WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2008
Rep. Lewis: McCain Sowing Seeds Of Hatred
Civil Rights Veteran Compares Candidate To Segregationist; McCain Calls Comment "Brazen, Baseless And Shocking"
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Congressman John Lewis (D-Georgia) (CBS)
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Interactive Civil Rights In America A look back at the key people and events of the civil rights movement.
Republican candidate John McCain on Saturday called Lewis' remarks "shocking and beyond the pale."
In a statement issued Saturday, Lewis said McCain and running mate Sarah Palin were "sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse." He noted that Wallace also ran for president.
"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 were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights," said Lewis, who is black. "Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."
One of the seminal events of the civil rights movement was the bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church on Sept. 15, 1963. Four black girls died in the blast, which was linked to a Ku Klux Klan group.
Late Saturday, Lewis released another statement saying it was not his "intention or desire" to directly compare McCain or Palin to Wallace.
"My statement was a reminder to all Americans that toxic language can lead to destructive behavior," he said. "I am glad that Sen. McCain has taken some steps to correct divisive speech at his rallies. I believe we need to return to civil discourse in this election about the pressing economic issues that are affecting our nation."
Lewis' comments follow widely reported examples of anger at McCain rallies that has been aimed at Obama, the first black man to be a major party's nominee for president. During some rallies featuring McCain and Palin, supporters have shouted "traitor," "terrorist," "treason," "liar" and even "off with his head."
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The outbursts came amid a harshly personal line of attack against Obama by the Republican campaign. McCain and Palin have said Obama failed to tell the truth about his ties to 1960s radical William Ayers, had a radical agenda on abortion, and wasn't really known to voters. Last weekend, Palin signaled the uptick in the criticism when she charged that Obama was "palling around with terrorists," a reference to Ayers, and that he didn't see the U.S. as others did.My statement was a reminder to all Americans that toxic language can lead to destructive behavior. I am glad that Sen. McCain has taken some steps to correct divisive speech at his rallies.
Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia)McCain drew boos at a town-hall meeting Friday in Minnesota when he defended Obama after a supporter said he feared what would happen if Obama were elected president. He also cut short a woman who said Obama was an Arab, and he called his rival "a decent, family man."
On Saturday, McCain called on Obama to repudiate Lewis' remarks. While dismissing the comparison to Wallace, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said Lewis was on target in other ways.
"John Lewis was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked just last night, as well as the baseless and profoundly irresponsible charges from his own running mate that the Democratic nominee for president of the United States 'pals around with terrorists,"' Burton said in a statement.
In his remarks, Lewis also said: "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. 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."
McCain rejected any comparison to Wallace.
"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 said.
Several times on the campaign trail this year, McCain has praised Lewis, invoking the Congressman's name in connection with Dr. Martin Luther King and telling the civil rights veteran's story during an event in Selma, Ala.
During the primary campaigns, on Martin Luther King Day, CBS News asked all the candidates to reflect on the civil rights leader's legacy. McCain noted that he was in a prison camp in Vietnam when King was assassinated, but referenced Lewis, a disciple of King's.
"I did not know Dr King," McCain said. "But I know John Lewis, and I know what he represents. And John Lewis and I may disagree on some issues, but that's the kind of person I think are true American heroes."
In April, while in Selma, Ala. -- the backdrop for a milestone civil rights march on March 7, 1965 -- McCain commended the bravery of those who marched that day, including Lewis, who suffered a fractured skull from a beating during the protest.
In August, while appearing at a forum on faith, McCain was asked to name three "wise people" he would listen to. He cited Lewis as well as Gen. David Petreaus, head of U.S. troops in Iraq, and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, a top adviser to his campaign.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 361 CommentsFor a person who makes less than 200K per year to vote Republican is for the slave to vote for the Slaveholder.
