The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

I think its funny when politicians play the name game. When they say things like, "I walked with Dr. Martin Luther King" or I saw Jesus walk on water. The other day I read a speech by Charleston Heston, who said, "I march with Dr. King - long before Hollywood found it acceptable". Of course I was surprise to learn this, because I never thought of Mr. Heston as supporting civil rights for minorities, maybe for the gun owners who dreamed of the shooting Dr. King, but I won't hold that against him. The point is, people want to know where you stand on race issues, how does your record support your position. The fact is, there where over a quarter-million people in DC in 1963, some for and some against his cause. That means at least 1% of America over the age of fifty cans say, "I marched with Dr. King or I was there". In the 60's Dr. King was like Ghandi, wherever he was, (and if you wanted or needed exposure) that was the place to be. Saying it no longer carries the weight it did then, when it was time to say it. People should stop saying it. A better statement would be, I support what Dr. King stands for and everything he taught. But like then, that's probable not a fashionable thing to say, is it?

Wow. Mitt Romney really stirs the juices of the far left. He must be doing something right!
For those of you keeping score at home we have a lifetime of accomplishment; hugely successful efforts in the private, political, and public service worlds; Apparently decent and normal large family, all with 1 wife; 2 advanced degrees, as well as the ability to speak well without cue cards; etc.,etc.,etc.
And his critics go apoplectic when he makes a statement which is 100% accurate on the substance of his Dad's civil rights advocacy? Oh, that and they don't like his religion? Or that he grew into being pro-life? Gee, sounds scary to me too if I were a leftie!
This man is a saint, and we would be honored to have him as our top employee. (POTUS)

chattertrap,

Is it really a "clean" candidate we are looking for? After all, we are born "clean" in most respects. People who accomplish the most generally make the most mistakes. Perserverance and patience yield success. What has Romeny really accomplished that qualifies him to be the leader of the free world?

This episode tarnishes romney not because of the facts of the case; but the manner of his response. His "clintonian" figurative excuse both admits his guilt and exposes him as the shameless stuffed shirt charlatin that he is.

Look at the second paragraph herein:

"Now, press reports are questioning the truth of Romney's statement about his father's marching with the famous civil rights leader."

Great, so a press "report" questioning something is news? That is not evidentially based, and is the lamest excuse I've seen to try and cast a shadow on one of the cleanest candidates to come down the line.

jade_7243, a few errors in your recounting of history:

The Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was proposed by REPUBLICANS. In fact, African-Americans firmly backed the Republican Party until the Great Depression because the Republican Party and NOT the Democratic Party was the ONLY party dedicated to civil rights during that time. Indeed, the Republicans held 80% of the seats in BOTH the Senate and the House. Andrew Johnson ACTIVELY SOUGHT TO STOP EFFORTS TO ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS AND IT WAS FOR THAT REASON THAT HE WAS IMPEACHED ("Also on trial in 1868 were Johnson's lenient policies towards Reconstruction and his vetoes of the Freedmen's Bureau Act and the Civil Rights Act." -- see http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/impeach/impeachmt.htm

On the Civil Rights Act, a greater percentage of Republicans voted FOR the bill than Democrats. Southern Democrats OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED AGAINST IT: "Republicans favored the bill 138 to 34; Democrats supported it 152-96. It is interesting to note that Democrats from northern states voted overwhelmingly for the bill, 141 to 4, while Democrats from southern states voted overwhelmingly against the bill, 92 to 11." (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAvoting65.htm) Similarly, Republicans supported the Civil Rights Act to a greater extent than did Democrats.

Please do not state that Republicans don't support civil rights. We actually have a much better track record on the matter than do Democrats, who really are Johnnie-come-latelies to the cause.

As to the (Not So) Great Society and the New (Lousy) Deal, yes, those welfare monsters are the creation of Democrats. The aftermath of these (failed) policies? There have been 40 years of the War on Poverty and yet we still have not won it. As for getting us out of the Great Depression, go back and look at the facts and figures, "The U.S. had not returned to 1929's GNP for over a decade and still had an unemployment rate of about 15% in 1940--down from 25% in 1932. The unemployment problem was not "solved" until the advent of World War II, when about 12 million men were drafted and taken out of the labor market." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression)

In other words, the Great Depression was "ended" by WWII, NOT by Roosevelt.

