No, King Isn't Mao

Gee, thanks, Allah. lol Talk about my conservative chickens coming home to roost. HotAir Headlines links a Josh Gerstein piece with the header: Why is the MLK Memorial being built in China? And why does it look like Mao? Gerstein notes a Federal probe.

A federal investigation is under way into the organization raising funds for a memorial to the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in the nation’s capital, according to two people interviewed as part of the inquiry.

The scope of the inquiry is not clear, but it seems to focus on whether the foundation was obliged to follow federal procurement rules, including competitive bidding and so-called “Buy American” policies favoring domestic sources. The foundation is largely supported by private donations, but it received almost $10 million from the federal government in 2006.

Full disclosure and, hopefully, a head-exploding moment for some of my more vocal liberal readers ... through an arrangement with a consulting agency, I was retained to launch the MLK Memorial blog some time back, in part to deal with the many controversies that arise during the building of every DC monument.

Having been in their offices and viewed models and various photos - the monument's image is from a picture of King, after all .. I never once thought the image resembled Mao. I found it to look strong and determined and representative of King's firm vision for America, such as it was.

And in terms of outsourcing because a Chinese sculptor won the competition ... I thought that's how we often determine the best person for a given task - competition? Will conservatives suddenly feel differently? I would hope not. I didn't think we normally backed affirmative action-like measures that would mandate an American, or possibly a black American sculptor?

I must confess, the model of the entire park area is beautiful - but I did cringe when I read it was crescent-shaped. No doubt eventually someone will probably make a fuss about that, too.

As you'll see from scrolling the top posts here - controversy over DC monuments isn't exactly news over the years ... and through the building of many significant monuments.

After this latest silliness gets hashed out, maybe the next controversy should be "How did a conservative get hired to help out with the MLK memorial blog?" As a blogger, the more controversy, the better, in my opinion. ; )

Though I would add, having met and worked with many of the fine - and often seemingly liberal and black people, if it matters to you - behind the effort to make this Dream come true - it's a shame they have to struggle with so many obstacles in their work. I am pleased and proud to have been associated with them as a consultant during recent months. The engagement should be ending soon, as scheduled.

I anticipate foundation employees will be handling the blogging themselves. But it's been great fun helping them get started, even if it meant regularly reading quite a few liberal blogs to look for pertinent items.

A personal aside, it's been a positive, educational experience for me. But, alas, I fear conservative and liberal will rarely meet when it comes to forming opinions and policies. We simply think differently, I guess.

Comments

[IslamoLlama]

Wow. Newsmax, Hot Air, Red State, RCP, and NRO are going into a collective freak out over the Mississippi loss. Dan is blissfully wandering about left field making veiled back-handed comments about statues and blogs.

Entertaining, perhaps, but topical this blog surely ain't. I wonder if Dan is going to pull a full Tucker Carlson and start blogging about cats in the circus.
http://www.colbertpics.com/main.php/v/the_colbert_report/episode_archive/2008/03_12_08_-_howard_kurtz/vlcsnap-8559406.png.html

Then he can perhaps draw some vague innuendo linking cats, Soviet Russia, and the Democratic Party.

I see this post coming... November 9th, 2008?

[Dan Riehl]

Gee, Islamo - how many times do I have to write about the GOP meltdown? I've had little to say about that Party for two years.

Pay attention. And also appreciate that I try to not just write what everyone else is writing about unless I can find some different perspective.

And while we're at it, don't kid yourself that Dems from the deep south share your liberal views on most things. Isn't it Kos et al that's been waging war on the Blue Dogs? And that's the wing of your party that's benefitting from the GOP travails. Not your garden vareity liberal.

[SacTownMan]

Hey Lame-O you seem to lose sight of the fact that this is Dan's blog site. As such he can choose to talk about anything he wants. It's called freedom of the press.

I found his point about a group of liberals and conservatives working towards a common goal refreshing. I know that concept is not in keeping with your typical spittle-flecked, blathering rants but there are those in the world that would rather accomplish something than bitch about it.

