It is very ironic that Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, waited until Barack Obama was president to seek a pardon for Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion.
There have been numerous attempts over the years to obtain a pardon for Mr. Johnson. Keith Terceira made an attempt to get President Bush to grant a pardon in 2004. If Sen. McCain felt this was so important, why not publicly support a pardon back then?
This is an obvious attempt by Sen. McCain to bring a controversial racial issue to the Obama administration. Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and all of the people that follow them closely will turn this into a racial issue of gigantic proportion, even though a Republican senator is behind the effort.
President Obama is proving to be a president for all people, not just African-Americans, so a racial issue is the best way to derail his efforts and erode bipartisan support. This is dirty politics disguised as a goodwill gesture, which seems to be the modus operandi for the new Republican Party.
Larry Leach
Fresno
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