What John Lewis' attack on John McCain was really about, and Obama's response

With the number of preelection days dwindling and tempers rising, we had more of the predictable homestretch toing-and-froing over campaign attacks Saturday.

Someone on Side A says something that Side B can seize upon and criticize to create a fight, which the media much prefers covering with military verbiage because it's bored hearing the standard stump speeches so often.

And that puts Side A momentarily on the defensive while it "admonishes" its overzealous supporter, even though, if anyone told the truth -- which they won't -- they're delighted to have the suggestion out there as long as it can't be traced back to HQ.

If these campaigns had referees, they'd be calling offsetting penalties every day now. And we have 24 more of these to watch.

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) likened the politics of Arizona Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to segregationist former Alabama Gov. George Wallace.

McCain shot back his longstanding admiration of civil rights pioneer Lewis but said it was ridiculous to equate legitimate criticism of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and his policies with Wallace and constituted "a brazen and baseless attack on ...

... my character and the thousands of hardworking Americans who come to our events."

McCain called on Obama to repudiate the attack, which the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign didn't really do later in the day.

Even if spontaneous, it's all part of the good-cop-bad-cop PR trench warfare, Washington gridlock politics played out on a larger national stage.

Lewis took the occasion of McCain himself admonishing his supporters Friday night to cool it in their shouted distaste for the Democratic ticket.

Lewis said: "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 only desired to exercise their constitutional right."

He said McCain and Palin are "playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all."

McCain's side fired back (note the military term) that Lewis' assault (again) was a character attack "shocking and beyond the pale."

Later Saturday, Obama's camp shot up a flare to disassociate itself from the worst of Lewis' statement, while not really rebuking the political ally who had turned his back on the Clintons so helpfully at just the right time during the primary season. But it added a qualifier to allow the odor of Lewis' remarks to linger.

"Sen. Obama does not believe that John McCain or his policy criticism is in any way comparable to George Wallace or his segregationist policies," said the campaign statement.  But wait! There's more:

"John Lewis was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked just last night."

Bottom line: Just like World War I, artillery back and forth. The trenches didn't move any. But unlike that military stalemate, this election race has a predetermined end. Both sides fed their troops some angry propaganda Saturday to keep them outraged and fired up out there on the front lines.

Most of us watched from the sidelines, shaking our heads and wondering over the persistent absence of serious discussion beyond bumper-sticker sound bites.

And McCain has one less day to change the game's momentum.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Office of Rep. John Lewis

Comments

[Randell]

Why is it that John McCain and his people can say things that are not true about Obama and it only politics and when the tables are turned it becomes a personal attach on McCain. If you can dish it out..you should be able to take it. Dare I say McCain is a crybaby.

[Plain Jane]

No Mr. Obama won this volley. The attacks on him are not legitimate nor legitimized by truthfulness. Shows just more erratic behavior. I can some it up this way; while the chips are way down and confusingMr. Obama has conveyed a timeless message of hope while Mr. McCain is running out of time.

[Bonnie]

I believe John Lewis' attack on John McCain's campaign is justifiable. The repeated insinuation that Obama is "palling around" with terrorists is irresponsible and dangerous, as has been evidenced by the crazies at McCain/Palin rallies this past week. "Kill him" and "Off with his head" and "Terrorist" have no place in our political discourse and McCain/Palin are clearly fanning those flames. It is scary for the majority of us who are sane in this country. It is reprehensible that a candidate for President and Vice-President would not only fan these flames, but also condone such outrageous behavior by nutcases at their rallies. McCain may stop asking his veiled question "Who is Barack Obama", but as long as this is the basis of his campaign ads and talking points, he will be responsible for whatever horrors he creates and then cannot control.

[Barry Baloney]

This is the mindset of the Obama camp. Or perhaps a lack of a mind is the problem. How dare anyone criticize The Enlightened One.

