Coretta Scott King Funeral Turns Political

Today’s memorial service for civil rights activist Coretta Scott King — billed as a “celebration” of her life — turned suddenly political as one former president took a swipe at the current president, who was also lashed by an outspoken black pastor!The outspoken Rev. Joseph Lowery, co-founder of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, ripped into President Bush during his short speech, ostensibly about the wife of Martin Luther King Jr.

“She extended Martin’s message against poverty, racism and war. She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on missions way afar. We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there,” Lowery said.

The mostly black crowd applauded, then rose to its feet and cheered in a two-minute-long standing ovation.

A closed-circuit television in the mega-church outside Atlanta showed the president smiling uncomfortably.

“But Coretta knew, and we know,” Lowery continued, “That there are weapons of misdirection right down here,” he said, nodding his head toward the row of presidents past and present. “For war, billions more, but no more for the poor!” The crowd again cheered wildly.

Former President Jimmy Carter later swung at Bush as well, not once but twice. As he talked about the Kings, he said: “It was difficult for them then personally with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the target of secret government wiretaps.” The crowd cheered as Bush, under fire for a secret wiretapping program he ordered after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, again smiled weakly.

Later, Carter said Hurricane Katrina showed that all are not yet equal in America. Some black leaders have blamed Bush for the poor federal response, and rapper Kayne West said that Bush “hates” black people.

As for the Hurricane response… The federal government had absolutely NOTHING to do with the early bad response to the situation. Local state, county and municipal governments are the first responders! Everyone knows that.

When someone breaks into your house or your house is on fire, do you call the FBI or Federal agencies to put out your fire? NO… You call your local police and fire, the first responders. The local authorities failed and are doing everything in their power to divert the blame from them to the Bush Administration.

I’m not saying the government did everything right, I’m sure big mistakes were made there too, but it was mostly the local authorities