Posted on 10/11/2008 12:10:11 PM PDT by hole_n_one
Civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis is accusing John McCain and Sarah Palin of stoking hate, likening the atmosphere at Republican campaign events to those featuring George Wallace, the segregationist former governor of Alabama and presidential candidate.
"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."
Lewis didn't accuse McCain of imitating Wallace, but suggested there were similarities.
"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."
Lewis's sharp words may be dismissed as those of a partisan Democrat in a campaign season. But the former head of SNCC and hero of Selma is somebody who McCain has lavished praise upon over the years, including admiring him in a book on courage and bravery and repeatedly invoking Lewis's name in public appearances.
Appearing with Barack 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.
Now, Lewis is castigating McCain in the harshest of terms.
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," Lewis said today. "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.
John Lewis playing the race card big time. You can’t criticize Obama without being called a racist. The Clintons said the same thing.
Can Lewis point to one instance where there’s a comparison between McCain and Wallace?
Lewis’ remarks are the tip of the iceberg which go to prove this guy true:
Black preacher says an Obama presidency will unleash 400 years of pent-up black anger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwYJ8aOL3f8
McCain and Palin have done nothing to step over the line. The truth is, middle America is sick and tired of walking on eggshells, and any UN-PC speech is greeted by the masses with a shrug of the shoulders-—it is only the media and victim-mongers that truly get up in arms...
Monday is a Holiday...so I hear.
I called and said I found the statement to be hypocritical since he approved of Rev Wright preaching racism (and AIDS conspiracies) in black churches for decades, while we were teaching our children to be colorblind.
We will not let this one go, at some point we must give them hell.
yes but this guy,
-I just called his press emergency number and spoke with Darren Johnson (404-895-7850) and referenced the Politico article with quotes-
is the press emergency number and he’s answering the phone...don’t complain if you don’t take action....
George Wallace was a Democrat.
Another Democrat: Orval Faubus. The segregationist governor of Arkansas, who obstructed the integration of Little Rock Central High.
That little incident — was resolved by Republican President Eisenhower, with the National Guard.
The above comments must be played out in an add and then followed up by the hateful comments from that race baiter Lewis.
Ending with John McCain telling America that this is the his opponents will take the country, but that is where CHANGE will happen first in America with him as President.
Lay this garbage on Barry.
Ergo, Congressman Lewis hates Sarah and her husband.
I disapprove of Congressman Lewis' message.
Gee, I kind of get the feeling that 0bamians sow the seeds of hatred and fear every time he opens his mouth about persecuting those who work and contribute to the US. I think I’ll just quit working if he gets elected and LET the government clothe, feed and house me instead of taxing me to death to do it for his parasites.
Raila's answer (which surely included BHMSO's advice) to losing the presidential election? Riots, 1000+ dead, half a million citizens displaced, promises of Shariah justice, a newly-minted PM position for Odinga and an otherwise previously peaceful country was thrown into life-threatening turmoil for the foreseeable future.
Lewis' saying these things and Serpenthead's saying similar allusory warnings are clearly orchestrated with 0bambi's campaign headquarters. Votes against 0bambi are being intimidated.
HF
Call and tell them Obama talked tough, so does Lewis have to protect him with the fall back “racist” claims...poor baby.
No one plays the race any better than black people that live in Atlanta (other than maybe the southside of chicago).
Waiting for Congressman Lewis to grow a skin.
Yes, that “shark” quote is what comes to my mind whenever I see Lewis.
My guess is that his problem is that McCain is starting to shed some light on the real background of Obama and it's getting traction. Lewis wants the black man to win, regardless of who that black man is. Lewis is as much a racist as Wallace, and perhaps moreso. I don't recall Wallace using ACORN to generate fraudulent votes or to buy constituency.
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