Congressman John Lewis, (D-GA) and civil rights legend, directed some very strong words at John McCain last week. He said, "The negative tone of the Republican presidential campaign reminds me of the hateful atmosphere that segregationist Gov. George Wallace fostered in Alabama in the 1960's." He went on to say that Mccain was, "sowing the seeds of hatred and division" and accused the Republican nominee of potentially inciting violence. "McCain said Lewis' remarks were unfair and outrageous.

John McCain is wrong and John Lewis is right on target. McCain has not been strong enough in calling for those at his rallies and surrogates not to use divisive language and words that polarize and evoke strong race based emotions. If you don't believe me, there is a clip, where Sarah Palin says she likes the signs being displayed at her rallies. There is even a man at a McCain rally in this clip holding up a monkey with Obama pasted on its head. He should not have been allowed in that rally.

In addition, many of McCain's former advisors from his 2000 Campaign were shocked that he has hired Tucker Eskew, a Bush media advisor who smeared him in the South Carolina Republican Primary that year. One of the smears that surfaced during that primary was that McCain's adopted daughter was Black. So this demonstrates that McCain will do anything to win and that includes using race based fear. It's a proven tactic used vey effectively in the past by many campaigns. However, it does not seem to be working this year. Again, John Lewis was absolutely correct.

Look, I have said it before and I am saying it again, there is a shifting dynamic in this country about race. We can debate the size and scope of this shift until the second coming, but the fact is that there is a very strong possibility that the next President of this country will be an African American. This means that enough people in this country are evolving beyond looking at the packaging one comes in and looking at what's inside.

So those voters who find race baiting in this election unacceptable have to speak out and let the McCain Campaign know about it. I mean bombard his campaign offices with calls and emails. Of course the biggest message is to turnout on Election Day and express it in the most effective way. It is time that we move beyond fear and race based politics in this country.

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You can learn more about me at http:/.blog.jayspeights.com/ . And be sure to buy my book, "Harmonious Day."

Lewis: ‘I do not regret what I said’ of GOP foes
By Jim Galloway

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

U.S. Rep. John Lewis on Tuesday said he had no regrets for claiming that Republican rhetoric in the presidential contest reminded him of words spoken by segregationist Alabama Gov. George Wallace —- but he admitted that he could have made his point “in a different way.”

“I do not regret what I said,” Lewis said. “Maybe it could have been said in a different way, because it was not suggesting that [Republican running mates] John McCain or Sarah Palin was closely related [in] any way to the actions of Governor Wallace.”

Said the Atlanta congressman and civil rights icon: “It was all about what I call toxic speech —- statements [and] an audience that can unleash bitterness and hatred. And I don’t need anyone to lecture me about my feelings, or what I have observed for more than 50 years.”

Last week, in the face of declining polls, Republicans concentrated on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and what they called issues of character —- and what Democrats called “code words” for race.

Before large crowds, GOP vice presidential nominee Palin repeatedly criticized Obama for “palling around with terrorists.”

“This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America,” she said.

On Saturday, Lewis rocked the presidential campaign with his statement that McCain and 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.”

McCain immediately called Lewis’ remarks “beyond the pale” and called on Obama to repudiate them. On Monday McCain fumed to CNN that Lewis’ controversial remarks were “so disturbing” that they “stopped me in my tracks.”

The Obama campaign said any comparisons to Wallace were out of line, but also said that “Lewis was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked.”

Lewis made his Tuesday remarks at Spelman College in Atlanta, after the unveiling of a video documenting the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march and the confrontation at the Edmund Pettus Bridge between Alabama state troopers and 600 African-American demonstrators.

Speaking with reporters, Lewis said that a comparison that wouldn’t have injected racial images would have been the McCarthy era of the 1950s and the accusations of “guilt by association” that marked that period.

Regardless of any criticism, which he characterized as overblown, Lewis said his Saturday protest had its effect. “I think it checked some of the things that had been going on. I don’t think you’re going to see people making reference to a young man who is the nominee of his party as running around with terrorists. I don’t think you’re going to have that anymore,” Lewis said.

It seems to me that anyone that is not a far left extremist, falls under the category of racist. All Republicans for sure, but even Joe Biden had it thrown at him when he was running against Obama. It wears thin after a while.

Can you so easily forget the RECENT racist history of this country, and how many people are still impacted by those policies and ideologies? Advocates are necessary ar every level and Lewis is a very sane and articulate advocate. His comparison is accurate in terms of rhetorical style.

If Obama wins, we may begin the era of post-sterotypical racism, or specifically post-sterotypical African Americans racism. It won't be instanteneous, but a step.

But racism, like the baiting of McCain and Palin sgsinst Obama MUST be called out. Especially given this country's history and policies, and even Katrina for god's sake.

It is very clear to me that John Lewis is apporpriate and correct. Many people, Black, White, Democratic, and Republican agree. We MUST fight fear and racist propaganda until it is abolished for good. White people must stand with this cause; it is our obligation to history and to justice. Any true "patriot" must see that.

What do I think about Obama?
I think he is the perfect candidate for the exremist left, because he is black. Basically it has forced republicans and moderate democrats to hold back on their criticisms because the slightest dissent comes with a charge of racism.

If John McCain had ties with an unrepentant abortion clinic bomber, do you think he would get a pass like Obama has with Ayers?

