President Obama Speaks at Dedication of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- Posted on October 16, 2011 at 11:49am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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The livestream of President Barack Obama’s remarks has concluded. The comment thread is still active.
President Barack Obama speaks during the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011. Obama saluted King as a man who "stirred our conscience" and made the Union "more perfect," and rejoiced in the memorializing of the slain civil rights leader's life and work. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama saluted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday as a man who “stirred our conscience” and made the Union “more perfect,” rejoicing in the dedication of a monument memorializing the slain civil rights leader’s life and work.
“I know we will overcome,” Obama proclaimed, standing by the 30-foot granite monument to King on the National Mall. “I know this,” the president said, “because of the man towering over us.”
Obama and his wife, Michelle, and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, joined a host of civil rights figures for the dedication on the sun-splashed Mall. Designed as what King described as a stone of hope hewn from a mountain of despair, the memorial is the first to a black man on the National Mall and its parks.
“He had faith in us,” said Obama, who was 6 when King was assassinated in 1968. Obama told the crowd, “And that is why he belongs on this Mall: Because he saw what we might become.”
The dedication has special meaning for the Obamas. The president credits King with paving his way to the White House. Before his remarks, he left signed copies of his inaugural speech and 2008 convention address in a time capsule at the monument site. The first couple and daughters Malia and Sasha made a more private visit to the site on Friday night, before the crowds and the cameras arrived.
In his talk, he focused on King’s broad themes – equality, justice and peaceful resistance – as the nation confronts, 48 years later, some of the same issues of war, an economic crisis and a lingering distrust of government in some quarters.
Referring to citizen protests against the wealthy and powerful that have spread from Wall Street and Washington, even abroad, Obama said: “Dr. King would want us to challenge the excesses of Wall Street without demonizing those who work there.”
The monument, situated between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials in what the designers call a “line of leadership,” was 15 years in the making. Several speakers noted that its designers could not have predicted then that the monument would be dedicated by the nation’s first black president.
Obama urged Americans to harness the energy of the civil rights movement for today‘s challenges and to remain committed to King’s philosophy of peaceful resistance.
“Let us draw strength from those earlier struggles,” Obama said. “Change has never been simple or without controversy.”
King didn’t say in the famous 1963 speech that he thought there could be a black president, but he did indicate his belief in interviews that it would happen one day.
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Comments (64)
cassandra
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:44pmI can‘t watch obummer speak it reminds me of the Left Behind Series most Christians can see the truth others just don’t want to hear it The truth will set you free,don’t drink obummers kool-aid
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:49pmI cant watch him speak either………stresses me out…and what about that presidental posture? Or shall I say lack of………….
Report Post »hogorina
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 5:11pmFOSSILIZED HOLLYWIERDS HIGH ON THE HOG
Dare down grade my paternal name. Actually, America, within the domain of Hollywood,
is loaded with pigs stalking the streets in order to be withdrawn from the hog trough on Hollywood and Vine.
In the late forties, several SWINE were hauled into a hearing known as the Hollywood ten. No wonder Alla hates fools, of whom muck dive while promoting Marxism with the then hundreds of out house bandits lounging around film agents, that their writings and journalistic rebellion could be flashed on film as entertainment. In essence, pig hoofs
Report Post »amount to nothing than something in a pig’s eye. There is nothing better than swine meat and collards. This is what makes the Bible belt the greatest place to live. Let Israel and Arabia clear their own problems! UPROOT ANY FOSSILIZED BOG ON THE NATIONAL CONTINET AND IARAEL AND ARABIA WILL BE EYE–BALLING EACH OTHER. SOME HOW, THE COMMON PIG IS THE LORD ROOT OF THE MATTER. AND THE SHOW ROLLS ONWARD!
Servant Of YHVH
Posted on October 17, 2011 at 3:49amThe reason that y‘all can’t stand hearing him speak is because whenever he speaks about anyone, it is a direct insult to that person. Any name that comes out of obama’s mouth is an insult, unless he is saying something like a dedication to MLK, then it becomes an abomination (or is that obamination) to whoever he is doing his false “praising” to.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:18pmObama clearly does not know what MLK stood for.. MLK was not a thug.. he stood for God.. His dream was the opposite of Obama’s.. where MLK tried to bring together black and whites.. Obama has split them.. and has caused rage, hatred and dissension. So who do you think he emulates?? It sure isn’t God!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:25pmRight ON!!!!
Report Post »bestartist
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:26pmAbsolutely, yes….Obama is the most devisive POTUS we have ever had besides being the biggest idiot.
