SubscribeLewis Compares McCain To George Wallace
From the John Lewis For Congress website:
Rep. John Lewis Responds to Increasing Hostility of McCain-Palin Campaign
10/11/2008
“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 today 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.
“During another period, in the not too distant past, there was a governor of the state of Alabama named George Wallace who also became a presidential candidate. 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 rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed one Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama.
“As public figures with the power to influence and persuade, Sen. McCain and Governor 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. We can do better. The American people deserve better.”
Here is more on this from the Politico:
Civil rights icon says McCain stirs hate
By MIKE ALLEN & JONATHAN MARTIN | 10/11/08
Civil rights icon John Lewis compared Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to George Wallace in a posting to Politico’s forum “The Arena,” accusing McCain of fostering “an atmosphere of hate” and “hostility” like the one that led to white supremacists’ 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham, Ala.
Lewis, a Democratic congressman from Georgia who has endorsed Obama, pointed in his posting to “the negative tone of the McCain-Palin campaign,” and said the senator and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, “are sowing the seeds of hatred and division.” …
McCain called the accusation “shocking and beyond the pale” and called on Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to repudiate it.” …
Lewis didn’t accuse McCain of imitating Wallace, but suggested there were similarities…
Appearing with Obama at a forum at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in August, McCain included Lewis as one of “three wise men” he would consult as president. “He can teach us all a lot about the meaning of courage and commitment to causes greater than our self-interest,” McCain said of Lewis…
McCain quickly fired back hard, calling the comments “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,” McCain said in the statement. “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.
McCain also put the onus on Obama to distance himself from the remarks: “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.” …
One wonders if Mr. Lewis even remembers that Mr. Wallace was a Democrat?
And is it just us, or does it seem a bit much that Mr. Lewis is still living off the glory of having “marched with” Martin Luther King forty five years ago?
Shouldn’t he have done something since? That is, something else besides calling anyone he disagrees with a racist.
But such is the career of a professional race-baiter.
And, lest we forget, it is the “black community” that is voting for Mr. Obama due to the color of his skin rather the content of his character.
It is the “black community” that is threatening to riot if Mr. Obama does not win.
34 Responses to “Lewis Compares McCain To George Wallace”
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October 11th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
This sort of accusation seems to be why McCain has been trying so hard to be Mr. Nice Guy. However, considering that such an accusation was likely inevitable no matter what he did, McCain should have played hardball and planned how to disprove or discredit any allegations he was racist/hate filled/Anti-Obama.
And back to the game…
Lewis is accusing McCain of being like Wallace…….except Wallace was a Democrat.
Meanwhile I was watching commercial television last night and it was an Obama ad every 15 minutes. Maybe we’ll be lucky and people will suffer ad fatigue and just tune him out……maybe.
October 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
“Mr. Lewis is still living off the glory”
Kind of like the little boy that tells his mother that he cleaned up his bedroom last month. Does he have to do it again?
If I may be honest, racism is gone in the USA. Democrats won’t admit it, they wouldn’t have anything to talk about.
Women get equal pay for equal work. Does Pelosi make less than Gingrich?
To paraphrase the king in that famous play, look I’m an engineer, won’t someone free us of all this crap?
October 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
“If I may be honest, racism is gone in the USA. Democrats won’t admit it, they wouldn’t have anything to talk about.”
That is exactly it. Total racial harmony would be a catastrophe for these people. They need racism or more accurately, the illusion of racism like my cat needs food everyday. And when we point that out, we are racist. Thus the cycle repeats. Nice little system they have going, huh?
October 11th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
This of course, while the ACORN nuts prance on the streets shouting “Bring Down McCain.” Come on, most Americans can see what’s going on.
Racism isn’t gone at all in America. It’s just now residing mostly on the one side, Obama’s side.
Are we united yet?
October 11th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Every time one of these whining assholes opens his (or her) mouth, the cause of race relations is set back measurably. Right now I’d place us somewhere in the early to mid ’50’s and tracking backwards. Since it will be said anyway, regardless of facts, I guess I’m racist when I say, unless and until I am shown otherwise, every black I encounter henceforth will be regarded by me as a race-baiting, anti-white, hate-mongering hack–just like Rep. J. Lewis.
October 11th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Please remind me again who attended a seperatist church, hangs around with Ayers and Rezko, oh that’s right Barry.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
This reminds me of when your wife keeps accusing you of cheating on her when you are not, after while you decide, hell if I am going to catch hell for something I am not doing, why not do it also.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Representative John Lewis—–Another reason to strike down affirmative-action statutes.
Need more proof? How about——-Maxine Waters, William Jefferson, William Clay, Charles Rangel, Jesse Jackson Jr.,Sheila Jackson-Lee, ………..
