Subject: [big campaign] McCain lies about support for MLK Day
From: "Ari Rabin-Havt" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 12:40:28 -0400
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

(Video of McCain's comments and fact check available here:
http://progressiveaccountability.org/2008/08/02/mlk/ )

Yesterday at his press availability John McCain lied about his support for
Martin Luther King Day when asked:

"And can you elaborate when you said you fought for equal rights for your
entire life, what specifically you've done focusing on improving the lives
of African Americans?"

His answer:

"I am proud of that record, from fighting for the recognition of Dr. Martin
Luther King's birthday in my state . . . "

Here are the facts:

    * FACT: McCain Supported Republican AZ Governor's Decision To Rescind
MLK Holiday. ABC News reported, "In Arizona, a bill to recognize a holiday
honoring MLK failed in the legislature, so then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a
Democrat, declared one through executive order. In January 1987, the first
act of Arizona's new governor, Republican Evan Mecham, was to rescind the
executive order by his predecessor to create an MLK holiday. Arizona's
stance became a national controversy. McCain backed the decision at the
time." [ABC News, 4/3/08]

    * FACT: McCain Supported Gov. Evan Mecham's Decision In 1987 To Rescind
Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, "In a
vote likely to haunt him for the rest of his public career, McCain voted
against 1983 legislation establishing the third Monday in January as the
federal holiday marking King's birthday. Back home in Arizona, he supported
Gov. Evan Mecham's decision in 1987 to rescind an executive order creating a
state holiday for King, but later reversed his position." [Philadelphia
Inquirer, 6/16/08]

    * FACT: McCain Voted Against Creating Martin Luther King Holiday. In
1983, McCain voted against a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill to
designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of
the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The motion
passed 89-77. [HR 3706, Vote 289, 8/2/83; CQ 1983]

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