Thursday, August 29, 2013

GOP ABSENT FROM MARCH ON WASHINGTON

FROM WASHINGTON POST


Republicans absent from March on Washington

Not a single Republican elected official stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday with activists, actors, lawmakers and former presidents invited to mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington — a notable absence for a party seeking to attract the support of minority voters.
Event organizers said Wednesday that they invited top Republicans, all of whom declined to attend because of scheduling conflicts or ill health.
Video
Martin Luther King III discusses the significance of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, and said he was disappointed by the lack of GOP participation in the day's events.
Martin Luther King III discusses the significance of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, and said he was disappointed by the lack of GOP participation in the day's events.

TRANSCRIPT: President Obama’s speech on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington

TRANSCRIPT: President Obama’s speech on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington
President Obama delivered the following remarks on Aug. 28 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

Obama celebrates work of anonymous foot soldiers

Obama celebrates work of anonymous foot soldiers
Range of reactions reflected by president, who notedfl successes but acknowledged an unfulfilled dream.
Share your story
Did you or someone you know attend the 1963 march? Tell your story and read the stories of others.

Memorial to ‘foot soldiers’ in 1963 march unveiled

Memorial to ‘foot soldiers’ in 1963 march unveiled
The Annapolis memorial honors regular people who endured the heat, threats and harassment to march.

1963 march: Historical photos

1963 march: Historical photos
PHOTOS | The landmark civil rights protest on drew more than 200,000 people to the District.

Video playlist: Memories of the march

Video playlist: Memories of the march
Hear memories of the 1963 march and how it altered the lives of those who attended.
But aides to some GOP congressional leaders said they received formal invitations only in recent weeks, making it too late to alter their summer recess schedules.
The Rev. Leah D. Daughtry of the House of the Lord Church in the District, who served as executive producer of the commemoration, said the organizing committee began sending invitations to top leaders of both parties “on a rolling basis probably four or five weeks ago.”
“We had a very concerted effort, because this is not a political moment. This was about us coming together as a community, so we wanted to be sure that we had all political representations,” Daughtry said. “We attempted very vigorously to have someone from the GOP participate and unfortunately they were unable to find someone who was able to participate.”
King’s eldest son, Martin Luther King III, said Wednesday that he was disappointed “that we didn’t have bipartisanship.” He noted that his mother, Coretta Scott King, had maintained relationships with all the living former presidents. “It would have been great” to see, King said, “that around the banner of Martin Luther King everyone could come together, because Dad represented the interest of all who were mistreated.”
Health reasons kept former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush from the event, family representatives said. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush also declined an invitation, Daughtry said.
George W. Bush, who is recovering from a recent heart procedure, issued a statement hailing President Obama’s appearance near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. “There on the National Mall our President, whose story reflects the promise of America, will help us honor the man who inspired millions to redeem that promise,” Bush said.
The absence of any top Republicans came two weeks after national GOP leaders used their annual summer meeting to begin a program to attract minority voters byhighlighting the careers of younger “rising stars,” including minority state legislators from Oklahoma and New Hampshire. After a dismal showing among minorities in the 2012 election, many Republican leaders have said the party must do better amid rapidly changing demographics.
Michael Steele, the first black Republican lieutenant governor of Maryland and a former Republican National Committee chairman, said event organizers told him that they were having difficulty attracting Republican speakers. He faulted GOP leaders for not making time to attend.
“It’s part of a continuing narrative that the party finds itself in with these big deals for minority communities around the country and how they perceive our response to them,” he said.

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