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McCain at age 47 Voted Against Martin Luther King Day

crooksandliars.com — He voted against MLK day back in 1983. John McCain was born in 1936. He was 47. He was almost 50 years old and he voted against MLK day! You see he needed just a few more years to figure out the impact MLK had on our society. He now has the nerve to say today that He is going where no one else is willing to go...in the ghetto's such as New Orleans.

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  • dsoleil, on 05/08/2008, -100/+61Of course. Arizona was one of the last states to adopt MLK day. Would we expect anything less from John McCain? Just goes to show, it's time for Obama...
    • APHughes, on 05/08/2008, -25/+70He also said he was sorry for voting against it. This is just more Anti everyone, Pro Obama spam
      • dOOBiEx213, on 05/08/2008, -21/+9Dude... don't you just love it? They're all ***** hypocrites... at least Obama is the lesser of three evils. And SO WHAT if he said sorry? Sorry doesn't mean *****... WORDS don't mean *****, it's your actions that count.
        • BTrey, on 05/09/2008, -5/+17Sorry does mean *****. Sorry means you sold out and are pandering to the crowd.

          Yes, MLK was an important figure in US history, but it doesn't follow from that that he deserves a national holiday. We have Columbus day, which is named for the man who is credited with discovering the country. We have President's Day, which is officially Washington's Birthday but is now claimed to celebrate both Washington and Lincoln. Where's the holiday to honor Thomas Jefferson? Benjamen Franklin? Was MLK really greater than all of these people? Explain to me why he deserves a national holiday when they don't. Explain to me how he is more significant than the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence, or the man who convinced France to finance our war for independence? McCain should be proud for standing up for principles rather than caving in to political correctness, and if he did apologize, he should be ashamed for not sticking to his guns.
          • willk281, on 05/09/2008, -5/+5Word.
          • hittnrun, on 05/09/2008, -3/+15This is very parallel with what is going on with the Obama Koolaid Festival right now. The MLK holiday was given to blacks by white egghead dope smokin' do-gooders to "show" them whites weren't racist anymore. Didn't matter that MLK was flawed and didn't reallly do alot except give a speech everyone quotes a few lines from when it works to their advantage. Flash forward to now, white egghead dogooders & music theives want to give a flawed black candidate the White House to show the world we are all equal and they are somehow morally superior. Obama is an empty suit, people..wake the fvck up.
          • dOOBiEx213, on 05/09/2008, -5/+3Columbus day pretty much brings your argument to a staggering fail. How do you discover something when there's people living in it?
          • jebudas, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3@BTrey,
            MLK was the key figure for the promotion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Looking at our nation's past, and the despicable scar that slavery has left on our history, most people felt it was right to honor a peaceful man who was possibly the greatest civil rights leader of all time.
          • Startemus, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3I for one am glad that I'm not required to comment last on every article. Thanks Equality. Could you imagine if the internet was for 'Whites Only'? This article shows how old McCain is. He represents the mindset of the past.
        • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -5/+11The problem is, having the opinion that we don't need to make a holiday for someone doesn't necessarily mean you hate people of their particular skin color. And what Btrey said...
      • boot20, on 05/08/2008, -18/+9So, it's ok for the media to harp on Obama about Wright, but it's not ok to do the same to McCain?

        Way to go Operation Chaos
        • ventralnet, on 05/08/2008, -11/+4yea im an obama supporter but that is lame
    • chdodd2012, on 05/08/2008, -9/+43Are you really saying this singular issue "just goes to show, it's time for Obama?"
    • slappy83, on 05/08/2008, -12/+25Well its not like black people are truly following MLK's beliefs. Look at "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." I think affirmative action is the exact opposite of that.
      • Kas70, on 05/08/2008, -18/+8Blacks at MLK's time were in fact NOT often judged by the content of their character, thus affirmative action. Does it need an overhaul so that it may be more balanced? Yes. Does it need to be abolished? No, because race based discrimination still exists to a measurable degree.

        And for the record, white affirmative actions has always existed. It exists in: better schools, connections through family, college professors, clergy, parent's colleagues, neighbors, country clubs, and the like. White's know and benefit from more people in positions of influence and power because those people in those positions are, for the most part, also white.
        • jhbarr, on 05/08/2008, -1/+8The connections aspect is why I'd prefer income based affirmative action as a poor white, Asian, Latino or African American has less opportunity than any rich one.
          • willk281, on 05/09/2008, -6/+3Wait, really? Dude, I doubt you have ever competed for a job and lost because some rich white boy had "connections." If you honestly have the capabilities of being in that position, then there are plenty of good jobs out there for you. To say what you just said makes you worse than any profiteering, big-business fat cat, because in addition to being greedy, you're also envious. Kevin Spacey would kill you twice.

            Yeah dude, don't even act like you've even been there, because no one at that level whines about discrimination. No one who has worked hard and made good grades in college ever whines about discrimination, unless they really want to flush their diploma down the toilet.
          • jhbarr, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1Where did I complain about my own situation. I know that I, being from an upper middle class background, had advantages. It had nothing to do with race or gender. It had everything to do with the area I grew up in and the schools I was able to attend. I am not envious of anyone. But Bush did not get into Harvard because he was white. He got in because his parents were rich and powerful. If you cannot see that then you are blind.
            By the way, affirmative action has nothing to do with getting a job. A private company, at least a well run one, is going to hire the best candidate possible, no matter what they tell you. I am talking about schools, mainly.
        • psyckboy, on 05/08/2008, -1/+13Agree with jhbarr. Race based affirmative action is simply racist. It has no place in modern society. A poor white person doesn't have better "connections" than a poor black/latino/asian/whatever person.
        • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -1/+9You can't fix inequality with inequality
        • imgstacke, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1@mastermind : actually that's the only way to do it. We call it balance.
      • midejitsu, on 05/08/2008, -9/+3Talk about a non sequitur! I am not American, but if you recently achieved racial parity then you forget sending out the memo to the rest of the world. You can’t possibly believe that the importance and legacy of King can only be judged on how closely people, and people of a certain race in particular, conform to it today. That would be beyond ludicrous. He raised a stink that had to be raised and if you don’t acknowledge that as a white person (using the excuse that black people are also less than perfect when it comes to acknowledging) then you are short on quite a few human qualities. Mind and heart most prominently.
        • hittnrun, on 05/09/2008, -2/+7wasn't MLK an adulterer?? He is hardly a hero. Heros do not cheat on their wives. He is hardly deserving of honor. I can understand why one speech makes you all quiver. It's just like Obama saying "no" to action in Iraq (even though he couldn't vote on it) and you losers falling all over yourselves to tell us about his great wisdom. He is a metrosexual pvssy who has some ugly sh!t hidden there in his heart. I guess the race card IS on the table for McCain now. Good job, Obamabots. This will be easier than 1st thought.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -4/+5"Heros do not cheat on their wives"

            All of mine do.
          • nigh7dagger, on 05/09/2008, -6/+1Uh, where did you hear that? It sounds pretty stupid.
          • Mindzai, on 05/09/2008, -3/+3Says who? Not that I agree with it personally but adultery is a ***** joke compared to the 'real' problems MLK spoke of and are present today. If thats all he did then it's just as well to remember him for all the intelligent things he had to say, no?
        • 3tcp, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3You're not an american? Then keep your judgements to yourself. There are few countries that would be able to handle the racial and cultural diversity of the US without devolving into ... well into Iraq. Yes, the US is a western country but that doesn't mean you cold understand the nuances of amreican culture and race relations because you watch some american tv shows.
      • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -8/+5Great point. Affirmative action is bad. Therefore, let's not honor MLK.
        • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -5/+5I can think of hundreds of people equally deserving of a holiday. That being said, if everyday were a holiday for three people, it kinda defeats the purpose of a holiday.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -6/+3There was a large grassroots movement to give MLK holiday stretching back into the 70s. How many of the "hundreds of people" you're talking about that can claim the same?
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -4/+4So having a movement is the basis for determining if one should have a holiday?
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -5/+2As I understand it, we had a representative government in 1983.
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -5/+3I'm still not seeing the connection between having a movement and having a holiday.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -7/+5You don't understand the connection between having a popular movement and having popularly elected representives write legislation in reponse to that movement?

