Somewhere in heaven this man is laughing with joy at the events in Iowa

[YOY]

May we all learn to live and love as he did...

[bean fidhleir]

1. Martin wouldn't have voted for Obama - Martin was a socialist

He was in favor of equality for all, and wouldn't have voted for or supported someone on the basis of their skin color. He wasn't a male Barbara Lee.

Obama won in a small (only 3M people - smaller than the metro Twin Cities), highly conservative whitebread state in a process in which only a small percentage of the whole Dem pop could take part. Ever since his 2004 speech, he's been selling himself as a safe choice for the ruling class to support and push, and it seems to be starting to pay off for him. But I feel sure Martin would have seen through him.

[salin]

2. but perhaps there would still be a smile for the description you give:

he won the most delegate votes from a "highly conservative whitebread state" for the idea that to those casting their vote race didn't matter (as in all of the fear posts about how "folks would never vote for...")

[YOY]

3. Shhhhh. You're going right over his/her head with that one...

n/t

[bean fidhleir]

6. You might be right.

My sense is that he wouldn't be so narrow, though. The ruling class has never been especially racist in themselves - racism is a tool they use on us. As long as a wealthy Black man has the right ruling-class attitudes, they'll give him a conditional pass.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. That 'socialist' voted for JFK and LBJ

[FredScuttle]

5. What a disgusting appropriation of a TRUE champion of civil rights for ALL Americans

Dr. King would have had a very dim view of Obama's pandering to anti-gay bigotry with that McClurkin debacle in South Carolina. As we heard directly from Coretta Scott King, Dr. King supported the quest for equality by gays. To quote Mrs. King:

"Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood", King stated. "This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group." (CSK, speech to Palmer House Hilton, 4/1/98)

How about 5 years later when Mrs. King said:

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people." (CSK, speech to National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, 11/03)

Dr. King's message to the world was one of equality and inclusion. It's a shame the Obama campaign hasn't heeded that message.

[bean fidhleir]

7. Good point well made! (nt)

[readmoreoften]

8. Thank you. /nt

[Armstead]

9. "Great job Barak. Now get a spine."

I suspect MLK would have had mixed feelings.

He'd be overjoyed to see an African American reach this point, and he'd be really proud of Obama for that.

However, I think he'd probably want to have a heart-to-heart with him, and tell him to address the real causes of inequality, and stand up to Bog Business. And don't be afraid to be polarizing for the greater good.