Report Post »He is so stomach wrenchingly inauthentic.
This performance of his today was like when he was speaking to a black group and dropping his g’s and then went to speak to wealthy donors in Seattle and hauled out his best Punahou speak.
He uses the biracial thing the way bisexuals use going both ways…whatever suits.
If Obama spoke so divisively, in step with Sharpton and the New Black Panthers and all the rest of this crap in 2008 as he is, they are, now, I seriously doubt that all the guilt ridden white liberals would have jumped in and lapped it all up like they are now…..
listening to all this rhetoric is scary…..my parents were involved in the civil rights movement, went on marches etc and loved MLK…..they wouldn’t have been inspired by this!
rock-n-roll-rebel
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:35pmI really don’t see what Obama has done to increase racial tensions, division by class however is a different story.
Report Post »timel0rd
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:13pmI listened to the speech. It sounded more like his first pro-Occupy Wall Street campaign speech than a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. He tried to draw so many subtle connections between the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s with the Occupy Wall Street movement, for a while I forgot he was there to honor MLK. It almost sounded like he was advocating violence. “MLK preached non-violence, but even he knew that there had to be the threat of retribution.” That was close to the wording, I can’t find a transcript anywhere.
Report Post »sle
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:11pmMLK is rolling over in his grave. what a disgrace for this “thing” to be walking on the holy ground where MLK’s memorial is! get him the he** out of there!
Report Post »Whistleblower
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:04pmThis is a must read
Patrick Fitzgerald: Intrepid Crime Fighter? Or, Politically-Driven Leaker? Series Summary (Part 10)
http://illinoispaytoplay.com/
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:41pm.
Report Post »A pretend black man, praising a real black man. I think King just flipped over in his grave…….
drattastic
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:36pmWhy would I listen to 2 seconds of this windbag. I just came here to say that.
Report Post »hi
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:31pmI don’t think MLK wanted blacks to get into Harvard with bad grades just because of their skin color.
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:30pmNot interested in making myself sick on a Sunday watching this fool. Somebody just tell me how many times he says “social justice”.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:34pmI felt the same way. I watched this instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cCul2D8bog8
The guy absolutely nails it !!! You have to remember, the N-word is about attitude, NOT COLOR. You have to LISTEN to what he’s saying.
This video can be applied to every race.
Report Post »Faraday_Cage
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:02pmI think he is pissed of at his own race, and he just might be in danger from those people he is talking about!
Locked and Loaded!!
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:14pm@ Faraday_Cage
Locked and loaded…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here’s a read you might appreciate as I did. Once you click the link, scroll down to the article titled “Jesus and Guns” parts 1,2, and 3.
http://barnhardt.biz/index.cfm
Report Post »Whirled Peas
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 3:10pmTSUNAMI-22
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:34pm
I felt the same way. I watched this instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cCul2D8bog8
The guy absolutely nails it !!! You have to remember, the N-word is about attitude, NOT COLOR. You have to LISTEN to what he’s saying.
This video can be applied to every race.
Report Post »*************************************
Right arm! Farm house!
Look4DBigPicture
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 3:34pmTSUNAMI-22 … Great video! This guy speaks the truth.
Report Post »nohussein
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:22pmOne rabble rouser praising another, who cares!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:22pmno thanks ………………………..i have no interest in hearing this “man” lie to me
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:17pmCant listen to him this morning dont have the stomach for his crap…I hope to he!! you people who voted for this traitor are happyhappyhappy with your leathal decision……now those of us with brains have to figure out how to get us out of this mess ………tell ya what hows about you idiots stay away from the voting booths in 2012 since you do not know what the HE!! you are doing………………………………………………..
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:13pmSomehow the civil rights era and Martin Lutner Kings assignation will all be BUSH’s fault,
Report Post »Or republicans, specifically the Tea Party folks.
Lord GOD knows that Obama is a truely debauched man.
BiggestCoverUpInHistory
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:13pmDr King would be angry with what’s being covered up with heavy moderation from the media
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_CTNSAc_IU
JQCitizen
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:11pmPresident Obama supports the OW Crowd.
Dr. Kings marchers would be ASHAMED of the OW display.
Dr. King’s marchers were dignified PERSONS, standing together to declare their SHARED DIGNITY, and quietly and peacfully insisting it be HONORED.