            I'm sorry, I can't help you.
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -6/+4I don't see how having a movement makes you any more eligible to have a holiday. The Nazi's were a movement, by your logic Hitler should have a holiday.

            Honestly, are you saying I should list my hundreds of others equally deserving of a holiday, and we should pick out the ones who had a movement and make it holiday?
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -4/+4"by your logic Hitler should have a holiday."

            No, because my logic takes into account the fact that a) Germany in Hitler's time was not a representative democracy and b) the democratically elected representatives of the modern German goverment passed by popular mandate laws that expressly forbid support for Nazis. See, my "logic" states only that we ought to respect and honor the will of the people as expressed through representative democracy, masterm1nd. Why should that be controversial? Do you have other feelings on the matter?

            "Honestly, are you saying I should list my hundreds of others equally deserving of a holiday, and we should pick out the ones who had a movement and make it holiday?"

            We should merely allow representative government to run it's course. If people wanted to have a holiday for all those other people, they'd be bothering their congressman to do something about it like people did for years with MLK. The fact that that hasn't happened suggests that those people should not get a holiday.

            Why do you find our system of government so perplexing, masterm1nd? Do you live in Iran or something?
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -4/+3So... having a movement really is irrelevant to having a holiday. Thank you, you said it better than I apparently could.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -2/+4You might want to re-take 3rd grade. Specifically the part where you learn the principle of cause and effect.
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -5/+2Ok, so by your logic, if Germany were a representative democracy and hadn't passed laws forbidding support for Nazism, you would entitle Hitler to a holiday.

            I got an idea, how about since neither apply to the US, how about we give the KKK a holiday. You know, cuz it had a movement and stuff. Face it, you went into irrelevant territory trying to dispute my point and now you look like a retard for having to defend your irrelevant position.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -3/+3"if Germany were a representative democracy and hadn't passed laws forbidding support for Nazism, you would entitle Hitler to a holiday."

            No, because there would still have to be massive popular support for one, and there isn't.

            "I got an idea, how about since neither apply to the US, how about we give the KKK a holiday."

            I'm sure you'd like that.

            "You know, cuz it had a movement and stuff."

            A popular one? One that could muster 51 votes in the US Senate? No.

            "Face it, you went into irrelevant territory trying to dispute my point"

            lol, you seem a little slow, as though mom's womb spritzed you with a little tard spray now and again.

            For the record, the conversation went something like this:

            masterm1nd: I'm still not seeing the connection between having a movement and having a holiday.
            petrodollar: We have a representative government that reflects the will of the people, and the people wanted a holiday.
            masterm1nd: I'm still not seeing the connection between having a movement and having a holiday.

            I drew a clear causal connection between the existence of two phenomena, popular movements and representative government, and explained how they combined to produce legislation that created a holiday. You found that perplexing, despite the fact that I was employing very ordinary principles of logic to describe a system of government that most children learn about in 1st grade.
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -5/+2But *at the time* there was popular support for both movements so they WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE HOLIDAY -- BY YOUR LOGIC.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -5/+3What two movements are you talking about? Are you still talking about Germany?

            In any case, my logic is precisely the same logic that is embodied in the US Constitution. If 51% of the Senate and the House of Representatives votes to pass a law, that law should become the law of the land unless it is unconstitutional or unless it is vetoed by the president. In the case of the holiday honoring MLK, the vote was actually 78-22, which would have been enough to override a veto had Reagan been dumb enough to attempt to overrule the will of a supermajority of Americans.

            If a popular movement to honor another person with a holiday is able to muster that kind of support, who am I to say that they can't do it? I agree with the basic tenets of social contract theory as outlined by Hobbes, Locke, and Pufendorf. Don't you?

            I think what irks you is that, as much as you as an individual might like to see a holiday for the KKK, there has never been anything close to majoritarian support for such an intiative. You will note that, in fact, the KKK from its very inception was regarded as an outlaw organization. Had a majority of Americans supported the KKK, certainly they would not have supported laws that made the KKK's activities illegal. And since the KKK never enjoyed enough popular support to sustain a majority vote in favor of a KKK holiday, the KKK was never entited to any such holiday.

            The same is presumably true of the hundreds of other people you claim are equally as deserving of a holiday. If a majority of Americans wanted those people to have holidays, they would have presumably brought pressure on their congressmen to have such a holiday instituted. But a majority of Americans have not rallied in support of honoring those people with a holiday. Therefore, those people are not entitled to a holiday.
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -4/+3KKK and Nazi, that's as far as I'm going to read your comment.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -5/+2You must be confusing my comments with yours. I made no reference to nazis in my last comment.
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -4/+3Look at your first sentence.
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -5/+3Are you insinuating that all Germans are nazis?
          • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -4/+3Are you asking stupid irrelevant questions again?
          • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -4/+2You're right. The first sentence of that comment was actually "What two movements are you talking about?"

            I still don't see any reference to nazis in there though.
      • balancedThought, on 05/09/2008, -8/+4Whenever I hear statements like this I wonder if people have either listened or read MLK's speech in its entirety. I am referencing the following specific excerpt:
        But 100 years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

        In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men - yes, black men as well as white men - would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

        It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds."

        But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and security of justice. We have also come to his hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. "

        It appears that MLK was stating that America's policies towards black people had to be adjusted so as to keep its promise as so decidedly stated in the Declaration of Independence and further solidified by the US Constitution.

        The aforementioned "check" being cashed as a form of affirmative action is definitely in line and keeping with what MLK was references by the word "cash". This is one way of leveling the field and is not the only way. But it seems odd that people can somehow read or listen to this speech and walk away with the idea that affirmative action in some form would be unnecessary.

        When I read this speech and think of the context I walk away with the following demands that I believe MLK was making:

        1. As tax paying American citizens black folk deserve the right to vote
        2. As tax paying American citizens black folk deserve equal treatment under the law
        3. As victims of near half a millennium of abuse black folk are unavoidably scarred and need some assistance to get beyond the scars that stem from mis-treatment over that same time
        4. The Negro has a right to be upset but MLK is stating that they must continue the "good fight" and must strive forward and meet violence with peace
    • killahron, on 05/08/2008, -3/+17hahaha that was the stupidest time to make a pro-obama i've seen yet. wtg, dsoleil
    • ruddy, on 05/08/2008, -8/+15allow me to be the first to say, ***** MLK day. he hasn't done much for me, why should i take a day to grovel at his feet?
      • starmanfalls, on 05/09/2008, -2/+7If you are lost in a strange city, and wind up on a MLK blvd. Get the ***** outta there. You have landed in a nightmare not a dream
      • Badandy127, on 05/09/2008, -1/+0Probably because he stood for equality for all humans, not just the racial minority he was part of. I could be wrong though...
    • JettaMan, on 05/09/2008, -2/+4Getting rid of forced separation was fine. Forced integration was a mistake. Violated freedom of association. I agree with McSame.
  • thirdcoastborn, on 05/08/2008, -67/+31What was going on in his mind back in 1983 as he sat there and voted against a Martin Luther King Day. I bet he never even imagined that 25 years later he'd be running for President of the United States against the first Black Presidential Nominee. Will the media touch this at all? They will if we make them. Shout this story to all your contacts and get this story pushed to the front page.
    • ShemDaimwood, on 05/08/2008, -3/+7Sending me a shout then immediately disallowing a response was very petulant thing to do, John Paul.
      • thirdcoastborn, on 05/09/2008, -4/+0i told you the truth and then removed your ass from the friends list.
        • willk281, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1Please don't pay attention to these knuckleheads, not everyone from Houston is this dumb.
    • PolishLogic, on 05/08/2008, -9/+30No, he was probably thinking "***** this, we've got too many Federal holidays as it is. This is just more taxpayer money going to waste".
      • pintomp3, on 05/08/2008, -5/+6we should get rid of christmas.
        • PolishLogic, on 05/08/2008, -3/+9Wouldn't bother me. Either that or move it to the weekend like they do for Easter.