I dread what this goof and his fanatical supporters are going to do to the First Amendment if he wins the election.

[Alessandro Machi]

During the democratic race, there were crazy Obamabots that begin harrassing Hillary Clinton at certain vocations. To imply that only one side is guilty of this is lunacy.

[sam]

if Obama is so good why did he tell his fans to argue and get in the faces of people that don't agree with him.. he said it Mccain didn't .he more or less said start a fight.

[Patrick]

What? I don't really understand what you're trying to say in this article, blog, whatever you call this. In fact, I feel dumber for having viewed it.

[MrSatyre]

I'm always impressed by the simple fact that the more insecure and irrational someone is, the more vitriolic their attacks on others who do not share their beliefs. Lewis, McCain and Obama all fall into that camp. Guess I'll be "throwing away" my vote again this election, too!

[MaryJane]

After his explanation that Obama was a decent family man, my follow-up question to McCain would've been (for the woman who said Obama was an Arab) - then why do you keep asking the question "who's Barack Obama? It's obvious you know who he is..."

[gaypastor]

While I hold the highest respect for Lewis he is completly failing to understand that there are other forms of oppression in this country and ones that the Obama campaign has engaged in (using "coded words" such as "have tea with them" and having extreme supporters such as the intelligent, young, handsome Black men who decided that it's okay to call little old white ladies "bi*c*" and "h*os" simply because they were walking into a Hillary - or now McCain/Palin - rally). Anger is being aroused from BOTH campaigns Mr. Lewis. Take the beam out of thine own eye first before you start judging!

[mary]

i am so sick and tired of everyone saying Obama doesn't do any wrong. get a grip he is as bad as the next. I went to his rally and heard him say get in their face.. that turn me off of him. he meant to go out and cause trouble.He plays this holier then tho face and under it all he is just another fake person.

[Jill]

i noticed they only post comments that raises Obama up in here so sad.

[Nikolai]

First of all, McCain's rallies have been very scary. In addition, McCain's campaign are sending mixed signals: How can you tell your supporters to be respectful of a man that you say is palling around with terrorists? And they add on that you would not have to be worried about this man as president,.... just makes no sense because McCain knows it is a ridiculous charge. People would not have to be worried of an Obama presidency because he will make sure the US is once again restored to a more powerful, productive and respectable place in the world. Period.

[4njvotes]

Personally, I'm horrified that every Elected Official in our Country is not admonishing McCain/Palin's encouragement of outright hate. They are fanning fires that will burn not just them but everything this country has fought for and our reputation world-wide. It is wrong to fan the fires of hatred. Period. Shame on them and shame on every elected official that has not stood up and said that what McCain/Palin have allowed to happen and encouraged at their rallies is seriously wrong. How dare any of them call themselves leaders.

[DisFisCon]

John McCain is indeed playing with fire. Obama's a credible enough candidate, and the Republican party is so tainted by incompetence and downright crookedness that the only way that McCain can win is if a truckload of disaffected white folks just can't bring themselves to elect a black to the nation's highest office.

This may happen all by itself, but shame on McCain and Palin for feeding this particular fire. If 2008 is the year the first black man in American history wins the presidency, it will be a great moment in history for us all - white or black. If McCain had run a clean campaign, he would be remembered and revered for participating in the race. Having run a moderately dirty campaign (getting dirtier by the second), he'll be remembered as the person who helped to kindle the ember of racism back into the flame of discrimination.

Shame on you, John. Shame!

[Martuni]

Mcain calls Mr Obama a terrorist but he can't be compared to another infamous rabble rouser, like Wallace. John Lewis is a solid, responsible individual. I'm not so sure about Mcain and Palin, they are coming off like a couple of flakes.

[Jackie]

While I too am disturbed at the increasing hatred being spewed at the republican rallies, from everything I have read it is Palin not McCain who is fanning the flames of hatred and intollerance.

I stick with voting for Obama, but I am watching carefully Palin. This woman is going to be serious trouble.

