So today feathers and other assorted plumage were ruffled when Congressman Lewis made a not too far off the mark comment about the McCain/Palin campaign and it’s recent distasteful tone:
Lewis took the occasion of McCain himself admonishing his own supporters last night to cool it in their shouted distaste for the Democratic ticket.
So Lewis said, “George Wallace never threw a bomb. He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who only desired to exercise their constitutional right.”
He said McCain and Palin are “playing with fire and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all.”
McCain’s side fired back (note military terms) that Lewis’ assault (again) was a character attack “shocking and beyond the pale.”
“Terrorist!” one man screamed Monday at a New Mexico rally after McCain voiced the campaign’s new rhetorical staple aimed at raising doubts about the Illinois senator: “Who is the real Barack Obama?”
“He’s a damn liar!” yelled a woman Wednesday in Pennsylvania. “Get him. He’s bad for our country.”
At both stops, there were cries of, “Nobama,” picking up on a phrase that has appeared on yard signs, T-shirts and bumper stickers.
And Thursday, at a campaign town hall in Wisconsin, one Republican brought the crowd to its feet when he used his turn at the microphone to offer a soliloquy so impassioned it made the network news and earned extended play on Rush Limbaugh’s program.
“I’m mad; I‚Äôm really mad!” the voter bellowed. “And what‚Äôs going to surprise ya, is it’s not the economy — it’s the socialists taking over our country.”
The Obama Campaign responded with:
“Sen. Obama does not believe that John McCain or his policy criticism is in any way comparable to George Wallace or his segregationist policies,” said the campaign statement.
But, wait! There’s more:
“John Lewis was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked just last night.”
I’m sure Congressman Lewis recalls only too keenly the Wallace campaign.
Several of my friends and I have wondered perhaps if the now twisted tone of the Palin/McCain campaign (yes I switched the order, since I never can tell who’s really the leader in this dogsled) would lead to some violent mob driven event.
Just the other night in Perry apparently someone yelled out “Bomb Obama”.
Seriously people, now you want to get all huffy when someone who lived through that time, bled on a bridge and nearly died for the right to vote calls you out on your shit, oh I don’t think so.
What I love about this is that the men and women of the movement were outspoken and seriously brave to have taken on the “man” in the day, what the heck… now they are supposed to be quiet?
Hey, see the earlier post from Donna Brazille, I think she straight up says she’s not going to sit still for this nonsense and spew.
Pssst…Wasn’t John McCain all about Congressman Lewis when he was looking for votes at Saddleback Church?
Sigh, I love Congressman Lewis, you just keep telling it… I’ve got your back!
17 Responses to No, please don’t apologize
Help Daniel
I was seriously just getting ready to post this myself, but you can preach it for me any time you want, I heart you and Congressman Lewis both!
If John McCain feels offended by being compared to George Wallace, just imagine how George Wallace must feel.
Damn straight Jules!
I’m just waiting for them to call him “uppity.”
Damn them and their lineage of southern aristocrats to hell.
You’re so right Jules. John Lewis is one of the very few people with the moral authority to make this charge and make it stick. I absolutely agree with him.
I’ve made the mistake of reading the AJC thread on this. Says one lovely poster:
“Somewhere in Alabama, there is an old retired white police officer that thinks back to the 60′s & wishes he could have had one more crack at John Lewis. I know I wish he could have!”
It’s like a competition to see who can best validate John Lewis’ criticism.
The only real complaint I have with his statement is that it didn’t answer the question.
In McSame’s defense, he is starting to try and calm his supporters down a little bit, the woman who said he was an Arab, for one example.
Adding to that, what I don’t like is that McCain now is showing signs of the candidate he was in 2000. And what disappoints me is that it may be too little too late to save his reputation and character that he used to be known for.
“Adding to that, what I don’t like is that McCain now is showing signs of the candidate he was in 2000.”
Wait, so telling someone that someone isn’t an Arab who isn’t make you a more honorable person? Hell, every non-racist is more honorable than McCain now.
Actually, maybe he should’ve explained that they shouldn’t hate Arabs, and even if he was one that there wouldn’t be any problem with it. I don’t know, that crowd mabye would’ve lynched him for that. Illiterate douchebags.
McCain of 2000 was a venerable often-time fighter for the public interest. He’s a disgusting apparition, the bonafide testament to how lobbyist-driven Washington is now.
Him making a common sense statement at one town hall does not change the fact his policies are despicable and written by the scummiest people in the country.
Yeah Zaid, I find it particularly telling that at a McPalin rally, the appropriate response to “He’s an Arab” is “No, he’s a decent family man.” ‘Cause you know, Arabs are just savages. I also find it interesting that some outlets were reporting that the woman said “He’s an Arab terrorist,” which would make McCain’s response a little more appropriate, but I’ve listened to it a few times and I don’t hear “terrorist.”
Sorry IRE, but if you light my house on fire on purpose and then show up with a garden hose, I’m not going to sing your praises. McCain let this genie out of the bottle, I’m not giving him much credit for finding his dignity in the sofa cushions.
And let’s not forget the McPalin supporter with the “Little Hussein” Obama monkey. Swell guy.
Im not saying that has redeemed him completely. Just saying, he is showing elements of what him so appealing in 00.
“Im not saying that has redeemed him completely. Just saying, he is showing elements of what him so appealing in 00.”
If I had to bet, he’s doing it on purpose.
”
Im not saying that has redeemed him completely. Just saying, he is showing elements of what him so appealing in 00.”
I also want to point out that doing a half-ass job at correcting someone’s racism makes for an appealing future commander-in-chief? That’s a mighty low bar to set, isn’t it?
This country is nuts.
I’m definitely thinking McCain is wrestling with the extent to which he has sold his soul to go for the Presidency in the Rovian operation he calls his campaign. He’s not haunted enough to put a stop to it, but I think there is the inkling of regret there.
That doesn’t make him a saint, but it does elevate him about Palin who seems to be able to sleep very well at night with what she sows during her stump speeches.
That doesn’t make him a saint, but it does elevate him about Palin who seems to be able to sleep very well at night with what she sows during her stump speeches.
She was his pick though.
“That doesn’t make him a saint, but it does elevate him about Palin who seems to be able to sleep very well at night with what she sows during her stump speeches.”
Oh come on. He did this because the media was attacking him and Palin for their use of racist language and overtones. He wouldn’t authorize commericials to be played overlaying Obama with chanting Muslim crowds if he wasn’t playing the race card.
Just a reminder: In August, at a public forum, McCain had named Lewis as one of the “wisest” people he knew and a person he would “rely on heavily” during his administration.
We’ll see, but my guess is that this is just McCain creating some cover for himself. He’ll continue to mine the fear territory out of one side of his mouth and claim to discourage out the other side.