          If you knew all the time off alloted for federal and state employees you'd ***** yourself.
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/08/2008, -6/+10Too many federal holidays was his thinking and leave it up to the Obama-bots to take the stand that we need more federal holidays. Not to mention that their also using this issue for negative campaigning AND using the "race card" .... both despicable acts that they accuse Clinton of using. WTG Obama-bots.
        • SSCrow, on 05/09/2008, -8/+2wtf, an Anti-Obama user? Trollery knows no bounds does it?
    • pintomp3, on 05/08/2008, -12/+8ronald reagan was also against the holiday. of course he supported segregation and supported the apartheid regime in south africa. the party of "values" indeed.
      • JointVenture, on 05/09/2008, -3/+8You want people to start bringing up the Democrats racist past?

        Might want to give a old Mr. Byrd a call. He was a Wizard in the KKK.
        It was Democrats who brought race into the primary, not republicans.
        • pintomp3, on 05/09/2008, -5/+5it's funny how the two have switched places. the democrats used the small federal, states rights, pro-slavery racists.
          • JointVenture, on 05/09/2008, -4/+7The problem is they havent switched, the republicans are not pro slavery, the Democrats are NOT small government, and so NOT pro states rights.

            Where the ***** have you been?
          • pintomp3, on 05/09/2008, -6/+5that's my point. the democrats were about small government, pro states rights, and racism. the two parties have since trade places. learn how to read.
          • dosware, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1"switched places"...so the republicans are "pro-slavery" (as logically deduced from your first comment)? Wow, hadn't read that in the election news. I will definitely be voting Democrat this election. Don't need the slavery thing happening again.
        • masterm1nd, on 05/09/2008, -2/+5Past? I think he's still in office.
    • sealbeater, on 05/08/2008, -7/+3@thirdcoastborn:

      I personally can't imagine why someone would digg you down for that comment. It's very true.
      • thirdcoastborn, on 05/09/2008, -5/+0You will always have Haters every where you go.
      • Mindzai, on 05/09/2008, -1/+2Ummm...because that would result in the media spending even more time talking about irrelevant issues like this one, instead of real issues that actually matter to peoples lives.
    • jabberwolf, on 05/08/2008, -4/+8DEPENDS - what else was on the bill ?

      Why do all the retards forget that tons of earmarks get put on bills that are "politically correct" to get them passed. They do this because idiots dont realize this and think OMFG a RACIST!!

      Buried for being retarded!
      • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -5/+3Yeah, it's just loaded with pork. Take a look:

        The Congress finds that -
        (1) January 20, 1986, marks the first observance of the Federal
        legal holiday, established by Public Law 98-144, honoring the
        birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.;
        (2) such holiday should serve as a time for Americans to
        reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent
        social change espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
        (3) it is appropriate for the Federal Government to coordinate
        efforts with Americans of diverse backgrounds and with private
        organizations in the observance of the Federal legal holiday
        honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
    • JointVenture, on 05/09/2008, -2/+8Its ***** like you that give Digg, and Democrats a bad name.

      You remind me of a Hall Monitor in high school.

      Guess what, this is old news, he even spoke about it on NBC and in front of hundreds of black folks in Memphis on MLK day.

      Nice try bellend.
  • JasonHears, on 05/08/2008, -42/+17It has already been mentioned in the media. Not much attention though. But it was on MLK day this last February when the buzz on this first started.
  • thirdcoastborn, on 05/08/2008, -34/+10There is no reason at all for the media to just dismiss this. I'm wondering if they are waiting to be all over it when it's just the two of them.
    Obama vs. McCain - This is going to be one of the most exciting elections of all time.
  • Protestivist, on 05/08/2008, -45/+5So did Dick Cheney, but we voted him in. Don't we want a repeat? I mean, the X-Men sequels weren't bad, wouldn't a McSame Presidency be great too? :P SNARK SNARK!
    • christopheles, on 05/08/2008, -2/+6I disagree. I found the third X-Men film to be quite bad.
      • boogie606, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1i thought phoenix was incredible...
  • WestonP, on 05/08/2008, -26/+310I don't really like McCain either, but this is a pretty lame attempt at an attack. We're talking about something from 25 years ago, and just because he voted against a holiday doesn't mean that he's racist or doesn't respect MLK and his accomplishments. I really don't care about that. What I do care about is what he intends to do about the gigantic mess that we've created in the middle east, and how he's going to fix the fact that we've ***** away the value of our Dollar. His desire for 100 years in Iraq, and his gas tax holiday nonsense, is why I'm not voting for him.
    • Terr01, on 05/08/2008, -7/+59Agreed. I'm certainly not voting for Mc-Mostly-The-Same-Policies-As-Bush either, but voting against MLK day doesn't mean racism or anything like that, and it's just another shade of the same blather that keeps people from actually dealing with the issues.

      Heck, I'd support *removing* MLK day as a national-no-work-holidary in favor of using voting day so that more working class people can get to the polls.

      And if you think about it, wouldn't it do more to help MLK's goals? Would he not have agreed?

      But of course, by saying that, a bazillion people will want to say I'm somehow racist because they feel it's better to venerate him as a man than to continue to strive for what he stood for.
      • killahron, on 05/08/2008, -2/+17you've got a great point there. let's get rid of mlk day and have a national voting day. somebody start the petition. i have work to do
      • icepick602, on 05/09/2008, -2/+4if you actually read McCain's policies they are pretty different than Bush's. He supports the war not because he thinks it was a good idea, but because bailing now would leave the country in shambles and conflict, not to mention destroy American international credibility even further. It sucks we are in Iraq but there is an argument for not going through with an immediate withdrawal. From a liberal perspective McCain's immigration policy is way more nuanced and thought out than Obama's. Not to mention that Obama's near socialist plan's for fiscal expansion is the LAST thing the American economy needs right now.... right behind a McCain's ***** gas holiday. I think Obama is a great man and could be an incredible leader, but its important for people to actually read about these things. Politics shouldn't be like rooting for your favorite sports team.
        • Terr01, on 05/09/2008, -3/+3You're fooling yourself with some extremely fine hairsplitting.

          I don't give a damn whether McCain subtly changes the language for the rationale, it's still bad policy and in every practical sense it's a continuation of the same policy!

          Shambles and conflict?

          "Iraq is no diversion. It is a place where civilization is taking a decisive stand against chaos and terror, we must not waver."--GWB

          Okay, how about "American Credibility?"

          "Here at home, some can argue our withdrawal from Vietnam carried no price to American credibility -- but the terrorists see it differently. [...] Bin Laden has declared that [...] "If we win it, it means your disgrace and defeat forever." Iraq is one of several fronts in the war on terror -- but it's the central front -- it's the central front for the enemy that attacked us and wants to attack us again. And it's the central front for the United States and to withdraw without getting the job done would be devastating." --GWB

          Or maybe...

          "Credibility comes when you say something is going to happen and then it does happen. And in order to keep the peace, it's important for there to be credibility in this world, credibility on the side of freedom and hope." --GWB

          As for "near-socialist plan for fiscal expansion", have you been holding the US federal budget graph upside down for the last seven years?!

    • thirdcoastborn, on 05/08/2008, -23/+2You're right, something someone did 25 years ago doesn't matter. We should just look at maybe just everything from 5 years back. What a idiot.
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/08/2008, -1/+5Actually what happened 25 years ago may or may not matter. It depends on what happened. I for one am not prepared to ignore Charlie Manson's actions. However I am prepared to ignore this "transgression" not because of when it happened but because of why it happened. His reason was because he didn't want another federal holiday. Non-issue and certainly doesn't vilify him.
      • nigh7dagger, on 05/09/2008, -3/+0It should be "what 'an' idiot".

        Way to fail.
    • mbraynard, on 05/08/2008, -4/+37He voted against it because he didn't want the government employees to get another paid day off. Has nothing to do with MLK.
      • dickybrown, on 05/09/2008, -0/+7bingo - they should actually work for our money...
    • Infidelcastr0, on 05/08/2008, -1/+13Yes. I'm not a McCain supporter, and while I'd call this a "mistake" on his part, I think it'd be going too far to try and paint him as a racist over this.
    • selmer, on 05/08/2008, -5/+4Nicely done.
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/08/2008, -10/+23"His desire for 100 years in Iraq"??!?!?!? You've been drinking the Democrat Kool-aid again haven't you?
      • thzae, on 05/09/2008, -8/+5Obama can't get enough of it ;)
      • Startemus, on 05/09/2008, -0/+3Buried because only an 'Elitist' would talk bad about the joys of Kool-aid.
    • jabberwolf, on 05/08/2008, -0/+7Also doesnt matter as many bills have extra crap that you simply dont want passed!

