McCain on Martin Luther King, Jr.

McCain’s tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. today lets voters reassess their opinion of the GOP hopeful. McCain did not always have the admiration for King as he claims he does now. Just 24 years ago as Congressman he voted against making Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a recognized Federal Holiday.

McCain states, “I voted in my first, I think it was my first year in congress against then… I began to learn and I studied and people talked to me and I not supported it but I fought very hard in my home state of Arizona for recognition against a Governor who was against my own party.” Let’s not forget that McCain was 47 years old at the time so it was not like he did not know what it was like to live in a segregated society where Martin Luther King, Jr. fought to gain the civil rights and equality minorities deserved.

Steve Benen notes:

“The vote wasn’t the only problem. In his home state of Arizona, conservatives in the state legislature blocked a measure to create a holiday honoring King, prompting then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt (D) to declare one through executive order. In 1987, Republican Gov. Evan Mecham’s first act in office was to rescind Babbitt’s order on the King holiday. John McCain endorsed Mecham’s decision. Complicating matters, McCain, no doubt embarrassed by his previous positions, is being less than truthful about them now.”

McCain justified his 1983 position in an ABC News interview in 2000 by claiming, “it was not necessary to have another federal holiday, that it cost too much money, that other presidents were not recognized.” McCain may claim regret for opposing the holiday but it does not explain why he did so 15 years after the assassination nor why he opposed the 1990 Civil Rights Act.

Benen claims, “If McCain “began to learn” and “studied” after his opposition to the King holiday in ‘83, he was a very slow learner. Four years later, he didn’t fight against a governor or his own party; he endorsed the governor’s move to eliminate a King holiday.”

So how does McCain’s actions speak for his record when it comes to civil rights issues:

• Honoring the Confederate - In 2000, McCain called the flag “offensive.” Later, he lauded it as a “battle flag” and a “symbol of heritage.”

• Honoring racists: In 2000, Richard Quinn, McCain’s South Carolina spokesperson in 2000, called the MLK holiday “vitriolic and profane.” McCain defended Quinn, calling him a “respected” and “fine man,” refusing to fire him. McCain’s current campaign has paid the firm Richard Quinn and Associates $180,000.

• Skipped African-American debate to campaign: McCain joined Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson in September 2007 in skipping PBS’ presidential debate, which featured “a panel exclusively comprised of journalists of color.”

For a Presidential candidate running on his history one should not romanticize the character and forget his flaws. The media may not touch on the subject but that does not mean that deep down McCain may have some issues at hand. Donklephant has a video of McCain giving the tribute today so you can see how some reacted.