I haven’t even scratched the surface yet.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I was watching CNN a few hours ago, and William Schneider was on talking about the unruly crowds at McCain gatherings. Someone at a campaign stop had yelled “Terrorist!” and “Off with his head!”. Schneider called these statements “racist” and “hate speech”. Now, I may agree somewhat that the statements do contain vitriol, but I would not classify them as hate speech, at least not how the left defines hate speech. And racist? There is absolutely nothing racist with saying the above things. It’s like many people on this site have mentioned before: If Obama becomes the next president, people will not be able to criticize Obama or any of his policies without being labeled a racist.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Does anybody think that this might be the incident that shows McCain the limits of “reaching across the aisle?”
I prefer reaching across the table - at least there is something between us that protects me and reinforces that we are not the same despite the handshake.
Routine civility is no substitute for trust and truth.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
“If Obama becomes the next president, people will not be able to criticize Obama or any of his policies without being labeled a racist.’
Thats a fact that will not be disputed by me, however people are not allowed before he is elected to criticize Obama or any of his policies without being labeled a racist.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I’m presuming the donkeys are thinking if they accuse anyone criticizing The One with racism or stoking “anger”, we’ll all shut up and just let The One stride into the White House. But I think they fail to realize that people see this for what it is and get even more worked up.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Well, it looks like the debate, if there ever was one, is officially over. Any criticism of ‘The One’ shall be classified as ‘Hate Speech’ and if he wins, look forward to prison sentences for haters.
Oh, and re-education camps, of course…
October 11th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Thats exactly the tactic they are employing MKE, and your right, its pissing people off to be called a racist for simply thinking that they have a right cast a vote of their choosing,
Free will is never welcome in a socialist’s world view.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Colonel1961.
I take it from the title, you are used to a good fight.
Me? lets just say I am gonna be a handfull at the re-education camps! ;-}
October 11th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Give em hell there Dez, I am afraid I wont make it that far.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
SJ, I shudder at the damage you would do regardless.
It also brings a smile to my face, you are to liberals what Gallagher is to watermelons!
October 11th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Everyone should google Angry Waukesha Guy (and Angry Black Waukesha Guy) if they haven’t already. I know saying they’re angry feeds right into the liberal narrative of what they assume people on the right are like, but compared to the absolute hysterical and apoplectic rantings over the past 7 years from the left directed at President Bush, they’re conveying the feelings a lot of people have right now.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Don’t you worry DEZ.
Provided Mr Harper wins the election up here on Tuesday (he probably will) -SJ can hole up here at “Fort Gilbert” (or is it Fort Coulter? - I haven’t decided yet…) if things get too out of hand there.
(besides - he has a few toys I’d really like to try and talk him out of …a Mossberg 590 comes immediately to mind…)
October 11th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Gallagher was just at my work doing his thing….he’s a riot!
On a serious note, I just wouldnt do well at the camps. I dont like the councilors, the food sucks, cant swim after eating, I would have to recycle everything, and share my stuff, too many rules, and the liberal education classes! OY! see? I already went to school. I learned everything I needed to know about freedom and true democracy, right vs wrong, but most of all….the difference between good and evil. That, plus I was married twice…so I know the difference.
No, I am of the “do what I have to do” school….and I will do what I have to do. There are many people counting on it. I have never had a problem fighting and dying for freedom. This will be no different, with the exception of having to do it in this country, to rid it of the pestulence that has infected every segment of society.
So, when they come to take me away, I either will already be gone, or they will discover the wonderful aspects of tungsten tipped BMG rounds invading their personal space. And that’s at Zilla ranges! I am too old to change, too young to give in, and way too ornery to just be led away. So yeah, things will get dicey, the outcome will be predictable, but there will be that many less to take away the next ones.
I sleep well at night knowing this too.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:03 am
DEZ: ‘Colonel’ is a moniker given to me by a friend, not an acquired rank. Nonetheless, I’ll be right there with you taking out any rat bastard that tries to tell me what to eat, drink, think, say, do or feel.
Or anyone who tries to make me sing that stoopid ‘Hail Obama’ song…
Sic semper tyrannis.
October 12th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Maybe McCain is seeing and hearing things at his rallies that has him concerned about the threat of factionalism?
Maybe his remark about Obama was a well-intetioned attempt to cool things down?
Maybe he really is a man of honor, and does know what he’s doing?
October 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
DW….fortunately, I have two 590’s…one set up normally, the other “modified” somewhat. You are welcome to use one! Can you say, “flechette”?
October 13th, 2008 at 10:12 am
If McCain is compared to Wallace then why hasn’t someone compared Lewis to Cheeta; a knuckle dragging tree swinger? I can swear by “Flechette”! “ROUNDS OUT” !!!