For those that want to review the Harper's reference proving that the public record in a nationally available journal had George Romney marching with MLK and George knew it was in the record, but do not want to pay for a subscription to Harper's: http://www.harpers.org/search?q=romney+martin+luther+king+march+

Read the sentence with the bold words next to the first match at Harper's.

The Phoenix's insinuation that Mitt seemed to be the one to make it up was both vile and inaccuarate.

Time magazine's "The Page" blog provides very complete set of research of contemporaneous reports. Imaging that, someone actually did some research before running off at the mouth:

They conclude:

"FACT: In The Summer Of 1963, Governor Romney Participated In Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Freedom Marches" In Grosse Pointe, Michigan."
"In 1963, George Romney Gave The Keynote Address At The Conference That Sparked The Martin Luther King 'Freedom Marches'"
and:
FACT: As Governor Of Michigan, George Romney Fought For Civil Rights And Marched In Support Of Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1967, George Romney Was Praised At A National Civil Rights Rally For His Leadership. "Michigan Gov. George Romney walked into a Negro Civil Rights rally in the heart of Atlanta to the chants of 'We Want Romney'"

Read it before blathering on:
http://thepage.time.com/romney-campaign-on-george-romney-and-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/
This tempest provides Mitt Romney with an inoculation and the blow back will provide a sympathetic response.

I can't believe rat-the associated Andrew Johnson to the 15th ammendment. That's on par with Romney's comment. As a southerner suddenly made president by Booth's gun; Andrew Johnson fought avidly against every reconstruction effort including abolision. The guy was a traitor and was quickly ousted and nearly impeached (unlike his modern day compadre Bill Clinton). If Andrew Johnson was an abolisionist, so was John C. Calhoun.

You really should temper your propoganda with a dose of reality, rat-the - lest you start sounding like Mitt Romney.

Romney's a clown. He turned a simple mistake; easily forgotten if he had just owned up to it into a severe indictment of his character and grip on reality. Does he really think Americans are stupid enough to buy the "figurative" excuse?

The guy is a stuffed shirt whose only ambition is the presidency. He is basically the republican version of Al Gore; except that his core he is a salesman plain and simple. America needed a salesman back in 1992; not 2007. Right now we need a "proven under fire" cold warrior or 911 governor, not a salesman.

I don't even see him making the cabinet in 2008. I mean what kind of expertise does this guy have anyway? Four years as an absentee governor; running for president in other states rather than doing his job. Please...

James
Beverly, MA

SHODDING REPORTING:
PUBLIC RECORD (HARPERS MAGAZINE 1967 ARTICLE ON GEORGE ROMNEY ASSERTS THAT GEORGE MARCHED WITH MARTIN LUTHER).
MY GOOD FRIEND, ANONYMOUSGUY BROKE THE STORY ON THE PHOENIX.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/1967/02/0015313?redirect=496319669

HARPERS OWES ME FOR ALL THE SUBSCRIPTIONS THEY ARE GETTING TODAY.

Rat-the...

You really don't want to trade "racists" with me, do you? It's a losing proposition for you, son.

Get yourself a history book or two, and settle down by the fire, and read, read, read.
=======

Back to Romney... I think he misinterpreted "I Have a Dream..."

There is a giant difference between "figuratively" seeing his father "march with Dr. King" to his dad actually marching. The truth will come out. Either his dad was really there, or he wasn't. Just like Mitt either got the NRA endorsement or he didn't.

If i saw George Romney in the Historical record, news articles and video marching in the civil rights movement with the likes of MLK.
That makes me a liar con_crusher?

Is Romney related to Clinton?

It depends on what the definition of "is" is.... i mean "saw".

Romney was a liar.
Romney is a liar.
Romney is self-centered and will do WHATEVER it takes to get elected. He is SO MUCH like HILIARY, it's SCARY.