      PS - maybe we can get some of the black men he served with in VietNam who were prisoners of war, that Mccain stayed with when he was permitted to go free. Call him a racist now will ya!
    • Wetzilla, on 05/09/2008, -2/+16He even mentioned this in his the speech he did on the anniversary of MLK's death. He said he was wrong for voting against it and apologized. This is a non-story.
    • NeoCortex, on 05/09/2008, -2/+12Seriously. And the way it's worded, does it really make a difference if he was 47 or 27. And voting against a holiday is not the same as voting against segregation.
    • Phyraxus, on 05/09/2008, -1/+6It doesn't really matter, as long as you can make a conjecture that he is a racist bigot is all that matters. Good thing too, we need to dig up as much dirt on him as possible, not necessarily to help Obama win, but just to see how much of a hypocrite he truly is. I would recommend digging up dirt on Obama too, just to be fair.
      • 140Suffolk, on 05/09/2008, -1/+2Won't be too hard on Obama -- google Raila Odinga
        • Phyraxus, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1So he happened to be related to a bad person, therefore by association, he is bad?
          • 140Suffolk, on 05/09/2008, -2/+1So you know Obama is related to Odinga? Obama made speeches for Odinga when Odinga was running for president in Kenya. When Odinga lost, he was annoyed. So he turned his follower loose and they burned 1,000 people alive.
            Here's the problem -- Obama should have know this BEFORE he made speeches in Nairobi supporting him. Hell, Obama has staff. All he had to do was ask them to look into Odinga and it would have soon been apparent that he's a baaaad maaaan. For all we know, Obama's staff warned him off and Obama ignored them.
            Anyway, Obama is just too close with too many violent bad guys.
          • Phyraxus, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1[Citation Needed]
            If this is indeed true...
            So now Obama has to be omniscient in order for you to get his vote? Damn, you sure are tough to please. Who are you voting for?
          • 140Suffolk, on 05/10/2008, -1/+2http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/01/01/kenya.e ...
            http://politics.wikia.com/index.php?title=OBAMA_AN ...
            Here's a couple of links.
            But omniscient? Bull. A little research would have turned up enough bad news about Odinga to put anyone off.
            You're going to find that America is tired of this excuse. He didn't know about Ayers. He didn't know about Rev Wright. He didn't know about Odinga. He didn't know that his childhood mentor, Frank Marshall Davis, was a Communist. All these people are enemies of civilization -- and buddies of Barack.
          • Phyraxus, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1Those links are broken...
            Yes, omniscient, as in all-knowing. Apparently you find it unforgivable for someone to not know EVERYTHING and you can only be friends with those you are in a 100% agreement with. If you can only be friends with those you are in 100% agreement with, you wouldn't have any friends.
    • iTeo, on 05/09/2008, -1/+4Thank you. Although Digg has gone to hell it's nice to see some folks maintain some reason.
    • ByteGuerilla, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3There's a good episode of the West Wing that deals with this sort of 'find something to attack them on' politics. The White House wants to nominate this highly regarded Justice to the Supreme Court. They've spent months and months clearing the way for a smooth ride towards nomination and... ascension or ratification or whatever the hell it's called over there.

      On the day they want to invite him over to tell him they want to nominate him, they find out about this paper he wrote decades earlier that adopts a contentious position that the White House doesn't want to be implicated in supporting, so they have to pander to the threat of the opposition using the paper to derail the appointment, and, in the end, nominate someone else.

      To be quite frank, this ***** shouldn't matter even McCain hadn't publicly said he was wrong to oppose it. It's not like he did an Uncle Ruckus and threw bricks at the guy or practised hate speech against his cause. Another day of politics, another day of cheap tricks and character slurring.
    • reb42, on 05/09/2008, -3/+1Completely agree. Not everyone deserves a holiday, we should've stricken Columbus Day and replaced it with MLK Jr. Day.
    • georgemason01, on 05/09/2008, -6/+7Ron Paul.
    • bgfinkel, on 05/09/2008, -3/+2ditto
    • markgl, on 05/09/2008, -2/+4the 100 year remark. always slinging the *****.
    • Cognoscenti247, on 05/09/2008, -0/+0Boring. McCain is not a racist. JFK wire-tapped MLK, I don't think he is a racist. Democratic Senator Byrd, former KKK member voted against Justice Marshall and the Civil rights act, he may be still be a racist but perhaps he has had a change of heart. Who knows what is in a man's heart.

      People hurl this charge of racism for benign acts because they are either purely ignorant or malicious. Besides, this website is illegitimate and always has been.

      I believe a colloquy on how Obama and Hillary are bifurcating the democrat electorate along racial lines would be much more interesting and important for a march toward solidarity.
  • mentallyinhell, on 05/08/2008, -29/+17Still doesn't matter. With Hillary still in it, McCain is going to win.
    • billessig, on 05/08/2008, -8/+1Your knowledge of the US voting system is lacking. Once dems decide between Hillary and Barack, it will be McCain vs. (INSERT DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE HERE).

      (Yes, I know I left out the possiblilty of an independant or other party winning, but chances are slimmer than Mary-Kate Olsen in 2004.)
      • NorrisTwithman, on 05/09/2008, -0/+6lulz

        Your knowledge of basic Primaries theory is lacking.
      • Phyraxus, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3YOU LEAVE MARY-KATE ALONE!!! I'M SERIOUS!!!
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/09/2008, -2/+6What is it with you Democrats and your lack of patience? The Primary election isn't over yet and you're already throwing in the towel on the General election! The Primary will soon be over and the General election will start. It's a long way to November. So double up on the Riddlin or whatever it is you're on and relax!
    • stalinnnn, on 05/09/2008, -2/+6I'd still rather see him in office than Hillary...
    • MillionsLivio, on 05/09/2008, -2/+3Hillary isn't "still in it."
    • theapplegod, on 05/09/2008, -2/+1Yup, and think of all that money Obama raised that is going to be ***** away come November when McCain wins. It's a shame it couldn't have been put to better use. I hope at least all the lemmings who have gave to the Obama campaign will remember it is a tax write off so they can recoup their losses in some sense.

      Sorry Diggers, we just aren't ready for someone not tried and true like McCain vs. a "feel good about the country" guy like Obama. Call it race or whatever, he's not going to be our next President against McCain.
  • omnithought, on 05/08/2008, -29/+12He's also been against anything having to do with helping the troops. He was even strongly resisting attempts to recover POW's from Vietnam until public pressure forced him to. And after being a POW himself. What a soulless bastard.
    • PolishLogic, on 05/08/2008, -4/+12Ever ask yourself why he would do that? Or was that thought as deep as you went with the whole thing?
    • icepick602, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2Please stop establishing your political perspective on daily kos articles that make it to the front page of digg
  • PolishLogic, on 05/08/2008, -43/+76Well done. We have entirely too many man hours being lost to silly federal holidays like Presidents Day, MLK day, & Columbus day.
    • Ceaser57, on 05/08/2008, -6/+32From wikipedia:
      "The federal holidays (which are days off from work for federal employees) are New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. The official list can be found here (http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedh ... These holidays are not necessarily days off from work for private sector workers. Most private sector businesses close for only the "Big 6" holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Many also close on the Friday after Thanksgiving (aka Black Friday), which is not an official holiday, but is commonly granted to private sector workers. Some private businesses may also close for one or more other federal holidays (most commonly either Martin Luther King Day, or Presidents Day)."

      We take 6-10 holidays a year depending how nice our employers happen to be, sorry for wasting so many precious man hours.
      FYI that's less than most other countries

      • yuanzhoulu, on 05/09/2008, -1/+5yeah. i believe in quality of life and i think this country is too full of workaholics. seriously, i-bankers working 100 hours a week? consultants working every weekend? are you kidding? where's the culture, the arts, the development of the country into something that this century will be remembered *culturally* for, 1000 years from now? what about relaxation, giving kids proper upbringing and love with enough parental care so they become good members of society, and giving everyone the time to travel and experience the world outside their borders, to understand how others live, to understand what's on the other side of the planet?

        the USA has one of the lowest quality of life factors when it comes to vacation days. most European countries are at an average of 6 weeks paid leave *other than* national holidays (Italy has an average of 8; Switzerland is at an average of 4 but the government is considering acting to make this 6 I heard); most Asian countries (except Japan, and maybe Singapore and Taiwan and HK) have pretty lax vacation policies as well and most let you take unpaid leave if you want (compare to the US where you'd just get fired).

