Where's Obama?

Big get-together in Memphis today to mark 40 years since the death of Dr. MLK and Obama has a "scheduling conflict"? Tell ya what, Mac Ranger's not the only one who finds it curious:

Just my guess, but it most likely has to do with potential photo ops with Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson who will be there. After Wright the last thing he wants is more coverage with the “radical brethren”.

Not necessarily inconsistent, since his strategy from day one has been to portray himself as the man rising above race. The race speech is history anyway, which was designed to put end all this talk of racial divisiveness by talking about racial divisiveness. No sense in bringing it back to the front page by glad-handing with Sharpton and Jackson or sharing a butt out back with the Jena brigade.

But alrighty then, a scheduling conflict. So, where is the world is he? Fort Wayne:

This morning, 40 years to the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, about 2,000-2,500 people waited at Wayne High School to hear Barack Obama ask Americans to complete King's work.

Completing King's work is probably not something we can accomplish on earth, but some of us typical white people and typical black people will certainly keep trying. And surely Dr. King would be proud that a man of color was as close to the presidency as Obama. Just wondering if this can be called disowning or disavowing or just dissing? Right, scheduling conflict.

This snubbing was almost reminiscent of the scheduling conflict that prevented him from voting on the FISA reauthorization bill in February. Isn't it high time somebody busted this dude for false advertising, standing in front of that sign everyday?

Oh, and what of the other two Senators skipping out on their federal jobs to jet down to bluff city for this event? Rank posturing, of course, since by showing up they made it clear Barack did not. Politics as usual and such but then again, neither are running on "change".

MORE 4/4/08

Alas, this will be the takeaway from today.