Should * have been at Rosa Parks' funeral?

[politicasista]

Too bad it's not an online poll.



Choose A Side: Should the President Have Been At the Rosa Parks Funeral?
By Bruce Britt

Among those not in attendance at the seven-hour ceremony, which garnered major air-time on networks such as CNN, FOX News and MSNBC, were President and First Lady Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

No Big Deal

A call to the White House confirmed that the president would liked to have attended the funeral but couldn’t.

White House spokesman, David Almacy, told BET.com that the Bushes and Rice offered condolences when Parks’ death was announced in October. Almacy also noted that Bush and the first lady paid respects to Parks at last Sunday’s wreath-laying ceremony at the Capitol rotunda. The president also issued a proclamation calling for flags to be at half-staff in Parks’ honor.


It’s an Inexcusable Absence

By failing to show up at the funeral of this important civil rights figure, President Bush put Rosa Parks at the back of the bus.

The bus, in this case, was President Bush’s priorities. This is another indication that the president is indifferent to the concerns of African Americans. Just months earlier, Bush’s controversial handling of Hurricane Katrina had called his “compassionate conservatism” into question.

http://www.bet.com/News/chooseaside_bush_parksfuneral.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished&Referrer=%7B03CE5360-2620-42CB-AD7E-77E4249C5FB7%7D

[WeRQ4U]

1. He probably thought "Rose Parks" was a baseball field.

And to answer your question, yes I do think he should have been there. It would have been without meaning and simply for the press, but what's the difference between that and anything else that moron does.

[The Witch]

2. YOU MEAN HE WASN'T!?

I thought for sure....

:wow: this guy astounds me with new lows every day. :wow:

[Imagine My Surprise]

23. I agree...it is unfathomable that he didn't at least make an appearance..

before excusing himself for yet another bathroom break.

[goclark]

29. He was "sleep" at the Ceremony in DC

There was a darling photo of him with his eyes closed and a young relative of Rosa Parks standing next to him.

The little boy was looking up as if to say,"why are your eyes closed and everyone else has their eyes opened!"

[NightOwwl]

3. I was stunned to find out he did not attend.

And I think it's absolutely despicable.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. Yes and no

He probably SHOULD have been there, but if he HAD it would have changed the dynamics bigtime.

[Chipper Chat]

5. He shoulda been there, but

Bush would have been as unwelcome as ants at a picnic.

[crikkett]

8. just what I thought... was he even invited?

I got to watch some of it on CSPAN. Very nice ceremony, a celebration, like church on steroids.

[Patiod]

6. Probably didn't want to have to see the standing O for the Big Dog

Needed to get some time in on the Nordic Track....

[WI_DEM]

7. normally I would say that it was appropriate for a president of the US

to show his respects to somebody who has done so much for her country, but in W's case--he was way out of place. His whole life and his whole record is so anti-everything which Rosa Parks stood for. I think if he had any speck of honor, Bush would have stayed home.

[BlacknBlue in Red NC]

9. True, but, as the BET.com article goes on to say:

"...So it’s a mystery why Prince Charles was Bush’s top priority Wednesday. Prince Charles is neither a politician nor a policy maker. Charles is a figurehead – a symbolic leader whose decisions and actions have precious little, if any, substantive effect on the world.

The only excuse for President Bush’s absence would be that he was tending to dire matters of national security. Even in the event that his meeting with Prince Charles was important, Bush could have sent a video farewell, or made remarks via satellite link.

Failing that excuse, Bush’s absence from Rosa Parks’ funeral is disgraceful. It’s also an ironic, undignified snub to a woman whose life was a monument to dignity."

[ewagner]

12. Agreed...it was a snub

and it will not go unnoticed by all minorities in this country.

[BlacknBlue in Red NC]

14. You got that right. Goes along with all the Katrinatrocities.

[newscott]

17. I think that puts it in perfect perspective

Rosa Parks was of the people, Bush and Prince Charles, definitely not.

[SoCalDem]

10. THE president should have been, but considering who THIS president is,

I am just as glad he did NOT go. His handlers probably told him he had nothing to gain, and considering all the shit that's still dripping from the fan-blades, he was better off NOT going, even though his absence would be noted..

The people who loved Rosa Parks,and WERE there, would have hated him for fouling her funeral, so I guess it's better for all that he stayed behind, riding his bike, playing Nintendo, taking a nap, or whatever he chose to do instead

[Oeditpus Rex]

25. Right; it was a no-win situation for *

If he goes, it's seen as posturing for the "black vote." If not, well... it's just another mark in the NOLA fallout column, which they'd spin into "The president is busy protecting America."

:eyes:

[Straight Shooter]

11. I'm hoping Rosa Parks' will specifically declared that he *not* be there.

Something like, "At my funeral service, it is my wish and declaration that Whistleass not be in attendance, for he has forsaken all that I stood for."

[Chipper Chat]

13. Personally, I was glad to see the REAL president there

saying all the right things. (Bush would have digressed into the war on terror and how Al-Queda killed Mrs. Parks.)

[BlacknBlue in Red NC]

18. LOL Omigod! I'm still laughing. But you're right. SOMEHOW it

would have been spun that way, since everything else always is!:rofl:

[auburngrad82]

15. He would have just been posing

He couldn't give a damn about Rosa Parks. He would have only been there to try to bolster the polls, maybe get 3% of the black vote.

[qanda]

16. There were three services

He should have shown up for at least one of them.

[Kingofalldems]

19. Didn't want to offend the redneck

hicks in his base.

[AlinPA]

20. No. Only sincere people should have attended. Bigots like Brownback

should have stayed away.

[aden_nak]

21. Just as well he wasn't, since he can't even get her name right.

http://dubyaspeak.com/audio/player.phtml?clip_name=rosapark

[Syncronaut Seven]

22. I believe it would have been disrespectfull and innapropriate.

Seeng how pubbies feel about blacks. I would have construed it as a slap in the face, kind of like the last rethuglican convention in New York.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. I think so since

he's the pResident and all.

[tx_dem41]

26. We would be criticizing him either way...

right?

I have no problem that he wasn't there. Flame away.

[Withywindle]

27. You know, I think I'm going to have to say 'no.'

George Bush doesn't even pretend to care about black people.

Maybe it's for the best. He'd have been there fidgeting and pouting and obviously annoyed and bored like a toddler incapable of understanding the importance. Why even put up the facade?

As it was, it was a beautiful celebration of the life of a heroine and her legacy. Bush has no part in that legacy! Best that he stay away and not impose his presence and his bizarre security crap and audience screening demands on something sacred.

Besides, the last REAL President was there and spoke beautifully and respectfully. That's what counts.

[Lisa]

28. Bush might be using the royal visit as a convenient excuse ...

Based on HRH Prince Charles's record of helping black communities in England, I don't think that Bush juggling his schedule to attend the funeral would have been viewed as a slight to Britain at all. (In fact, I would not be the least bit surprised if the Prince knew who Rosa Parks was -- and would have liked to have been there as well. And I doubt he would have gotten her name wrong, as Bush did!)

Description of one of many inner-city projects the Prince has sponsored:
http://www.50connect.co.uk/index.asp?main=http%3A//www.50connect.co.uk/50c/wale.asp%3Farticle%3D13040