        The US? 11 days granted, much less actually taken, I read in a study. I can't seem to find the link right now.
        • enzomedici, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1It is ridiculous. This is why I am a computer consultant, I won't work full-time ever again. ***** that. Stuck in some full-time job with 2-3 weeks vacation and people giving you attitude when you actually want to take it? I've been happily consulting for 6 years now and will never look back. ***** full-time.
    • 9bpm9, on 05/08/2008, -8/+1Hell, we celebrate a day for the guy who started slavery in the Americas. And at least they combined Lincoln's and Washington's birthday into one day.
    • Wolfspirittt, on 05/09/2008, -3/+12Why the hell would you be in disagreement with mandatory days off? I for one like to be able to get a break from work every now and then so I don't go insane. Unless you are a robot or have absolutely no life whatsoever (which may be possible if you are on digg) then you should be happy for any extra holidays your company allows you to take. As for Mccain voting against this... I can't really say he is racist because of this, but the man probably could care less about the common man and his rights to take a break from the day to day BLAH of corporate America.
      • Herrold, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1I am not against the days off. But why do I have to take them when everyone else does? Have you ever tried to go skiing, to a movie, or a beach on one of these days? I would rather be able to pick the day I am going to take off for these holidays (call it a Flex day), and go then.

        There is nothing relaxing about being stuck in traffic or an overcrowded public space.
    • exomni, on 05/09/2008, -5/+14Hardly. We have very few holidays, and even fewer that most employees actually take off, and much fewer than many advanced and thriving countries.

      Holidays, paid vacation, shorter hours, weekends. In moderation these are all good things for life and the economy, and we most certainly have them in a very conservative moderation. As anyone who knows anything about the economy can tell you: humans are not robots.


      Hell, Germany takes more time off than we do and they are on average far more productive.
    • theapplegod, on 05/09/2008, -4/+1I've never worked for a company (obviously not Federal) that gives MLK day off. Instead, here in the south, the African Americans just take the day off in silent protest and get paid anyway nor are forced to use a sick or vacation day.

      Nice eh?
    • munawarali2, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1The US has among the lowest number of paid holidays anywhere on Earth. And you think its too many?! Do you run a business or something? Your comment is just strange.
  • twertyto, on 05/08/2008, -15/+97I'm going to hate the new few months if I have to see ***** on a constant basis. I don't give a ***** how he or Hillary or Barack voted on one particular issue without any proper context. I don't care who their pastor is and I don't care what they did in Bosnia. If you are trying to say any of these people are racist, unpatriotic, etc. based upon this garbage then please STFU. I'm smart than that and so are most people....especially on Digg. Very few of us appreciate these cheap ass tactics that attack their basic character. Enough with the character attacks. Talk about their ideas and policies and their plans for the future. These people wouldn't be where they are today if any of the implication with respect to their character were true.
    • fuzzyelbow, on 05/09/2008, -9/+0I will agree on most of your points. However... Hillary Clinton did lie about Bosnia, lied about NAFTA, has a negative balance on her campaign funding among many other things. This directly affects peoples perception of what her character is. She has pulled so many things out of her @$$ that it has become apparent how gullible and naive the American public is towards these types of issues with the candidates. It is important that we can decide for ourselves (with the given information) who will be the best president and lead this country out of the mess we are currently in.
    • funkymoose, on 05/09/2008, -10/+5"I'm smart than that and so are most people....especially on Digg"

      heh, perfectly good argument discredited by a small typo.
      • zombies187, on 05/09/2008, -5/+7He was talking about cheap ass tactics and you point out his typo. Harhar!
    • zombies187, on 05/09/2008, -4/+1Well, if he told anyone he was the first candidate in New Orleans, he was playing them for suckers. He probably meant he was the first Republican candide in New Orleans. I will never forget the picture of McCain and Bush holding up McCain's birthday cake on the day levees broke. I know many diggers didn't care from day one, but I think it was no time for cameras and candles.
      • Louis11, on 05/09/2008, -2/+2And where the ***** where you mr. levee repair man?

        The fact of the matter is the levees where poorly constructed, and where bound to break.
        • zombies187, on 05/09/2008, -2/+1I was right there protecting my property. I was not on a levee because those are the property of the federal government.
    • twertyto, on 05/09/2008, -4/+1Apologies.
      smart -> smarter
      *implications
    • xero01, on 05/09/2008, -2/+2Dugg.
    • JimbobtheSalesm, on 05/09/2008, -1/+2And please stop worshiping Barack Obama and the ground that he walks on! Why don't we actually have stories that equally represent the different candidates and what they are saying rather than having a new story each day about Obama taking a *****?
  • Shawn4168, on 05/08/2008, -11/+129Oh, come on, this is just ridiculous, guys. He voted against a holiday honoring a single person, and you're making him out to be a closet racist. Honestly, how often do we have official government holidays honoring a single person? Off the top of my head, I can think of Columbus Day and Christmas (but even that's debatable, considering how secularized the holiday is now). Even Washington and Lincoln have been lumped together into "President's Day" now. I realize that MLK was a great man, and that he was killed for standing up for what he believed in, and he has left a lasting impact. But he is far from the only one who has fit this criteria. Can you really blame McCain for being reluctant to give this guy his own holiday, when there are so many other deserving people that don't have one either?
    • tapo, on 05/08/2008, -0/+32I've got to agree. Many states disagreed with the idea of "Martin Luther King Day" and decided to name it "Civil Rights Day" instead, which is a much better term, IMHO.
      I may not like McCain's politics, but demonizing him for this is ridiculous.
      • sealbeater, on 05/08/2008, -6/+1Many? I think you mean 2. Arizona (McCains home state, which didn't celebrate MLK day until 1992) and New Hampshire.
        Note: The only reason Arizona sanctioned MLK day was because of a tourist boycott.

        The point of this is that McCain lied. He said that he had supported MLK day when in fact, he never did.
    • mbraynard, on 05/08/2008, -1/+16He didn't oppose honoring the man with MLK day; he opposed giving government workers a paid day off. Nothing to do with MLK.
    • pintomp3, on 05/08/2008, -5/+6"Honestly, how often do we have official government holidays honoring a single person" christmas?
      • Shawn4168, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1CHRISTmas. As in Jesus. Heard of him?
        • pintomp3, on 05/09/2008, -4/+1that's an official government holiday honoring a single person. you asked how often, i gave you an example.
          • Shawn4168, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1And if you had bothered to read my original post, you would have seen that I had mentioned Christmas in there.
          • buckbova, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1It's three people. The father, the son, and the holy ghost.
    • Vocifer, on 05/08/2008, -4/+9Thomas Edison day please.
      • slearwig, on 05/09/2008, -2/+5No. Tesla Day maybe. But don't make a day honoring Edison.
        • DuffyDirect, on 05/09/2008, -2/+2guess you've never heard of schenectady, idiot.
    • bryceman111, on 05/09/2008, -2/+7Chris Farley day please...
    • yodaclaus, on 05/09/2008, -0/+5I know this will be hard to swallow for a lot of people but... he voted against the holiday because the state of Arizona was against the holiday. It took until 1988 (I think) for AZ to approve the holiday at a state level. He was doing what a Senator is supposed to do...represent his constituency. Wow! Remarkable! To think that a politician would actually act on the will of the people...its a novel concept for sure.
    • theapplegod, on 05/09/2008, -0/+3But, my friend, this is Digg. Anything that can be conjured up to make Obama look like a saint is quickly whisked to the front page no matter how little newsworthy it may be.
  • neogoblin, on 05/08/2008, -24/+6And they call Obama racist? Ha!
  • hcl40u, on 05/08/2008, -17/+36Didn't Ron Paul also vote no on MLK Day? He is Dr. No for a reason after all. Of course in Ron Paul's case it is likely for a different reason like unnesscary use of government power.
    • prometheanspark, on 05/08/2008, -8/+26Why assume that he did it for different reasons than Ron Paul and only because he's racist? A new federal holiday means all federal employees get paid not to work for an additional day each year - reducing the amount of work the government gets done by about 0.5%, while keeping the cost the same. That is clearly NOT fiscally responsible and any self-respecting fiscal conservative would vote against such holidays, even if they were of a major republican figure like Ronald Reagan day.
      • goldenratiophi, on 05/08/2008, -2/+3crap! I wasn't looking and accidentally dugg you down because for some reason thought the digg up button was on the left side. I hope you get dugg back up.

