Lionel was a good character. There’s a great scene where he chastises Meathead, because Meathead only talks about racial stuff...”Why don’t we ever talk about the weather? Black people have weather too, you know.”
That is what made All In The Family a universal hit! They jibed every person...from every direction!
Too many people only remember Archie’s racism, but dang the rest of the cast had their own issues that created stories...his feminist neighbor who just kowtowed her husband, Meathead the constant antagonist (like your reference), George Jefferson before he left for his own series, etc...
No race, sexual orientation, or political bend was left spared!
Remember with the LEft....the issue is never the issue....