Maybe you should start your own site that would allow for you to impress everyone with your deep understanding of world issues instead of complaining about how Dan chooses to run his.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"Maybe you should start your own site that would allow for you to impress everyone with your deep understanding of world issues instead of complaining about how Dan chooses to run his."

Hmmm, Now I for one would miss you Savoir Faire but maybe SacTown is right. You really are waaaaaay too far ahead of us barely literate nincompoops and none of us is near as fast with Google. So maybe you should ease on down the road, start your own blog, let chrissy help you run it. Trust me, it's for the best that you inspire the more intelligent folks to your way of superior thinking.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Gee, Islamo - how many times do I have to write about the GOP meltdown? I've had little to say about that Party for two years.

Pay attention. And also appreciate that I try to not just write what everyone else is writing about unless I can find some different perspective.. --"

Hey now, I'm just trying to help. Ever since the constant barrage of Bush fluffing and cheer leading has given way to a constant barrage of Dem hating and doom speaking, its just come to my attention that you've got to go pretty far afield to to take a swipe at evil liberals.

I just can't help but notice how Tucker Carlson went out the same way. Not with a bang of controversy but a whimper of terrible ratings and meaningless babble. I'd hate for you to lose her punditry edge, but more and more that's what it looks like. It's like you've lost the will to say anything significant.

[seekeronos]

I say that an electoral bloodbath where we see a 400+ Democrat House, an 80+ Democrat Senate, and an Obama/Webb White House will be just the sort of caffeine enema the GOP needs to slough off its dead weight.

Or not come back at all, hopefully, and make room for Libertarians and Constitutionalists... if Christians and Social conservatives no longer feel that they need be chained to the GOP to have their say, then we might have prospects for change in 2012 or 2016.

[SacTownMan]

What's with the preoccupation with Tucker Carlson? Did it ever dawn on you that by hooking up with CNN and MSNBC he dealt himself a deathblow by choosing to be on networks that no one watches.

I read a quote recently where someone said "The MSNBC 6:00 - 10:00pm block leans so far left it's a wonder the cameras don't fall over". Priceless!

With Keith Oberfurrer and Dan Abbrams leading the way and the likes of Chris Matthews at the other "nutwork" anyone that's not asleep when the show starts soon will be. At least Matthews often tries to include both veiws. After he soiled himself relating to Barry I just have a tough time watching him for very long.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- I say that an electoral bloodbath where we see a 400+ Democrat House, an 80+ Democrat Senate, and an Obama/Webb White House will be just the sort of caffeine enema the GOP needs to slough off its dead weight. --"

Hehe. Disturbing mental imagine to round out the day. Awesomeness.

I've heard Webb get kicked around as an Obama VP pick, but I don't see it happening. Bill Richardson and Katherine Sebelius are the more likely choices as Richardson has an Al Gore style resume and Sebelius has been a populist juggernaut against Republicans in the mid-west. I could see Webb getting picked up for a cabinet position, but even then... I think Wes Clark has his foot in the door there.

The one nice thing about '08, there's so many good people to choose from, its hard to know where to begin.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Keith Oberfurrer --"

Lols. Keith Olbermann is a Nazi for some reason.

[seekeronos]

Webb or Clark might be a good offset though, to pick up some indies, some wavering Blue Dogs who might otherwise have gravitated to McCain (since Hills is practically out) and possibly left-leaning liberal Republicans.

But more power to y'all if you pick an ultra-lefty like Sebelius. Richardson is a bit of a headscratcher, other than beyond up some of the undecided Hispanic vote.

[seekeronos]

Yeeps. Got distracted by the kiddo.

Add to the (below) previous comment:

Picking an ultra-lefty VP would only lock in the left-right disconnect in this nation. Swing too far left, and there'll be a more chance of a conservative (and not necessarily GOP) blowback down the road.

May God grant us a few dozen more years where some Constitutionalists and Libertarians might come back in to set this nation back on track with the Constitution.

If not, then... maranatha, Lord Jesus!