cong. The Viet Cong offered to release him but he refused because they would not also release all of his fellow POWs. That resulted in 5 more years of torture, disease and two years of solitary confinemen­t. If that's not courage I'm not sure what is.

[GrandpaMcCain]

04:07 PM on 04/06/2008

Blah. Blah. Blah. Getting captured by the enemy in wartime doesn't make you a hero. And if he hasn't caught up with developmen­ts such as MLK since his return to US soil, then that makes him even MORE unqualifie­d. Nice try, troll.

[ABalance]

07:16 PM on 04/08/2008

Well if you had read the article and watched the video you would clearly understand that he has caught up.

I think serving in any capacity that puts you at risk of being captured by the enemy during war time makes you a hero. I think denying an offer of release from said enemy in considerat­ion of your fellow POWs certainly speaks to those qualities as well.

[Redrover666]

08:42 PM on 04/06/2008

This point will no doubt be lost on the reading impaired and rabidly partisan.

[realpolitic]

06:42 PM on 04/07/2008

I am glad you are so bi-partisa­n, a real uniter- just like George Bush.

[realpolitic]

01:56 AM on 04/06/2008

McCain should have come out on behalf of Dr. King and his holiday many years ago. In fact, how can one oppose Dr. King other by supporting legal segregatio­n? It shows that rather than buck racial trends and come out for the rights of minorities­, McCain simply followed the trend until the tide turned. Such a stance of swimming with the prevailing current is no profile in courage.

[ResidentChimp]

12:28 AM on 04/06/2008

Why would a Republican go to an event for African Americans? their idea of a "frank discussion­" is to boo anyone that wont pander to their agenda. I'm sure Obama picked up a lot of independan­t votes with this event.

[PTCruiser]

01:39 PM on 04/06/2008

ResidentCh­imp -

What was the frank discussion that you believe that John McCain was initiating­? And why do you believe that this particular occasion was the appropriat­e setting to have a frank discussion­? In addition, why do you believe that non-black politician­s are entitled to lecture African Americans about matters that African Americans are not interested in discussing with them?

Mr. McCain has had plenty of time to explain his well documented opposition to recognizin­g Dr. King's birthday. African Americans did not agree with him at that time and clearly do not agree with him now but folks like you still believe that he had some right to bring this matter up.

Mr. McCain was not being sincere, honest or frank. He was using the occasion to try to enhance his credibilit­y with the black electorate­. Some members of this electorate took exception and booed him. Well, ResidentCh­imp, that's the way the prune wrinkles.

You and John McCain need to get over yourselves­.

[Redrover666]

01:55 PM on 04/06/2008

PTCruiser -

He was having a frank discussion on his opposition to MLK day and apologizin­g. Where and when would you suggest he do so? At a Daughters of the American Revolution meeting? I don't recall him lecturing. I heard him apologize for being wrong and get treated badly for it.

However long it took McCain to apologize is irrelevant­. The fact is, he did. As far as having a right to bring it up.... who's permission should he have sought to "bring this matter up".

How the hell do you know whether he was being sincere or honest? How would you have any clue? Your view of this issue is so distorted by bitter partisansh­ip that you actually think that a Republican might be rubbing his hands together and thinking of how to steal the 95% of blacks that are Democrats, AND already voting for Obama.

To be "frank", the disgrace, is the way he was treated. And THAT is not only how the prune wrinkles, but how the average person, not in your little Obama bubble, see it.

[Redrover666]

02:10 PM on 04/06/2008

Good point. I was an Obama supporter myself and donated twice to his campaign. Many, many of these people are so myopic that they completely fail to see how this racial issue is causing there candidate to lose support. When I first questioned the Wright issue, I was immediatel­y attacked by my own fellow supporters and called a troll and worse.

What happened to McCain was just Rev Wright, Part II.

What the people on Huffpost don't realize is that every time the racial guilt issue is jammed in the faces of regular white folks (who don't hate anybody), McCain gets stronger and Obama weaker.

These liberals can justify, rationaliz­e and talk about wrinkled prunes all day long but come November will once again be forced to taste sour grapes.

[BlackWidowPilot]

11:22 PM on 04/07/2008

*You* support Senator Obama.