Goodbye Mitt - and GOOD RIDDANCE!

According to the article, Fehrnstrom compared Romney's statement about his father marching with MLK, with, "I can see Mike Huckabee as president." Survey says: X. This sentence is the future imperfect tense - it means that something will happen, but it hasn't happened yet. (in this case, it probably won't happen either, but that's another story)

Meanwhile, "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King" is the simple past tense. There's no getting around it. This isn't a matter of "It depends what 'is' is."

Secondly, this situation not only brings up Romney's use of hyperbole and lies, but also the issue of whether or not people are responsible for the "sins" (and actions) of their fathers. Romney's father is not running for president. Mitt Romney's record alone is pertinent in assessing his stance on Civil Rights issues. Talk is cheap. At the 2000 convention, Republicans paraded minorities like a traveling circus. But their record on Civil Rights in America continues to be awful.

Hmmmm, Let's see...

Justice Clarence Thomas

Colin Powell

Dr. Condoleezza Rice

Vs.

The Racists:

Jesse jokeson

Alberto sharpton

That Loudmouthed witch from Houston...

That Corrupt guy from Louisianna...

Uh huh!

I see Romney being exposed for the phony that he is (Joe Isuzu) and his campaign eventually imploding over his general staged nature and lack of honesty and conviction. I really do see it.

I see Romney being exposed for the phony that he is (Joe Isuzu) and his campaign eventually imploding over his general staged nature and lack of honesty and conviction. I really do see it.

correction:
'Secondly, LBJ couldn't really (fight)...'

response to: (jade_7243 | December 20, 2007 06:00 PM)

Great post. But a few asterisks - it was actually WW2 that jumpstarted FDR's programs. Secondly, LBJ couldn't really his "war on poverty," due to the Vietnam Conflict.

response to: (gdbaskins | December 20, 2007 06:43 PM)

Bill Clinton talks like a typical politician/lawyer, but he didn't write the book on lies. Check out the records of Nixon, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Bush Sr. "Read my lips: no new taxes" is one of the primary reasons that Bush Sr. lost in '92.

Mitt Romney can see "figuratively" that his father marched with MLK? LOL! I can see that he's figuratively shoveling something. If Mitt himself is a proponent of Civil Rights, then he's in the wrong party. The GOP is no longer the party of Lincoln.

My god Mitt Romney lies so much, and now he is trying to pull a Bill Clinton. How in the world can the American people trust this man to run this country? All we ever get from him is lies.

Hey rat-the

Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act 1964-65 = Lyndon B. Johnson and the DEMOCRATS

Great Society = Lyndon B. Johnson and the DEMOCRATS

Ending the Great Depression (of Herbert Hoover) = Franklin D. Roosevelt and the DEMOCRATS

Fifteenth Amendment = Andrew Johnson and the DEMOCRATS

... just to name a few milestones.

Perhaps you're like "some US Americans who not only don't have maps," but lack history "such as" books as well.

Great! So let's elect George Romney!

Gee, I wonder what Senator Byrd was doing back then?

FACT: In The Summer Of 1963, Governor Romney Participated In Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Freedom Marches" In Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

In 1963, George Romney Gave The Keynote Address At The Conference That Sparked The Martin Luther King "Freedom Marches" In Detroit. "The establishment of these human relations groups came in the wake of several major events (besides the embarrassing racist practices of such suburbs as Dearborn), which took place in 1963 and helped galvanize interracial support and cooperation for integrated housing. The first event was the Metropolitan Conference on Open Occupancy held in Detroit in January 1963. The second event was the Martin Luther King 'Freedom' March in June of the same year, the spinoffs of which were several Detroit NAACP-sponsored interracial marches into Detroit suburbs to dramatize the need for black housing. ... Governor George Romney gave the keynote speech at this conference, in which he pledged to use the power of the state to achieve housing equality in Michigan." (Joe T. Darden, Detroit, Race And Uneven Development, 1987, p. 132)

