Why were no Republicans at the March on Washington rally?
Yep: Zero.


President Obama spoke at Wednesday's rally commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. So, too, did former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga).
Notice a pattern? Yes, all of those politicians are Democrats. In fact, not a single one of the day's speakers was an elected Republican official.
Event organizers said they invited a number of prominent Republicans, but none accepted, citing prior scheduling conflicts or ill health. Former President George W. Bush, for instance, is still recovering from heart surgery and could not attend.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Aides to congressional GOPers told the Washington Post that the invitations came too late for them to attend. Still, the lack of a GOP presence struck many as very odd, since the success of the civil rights movement should have been celebrated by both major parties. Also, the no-show goes against the GOP's major rebranding effort, which is, in part, aimed at attracting minority voters.
"It's part of a continuing narrative that the party finds itself in with these big deals for minority communities around the country and how they perceive our response to them," former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said.
Though no elected Republicans attended Wednesday's rally, the GOP did hold its own event earlier in the week commemorating the March on Washington.
A spokesman for Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is the only black senator in Congress, claimed Wednesday that Scott had not been invited to speak at the event. That sparked accusations in conservative corners that organizers had deliberately barred Republicans from attending.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
As it turns out, organizers did invite Scott, but the senator declined, citing a prior engagement. A source from the event told Roll Call that the speaker list "was created based on those who were able to confirm availability to attend the event." Since Scott said he was unable to even attend, they assumed he would be unable to speak either.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also turned down invites.
As for the GOP leadership team, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) was in Wyoming, but had no public events scheduled for the day, according to the Washington Post. He has been headlining fundraisers all month with Congress on vacation.
Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) was visiting energy sites in North Dakota with representatives from the North Dakota Petroleum Council. The group, as Alex Seitz-Wald at The Washington Post pointed out, is a registered lobbying outfit representing North Dakota's oil and gas industries.
A spokesman for Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told ABC the senator was not invited.
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published