Greenfield: 'Do you really do this at a funeral?'

[ECH1969]

O'BRIEN: Well, let's talk about this, because when you talk about a Wellstone moment, timing is an awful lot in politics. And the timing there very different than here.

GREENFIELD: Absolutely. That memorial service happened literally three or four days before the election. And there was a backlash to it that may have helped the Republicans take that Senate seat. I do, however, think that in a more subtle way, this actually rebounds to the credit of President Bush. I mean, he came to the funeral, changed his plans, made a gracious speech. And I think for people who are not politically committed -- I mean, if you don't like George Bush, this was fine. If you like George Bush, this was horrible.

O'BRIEN: You sort of get the sense that these days nuance is dead. It's coarse, isn't it?

GREENFIELD: Yes. Now, I don't want to -- I mean, the problem is, when you get to be my age, you always think that the tomatoes were better in the old days. But I do think that -- that, look, one of Robert Kennedy's greatest speeches came when he told a crowd in Indianapolis that Martin Luther King had been shot. That's an iconic moment. But there was no politics in that speech.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/08/otsc.greenfield/index.html

[boobooday]

1. Republicans are never political

They are acting on orders from God.

Have you ever noticed that?

It's not "political" to criticize the funeral of Coretta King. Oh, no. Not at all. Not political to twist the words of the speakers. Not political to dictate how people mourn.

[Spazito]

2. Geez, Greenfield is getting more and more obvious in his ass-

kissing of the bush cabal. Pathetic, not to mention :puke:

[beaconess]

3. How DARE these people question how folks want to conduct their funerals

I guess all funerals can't be as non-political as the Reagan rites...

[sasha031]

4. " But there was no politics in that speech."

there was no politics in his speech because they were in the middle of the horror at that moment!

you must listen to that speech
ECH1969, guaranteed your eyes won't be dry.

the wing nuts in the party and MSM are trying to rewrite history, the dummy's will fall for it...as for the rest of us, it is time to unplug out televisions and carry them to the opened window, as it drops onto the payment, Yell out, I Am Not Going To Take It Anymore!

[JHB]

5. Anyone have quotes from Reagan's funeral?

I'm sure THAT was a shining example of apolitical solemnity... :sarcasm:

[seabeyond]

6. a bunch of white media dont get to tell blacks what they must say

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=358411&mesg_id=358411

i feel like i am going overboard here. but this is so easy. and the media have set themselves up for such an easy victory by the black community.

[FightingIrish]

7. It's OK to talk about peace and justice at a funeral..

Just don't do it in the emperor's presence.

[underpants]

8. What was Bush doing there?

changed his schedule my ass. He invited himself just like he did in 2004, that time he used it as an excuse to go to a fundraiser in Atlanta AND New Orleans.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. I agree. SURELY the ass wasn't invited! What has that SOB done for the AA

community? Isn't this the same asshole who REFUSED to address the NAACP during the last election? I do believe it is!:grr: The King family was extremely GRACIOUS in letting him attend Mrs. King's funeral. I would have barred the damn doors for him.:grr:

[underpants]

13. Remember January 2004 when he had to invite himself?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=359280&mesg_id=359280

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. YES. I remember now.

Thanks for the reminder. :) He wasn't invited to that funeral. If he wanted to be there then he had to take what the speakers had to dish out. I'm so proud of them all for standing up to the asshole.

[underpants]

19. two comments out of 6 hours

of which W was only there for 3.

Okay maybe three comments if you include *gasp* mentioning New Orleans.

[JHB]

9. Translated for your convenience:

GREENFIELD: Absolutely. That memorial service happened literally three or four days before the election. And there was a backlash to it that may have helped the Republicans take that Senate seat.

Translation: 'All those people there wildly cheering unapologetic liberalism would be a bad image for the Republicans, so we helped them distort and spin it in a way that made the Democrats look crass, tacky, and opportunistic in the creepiest way. And we did a heckuva job with that.'

I do, however, think that in a more subtle way, this actually rebounds to the credit of President Bush. I mean, he came to the funeral, changed his plans, made a gracious speech. And I think for people who are not politically committed -- I mean, if you don't like George Bush, this was fine. If you like George Bush, this was horrible.

Translation: 'He couldn't "bubble" this event like usual, so the Chimp looked like the chump that he is, and now we have to bail his ass out again."

O'BRIEN: You sort of get the sense that these days nuance is dead. It's coarse, isn't it?

If you want an answer to tha tquestion, Miles, why don't you just ring up Newt Gingrich, and ask how he propelled himself to House Speaker?

[underpants]

11. Other "things" are dead too Miles

http://icasualties.org/oif/

2,261

[Spazito]

15. Perfect translation! That is exactly what was REALLY being

said.

[gratuitous]

17. Or, the revised standard version

GREENFIELD: {O}one of Robert Kennedy's greatest speeches came when he told a crowd in Indianapolis that Martin Luther King had been shot. That's an iconic moment. But there was no politics in that speech.

Translation: Seems some o' dem darkies has fuhgotten how to comport themselves when massah is in the house.

[Yollam]

10. Bush's speech was not gracious. It was an insult.

He has done nothing but work against human rights and deliberately increased poverty since he took office. He's damn lucky he wasn't booed off the stage.

He really had no business being there. His presence was the worst thing about the funeral. The other attendees talking about the things that the Kings deeply cared about were an INSPIRATION.

Someone should slap Greenfield's red, puffy, bespectacled face for this whorish BS.

[WyLoochka]

14. My family made sure my Dad's

Political views were extolled at his funeral and in his obituary. He was an Episcopal minister (no "father" stuff for my Dad - the term made him cringe), who based his political views (i.e. public policy views) firmly on the words and works of Jesus Christ.

We made sure to emphasize his liberal views (yes we deliberately used that word) on economic and social justice, racial equality and support for nuclear disarmament, anti imperialism and peace. It was his ministry and his funeral - to not speak about what he stood for would have been bizarre.

There were some clergy, bishops and congregants in attendance who, being very "conservative," had actively opposed him. So what? We should have deferred to them so as not to upset them?

My Dad had frequently explained to us, during some tough years when some people in the Church were expressing indignation and sometimes outrage over his "liberal" sermons and ministry, that it wasn't his job to provide comfortable pews for the "lukewarm." It wasn't his job to tell them what they wanted to hear, especially if what they wanted to hear was something other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It wasn't our job to make them comfortable at our Dad's funeral either.

I have great memories of MLK and my Dad. One of the most stirring memories is of the day my Dad took me downtown Detroit to join with Martin Luther King in the Walk to Freedom March down Woodward Avenue. It was June 23, 1963 and MLK delivered a rousing speech very similar to his later "I have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963. I remember he said that day, "I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live."

My Dad would have been well-pleased with his funeral. I think Martin and Coretta would be pleased with hers.

[mdmc]

16. thank you for sharing

sorry about the loss of your pops.
peace,
mdmc