Governor Romney Marched In July 1963 In An NAACP-Sponsored March Through Grosse Pointe. "The next couple of NAACP marches into the suburbs were more pleasant. Both Grosse Pointe and Royal Oak Township welcomed the interracial marchers. Close to 500 black and white marchers, including many Grosse Pointers, marched in 'the Pointes' that July. Governor George Romney made a surprise appearance in his shirt sleeves and joined the parade leaders." (Joe T. Darden, Detroit, Race And Uneven Development, 1987, p. 132)

· Detroit Free Press: "With Gov. Romney a surprise arrival and marching in the front row, more than 500 Negroes and whites staged a peaceful antidiscrimination parade up Grosse Pointe's Kercheval Avenue Saturday. ... 'the elimination of human inequalities and injustices is our urgent and critical domestic problem,' the governor said. ... [Detroit NAACP President Edward M.] Turner told reporters, 'I think it is very significant that Governor Romney is here. We are very surprised.' Romney said, 'If they want me to lead the parade, I'll be glad to.'" ("Romney Joins Protest March Of 500 In Grosse Pointe," Detroit Free Press, 6/29/63)

· In Their 1967 Book, Stephen Hess And David Broder Wrote That George Romney "Marched With Martin Luther King Through The Exclusive Grosse Point Suburb Of Detroit." "He has marched with Martin Luther King through the exclusive Grosse Pointe suburb of Detroit and he is on record in support of full-coverage Federal open-housing legislation." (Stephen Hess And David Broder, The Republican Establishment: The Present And Future Of The G.O.P., 1967, p. 107)

FACT: As Governor Of Michigan, George Romney Fought For Civil Rights And Marched In Support Of Martin Luther King Jr.

George Romney Was A Strong Proponent Of Civil Rights And Created Michigan's First Civil Rights Commission. "The governor's record was one of supporting civil rights. He helped create the state's first civil rights commission and marched at the head of a protest parade in Detroit days after violence against civil rights marchers in Selma, Ala., in 1965." (Todd Sprangler, "Romney Fields Questions On King," Detroit Free Press, 12/20/07)

In 1967, George Romney Was Praised At A National Civil Rights Rally For His Leadership. "Michigan Gov. George Romney walked into a Negro Civil Rights rally in the heart of Atlanta to the chants of 'We Want Romney' and to hear protests from Negroes about city schools. 'They had invited me to come and I was interested in hearing things that would give me an insight into Atlanta,' the Michigan Republican said. Led by Hosea Williams, a top aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the all-Negro rally broke into shouts and song when Romney arrived. 'We're tired of Lyndon Baines Johnson,' Williams said from a pulpit in the Flipper Temple AME Church as Romney sat in a front row pew. 'Johnson is sending black boys to Vietnam to die for a freedom that never existed,' Williams said. Pointing to Romney, Williams brought the crowd of 200 to its feet when he said, 'He may be the fella with a little backbone.' Williams said Romney could be 'the next President if he acts right.' The potential GOP presidential nominee left the rally before it ended." ("Romney Praised At Civil Rights Rally In Atlanta," The Chicago Defender, 9/30/67)

Photograph: "Dr. Martin Luther King speaking to graduate student Laura L. Leichliter (center) and Michigan's First Lady Mrs. Lenore Romney in February 1965." (Instructional Media Center Collection At Michigan State University Archives And Historical Collections)

George Romney Fought Discrimination In Housing. "President Nixon tapped then Governor of Michigan, George Romney, for the post of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. While serving as Governor, Secretary Romney had successfully campaigned for ratification of a state constitutional provision that prohibited discrimination in housing." (U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development Official Web Site, www.hud.gov, Accessed 12/19/07)

Photograph: "More than 100 angry white protesters balked at efforts by then-Housing Secretary George Romney, in car, to open their new neighborhoods to blacks." (Gordon Trowbridge and Oralandar Brand-Williams, "A Policy Of Exclusion," Detroit News, 1/14/02)

FACT: In 1965, George Romney Led A March In Michigan To Protest Selma.

