Honoring MLK (or not)

One of the more teeth-grinding claims coming from conservatives is that civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. (who, you may have noticed, was in the news recently) was a Republican. Yes, people actually make that claim.

Of course, King purposefully did not declare allegiance to a political party because his issues were supposed to transcend politics. But during the fifties and sixties, Republicans opposed pretty much everything he stood for while Democrats supported his causes, which included a social safety net, minority voting rights, and unions. So, yeah.

Things haven’t changed much. Notably, during yesterday’s 50th anniversary march and speechification on the National Mall, no prominent conservatives were in attendance and that made conservative blowhard Bill O’Reilly mad: 

During the discussion, O'Reilly complained that President George W. Bush was not invited to speak. O'Reilly later claimed that "[n]o Republicans and no conservatives were invited." O'Reilly went on to respond to Rep. John Lewis' statement that "we're all in the same boat" by asking "Where's the conservative side to that boat?" Link

Just one thing about that, though. Several prominent Republicans, including former Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and the two highest-ranking conservatives in the government, John Boehner and Eric Cantor, WERE invited. All declined to attend. The Bushes declined due to health reasons. Boehner and Cantor declined for who knows why. Probably too busy with their Congressional duties. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!! I kill me. Presidents Carter, Clinton and Obama were there.

So let’s make sure to highlight that. For the commemoration of one of the turning points in American history, a day that has inspired millions of Americans for 50 years, honoring one of the greatest Americans who ever lived, NONE OF THE PROMINENT CONSERVATIVES INVITED FELT IT WORTH THEIR TIME TO ATTEND. And afterwards, other prominent conservatives lied about their being invited.

It’s not all bad, though. I’m sure they’ll be all in for Ayn Rand and Nathan Bedford Forrest appreciation day.