Nobody Marched With King...

People just oughta stop saying it. You most likely did not march with King back in the '60s. And Mitt Romney's dad almost certainly didn't.

Why would GOP White House hopeful Mitt Romney suggest such a thing if it weren't true? Easy. Because he wanted to seem progressive on civil rights, especially in light of the Mormon church's troubled past on race issues.

However, none of this is new or unique to Romney. I noticed it years ago, and its just become more and more common. Anyone who needs to shore up their credentials on racial sensitivity begins by saying something to the effect of, "I marched with Dr. King in the 60s."

Sure sounds impressive. What they're really saying is--I can't be racially insensitive or bigoted because I was on the front lines back in the day. Right.

I don't mean to be so cynical. I'm sure most everyone means well. Its just that it has gotten out of hand. Way too many people are claiming it way too often.

I just don't buy it. So I talked to someone I know was there. My father. And Pops was honest about the fact that he almost didn't go. He wasn't really worked up about the idea until that day in August 1963 when he saw bus after bus rolling down New York Avenue.

"I had to go after seeing all those people coming from out of town."

He also said something I didn't expect but instinctively understood: "The feeling of brotherhood and the lack of prejudice was overwhelming."

Remember, it was 1963. Back then, legal segregation wasn't part of history; it was a part of his daily experience. So imagine showing up on the Mall and seeing thousands upon thousands of people all united by the idea that racism is just another word for injustice.

"The only reason to come was because you had a deep feeling about equality in this country. You knew that if the person was there and they were White that they were not prejudiced. In contrast ...when you see strangers you don't what they're feelings are. It was a truly moving event, " he told me.

"I'm glad I went because it was one of the most emotional and heart warming events I ever attended."

The interesting thing for me is that Pops isn't claiming to have done anything special by just showing up on the National Mall that day.

In fact, all he talks about is what being there did for him. In other words, he didn't go there to 'march with Dr. King.' He's grateful that Dr. King and everyone else showed up to march for all of us.