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October 12, 2008 at 1:00 am #588361
WSMomParticipanthttp://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/
McCain Responds to Lewis’ Comments
Posted by BLAKE DVORAK
Via Jonathan Martin, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) issued this statement today:
“What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history,” Lewis said in a statement issued today. “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.” …
“George Wallace never threw a bomb,” Lewis noted. “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.”
To which McCain responded in a statement:
“Congressman John Lewis’ comments represent a character attack against Governor Sarah Palin and me that is shocking and beyond the pale. 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. 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.”
UPDATE: Obama spokesman Bill Burton has issued this statement:
“Senator Obama does not believe that John McCain or his policy criticism is in any way comparable to George Wallace or his segregationist policies. But John Lewis was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked just last night, as well as the baseless and profoundly irresponsible charges from his own running mate that the Democratic nominee for President of the United States ‘pals around with terrorists.’ As Barack Obama has said himself, the last thing we need from either party is the kind of angry, divisive rhetoric that tears us apart at a time of crisis when we desperately need to come together. That is the kind of campaign Senator Obama will continue to run in the weeks ahead.”
October 12, 2008 at 1:26 am #643318
CountingCoupMemberThis is the John Lewis that McCain a couple of months ago during his campaign noted to be one of McCains most admired politicians.
In interviews with John Lewis afterwards he stated that McCain hardly had any discussions with him and was suprised that McCain thought that of him.
At that time McCain was trying to get positive press coverage as a John Lewis admirer as a cover for McCains reacurring vote of no, for a MLK holiday.
Now Lewis is calling McCain out on this disaster of a campaign and it looks as if McCain is willing to make it personal with Lewis. This one is not going to play well for McCains campaign and will have a serious backlash for him.
October 12, 2008 at 2:14 am #643319
flipjackParticipantI’m glad that this serious issue is coming to light and not just getting lost in all the hype and wonder of people standing by and watching some maniac and his running mate run for a prominent position in our society and do so by nearly inciting riots and pandering to rote reactionary tendencies of the ignorant masses.
October 12, 2008 at 2:23 am #643320
WSMomParticipanthttp://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/10/did-mccain-just-walk-into-trap.html
“Lewis is someone who McCain praised as one of the three wisest people in his life at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Forum.
But also, take a look at the trailing paragraph in McCain’s strongly-worded statement to the press today:
“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.”
McCain is calling on Obama to repudiate Lewis’s comments — which of course is exactly what Obama should (and probably will) do. By calling on Obama to repudiate Lewis, however, McCain allows Obama to be the adult in the room.”
interesting take on this issue
October 12, 2008 at 4:21 am #643321
JanSParticipantI just find it appalling that John McCain, et.al., have been so myopic as to believe that the audiences that he’s been pandering to are all intelligent. He forgets that post-9/11 sentiments are strong, and racism is still out there. Where is his judgement? All it takes is one of those people who call Obama “terrorist”, or says”kill him” to instill in someone the real desire to carry it forward…how tragic that would be.
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