(Civil rights hero Rep.) John Lewis Says McCain and Palin "Are Playing With Fire"

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

When asked at the Saddleback Church Forum which three "wise" people he'd consult with upon becoming president, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listed among others civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., “who can teach us all a lot about the meanings of courage and commitment to causes greater than ourself."

McCain went so far as to tell Lewis's story in his newest book, "Why Courage Matters."

So I wonder if it will have any impact that Lewis writes a rather harsh appraisal of McCain-Palin rallies in Politico today.

"As one who was a victim of violence and hate during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, I am deeply disturbed by the negative tone of the McCain-Palin campaign. What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history. Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse."

Lewis even invokes segregationist former Gov. George Wallace, saying 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 were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."

Lewis concludes: "As public figures with the power to influence and persuade, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all. They are playing a very dangerous game that disregards the value of the political process and cheapens our entire democracy."



Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/one-of-mccains.html

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http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/mccain-offended.html

McCain Offended by Lewis' Comments; Calls On Obama to Condemn

Clearly wounded by the remarks of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., condemning the tone at his rallies, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued this statement a few minutes ago.

"Congressman John Lewis' comments represent a character attack against Governor Sarah Palin and me that is shocking and beyond the pale," McCain said. "The notion that legitimate criticism of Senator Obama's record and positions could be compared to Governor George Wallace, his segregationist policies and the violence he provoked is unacceptable and has no place in this campaign."

McCain continued, saying "I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character and the character of the thousands of hardworking Americans who come to our events to cheer for the kind of reform that will put America on the right track."

"I call on Senator Obama to immediately and personally repudiate these outrageous and divisive comments that are so clearly designed to shut down debate 24 days before the election. Our country must return to the important debate about the path forward for America."

[EFerrari]

1. Good for John Lewis. He is a true civil rights hero and we're lucky

he's here to challenge this cr@p.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robert_Lewis

[Judi Lynn]

14. Oh, my gosh. I LOVE this photo the wiki published:

Bayard Rustin, Andrew Young, Rep. William Fitts Ryan, James Farmer, and John Lewis

Absolutely amazing, from a horrendous period in time. From the Wiki. bio you've linked:

Born in Troy, Alabama, the son of sharecroppers, Lewis was educated at the American Baptist Theological Seminary and at Fisk University, both in Nashville, Tennessee, where he became active in the local sit-in movement. He participated in the Freedom Rides to desegregate the South, and was a national leader in the struggle for civil rights. Lewis became nationally known after his prominent role on the Selma to Montgomery marches, when police beat the nonviolently marching Lewis mercilessly in public, leaving head wounds that are still visible today.

Time and experience has produced one of the finest people anywhere in the form of John Lewis. It's hard to NOT listen to him any time he's visible on C-Span, interviews, discussions.

He has been through hell and has developed depth, and character completely extinct among ordinary shallow, short-sighted, self-absorbed, indifferent Americans.

[Ms. Toad]

2. His handlers must have gotten hold of him again

I had hopes yesterday that the vitriolic hatred of his supporters might have awakened the decency that lots of individuals who know him well insist is there. Guess not.

[MetaTrope]

3. Time for Obama to put McCain on "Ignore"

[madaboutharry]

4. John McCain should take is faux outrage and shove it.

John Lewis is exactly right. And McCain is playing to the same ignorant base instinct that many still today possess.

[stillcool]

5. He calls on Senator Obama??

WTF?

[nancyr]

6. Gawd, McCain is shameless.

[Raschel]

7. Why should Obama say anything? Lewis is a grown man

and an elected official. Obama isn't is daddy. What a weirdo, that McCain.

[JaneQPublic]

8. That damned hypocrite McCain has said much worse things about Obama...

...than Lewis said about McCain.

And McCain repeats them on a daily basis, even after they've been proven false.

McCain -- if he had any sense of shame -- would repudiate his own comments and beg forgiveness.

[dakdirty]

9. McCrypt has no soul.

He is a hollow shell of a man, animated only by a consuming thirst for power. It is almost laughable that McCrypt would call upon Obama to help defend his and his hateful supporters "character". All that says is that either he is so fucking senile that he can't comprehend the gravity of the events taking place around him, or that he would just brazenly lie about it to every person in the world. I'm all about non-discrimination for the mentally ill, but I might have to draw the line at the presidency.

[notaboutus]

10. He just said out loud what most of us were feeling!

I was telling my mom about McCain's crowd theatrics yesterday and she wasn't buying it. I had the privilege of knowing my great grand parents and have heard some stories. The ones from my grand parents and parents are bad but theirs were the worst.
Blacks knew exactly what McPalin was doing. They were dog whistling to the worst of their klan. Hoping for some mischief but we also know THE DEVIL IS A LIAR and the same hole you dig for someone else you may find yourself in.
Some of the past we should never forget. This being one thing. The klan went to church every Sunday and had a lynching every Sunday night. This is not a game.
McPalin are playing on uneducated peoples emotions and could cause riots when they lose the election because they are going to lose.

