Paul Ryan Dishonors Martin Luther King, Jr.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. day, a teacher from Racine refused an award because it was given to him by Paul Ryan (R-Wall St.). The same Paul Ryan who has perpetually been adamantly against extending unemployment benefits for the unemployed workers in his district(which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country), protections for General Motors and thousands of other American jobs and also has his sites set on dismantling Social Security and Medicare as we know it.

Al Levie had this to say about his refusal of the award from Pink Slip Paulie:

“I would not accept the award from Paul Ryan because Paul Ryan is a lackey for the 1 percent,” he said. “Paul Ryan had no business at a Martin Luther King event, it’s totally hypocritical. On the one hand he votes to slash health care, while on the other hand, King dedicated his life and he died for it, for people to have adequate healthcare, to have adequate jobs.”

“King made it very clear that he was on the side of working people,” he continued. “Ryan on the other hand, he has absolutely no affinity for the working class and for him to come to an event where somebody of King’s stature was honored is wrong.”

This tremendously upset the right wing as people like the rights brilliant orator Andy "go to hell" Breitbart labeled this "Liberal Hate".

No way that Paul Ryan (R-$350 bottles of wine) would ever treat anyone with such contempt, right?

Packer/Badger Schedule anyone?

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10 thoughts on “Paul Ryan Dishonors Martin Luther King, Jr.

  1. I am appaled with the rhetoric and mission of the GOP to defeat President Obama at all and any cost to the Nation. The billionaire’s Cabal.Wall Street,Corporations, Oil & Gas Industry. Pharmaceutical Companies and Medical Insurance Companies are holding the American People hostage and Congress has allowed these fanatics to rape and reap America’s most industrious, honorable and Patriotic standard ITS PEOPLE.

    1. Without wall street, corporations, oil & gas industry who would the industrious, honorable patriots work for ?
      Your solution is to allow government to rape the people…. more than they already do.
      This still nothing to do with article, which is an amazing peice of misleading rhetoric. If you are going to title it “Paul Ryan Dishonors Martin Luther King Jr.” please come up with some substance to support that other than a lefty teacher refusing an award on that day.
      By this example I could write one titled “Obama dishonors Jesus again” and back it up by my daily prayer that this trainwreck of a President is defeated in 2012.

  2. That’s certainly one way of looking at the MLK event. The other is that Mr. Levie dishonored the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. by being an obnoxious ass at a family event meant to honor those who don’t behave in crude ways.

  3. Jeff,

    I will try to remain as respectful as I can. I read through all of the links you provided – including the pdfs – and I’ve concluded that you have a very strong interest in seeing what you want to see.

    First, Ryan did not “fire off” a letter as you put it. It sounds like the work of someone who did his homework, who respected the authority of his archbishop, and argued his position the best he could. It was not something that was haphazardly put together.

    Second, the Catholic church did not turn on Ryan. In fact, Dolan had commended Ryan for the work he’s done and for properly understanding the church’s social doctrine and the thoughts of the late pope.

    And finally, I’m wondering what you thought of this line from Dolan’s letter. “The high call to public service which you have nobly answered entitles you and all our elected officials to our respect and constant prayer. Thanks to you and your colleagues for accepting that call.”

    Notice what Dolan said about respecting your elected officials. Do you think that turning your back on an elected official is showing respect?

  4. Aaron,

    thank you for coming here with such thoughtful debate. i appreciate, and I apologize if some of my previous posts have not been so. I am also a Catholic and approach this issue that way. So let me answer your questions, in no particular order:

    1. Of Course Dolan would sign a letter that way. As an Archbishop of the Catholic church he is going to show everyone more respect than most anyone, so i would guess he signs his letters with that much respect to everyone he sends one to.

    2. I agree that turning your back on an elected official is not showing respect and Dolan would not approve. I also believe he would not approve of the way that Ryan treats his constituents in the other video in this post. He would also not approve of the way that say his dining companions treated the woman who pointed out he had a $350 bottle of wine, or the way he likes to mislead in his political advertisements etc… When it comes down to it I am sure that the Archbishop would disapprove of about 99% of the way that politicians on both sides of the aisle behave.

    3. As for Dolan commending Ryan not so much. Basically the way I interpret it is – Taking care of the poor if priority #1 and we will be watching you.

    Amy Sullivan broke it down very well:

    http://swampland.time.com/2011/05/24/did-the-american-pope-bless-ryans-budget/

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