        When will Digg get the sweet new comment system???
      • Hortnon, on 05/08/2008, -6/+2What a ridiculous statement. There is now way to prove that a holiday actually lowers any productivity while still costing money. This assumes that all employees do not work on holidays, all work equal amounts, etc
        • yojiffyskippy, on 05/09/2008, -0/+4I suspect (and it isn't a large leap in reasoning) that giving federal employees another day off with pay in January doesn't improve productivity enough to offset the loss in productivity due to the additional day off with pay. While you are correct, it may not be a linear relationship but it will result in a loss of productivity.
        • dickybrown, on 05/09/2008, -0/+4clearly you're not familiar with federal employees....
          and, there's no productivity gains for MLK day - I've found it's a day full of "what do you mean there's no mail - what about FedEx?" and "*****, the bank is closed" and think about all the time lost the Friday before when they have to tell customers "we're closed on Monday"
          It becomes a "short week" that no one expects to get anything done - total waste
        • DuffyDirect, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Ever hear of R&R dick?
      • bcr21201, on 05/09/2008, -1/+0http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/pap ...
    • Civilizationist, on 05/08/2008, -11/+4Nope. He voted yes on it.
    • Pake, on 05/08/2008, -13/+8It couldn't possibly be because Ron Paul had his columns being published in a white supremacist newsletter. Now, I'm not saying Ron Paul is a racist, but claiming McCain is racist when at least McCain wasn't having articles of published is humorous.
      • Pake, on 05/08/2008, -2/+2PS: I support Obama, not McCain. I'm just against idiotic allegations.
      • doyoulikeworms, on 05/09/2008, -3/+1Paul didn't even write those articles. And McCain never called anyone a gook.
    • bcr21201, on 05/09/2008, -1/+13True! And he voted against giving Rosa Parks a medal. However - he did offer $100 out of his own pocket toward making one. Not many of the "For" voters went for that. Was McCain one of them?
      • animal71, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Medal? What is a medal good for?
        Should've given Rosa a bus pass.
  • dpcamp, on 05/08/2008, -5/+39wouldn't be any skin on my nose if it wasn't celebrated, it's one of those holidays that only the postal office and banks recognize..
  • mikesbaker, on 05/08/2008, -6/+67well that must mean he hates black people right?
  • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -13/+43Why would he vote for Martin Luther King day exactly? Don't get me wrong, MLK was an interesting guy and did a lot of great things. But I can think of literally hundreds of people that deserve their very own holiday before him.

    I can only assume that John McCain can think of just as many deserving figures.
    • mddawso, on 05/08/2008, -3/+16I agree with you completely. This seems like someone just wanting to flame McCain
      • icepick602, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2Welcome to the Digg front page for the next seven months
    • dubhousing, on 05/08/2008, -13/+8literally hundreds? or are you misusing literally in the common fashion, e.g. "I ~literally~ just shat myself from surprise."

      Why don't you start by naming 50? 40?
      • pseudononymist, on 05/08/2008, -2/+10http://www.victoriaspast.com/Famous_Black_American ...

        just for starters
        • dubhousing, on 05/08/2008, -7/+2And all of those cited on that page deserve a holiday before MLK? Or did you just google "famous black americans" and slap that on here?
      • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -1/+3Obviously that was a bit of an exaggeration. But I can certainly think of many people that deserve their own holiday here in the United States, let alone Americans, and let alone black Americans. There are plenty of people just as deserving as MLK was.
        • yojiffyskippy, on 05/09/2008, -2/+1That's funny because I can't think of a single person that deserves their own federal holiday.
        • Alexandru25, on 05/09/2008, -1/+8Thomas Edison, Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, FDR, I can list a few more but I have to go take a *****.
        • mpeters13, on 05/09/2008, -0/+5At first your comment ***** me off, but when I got to thinking, I started to agree. The problem is that all people know of Black history is Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks. There were tons of people working for civil rights, including White Americans worthy of a federal holiday. What about Andrew Goodman and James Schwerner, both white Americans- members of CORE - who were assassinated by racist KKK freaks during the Freedom Summer project. James Chaney for that matter? What about the Grandma of SitIns? MLK was an advocate of peace and a Christian, but he's not all there is. Meh. This point is already moot.
          • Qong, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Not sure why that comment would ***** you off, but ok...
            I agree though that there are other people just as deserving of MLK to have their own national holiday. And I am not saying that MLK is undeserving, he definitely did a lot of good things for our country. But should he get a national holiday for himself before everyone else? Many great men and women came before him, doing the exact same things as he was doing.
            It isn't fair to give him a holiday over all of the other people that struggled with him, before him, and after him.
      • superfuxxorr, on 05/09/2008, -2/+8The 56 men that signed the Declaration of Independence come to mind.
    • Nudar, on 05/08/2008, -11/+6MLK was having an orgy with multiple white women the night before he died. He was heard saying "I'm f-cking for God" and "I'm not a negro tonight". All of this was documented in Newsweek magazine and was recorded by the FBI who had surveillance on him. In addition, the so-called "doctor" plagarized his doctoral thesis. This was documented in the Boston Globe. Read about this on martinlutherking.org. Why exactly should this lying adulterer get his own holiday?
      • mali1, on 05/08/2008, -3/+5WTF?
      • ZebZ, on 05/08/2008, -3/+1martinlutherking.org... hosted by Stormfront.
        • LeePeyton, on 05/09/2008, -0/+0wow that is scary. hosted by stormfront and all.
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/09/2008, -3/+1Sure he was human and had faults but you know what they say about casting stones right?
      • metric7, on 05/09/2008, -0/+4Gee I wonder why they continue to keep his FBI record sealed?
      • petrodollar, on 05/09/2008, -1/+5Awesome. He deserves TWO holidays for that.
        • icepick602, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1I think i might try those lines out next time i get lucky
      • publiclurker, on 05/09/2008, -3/+1You got somthinn agains orgies or white wimun there boy?
    • UglyBunny, on 05/08/2008, -7/+3Care to name a few?
      • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -1/+5Several of our countries founding father's would be the first example. Men that were not Presidents, so they would not be jumbled into "President's Day" as many of our truly great Presidents are.
        Those men have undoubtedly, undoubtedly I say, done far more for our country than MLK could have ever hoped to do. And I don't mean that as any disrespect to MLK. As I said he did plenty for our country as a whole, especially downtrodden people; he was a beacon for equality and a great man indeed. But there are people that are more important to our country than he.
  • gordonf238, on 05/08/2008, -23/+4Hah! This guy isn't even the president yet and he's already starting to strike me as a d*ck. Then again, that didn't stop Mr. Bush & Co. from getting re-elected. Let's hope this one runs out of luck?
  • gootecks, on 05/08/2008, -19/+10Why would anybody vote against a national day off?
    • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -0/+4It's not a national day off.
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 05/09/2008, -0/+5Because they own a business
    • apackofmonkeys, on 05/09/2008, -0/+5Because the only difference MLK day makes to me is that I don't get my mail, but I still have to go to work.
  • Poochyfud, on 05/08/2008, -15/+18 I agree with a lot of these comments. Why should there be a MLK day? There is no Washington day or Lincoln day, so what makes this one guy who fought for a good cause deserve a day? Hooray for affirmative action.
    • UglyBunny, on 05/08/2008, -15/+7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidents_Day_(Unite ...