In 1965, George Romney Led A Protest Parade Of Some 10,000 People In Detroit. "Rarely has public opinion reacted so spontaneously and with such fury. In Detroit, Mayor Jerome Cavanaugh and Michigan's Governor George Romney led a protest parade of 10,000 people." ("Civil Rights - The Central Point," Time Magazine, www.time.com, 10/5/83)

· The Days Of Martin Luther King, Jr.: "In Detroit, Governor George Romney and Mayor Jerome Cavanaugh called for a march to protest what had happened in Selma." (Jim Bishop, The Days Of Martin Luther King, Jr., 1971, p. 385)

FACT: Martin Luther King Jr. "Spoke Positively" About The Possible Presidential Candidacy Of George Romney.

In His Pulitzer-Prize Winning Biography Of Dr. King, David Garrow Notes That King "Spoke Positively" About The Possible Presidential Candidacy Of George Romney. "King spoke positively about the possible candidacies of republicans George Romney, Charles Percy, and Nelson Rockefeller. He also stressed the need for greater Afro-American unity, including reaching out to segments of the black community that were not committed to nonviolence." (David J. Garrow, Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 2006, p. 575)

FACT: George Romney Attended King's Funeral In 1968.

George Romney Attended King's Funeral In 1968. "Vice President Hubert Humphrey represented the White House. Senator and Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy; Mrs. John F. Kennedy; Governor and Mrs. Nelson Rockefeller of New York; the mayor of New York City, John V Lindsay; and Michigan's governor, George Romney, were present." (Octavia Vivian, Coretta: The Story of Coretta Scott King, 2006, p. 99)

· George Romney Joined Other Prominent Americans In Attending King's Funeral. "Inside was the greatest galaxy of prominent national figures there had ever been in Atlanta at one time: Robert Kennedy, George Romney, Mayor Carl Stokes of Cleveland, Nixon, Rockefeller, Harry Belafonte, and an endless array of others equally as famous. Coretta Scott King, sitting with her family front and center in front of the casket, looked lovely and courageous and dignified in a black mourning veil." (Franklin Miller Garrett, Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, 1987, p. 517)

· After King's Assassination, George Romney Declared An Official Period Of Mourning, Ordered All Flags To Be Flown At Half Staff And Said King's Death Was "A Great National Tragedy." "On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated as he stood on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tenn., where he had gone to lead a civil rights march. The following day, Michigan Gov. George Romney declared an official period of mourning for King. The period extended through King's funeral. Romney ordered all flags on public buildings to be flown at half staff and asked that the same be done on private buildings. Gov. Romney, in an official statement, said: "The assassination of Martin Luther King is a great national tragedy. At a time when we need aggressive nonviolent leadership to peacefully achieve equal rights, equal opportunities and equal responsibilities for all, his leadership will be grievously missed." ("Rearview Mirror: Detroit Reacts To King's Assassination," The Detroit News, 4/4/07)

Romney LIED.

He LIED about something very important.

This shows the character of Romney: dishonest, and manipulative.

There is no way to spin this "figuratively." He lied to two television audiences.

He had plenty of time when writing that well-prepared speach to reflect what he was conveying to Americans. He asked for our attention, and then he purposefully lied to us.

For SHAME Romney!!

If only Mitt were half the man his father was....

Hey, he is like Pres Bush after all!!

2 points.

1. Anyone who beats up Mitt because his dad didn't march with King is missing the point. His father was an outspoken activist for civil rights and to insenuate that he didn't do enough for the movement by not marching with King is just plain ridiculous.

2. Even though it's not a good thing to basically be called a liar in the press, this may work out for Mitt. Suddenly his family's efforts for civil rights is a big story. Maybe he'll get beat up a bit on telling the story wrong, but this still gets the story out there. George Romney really was a great man and well-respected. It's too bad that the main remembrance of his is the brainwashed comment (though I'd note how ahead of the pack he was on Vietnam), especially when you consider all he did for civil rights and volunteerism.

ALL the Landmark Legislation and Acts, for Affirmative Action and Equal Rights, were done by Republicans!

Even Good Ol'Abe!

Live it, Learn it!, and Yeah, this Conservative RAT LOVES IT!

BwaaaHaaHaHaaa Obasama!