There is no doubt in my mind that if this woman ever got anywhere near the oval office we would see war on our soil during her time in office.

[Bob Connelly]

If McCain/Palin and the GOP can't take an honest and fair analysis of their strategy/tacticts maybe they are in the wrong profession. Palin has been hired to throw red meat to the base whether or not it is fact but when an ally of Obama's defends him it is an unfair attcak. How long do they plan to play victim in this campaign?

[Bubba]

WHOA...Wait a minute . !

Lets revisit the Saddleback debate. ... When asked who he would turn to for advice if elected...John McCain cited John Lewis.. Now , when Lewis gives him advice he doesn't like....he calls on Obama to call him off...this is just erratic.

[Dorothy Koller]

Mr. Lewis comments are typical of Obama supporters. The words are different but the sentiment is always the same The race card has been played so much it is dog-eared .

Additonally, this is more often than not, the hate speech I hear :

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Florida) was talking to a group of Jewish Democrats today when he said something amazingly stupid:

“If Sarah Palin isn’t enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention...Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks."

[Linda]

I am so disgusted by the zealots McCain-Palin that writing this is almost impossible. Almost impossible because their rhetoric is so heinous that merely commenting seems tanamount to doing nothing, disproportinate to that which one should be able to do when actions in the race for power disqualify the candidates from membership in the human race. McCain-Palin, the personification of hate, two people so lacking in integrity, honor, eithics, characteristics of leadership, and that which defines humanity, that they should charged with crimes against humanity and not allowed to hold public office. This country has no time, no use for their mentality, for their willigness to create and wave a "boogeyman" in front of vulnerable citizens. McCains use of 'mainstreet" is nauseating , his "concern" for working people fraudulent, choosing Palin indicative of his desire to seek an established abuser of public trust and duty and to trivialize the office of vice-president. If the Republican Party does not denounce their politics of hate, then they will be forever etched in the mind of all Americans as representing the true colors of the Republican Party....racist, elitist, dishonest, manipulative of vulnerable citizens in order to gain power, "anything goes" to further the ambition and greed that is the Republican Party. The people should be able to address McCain-Palin in the court of humanity-NOW !

[tngal37]

"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.""

It seems to me that obama's group acorn is "playing a very dangerous game that disregards the value of the poltical process...."
How come lewis is totally oblivious that his party is trying their d*mndest to fix this election?
McCain isn't responsible for whom obama pals around with. All McCain and Palin have stated are facts. A person allies himself with like minded people and that is what scares most people who look beyond race. They see who obama has allied himself with and they are not nice people looking out for the good of the American people.

[mavisdarling]

Hey, this article left out the most important thing Obama's campaign said in its statement, the part about McCain's (ahem, cough, cough) running mate:

"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."

This is really about Sarah's BLATANT racism, and her attempt to railroad McCain's campaign.

McCain needs to get rid of that wench. He'd still lose, but he might lose with some dignity.

[mavisdarling]

Jill, there are more posts about Obama here because he has more SUPPORTERS, dear.

I don't think the LA Times is censoring posts that support McCain and Palin, there just aren't very many people that DO support them, after this past week.

That Palin is a piece of work. She is seriously flawed. Google this: "narcissistic personality disorder". That's her!

[Devil's Advocate]

I did not hear the mainstream media complain when soldier's bodies were burned in effigy on college campuses, or when George Bush was hung by a noose in an anti-war protest or when Leftists clashed with police during the Republican convention. No, that was legitimate anger according to the liberal press.

Let me state this very clearly: If you launch your political campaign out of the home of someone who admits to bombing the Pentagon, Capital Building and New York City Police Headquarters, you are palling around with terrorists. If you voluntarily worked closely with someone who waged War against the United States, you are palling around with terrorists. If you then claim that this was just some guy in your neighborhood, you are covering up that you are palling around with terrorists.

