Why did McCain oppose MLK day?

Question

If you don't believe me look at the link

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/04/mccain-mlk/

People wonder why 96% of blacks are voting for Obama this is one of them. MLK wanted equal rights for all races so why not give a day in his honor.

Can you defend the Mavericks decision

Answer 1

I think he opposed the MLK holiday because at the time he was ignorant to the great contributions and ultimate sacrifice Dr. King made for Blacks to have a fair and equal opportunity in America.

I can't speak for McCain but either he now understands why people in America (black, white and all races) thought that Dr. King deserved to be observed at least once a year or he just was trying to fake like he gave a crap because he felt that was the politically correct thing to do to get some Black votes..

I personally think it was the latter.

Updated: I can not believe how ignorant some of these comments are. If we know anything about American history it is that people like Columbus who caused Native Americans so much death and heartache is honored with a holiday. Conquerors who decided to kill and take whatever they wanted in the name of God and country.

We have honored people like Lincoln and Franklin by placing them on money. And in other ways. Memorials and such. I would much rather Dr. King be on money than a holiday. So those of you complaining about other great American not having a holiday need to look at the money you spend.

Veterans Day will always be a day we remember the sacrifices our military make to protect this country. I would be insulted if anyone would try and compare the two. It is like comparing apples and oranges.

People talking about having days like German, Italian, Chinese, etc. Dr. King was not representing only the African American people, he was for equal rights for ALL people Human rights period.. Dr. King day is not some kind of African American Day. It is a day that represents all races, and the rights we all deserve. Not as a certain ethnicity, but as a human being. Dr. King holiday is a day of service, if you do get that day off, please use it to help others.

Please read more about Dr. King and his legacy.

Answer 2

You really need to read the article you linked and all of the articles linked to get a full understanding of what went down. Much of McCain's decision (which he later said he regretted, well before he ran for President btw) has to do with Arizona not wanting to have people outside of its borders come in interfere with state law. I think it would be a mistake to take McCain's decision as a sign that he didn't respect Dr. King or African Americans. He had a valid and defendable position but did not take into account the broader picture of what his decision would mean to some people.

Now can you in turn defend all of Obama's decisions? Why did he do cocaine? Why did he attend a church for decades that has a pastor who preaches hatred towards america? Why does Obama still associate himself with an admitted bomber who got off because of a technicality?

Answer 3

Does anyone really spend any time thinking of MLK on this day? No its just another day off in February, when its too cold to do anything, so we sit around, drink beer and watch bad movies all day. If we really wanted to honor him how about schools change the curriculum for one day to teach about the civil rights movement and all the black and white people involved?

Answer 4

I really have to respond to Just Treading Water. The Democrats you're talking about are from over 4 decades ago. At that point, Democrats shared more of the views of Republicans today than Democrats today. What's funny about all this is that these 2 parties basically shifted ideas at some point a bit after reconstruction.
But hey, let's assume I'm wrong. Even if it wasn't true, that's still 4 decades ago. McCain is here, today.

Answer 5

MLK day was and still is considered a "token" holiday. McCain voted against it because if it were passed it would mean that Veterans Day would be removed from the list of official state holidays. Now who is more important ? Veterans or one MAN? Who gave more the men at Omaha Beach or MLK? YOU tell ME !Why dont we have a chinese day or a German Day or Italian Day they all contributed to our society too !!

Answer 6

Because, quite simply, he didn't deserve one.

We have 4 national holidays for specific people. Christmas, for a man (believe in him or not), who profoundly changed the world; Columbus Day, for a man who also changed the world, and especially the western hemisphere, by opening the Americans or European colonization; Washington's birthday, first president, general in the Revolutionary War, etc; and King.

No Jefferson, no Lincoln, no Ben Franklin. All deserve national holidays more than King.

Answer 7

I oppose and still do We have had many great leaders in America and MLK was just one of them why should he have his own day with all gov offices closed Just to prove that we are not racist ? He did give us Jesse Jackson so maybe we should take it away

Answer 8

McCain is Republican racist as majority of Republicans are.

Answer 9

John McCain is simply a racist who hates black people.

Answer 10

Way too many government employee's getting way to many free paid holidays.

Is that why black vote for somebody, 1 Holiday. I thought maybe you vote for the issues that concern you the most like the economy, taxes, abortion, the border, I am sorry it does not top my list of concerns for me, maybe Obama will get that Muslim Holiday past.