      Shut up, you ignorant *****.
      • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -3/+9You are quite ignorant actually. See my reply to you above. There are plenty of Americans more deserving of their own holiday.
        Also, to have all President's jumbled into one single holiday is appalling. Imagine great Presidents having their holiday's lumped together with say, George W. Bush, or some other President that you dislike.
    • SSCrow, on 05/09/2008, -5/+1well there is also 4th of July.
    • FUR10N, on 05/09/2008, -0/+9When is the government going to realize that affirmative action is just reverse discrimination, "two wrongs don't make a right" - MOM
      • yuanzhoulu, on 05/09/2008, -2/+0who said this is affirmative action?
        MLK did something great and we have a day for him. Nobody said it's because he was black or anything like that.
  • popnwave, on 05/08/2008, -9/+19Martin Luther King, Jr will always be a major icon of the US civil rights movement... his message should be taught in schools and remembered in history books, but does he need a federal holiday? NADA.
    • SchmuckofNI, on 05/09/2008, -1/+2Makes you wonder why Gandi doesn't have a national holiday..
      • yuanzhoulu, on 05/09/2008, -0/+0August 15, Indian Independence Day
  • zephyear, on 05/08/2008, -16/+3he's so old.
  • sbritner, on 05/08/2008, -11/+16So we should give a holiday to every person assassinated? Looks like the calendar is going to fill up quickly.
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/09/2008, -1/+8I suspect that those in favor of the holiday were supporting it because of his Civil Rights work and not because he was assassinated.
    • RomeyRome, on 05/09/2008, -1/+2I vote for Tupac day.
  • pedo, on 05/08/2008, -3/+10this is old news isn't it? i mean they were talking about this on MLK day which was in january
  • mlrigsby, on 05/08/2008, -6/+12Everybody knows this already. He's since said he regrets that vote. Buried as irrelevant.
  • antoniuk, on 05/08/2008, -6/+13This just in... McCain at age 6 weeks peed in his mother's face. I do not know about you but I do not want an incontinent president.
    • Troy64, on 05/08/2008, -5/+3I could have some fun with that, but I'm for McCain.
  • mcool119, on 05/08/2008, -5/+34I bet Ron Paul voted against MLK day, too. Seems like a conservative thing, they probably see is as a frivolous national holiday.
    • temjrpgh, on 05/08/2008, -0/+17Martin Luther King would have voted against Martin Luther King Day. He would not want his life celebrated, but rather society changed. MLK day is appeasement for many people, and it should not be. Having a day means nothing, the struggles that existed during MLK's lifetime persist.
      • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -1/+8That is an amazing point that you make. There are still many inequalities here in America. The fight is by no means over.
  • Apophis574, on 05/08/2008, -21/+31Old news...
    Oh wait I forgot Digg.com = Obama's campaign HQ...
  • tacklebox, on 05/08/2008, -12/+6Yep, since MLK everythings been great. When do we pick a real hero that actually brings change to the black community?
    • brunevm, on 05/08/2008, -2/+4Seriously, lets worry about McCain's old vote when King's dream is being neglected by his own people.
      • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -2/+2Great points, both of you.
        There is still a long way to go for our country as a whole, some of these other people leaving comments don't seem to understand that.
  • GrodyChamp, on 05/08/2008, -7/+17Hooray for propaganda spam on Digg!
  • Cyberdactyl, on 05/08/2008, -7/+37This is OLD OLD news that McCain addressed AND apologized for ON MLK day!

    Jesus, the far left has started the crap already.
    • zeusthemoose, on 05/08/2008, -9/+4Being swiftboated sucks doesn't it?
      • Cyberdactyl, on 05/09/2008, -1/+7No idiot. . .he ADMITTED to it. . . HUGE diff.
  • SaladCactusKing, on 05/08/2008, -8/+11SaladCactusKing at age 8 shat his pants in 2nd grade.

    SaladCactusKing is a *****.
    • jerrycurley, on 05/08/2008, -3/+1Dude...did you really?
    • phalanxcronos, on 05/08/2008, -3/+2Did you just sit there in class and hoped no one noticed or did you run out with ***** dripping out of your pant legs?
    • Apophis574, on 05/08/2008, -4/+2LOLOL That's hilarious!
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/09/2008, -1/+4Is this part of your therapy?
  • ericdano, on 05/08/2008, -7/+18I'd vote against it too. We have too many holidays as it is. Now people what a Caesar Chavez day. And I want a GTA day. Seriously.
    These holiday's have little meaning now. President's day? Memorial Day? Labor Day? How many people actually know what these are? To 95%+ it is a day off from work or school.
    • metric7, on 05/09/2008, -3/+1Who gets President's Day off?
    • ssn697, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1In America, 2 weeks vacation is "too much!!!" Meanwhile, the rest of the world is living longer than us (lower stress levels).

      You keep up your "taking time off is for pussies". I will continue to work from home at 45, secure in my knowledge that I am financially secure, living a low stress life, and living longer and better than you.

      Oh, that's gotta HURT!
  • killahron, on 05/08/2008, -3/+12you guys are beginning to hurt your cause. i mean, come on, he kind of has a point. consider for a moment that his vote doesn't mean he hates black people. maybe he really just doesn't think we needed yet another federal holiday.
  • attercob, on 05/08/2008, -4/+32Look, I dislike McCain, but this article is biased in a serious way.

    First, he never said that he did not like MLK or respect him. He said that federal holidays were expensive and that at the time he did not realize how important the holiday was to some americans.

    Second, the quotes about what he said regarding being a PoW are terrible. He complains that when he was a PoW he got no meaningful news and then says that he did hear about MLK and JFK being shot, but not about the moon shot. From this the reporter concludes that he thinks MLK being shot is not important. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was not what he was saying or trying to imply.

    This report would make Fox News proud. Burry.

    • jerrycurley, on 05/08/2008, -1/+6Don't you realize...the people that bitch about Fox News are always hte ones that write hte most ridiculously biased ***** ever.
    • fakekevinrose, on 05/09/2008, -0/+5The obamabots among the real Obama supporters aren't helping his cause, they'll promote anything that mentions the word Obama or something that slams his opponents
  • KrayzieKyd, on 05/08/2008, -6/+12I'm sorry, was this digg a middle school project? "He now has the nerve to say today that He is going where no one else is willing to go...in the ghetto's such as New Orleans."

    He...John...He...He... how redundant is your caption? Use a compound sentence in a while
    Capital 'He'? So far in English, only God gets that kind of pronoun treatment.
    ghetto's? Is that supposed to be possessive? You don't use an apostrophe for a plural!

    What's worse: people submitting articles without a high school education or readers digging the articles?
    • DivisibleByZero, on 05/09/2008, -2/+3Did you post this before or after he "udated" the story?
  • staeiou, on 05/08/2008, -2/+11When Digg moves from attacking Clinton to attacking McCain (two stories in the top 5 right now), you know that primary season is over.
    • mchinsky, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Exactly right. NOw it will be attack McCain day and night until the election.
  • Disregard, on 05/08/2008, -6/+16And when are these racists going to get around to Tupac Day?
  • jerrycurley, on 05/08/2008, -7/+12OH NO! He is EVIL I tells ya! He didn't wnat to add a meaningless holiday! That means he is RACIST! There is no POSSIBLE other explanation for not wanting to add another holiday to the books!
    • ciaran036, on 05/08/2008, -7/+6A MEANINGLESS holiday?? You are definitely not black.
      • jerrycurley, on 05/08/2008, -3/+4Yup...meaingless...the majority of people...even black people do NOT reflect on what MLK did on that day. They just enjoy the day off. (if they get it.) A civil rights leader can be honored with a national holiday. Why not have a Susan B. Anthony federal holiday too?

        Thus, it is meaningless.
      • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -1/+5I'm not black, so thankfully that means that I can understand that there are many other Americans that are just as, if not more deserving of their own holiday as MLK was.
    • mpeters13, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3"Meaningless" is an ignorant choice to use. Are there better candidates? Yes, there are. Martin Luther King wasn't totally worthless. I mean he did snatch a nobel peace prize and Time magazine man of the year from Lyndon Johnson. Not worthless. Pssh, I don't get the damned holiday off anyway.

      You want meaningless? The current debate between Senators Obama and Clinton - that's meaningless.
  • skeetmageet, on 05/08/2008, -2/+8What does him voting against MLK day have to do with anything. He didn't think it was necessary to have another federal holiday, in retrospect maybe he regrets it, but I just don't see the relevance.
    • DivisibleByZero, on 05/09/2008, -0/+3There's a small but swiftly growing movement of radical pro-Federal-Holidayists growing across America.

