O'Malley apologizes for saying 'all lives matter' at liberal conference.

[elleng]

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley apologized on Saturday for saying "All lives matter" while discussing police violence against African-Americans with liberal demonstrators.

Several dozen demonstrators interrupted the former Maryland governor while he was speaking here at the Netroots Nation conference, a gathering of liberal activists, demanding that he address criminal justice and police brutality. When they shouted, "Black lives matter!" a rallying cry of protests that broke out after several black Americans were killed at the hands of police in recent months, O'Malley responded: "Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter."

The demonstrators, who were mostly black, responded by booing him and shouting him down.

Later that day, O'Malley apologized for using the phrase in that context if it was perceived that he was minimizing the importance of blacks killed by police.

"I meant no disrespect," O'Malley said in an interview on This Week in Blackness, a digital show. "That was a mistake on my part and I meant no disrespect. I did not mean to be insensitive in any way or communicate that I did not understand the tremendous passion, commitment and feeling and depth of feeling that all of us should be attaching to this issue."

Judith Butler, a philosopher at the University of California, Berkeley, recently explained why some find it offensive to respond to the "Black Lives Matter" movement with the "all lives matter."

"When some people rejoin with 'All Lives Matter' they misunderstand the problem, but not because their message is untrue. It is true that all lives matter, but it is equally true that not all lives are understood to matter, which is precisely why it is most important to name the lives that have not mattered, and are struggling to matter in the way they deserve," Butler said in an interview with The New York Times. "If we jump too quickly to the universal formulation, 'all lives matter,' then we miss the fact that black people have not yet been included in the idea of 'all lives.'"

O'Malley isn't the first Democrat to come under fire for the remark. Hillary Clinton was criticized in June for doing the same thing.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/18/politics/martin-omalley-all-lives-matter/

[Kalidurga]

1. I don't think he was wrong in the context he said it...

But, I do understand why people were offended. So, he was right to apologize I guess normal people do that when they offend other people even if they didn't mean to be offensive and even if they might not have actually been wrong.

On a side note, I was very happy to see him chanting with the protesters at the end and that he can clap in rhythm. If I had to vote on a candidate based on musical talent (he sings and plays the guitar) he would definitely get my vote. I love that he connects to people in this way and he isn't afraid to show his human side.

[elleng]

2. Yes, Kalidurga, 100%.

[Raine1967]

3. I think he did a very good thing by apologizing.

I don't believe for a minute that he is dismissive of #BlackLivesMAtter —

People forget (and I have not mentioned this yet in GDP) That O'MAlley cancelled his trip to Ireland and returned to Baltimore in the middle of the unrest after the Murder of Freddie Gray.

I think that was a brave thing to do. He didn't have to do that.

[elleng]

4. Yes, very brave,

and he stayed with the people.

[Raine1967]

5. Video of MO'M from TWiB at NRN:

This is good stuff.

[askew]

6. I hate the way the media is framing this apology.

They are acting like he is apologizing for saying "All Lives Matter" like he doesn't think all lives matter. He is apologizing for not understanding that saying "All Lives Matter" in a discussion about black deaths involving police is condescending and insulting. From his subsequent interviews, he clearly got that and that was what he apologized for.

I have to give him immense credit for sticking around NN and doing two interviews post-demonstration mess. He did that great interview with This Week in Blackness and one with Goldie Taylor. He also only left the stage at NN because DNC rules forbid two candidates to be on the same stage at the same time due to the new debate rules.

He listens and engages with people and I really think it is unfair that all the media is covering is his apology and not the great interviews that followed.

[Raine1967]

13. That's where we are gonna have to do some one line grassroots stuff!

I did it this morning over at my blog:

http://www.fourfreedomsblog.com/Blog.php?Act=ViewBlogPost&BlogID=3284&Hide=0

[askew]

17. Excellent summary.

I didn't know that O'Malley was talking with the crowd before and after his speech. That says a lot to me. I knew Hillary has always had issues interacting with regular voters, but I am suprised that Sanders was so standoffish.

O'Malley stayed until the end of the Iowa event meeting people and he was working NN until 11 pm at night. I really respect that.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. And now he does

Martin O'Malley would not be where he is if black folks in Baltimore had not voted for him.

I have no doubt he gets it.

Restoring the VRA is a priority for him - for a good reason.

[elleng]

8. YES!

[JustAnotherGen]

9. And still we have another thread

Where the supporters of the other candidate heckled are trying to justify him.

They don't get it . . .

[elleng]

10. or maybe they don't WANT to get it.

[JustAnotherGen]

11. I was naughty

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=459983

I asked a trick question!

[Raine1967]

12. *snort*

I grow weary of GDP at times.

I am glad that you and others have such a strong stomach for that mishagabob.

[elleng]

16. HAHAHA!

[Koinos]

18. Had them stumped for a moment, didn't it?

[Koinos]

14. Resiliant and humble.

What I admire about O'Malley is that he didn't run away. He admitted his mistake and was contrite. And then he stayed for hours talking to people, listening to what they had to say, and shaking hands. He cares about what other people think, and he learns from them. The incident didn't make him angry; it made him more determined than ever to work hard on an interpersonal basis. He is used to facing people who are angry and in pain. As mayor of Baltimore, he experienced and took to heart the pain of many people who lost loved ones to violence in Baltimore. He has referred many times to the family of five that was murdered for reporting a drug deal. He is well acquainted with BLM, since they have protested him in the past. O'Malley has empathy. He carries the pain of many with him. He has made mistakes, and he has had amazing successes as an executive. But he goes on, tries to do better. There was no question in his mind that he had to return to Baltimore when it was hurting. Many pundits said he was finished for returning to Baltimore, for announcing his candidacy in Baltimore. I took it another way. This guy doesn't let up. I don't have a tenth of his character and courage, but I know it when I see it. He doesn't react to anger with anger; he learns from it and grows from it. As Confucius said, the small man blames others when things go wrong. The great man blames himself, examines himself, and changes what he is doing.

[elleng]

15. Darn right

the small man blames others when things go wrong. The great man blames himself, examines himself, and changes what he is doing.