Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Everybody Must Get Wellstoned

Josh Marshall asks:

Is there any death of a political luminary that Republicans won't try to milk for political gain? Should they be allowed to attend funerals of non-Movement conservatives anymore?
I think that's a rhetorical question (or two); I'll just add that they don't limit it to political luminaries. They'll milk any death (*cough9/11cough*), political or not, if it offers even the remotest chance of partisan gain. Blasting the friends and family of Coretta Scott King for expressing sentiments she herself believed in is particularly shameless and cynical, but it's pretty much standard operating procedure.

I'd answer the second question with another resounding no. As I see it, Bush's attendance at the funeral was a terrible act of disrespect toward Coretta Scott King. And yes, skipping the funeral would have been an equally terrible act of disrespect. That's the thing: there's really nothing he could do at this point that wouldn't be disrespectful, because his entire presidency has been a slap in the face of Coretta Scott King and everyone who shares her values. Given that, nothing short of resigning office, slapping on a hairshirt, and groveling at the feet of King's family could possibly constitute respect.

[That's all, folks]