      God, they had a huge protest on Cinco de Mayo this year. I had to shut down the plant because so few people showed up.

      Usually you see them in lesser numbers for that one since they're often confused as to whether the protest is actually on May 5th, or if they should have Cinco de Mayo (observed) on the nearest Monday...
  • seomike, on 05/08/2008, -5/+7You're preaching to the choir even us republicans detest him. Can we please get back the throwing Hillary under the bus.
    • blackbamboo, on 05/08/2008, -0/+5she get the nomination...you watch!
    • Qong, on 05/08/2008, -2/+2Yeah man, everyone detests him.
      We'll see what happens in November.
    • theapplegod, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1You'd like that wouldn't you?

      Too bad she is in till the end which is going to make McCain YOUR next President.

      Wah, wah, wah....
  • MrTito, on 05/08/2008, -4/+7I'm an Obama supporter, but this isn't a wise move to go after McCain on this issue. As Obama supporters we don't need to be injecting race into the campaign because god knows we already get accused of doing it when we aren't. If anything, the savings and loan scandals of McCain's past are way more relevant to the discussion of this election. But not this crap.
    • JointVenture, on 05/09/2008, -4/+2He was cleared, just like Obama has been cleared in Rezko dealings.
      • MrTito, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3The Senate ethics report found that McCain used poor judgment in his dealings with the S&L scandal. This would be the same poor judgment that got him involved in the Vicki Iseman affair. Seems like he has a pattern of poor judgment. Maybe McCain is just old and set in his ways. Doesn't sound very presidential to me though.
        • JointVenture, on 05/09/2008, -5/+2Vicki? You're ***** joking right?
    • yojiffyskippy, on 05/09/2008, -0/+3Unfortunately the whole Keating-five scandal is far too complicated for the average digger to comprehend and it isn't easy to summarize it into a one sentence digg-snipe.
    • ralph12c41, on 05/09/2008, -1/+1It's too late. Mr Obama has made it all about race. Read his books...listen carefully to his spouse...you can't miss it unless you don't want to recognize it.
      • MrTito, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2Care to cite some examples?
        • ralph12c41, on 05/09/2008, -1/+2Sure....

          From 'Dreams of My Father',
          "I CEASED TO ADVERTISE MY MOTHER'S RACE AT THE AGE OF12 OR 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites"

          From Dreams of My Father, " I FOUND A SOLACE IN NURSING A PERVASIVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER'S RACE".



          From 'Dreams of my Father', "The emotion between the races could never be pure..... the THE OTHER RACE (WHITE) WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN JUST THAT: MENACING, ALIEN AND APART"

          From Dreams Of My Father, "never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. IT WAS INTO MY FATHER'S IMAGE , THE BLACK MAN, THE SON OF AFRICA, THAT I'D PACKED ALL THE ATTRIBUTES I SOUGHT IN MYSELF.

          From Dreams Of My Father:
          "THAT HATE HADN'T GONE AWAY," he wrote, BLAMING WHITE PEOPLE,- SOME CRUEL, SOME IGNORANT, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives."
  • Rndm_Tngnt, on 05/08/2008, -5/+12There are much better reasons to hate McCain than this.
  • ihavefish, on 05/08/2008, -5/+7MLK Jr was a plagiarist

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_J ...

    Sure he did good in this world, but so did many others.
  • zepher5150, on 05/08/2008, -2/+3wasn't that like 50 years ago? Cmon'!
  • ciaran036, on 05/08/2008, -18/+1This is ***** significant! What human being would allow this racist old-man in charge of your country?
  • internetcoward, on 05/08/2008, -4/+3this is old news. On the anniversary of the assassination of MLK they played a speach of remorse from Mr McCain and I think that having a holiday for a Democratic Socialist who wanted to try and even out the playing field in America is amazing. i wish people would read more of MLK's writing rather than just reminiscing over him.

    http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/publications/sp ...

    this is a great start. it has one of my favorite lines that I use in my profile.

    "What I'm saying to you this morning is communism forgets that life is individual. (Yes) Capitalism forgets that life is social. (Yes, Go ahead) And the kingdom of brotherhood is found neither in the thesis of communism nor the antithesis of capitalism, but in a higher synthesis. (Speak) [applause] It is found in a higher synthesis (Come on) that combines the truths of both. (Yes) Now, when I say questioning the whole society, it means ultimately coming to see that the problem of racism, the problem of economic exploitation, and the problem of war are all tied together. (All right) These are the triple evils that are interrelated."

  • kidd3ckz, on 05/08/2008, -11/+5As a white suburban gangsta wannabe from Metairie (basically New Orleans), I have to agree that McCain cares even less about black people than George Bush.
    • digitallysick, on 05/08/2008, -3/+2Humm i don't know about that, close call i think they both hate black people equally
      • Qong, on 05/09/2008, -4/+2I don't think either one hates black people at all. Get over yourselves and the race issue. Barack is the only one playing the race issue this election.
      • Darksoul, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3Barack isn't playing a race issue at all if anything hes had to defend himself to other people to show that he is not a racist if he was a racist I wouldn't be voting for him as I am a white male. You had me until that ***** about Obama anyway neither hates black people Kayne West is a ***** moron anybody listing to that tool needs to have their brains screwed on tighter for someone as ritch as him I didn't see him helping anybody in New Orleans and no awnsering a phone is not doing your part.
    • metric7, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3I don't think McCain is worried about the wigger vote.
  • RedHerringHack, on 05/08/2008, -8/+15Who gives a *****? There are more important issues than this at stake. Besides he had good reason. MLK was not a statesman, he didn't discover anything. It was black appeasement at work. National Holidays are not given out lightly. My GOD, even ALL the presidents ever have to share one day and this one person gets one all to himself? Get Real.
    • Qong, on 05/09/2008, -0/+3Great point.
      Every single President is forced into one holiday, the bad Presidents, the good Presidents, and the truly great Presidents. It's sad. Not to mention that there are other people that were never President that deserve their own holiday just as much as MLK.
    • exomni, on 05/09/2008, -1/+4MLK is maybe the most significant person in American history up there with Lincoln and Jefferson, and he's more relevant to us now than them. I'd say he deserves a ***** holiday if ANYONE does.
      • starmanfalls, on 05/09/2008, -2/+3***** MLK
        • astronautje, on 05/09/2008, -0/+0i think that's what he said to your mother when she was on top.
          mulat.
    • enzomedici, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1God help you if you ever find yourself stuck on MLK Blvd. in any city in America.
  • Murrabbit, on 05/08/2008, -8/+5Well remember most of the Right Wing used to (and mostly still do) see in MLK, a legacy not of human rights and egalitarian ethics, but a history of lawlessness. Fascists hate nothing more than the idea that people should take to the streets and disobey laws, regardless of how corrupt those laws are.
    • minox, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2You must not have read much of Martin Luther King's writings. In "Letter From Birmingham Jail" he was criticizing those who SUPPORTED his cause for being complacent and not taking to the streets.
    • SargedeathXmode, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Odd that the right wing represents morality. I highly doubt most of the right wing see MLK as lawlessness. Perhaps only the extremist radical, not to mention racist, right wing would still disapprove of MLK.
      • Zap2, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1You could be not racist, and think protest against the government are bad...you'd be a fascist, and that alone is scary
  • whatthefu, on 05/08/2008, -3/+13He even apologized for this. This is no better than those idiotic flag pin and Reverend Wright attacks. Focus on the damn issues at hand here.
    • Disgod, on 05/08/2008, -1/+3I was going to say the same thing. It's in the past, WAAAY in the past and has no bearing on today's politics just useless mudslinging. Real issues are important not made up BS or ***** that happened over 20 years ago.
      • thirdcoastborn, on 05/09/2008, -3/+0All you whining bitches need to shut the ***** up. He did it. Apologies don't mean *****. Start hating on me in 3, 2, 1.....
        • Disgod, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2And you responded like this to two people who said the same thing, and are an asshole about it? Very nice
    • exomni, on 05/09/2008, -3/+4Yeah, he apologized and explained it by saying "I didn't know at the time how important MLK was" and saying he was unaware of it because he was in Vietnam during the civil rights boom.

      I don't know about you, but if you're so disconnected from America you didn't even know how important MLK was when you were nearly 50, I don't really want you in any public office.
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