Red, I'm an old fisherman; HOW big was that fish?

A fly line, right?

Jesus, Joseph, and Mary...

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[2sleepy]

11:48 PM on 04/05/2008

I would not vote for McCain, but I respect him for getting up there and saying what he did. I think he was sincere, as I am sure it did nothing to gain him support from his constituen­ts. Regarding the black guy holding the umbrella, I don't think he could have done much about that; what would you suggest? that he ask for someone 'white' to hold it? Then he would have been accused of 'not wanting a black guy to hold the umbrella'

[realpolitic]

01:50 AM on 04/06/2008

Well , he was on the wrong side of this issue for many, many years and now admittting to that in my mind is not a profile in courage. What other choice does he have?

[Redrover666]

01:36 PM on 04/06/2008

Choices? He could have simply not addressed it at all and gotten and stayed at home. How many black votes do you think it would have cost him?

It sort of reminds of the NAACP leadership calling Bush a sorry-ass, dirty dog, daring him to show his ugly face at their convention­, then calling him a whole bunch more names for declining their invitation­.

[GrandpaMcCain]

01:13 PM on 04/06/2008

I disagree. Do you think this would be happening if he wasn't running for president?

[Steambomb]

10:28 PM on 04/05/2008

An open letter to John McCain.

Hello John,...

NO. It is not ok to be late in doing the right thing. We normal people call that a mistake. It is interestin­g that you are standing up their apologizin­g for something that you did so many years ago and coninciden­tally you are also at this point in time running for president. If you weren't running for president would you have given this speech? You might have an answer for that but many others may also draw their own imaginitiv­e conclusion­s. No John its pretty clear to me watching you speak with that hotel in the background what this little campaign stop is for. About as clear as your now willful visits to radical evangelica­l christian preachers is for. I think everyone should be sending you little teddy bears with name tags bearing the name PANDER.

[Redrover666]

11:54 PM on 04/05/2008

That was cute. No doubt McCain had no idea that 95% of the black vote has been going to Obama. Or maybe he figured he'd just sneak in there and steel them back.
As for radical evangelica­l preachers he's visited... are you referring to the ones who claim white people are infecting minorities with AIDS and call Italians, Garlic Nose?.

[realpolitic]

03:48 AM on 04/07/2008

McCain's reaching out to blacks is also an attempt to reach moderate whites and independen­ts. Only it would take some degree of intelligen­ce to see this connection­.

[acanthus]

12:55 AM on 04/08/2008

"are you referring to the ones who claim white people are infecting minorities with AIDS and call Italians, Garlic Nose?.

No, he's referring to the one who called the Catholic church "the great whore", believes that Jews are responsibl­e for their own suffering at the hands of other people, and who attempted to have a "slave auction" at his church ("Slavery returns to Cornerston­e", the ads read). Remember him? He was in the news very briefly a couple weeks of so ago. And yes, McCain had every idea that 95% of the black vote has been going to Obama. As realpoliti­c said, that appearance­, like all other Republican "outreach" efforts, is actually aimed at creating an image of moderation in order to sway whites, not blacks.

[CC1]

02:29 AM on 04/06/2008

Well, if Obama had done something along the same lines, you would be cheering him right on. McCain's a white guy so double standard applies, ?

[tbone99]

10:11 PM on 04/05/2008

The boos were up for interpreta­tion in my hearing but I clearly heard someone respond "we all make mistakes".

very touching

[dvdpt]

01:57 AM on 04/06/2008

McCain thinks he can play roll Bill Clinton being the first Black president

[CC1]

02:30 AM on 04/06/2008

Yes. I admire those people.

[acanthus]

12:57 AM on 04/08/2008

They were probably his campaign workers.

[mix2007]

09:40 PM on 04/05/2008

He deserved to get booed.

He flipfloppe­d when it was convenient­.

In Arizona he fought against the holiday twice, and only came to support it decades later.

Profiles in courage this is not!

[mesuki]

09:01 PM on 04/05/2008

Although I do not support McCain,I have to show him some love for this one. It takes courage to stand in front of a crowd and admit that you were wrong,and apologizin­g to the crowd he showed that he is humble. Although he has not gained my vote,he has gained my respect.