If he had as little experience, would that be overlooked? (no, because we have Palin as an example)

If the republicans had an organization like Acorn illegally registering tens of thousands of voters for the sole purpose of election fraud, would that be glossed over as a backpage news story like it is now?

Last Edited on 22-Oct-2008 9:17 AM

I also don't know how I will feel regardless of who wins. I have developed such a hatred for McCain, that I am not sure I want to defend him for 4 years. I think he is running a tired, half assed campaign, almost as if he is just doing it to buff up his N.Y. Times obituary. If he does win (I actually still think he will), he will no doubt govern as a moderate democrat. Which is better than a George Soros democrat, which is what Obama is. It will reflect poorly on Republicans. I think all the problems we have now are directly a result of republicans trying to appease democrats. Even the way the war was run, was reminiscent of LBJ. The bailout,... pure socialism. I want a populist leaning conservative running the country. With convictions.

Last Edited on 22-Oct-2008 9:36 AM

"The fear and racist propoganda is coming entirely fron your side."

How can you say that is coming from "my side." Palin provoked the crowd to say DEATH THREATS!!!! These people screaming "terrorist" amd "kill him!" Who tried to covertly create Obama as Muslim (not that thhis should ever be considered a bad thing, but simply, he's not.) Why do the McCain people keep using his middle name Hussein? Obama doesn't use it. We don't use other politicians' middle names. This is the lowest Rove-style fear mongering.

With all of these bare facts, how can you think of saying, with anything like a straight face, that "fear and racist propoganda is coming entirely fron my side?"

Come on, John, please. Really. Death threats. We are talking death threats. A generation ago they were lynching people. Context, please.

And then:

"What do I think about Obama? I think he is the perfect candidate for the exremist left, because he is black. Basically it has forced republicans and moderate democrats to hold back on their criticisms because the slightest dissent comes with a charge of racism."

Now this is silly. There are lots of Black politicians of all parties and people are no longer looking for a token. Is it you that only sees him as a Black man? Do you not see the totality and complexity of his background? This guys is solid. Republicans are even saying so. Colin Powell is saying so. I'm probably a lot more liberal than Obama; there is nothhing extreme left about him. He is rationale, very smart, steady, and capable.

If you think the majority of people who supoort him are doing it for race, you are way off, and really too aware of race. He has long since transcended that one aspect of his identity. And I think most Americans see much, much more than that too,

Well, I don't know who you mean by the extreme left. On policy alone, I'd probably prefer Kucinich or Nader of eight years ago, or maybe Barbara Lee. But for the "mainstream" of America, Barack Obama IS the perfect candidate. The total paclage. Mostly, he has challenged both Democrats and Republicans to be better than they are.

I am not saying that Obama is where he is because of tokenism. I am saying that no one can freely critique him without having their motives questioned. That is a fact.
That is what enabled someone with his leftist credentials to get this far. Otherwise it would never happen. Clinton had a moderate background in Arkansas, and Carter was actually a conservative democrat who faced a primary challenge as a sitting president, from Kennedy.

This country is right of center. Obama is far left of center. He is modifying every position he ever had to get elected. I don't think he will turn extreme left after he is elected, not if he wants to be re-elected, but I do think that is where is original points of view come from. Power changes people.

As for being liberal, I don't think Obama is nearly as much as you do, but I sure hope he is. He is a very smart man who understands the big and small picutres. I don't think he is a miracle worker, but I do think it he has captured the zeitgeist by being the right person at the right place at the right time.

If anyone is scared of critiquing him because of his racial background/s (which given the right-wing media is clearly not true) then I'd say fine, get over it. Critique him all you want. We still have a uniquely solid man, a genuine and sane leader standing there beneath the package.

Last Edited on 22-Oct-2008 4:08 PM

You are right about McCain seeming old. I don't think people should drive at his age, much less run the country. He seems tired and weak. The Bangladeshi daughter example works in the sense that he isn't embarrassed like a lot of people from his generation and background would be, but I doubt he ever changed a diaper, or read a book, or spent much time with her at all. Not that most politicians on that level do spend time with their family, but I doubt he has a strong bond with her. It was most likely his wife that made the decision, but I could be wrong.

That being said, I have enormous faith in Palin. I think she is the type that rises to the challenge and learns from her mistakes. She went beyond what she needed to do to be succesful in politics and went one step further and challenged the system in Alaska...and won. She will come back stronger than ever next time around.

What bothers me most about Palin is neither her small-town experience, or "folkiness," but her actual beliefs, which seem pretty ignorant and cruel.

I just had a surgery and don't want my head hurting too, but I think I addressed why I think this in previous posts.

All the candidates are sleazy, ignorant and anyone who votes for them does not seem to know what to expect from even the ones they support.... crazy system for crazy people.
I will not vote for a smily manipulator, I will not vote for the manchurian candidate who dribbles over nuclear button, nor for sara "problems-with-prozac" palin.

How can you guys vote for them? Nothing will change if you keep on the same things.

Last Edited on 29-Oct-2008 12:10 PM

The whole Palin fiasco made for some good comedy though.

It is interesting that during the Bush administration, it was intelligent satire that wizened up America. Thank goodness, since the traditional press failed us for most of these eight years.