Comments on: Martin: King confidant to candidates: Stop invoking his name

By: Aly

Aly — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:45:02 +0000

It is a good point, and I agree with Jones that it is regrettable that MLK's message is being watered down and used for personal gain. I think the question was asked partly because it was MLK day and questions like those are generally to get a feel for how the candidates perceive history. Its more to gauge perspective which can be as important as questions about policy. Obama's answer was the only one that came close to my reading of MLK's politics. Yes it is 'unknowable' but based on reading and history, MLK would not have supported any of the democratic candidates even (or perhaps especially not) Obama. Read King's thoughts on "Tokenism" in “The Sword that Heals.” and "Facing the Challange of a New Age" both essays by MLK. They begins to explain why.

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:41:21 +0000

You're kidding about the Founding Father statement right? They used black people as slaves and woman couldn't even vote muchless run for public office.

I don't think MLK was reffering to any orange or purple people. Fighting for the rights of purple people goes way too far!

By: DR The Independent

DR The Independent — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:33:25 +0000

Roland,

Another good point.

I wish everyone will stop using his MLK's name for their own gain. They can all how much they honor him by practicing his teachings and this goes for everyone, black, white, orange and purple.

In my observation, lot of people have used his name for personal gain.

By: HERB

HERB — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:32:21 +0000

CNN WHY DID YOU GO FIND OBAMA GRAND MOTHR IN AFRICA? WHY HAVEN'T YOU FOUND HIS GRAND PARENTS IN MISSOURI OR WHERE EVER THEY ARE. THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE GRAND PARENTS AND WHY HAVE YOU NOT INFORMED THE GQ PUBLIC ABOUT THESE. I GUESS AMERICA WILL NEVER GET BEYOND THE RACE (SKIN COLOR) THING. HOW AWFUL. I DON'T THINK THE FOUNDING FATHERS IDENTIFIED A RELEGION OR THE COLOR OF ONE SKIN AS A PREREQUSITE FOR PRESIDENT.

By: Eli

Eli — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:55:02 +0000

I don't think it is fair of Mr. Jones to bring up the 'who would Martin Luther King endrose?' thing in reference to last night's debate. As I recall, it was a journalist who asked the question, not any of the candidates. So if anything, maybe it is the media who are too obsessed with trying to tie Dr. King's legacy to the whole election. I wish someone would have probed further into how exactly they plan to make healthcare affordable (whether insurance is mandatory or not.) My wife has diabetes and other health problems, and I know people who are cancer survivors or have other serious health problems. Making insurance mandatory won't do any of them a lick of good because either they won't find anyone who will sell it to them for any price, or they will only be able to buy a policy that exempts the problems they actually have as 'pre-existing conditions' or some other such lunacy. Wasting time asking an unknowable question like who Dr. King would endorse when there are major questions on the table about the economy, health care and how ordinary people are going to survive this recession is an insult to those of us who realize how high the stakes are.