Posted on 07/29/2020 6:32:33 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
One by one, they passed through the grand Capitol Rotunda to pay respects to the civil rights icon.
It was a solemn display of unity as congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle offered praise for longtime Georgia Rep. John Lewis. There was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called Lewis the conscience of the Congress; and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who praised him as a model of courage. Vice President Mike Pence and former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, came as well.
But missing was a man whose absence spoke volumes: President Donald Trump.
No, I wont be going, Trump told reporters when asked whether he planned to pay his respects to Lewis, the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Rotunda. Lewis body was later moved to the steps on the Capitols east side for a public viewing.
Trumps absence was another break in convention for a president who has broken so many norms, and one that underscored his separation from much of Washington society, along with his dismal relationship with Democrats on Capitol Hill especially members of color.
Trump had long harbored resentments toward Lewis.
A spokeswoman for Lewis, who died of pancreatic cancer, brushed off any talk of politics when asked whether the Lewis family had any communication with the White House about whether Trump should attend, calling it irrelevant.
I would say that this is not a political event, said Brenda Jones, the congressmans longtime spokeswoman. Its our time to pay respect to a man who did a great deal for this country. And thats all we want it to be.
The White House did not respond to questions about why the president did not attend.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
The congressional black caucus explicitly asked Trump not to tweet, comment, or do anything regarding the John Lewis death and funeral. He was asked to stay away. He is honoring their request.
We all should by now be able to interpret auto-correct posts. They happen often enough to me that I swear it changes some of them after I click the post button.
Fear not.....SATAN, the Devil himself awaits her arrival in “Hell”!!! And...that is where she rightly belongs...the evil, hateful, witch, monster!!!
Democrats never change and never die poor.
I think they need to take his body now to Seattle, then to Portland, then to Minnesota, and then offer the body for honor to all the Capitols of countries that had slaves.
How long does it take to bury this guy? He died on the 17th and Fox News is still showing some kind of funeral procession today.
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