October 13th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Time to stir some hate! “ONLY IN AMERICA: the Legend of Barack Obama” has a big night out when when (with all due deference to BO’s exalted status and in a personal attitude of humble submission and inferiority) we have the temerity to ask “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”
“Et pour vous, Monsieur le Président, un copulation of bif…”
“Bif?”
“Steak, Barry” hissed Michelle. “You ordered the steak”.
“Oh, right. Trés bong!”
“Bif” continued Pierre the Head Waiter, “avec un eruption of squid ink et un fornication of seasonal leaves, accompanied par un flurry de crispy hummingbird, garnée avec un assemblage of locally sourced insects”.
“Mercy, Pierre” beamed the Change We Can Believe in. “Can I have some ketchup, por favor?”
A little spasm of pain twisted Pierre’s face.
“Barry!” hissed Michelle. “This is a classy place! They don’t do ‘ketchup’”.
“Oh, pardong” said Obama. “I meant ‘catsup’. You got any?”
“Um…at once, Excellency” groaned Pierre. “Enjoy your meal. Bon appetit!”
“Mmmm, this champale is trés bong, huh?” enthused Obama. “Let’s have a toast!”
“A toast to what?”
“To us; baby, to us. Everything’s coming up Obama! If the simmering racism of those redneck honkies who think I’m a secret Muslim doesn’t spoil it for us, inshallah, and if Acorn keeps up its ‘Early and Often’ voter registration program, we’re home free!”
“Maybe…” mused Michelle.
“Mr President! Mr President!” gasped the dishevelled figure who rushed up to their table, brushing past the waiters and interrupting the murmur of conversation and guzzling here at “l’Aigle Brun” (formerly “The Veal Crate”), Gotham’s trendiest eatery. “Mr President!”
“Huh? Where?” wondered Obama. “Oh, right. Hi, Kevin. What up?”
“I have bad news, your Excellency” choked Kevin Shitt, campaign operative. “McGovern ‘72 bad!”
Obama choked on his bif and went pale, or paler. Michelle hammered his back furiously with her meaty fist.
“Bad news?” gagged Obama. “What is it?”
“Its new information with a negative or unhappy cast” answered Kevin, unable to resist. “But that’s not important now. Our latest polling shows that McCain’s continual linking of your Excellency’s esteemed name to those of discredited individuals like Tony Rezko and Bill Ayres is having some effect…”
“Sticky Fingers and Boom Boom Billy? But they’re decent Americans! Bill is a ‘former terrorist’ – it says so in all the papers”.
“Sure, like Eichmann was a ‘former Nazi’” interjected Michelle helpfully.
“Maybe, mein Fuhrer” said Kevin. “But if this information sinks into the spongy brains of the dull lumpen herds of ordinary people, it could turn your landslide victory into, well, less of a landslide”.
“What about my High Priest, Jeremiah Wright?”
“Reverend Goddam? No, McCain says he’s off limits. Taboo. He says it’s a question of your personal faith”.
“Praise Allah – I mean, thank you Jesus!” cried Obama. “That John McCain will go down as the most polite and considerate loser in all the history of this slavery fostering, imperialist and Bush-riddled country! Send the old guy a fruit basket, will you?”
“Certainly, Sire” grovelled Kevin. “So you’re not worried?”
“Naah. My campaign is about sending a positive message, Kev; about bringing hope and change to the people of this country and ramming it down their goddam throats until they fucking choke on it…” growled Obama.
“Chill, Barry” warned Michelle. “Wait till after the inauguration”.
“Okay, okay…say, you look hungry, Kevin. Yo, Pierre!” called Obama. “Voulay voos gettez my flunkey here un Doggy Bag or something, por favor?”
“With all dispatch, Excellence” responded Pierre, dragging a reluctant puppy from its kennel.
“Make sure you put some catsup on it!”
October 13th, 2008 at 11:47 am
As for the rest of my subjects…..Let them sniff cake!!
Great story!
October 13th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Et pour vous, cher Monsieur LD, avec le grateful compliments de l’autour (cest moi, Artboy): un éruption de corn-fed pigeon, avec un rétardation de seasonal vegetables, lighly covered in a catsup jus. Et un bottle of our finest house champale. Mercy, cher LD, et bon appetit!
October 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
John Lewis has one card in his deck and it is racism,he finds racism under every rock and if he dosen`t he manufactures it…just another bitter old fool!
October 13th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
artboy - at the risk of appearing a Philistine, I think you’re entirely too comfortable with the French tongue (or as I call it, that Filthy Pig-Latin).
October 13th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
lol Exeter. Or as one of my Latin professors called it: peasant provincial Latin.
October 13th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Or as my Veteran buddies called their language; ” The song of Surrender”
October 13th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
LD: priceless.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:36 am
“La Chanson de Capitulation”, LD - trés bong! We’ll be singing it ourselves once President Barry takes over.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
@ artboy: JOCK LAY BLUR!!!!