[Kalifornia.Kid]

11. McCain in the Membrane ...

Such sheer hypocrisy ... did McCain just wake up from his nap? He had clearly decided to shut his eyes to the bigotry and raw hatred from his hordes. We know McCain doesn't know how to use a computer but thanks to technology the world can see his platform of hate and division.

[qanda]

12. All kinds of people have been saying that this week

Even Republicans have said McCain/Palin are playing a dangerous game. Why didn't McCain speak out against them? Is the reference of George Wallace hitting a little too close to home?

[ladywnch]

13. I've refrained from calling McCain outright names but the hell with that!

This mother fucking, bottom feeding, scum sucking, piece of shit!!!!

He actually has the balls to say, "The notion that legitimate criticism of Senator Obama's record and positions could be compared to Governor George Wallace, his segregationist policies and the violence he provoked is unacceptable and has no place in this campaign.", is disgraceful beyond all measure. He HAS NOT been criticizing Obama's record and postions...he's been criticizing who Obama may have met in his life, he's implying outright that Obama is a domestic terrorist, that he is Muslim, that he's of questionable patriotism. THAT is what Lewis is referring to and McCain KNOWS IT. And for him to call out Obama to repudiate Lewis is just beyond galling. After he and Caribou Barbie have stood by and let people call for Obama's assassination at his rallies and said NOTHING is (I'm running out of words here)......hypocritical beyond belief.

I thought McCain had slipped to the lowest possible point but he has now found a new sub level of sleaze. He is on par to be of the same character as child molesters. O don't know how his head doesn't just spin off his shoulders!

[MadMaddie]

15. McCain just can't help himself! Whatever respect he had

from most Americans has been destroyed. When this is all over and MCCain has to go back to Congress it will be a changed Senate. He is done!

He knew exactly what was going to happen and he openly embraced it for the poissibility of a win.

Well guess he didn't expect the backlash, it's only going to get worse for him. Next weeks debate should finish him off - we might get lucky to see him lose his temper.

[jcla]

16. I stand twith Rep. John Lewis

His remarks are spot on! As one who lived through those horrible time fear was a word much used. Blacks were afraid, whites were afraid (of what I am not sure.. but they were afraid)... ethnic hatred was high. We felt we could get ourselves or our families killed being in the "wrong" place at the "wrong" time near the "wrong" people. McShame and Palin are still sewing that thread and McShame has been for the past year and one half. A few calming words won't take down the emotion of hate the campaign and the Republicans have spewed for a year and a half. Remember "Osama, Obama, yo' mama". That is coming home to roost. And we will all rue it. I pray for the safety of our candidates and their families nightly..I wan't the hate to stop.. it won't. It is too easy to hate and to convenient. God help us all.

[Bluebear]

17. Enjoy your racist legacy, McCain.

[Zenlitened]

18. Case closed: John McCain is a piece of shit.

That statement of his confirms it, once and for all.

[Dems4me]

19. J. Lewis didn't do anything wrong It's how he sees it. McCain& Palin love to throw mud, but ...

sure can't take a little mud thrown back their way.

[Solly Mack]

20. You can't speak at a klan rally then pretend you didn't know it was a klan rally

You riled the crowd up - you own the mob now.

[Tarc]

21. Some may say "I wish he didn't go there"

But I for one will thank Rep. Lewis for going there, as it needed to be said.

[magellan]

22. McSame is trying the old Bush** two-step

"See, I'm really a good person because I admire this great person -- wait, what the fuck did that asshole say about me?"

[Mark E. Smith]

23. Congressman says McCain 'sowing seeds of hatred'

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and veteran of the civil rights
movement, says the negative tone of the Republican presidential campaign reminds him
of the hateful atmosphere that segregationist Gov. George Wallace fostered in Alabama
in the 1960s.

Republican candidate John McCain on Saturday called Lewis' remarks "shocking and
beyond the pale."

The Obama campaign said the Illinois senator doesn't believe McCain or his policy
criticism is at all comparable to Wallace and his segregationist policies.

In a statement issued Saturday, Lewis said McCain and running mate Sarah Palin were
"sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our
political discourse." He noted that Wallace also ran for president.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081012/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_lewis

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McCain has invoked a notorious '60s figure in his campaign against Barack Obama, and
now John Lewis has returned the favor.

What goes around ...

[FrenchieCat]

24. Eggsactly!

What goes around, comes around......

[Dems4me]

25. McCain Called For Obama to apologize for J. Lewis's remark. Can you believe them?!!! n/t

[tblue]

26. I got 2 words for McC, and they're not "let's dance."

[Virginia Dare]

27. Calling out the repub hate that has been going on for 40+ years...

no surprise that they recoil in denial. It hurts to look in the mirror doesn't it Johnny?