DEBATE REALITY CHECK: MCCAIN VS SCHIP EXPANSION
Joe Biden said of McCain: %u201CHe voted against including 3.6 million children in coverage of an existing healthcare plan when he voted in the Senate.%u201D [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]
MCCAIN SUPPORTED BUSH VETO OF SCHIP EXPANSION
DEBATE REALITY CHECK: APPOINTEES
Sarah Palin said: %u201CYou do what I did as governor. And you appoint people regardless of party affiliation. Democrats, independents, Republicans, you walk the walk, don''t just talk the talk.%u201D [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]
FACT: PALIN HIRED HER FRIENDS TO KEY ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS
Once again Sarah is a "do as I say" not as I do politician
DEBATE REALITY CHECK: PALIN WRONG ON CLIMATE CHANGE SUB-CABINET POSITION
PALIN: %u201CWe have got to encourage other nations to come along with us with the impacts of climate change, what we can do about that. As governor I was the first governor to form a climate change subcabinet to start dealing with the impacts.%u201D
FACTS: PALIN WAS NOT THE FIRST GOVERNOR TO ACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE OR REORGANIZE HER CABINET TO DEAL WITH IT
The same builders who built the 12.5 million dollar Sports complex in Wasilla Alaska built her house in Alaska.
Sarah Palin''s ethics are in the toilet. She is a do as I say not do as I do politician.
DEBATE REALITY CHECK: PALIN WRONG ON DARFUR DIVESTMENT
PALIN TONIGHT: %u201CWe have a $40 billion investment fund, a savings fund called the Alaska permanent fund when I and others in the legislature found out that we had hundreds of millions of dollars in Sudan we called for divestment so we wouldn''t be doing anything that could be seen as condoning activity in Darfur. That legislature hasn''t passed (it) yet but it needs to because all of us as individuals and humanitarians and as elected officials should do all we can to end those atrocities in that side of the world.%u201D
FACTS: PALIN%u2019S ADMINISTRATION WAS COMPLICIT IN KILLING DARFUR DIVESTMENT BILL
Sarah Palin lied about the report that came out about how she abused her power in %u201Ctrooper gate%u201D and trying to get Trooper Wooten fired. She violated 39.52.110(a) statute of Alaska%u2019s Executive Branch Ethics Act.
http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title39/Chapter52.htm
Sarah Palin made a %u201CD%u201D in economics in college.
Sarah Palin went to 6 different colleges before she graduated.
#1. Pro-life platform.
#2. Watchdog groups report he is a financial reformer
#3. National security - He will not meet with leaders of nations who threaten global safety "without preconditions", etc.
#4. McCain has an established and proven track record that proves him to be moderate as well as extremely "on the side" of the American taxpayer fiscally.
#5. (This is big to me). He stood up against Bush when Bush was pro-torture.
Reasons NOT to vote for Obama:
#1. Membership in the NP Socialist Party.
#2. Association with Rezko in land purchase
#3. Association with Bill Ayers.
#4. Association, for 20 years, in a church that has hate speech.
#5. ACORN Association
#6. Pro-death
#7. Most leftist voting record in the Senate
#8. Total lack of experience qualifying him for this office.
#9. Campaign tactics
10. His platform is completely unrealistic
11. The MSM is biased the bias of the information we are not being told leaves no room to trust him at all - an "unvetted" candidate no matter how long he campaigns.
Many many more reasons.
I won''t vote for Obama
Is this how you refer to your parents and grandparents??
Is this how you want others to refer to your parents and grandparents??
Guess this is just a blog and you can say whatever you want, huh?? Like it doesn''t effect the reality of who you are.
By your logic everyone you''d vote into congress this year, you''d vote out again in 2 years. A little self defeating for someone who''s trying improve government.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/10/did_obama_lie_about_ayers.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html?hp
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/12/crush-the-obamedia-narrative-look-whos-gripped-by-insane-rage/
Please join me in a 5 year effort. This November through November 2013 PLEASE VOTE AGAINST anyone that is currently seated in Congress, in State Legislatures, and even in local communities.
Our country is falling apart and "experience in government" only means they know how to line their pockets and do nothing except walk a fine enough line to get re-elected time after time.
THE ONLY WAY to get America back on track is to eliminate EVERY INCUMBANT SEATED TODAY.
NO EXCEPTIONS. Do not think that "YOUR" representative is different than anyone elses. THEY ALL MUST GO - EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
That is the ONLY way that our govenrment might get away from the "what''s in it for me" attitude so prevelant today, back to "what''s in the best interest of my country."
We need to do this NOW.
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