The OW crowd are a bunch of self-interested groups, gathered as THE MASSES, even declaring themselves so, marching together displaying their SHARED STUPIDITY, and loudly and violently insisting it be OBEYED!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:11pmMLK jr wanted… Equal Oppertunity and Equal Appication of Rights… for Minoriities, therby everyone. All else is fabrication of Revisionist History (a lie)!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:10pmThis is how bad the message of America has become distorted and twisted; a socialist progressive President is dedicating a memorial to a man (MLK) who truly was about freedom and determination for all people…and Obama as usual is twisting the meaning and message for his own agenda.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:06pmObama, “slow but certain progress”…getting ready to go to his agenda. “Progress what hard”…bought with days in jail cells…threats of bomb threats”. Moving to the hate part of history…saying some called him a communists…going to Obama’s agenda.
Comparing himself to MLK. MLK’s work is not complete…yep here we go…poor citizens of the last 10 years…and now comes Obama…our work is not done…
Later days, same ole stuff. Change.
Report Post »mule creek ridge
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:06pmIMO the content of Mr. Kings character would disallow him to accept a prestigious award(Nobel Peace Prize)for which he had done NOTHING!!!
Report Post »I think Mr. King would not be honoring Mr. Obama!!!!
ryguy1985
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:04pmIs Obama honoring MLK or campaigning? What a sad f-ucking world we live in today!
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:11pmYou hit the nail on the head … I really get bothered when he tries to change his voice and make it like he is some god or something … The nerve of him to try to use this platform for political advantages. Clinton first disrespected the office but this man has completely disgraced it.
Report Post »He talks all this BS about how wonderful America is that it allows people to freely pursue their dreams, but he thinks the vehicle upon which the person may pursue their dreams must be the government… What a fake and a loser..
Whirled Peas
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:53pmCampaigning (and lying) is all this clown knows how to do.
Did you know Obama was conceived on the bridge into Selma FOUR YEARS AFTER he was born?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080723092539AAWDAiS
Report Post »Zcat
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:02pmObama says MLK was marching for jobs and equality! This fool is lying his ass off. I’ve never heard of MLK being accused of being a communist or radical! Anybody heard this before? MLK a little before my time.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:08pmUnfortunately that is a valid statement.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:23pmyeah… as far as i know, he was a capitalist, who just wanted everyone to treat everyone else as they would want to be treated, regardless of race, color, creed, etc…
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:01pmNEVER! I will NEVER watch this man (?) again except when he is brought to AMERICAN JUSTICE, TRIED, CONVICTED AND SENTENCED and locked away in a dungeon somewhere with michelle where they will be fed bread and water and FRENCH FRIES all the rest of their unnatural lives. No light, no electricity, no conveniences, just “obamacare” in spades!
Report Post »RIGHTHOOK
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:08pmGood assessment. Treason comes to mind and is long overdue. Suspect the inside of the WH is decorated like a “Rappers Crib” and at taxpayer expense. Sad……..
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:29pmwhat happened to Occupy DC… (The Whitehouse) ?
Did ODC get taken over by OWS? that is sad…
The Tea Party gets taken over, the ODC gets taken over, the OWS gets taken over. they know EXACTLY how to stop rebelions here… all you have to do is act like you are for what the masses are for, then steer them elsewhere… good luck people… we’ll need it…
The only occupy movement that should be happening is Occupy DC (The Whitehouse and Congress). We SHOULD be stopping them from doing anything more, until we get stuff under control. you don’t plant more gardens when one is being taken over by weeds… WEED THE DANG GARDEN!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:00pmPass … Barry has nothing to say that I care to hear … except goodbye.
Report Post »Agnes
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:14pmJust seeing him makes me sick to my stomach; he cannot think, make decisions, or anything else without someone’s help. He is nothing but a phony clown and a disgrace to MLK!
Report Post »Sheepdog911
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:00pmThe MLK Memorial dedication is a farce. King’s message of give us freedom has been bastardized to one of give it to us for free. Social and economic justice. The issue of race discrimination is now color, sexual preference, and country of origin. Who cares what Obama says? The very child MLK longed to be able to say “free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I’m free at last”. Now his daughter is saying, we want it for free, we want it for free, oh yes, allah, we want it for free.” I watched Sister Bernice’s speech, and it was so hateful that I know that Brother Martin is spinning in his grave. Also, can someone explain to me why a monument to a fellow black is carved in white stone and it’s called his likeness?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:09pmThat’ll preach! I also think the statue looks more oriental than MLK,Jr. and “white” isn’t right for him either. Good point. GOD BLESS HIS TRUTH. Nothing else really matters.
Report Post »jcizarter
Posted on October 16, 2011 at 11:54am” Those who organized and those who . . . ” that is enough for me, I’m out of here.
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