Mitch McConnell Marched with MLK - who knew?

[JustAnotherGen]

My comment on a thread -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7076760

Journalist who brought this out -
http://www.thestranger.com/news/feature/2015/08/12/22681317/the-bad-politics-of-the-black-lives-matter-protesters-who-interrupted-bernie-sanders

That said, I disagree with the BLM action not because Bernie Sanders marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and therefore clearly paid his not-a-racist dues and should be left alone by black activists (GOP Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell also marched with MLK). My point is simply that, as imperfect as Sanders is, and as imperfect as white progressives are in this city, it still makes more political sense to form alliances with them rather than risk isolation.

I've never thought that Mitch McConnell was a bigot - more of an opportunist who was desperate to hang onto his bought and paid for job (his father in law has mega bucks).

But I have to admit - it makes me look differently at him - it also makes me wonder . . .

How can he stand being around some of those racists in his party?

Ditto John Boehner and John McCain (son in law/daughter in law who are black).

[Hydra]

1. Opportunism on that level puts you in bad company

The real tragedy might be if there were less bigots in the world than we thought...just more people willing to sign on the dotted line for personal gain.

[Spazito]

2. All too often, politicians end up trading their principles for retaining power and influence...

it starts small, 'if you vote for my bill....(something they oppose), I will vote for your bill (something they feel will be for the 'greater good')' and grows from there. Once someone moves their bottom line it becomes easier and easier to justify in their own minds it's still for the 'greater good', imo.

[Spacedog1973]

3. 100%

Of the black people who marched with MLK are still black...

Non black people's affiliations can change over time. That's why marching with MLK in the past may have no bearing on ones affiliations and affinities in the present.

[DemocraticWing]

4. He was an aide for John Sherman Cooper

Cooper was a liberal Republican (remember when those existed?) Senator from Kentucky in the 1960s, and a strong supporter of the Civil Rights Act. There's some more info on how that impacted McConnell here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/11/us/politics/mitch-mcconnell-republicans-civil-rights.html

I actually think what's happening with McConnell is something you're seeing with a lot of white people. They see the progress that has been made and basically take their eyes off the ball, and start backsliding into either ignoring problems or supporting proposals that harm black people. These people would reject the idea that they are racist or help perpetuate racism, but they don't realize their own privilege and biases. Their past actions, to them, have allowed them to run up a score of sorts that excuses their lack of effort today.

I think McConnell is probably a great degree worse than the average person considering what the Republicans have done. It's interesting and somewhat horrifying to see his career as basically a slide from Civil Rights support as a cornerstone of his identity of a Republican, to now his leadership of a party having to rely upon the casual racism and ignorant policies of the modern party.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I agree with this assessment

...and what happens is that they move on to other things and remain silent when the backslide starts. That's because in their minds, there will always be some level of waver that's allowable regarding the rights of others before they are willing to step up and stop it - i.e. when it starts impacting them. I saw that first hand here in PA, when the Voter ID fiasco started impacting elderly GOP voters despite it being intended for and targeted at the least among us who tend to vote Democratic - minorities and the poor, mostly living in urban areas.

But meanwhile, the collateral damage to POC mounts while they wait for whatever that crises level threshold is.

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. So did David Horowitz. Maybe it was extra credit for college students at the time?

[JustAnotherGen]

8. I just love ya!

Pssst - my mom and her parents went - she was just 15.

However - her being married to a black man in 1969 and having two children AND aging a till death to us part marriage waaaaaaay trumps that!

[JI7]

7. he is also married to an Asian woman

Who is also a wingnut. But the point is still the same.

So does pro confederate flag guy jim webb.

I also dont see or think these people themselves are racist.

[Number23]

9. So did Joe Lieberman!

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Joseph_Lieberman_Civil_Rights.htm

[JustAnotherGen]

10. So it's like

A thing?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. And Charlton Heston