King Funeral Has Wellstone Moments

What is it about Democrats that they cannot attend a funeral and celebrate the life of the deceased with dignity and respect, but instead must turn every event into a political rally? They did it again today during the service for Coretta Scott King (from Drudge):

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.

I guess they figure having the president there as stationary target will give them the opportunity to look tough and "courageous" in front of their lefty constituents. In fact, these political attacks during what should be a solemn service simply make the attackers look petty and classless, especially when the president refuses to take the bait and gives a marvelous, heartfelt eulogy of his own, focusing on Mrs. King and her legacy, and not on the politics of the day.

These partisan attacks also have a history of costing the Dems elections. Anyone who remembers the Paul Wellstone funeral rally will also remember that the Dems lost the Senate shortly afterwards. No doubt the pitiful performance by the Dems at that even turned off voters by the millions.