[OCMOM]

Barrack Obamas character should be a huge factor in this election, as he has associated with several anti- Americans. America does not need a President that befriends our enemies. We need a President that will protect us from evil!

[mavisdarling]

tngal37 : You need to quit listening to the rightwing propagandists and read the truth about ACORN. ACORN is a GOP target every election year. Obama wasn't responsible for the fraudulent voter registration. Get a grip. Do your research. McCain's people are making up outright lies about it.

And anyway, voter fraud doesn't even COMPARE to racial hatred and violence. Maybe you are too young to remember that sad part of our history. What Lewis said was very appropriate. If Palin is allowed to continue her trash-talking, things WILL get violent.

That's the nature of the beast.

Palin is too stupid to know what she is doing. She is so accustomed to lying, that she will say ANYTHING.

[Steve]

Can anyone here actually prove anything McCain or Palin said about Obama false? You blindly follow The One Who Will Save Us All without questioning anything about his past or about his associates. Just because The One says "they're lying" does not make it so.

Ayers was a terrorist. Self-admitted. Obama DOES pal around with him, ergo "palling around with terrorists" is a true statement. Obama has not been forthright about his relationships with Ayers, Dorhn, Rezko, Wright, Phleger, ACORN, and a host of other radicals. By the way, does this guy have any friends or associates who are NOT radical leftists?

Between "truth squads," FEC lawsuits, the "get in their faces" rhetoric, I believe an Obama adminstration would have a severe chilling effect on free speech in America. It's breathtaking how far he (and you sycophants) will go to shout down, ridicule, SUE, arrest, and bully anyone who dares criticize Obama. The hate spewed daily by the left at DU, Kos, Huffpo, Wonkette and a host of other Obama websites is truly frightening, and the fact Obama supporters cannot see the blatant hypocrisy in them pointing to a few ISOLATED incidents at McCain rallies is quite bizarre.

My prediction: Obama wins and sets out being who he is, which is a novice radical socialist/leftist. Reid, Pelosi, Biden, Clinton, et al have massive buyer's remorse because they can't control this massive ego with dangerous ideas that is now in the white house, Obama's presidency is a nightmare and a one-termer. Obama does more damage to Democrat Presidential candidates than McGovern or Carter. Millions of rational thinking people get labeled as "racist" for daring to point out the first black president is a miserable failure.

[GodBlessAmerica]

Why would anyone vote for Obama? Obama has too many ties with terrorist that could destroy our Country. I do not want a President that associates or has relationships with people who could possibly harm our Country. It’s just not one thing with Obama, it’s several relationships that Obama has had or has and this is why Obama cannot be an American President. No one should even take a chance on Obama, until he faces the American citizens and answers all questions truthfully. His ties with Acorn are disgusting. His ties with terrorist are disgusting and scary. There is just too many questions and no answers for this man Barrack Obama.

[C Yee]

Mr. Malcolm,

I'm a big fan of yours, but you really missed the boat on this one. The Obama camp was gracious -- especially when discussing a subject that has put his life on the line. There is a difference between policy disagreements, and pure hatred.

[What]

There is proof Obama has ties with Acorn. He was once their attorney too.

[Steve]

Mavisdarling,

THINGS WILL GET VIOLENT?? WTF is that? A threat? Failure to elect THE ONE will result in rioting and killing? What are you talking about? Will black people burn their own neighborhoods again like LA after OJ? Will you randomly attack white people who may or may not have voted for McCain to vent your uncontrolled rage? Why not act like a civilized person and NOT threaten violence to people who disagree with you?

Perhaps you think if someone SAYS something you take as a racial insult, you're justified in violently attacking them. By that rationale, I'm justified in physically attacking Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan. Hey, they just reap what they sow, right?

I think you're an uncivilized, irrational bigot who's prone to violence. Racist.

[JimmieJoBob]

The Republicans are professional/ruthless campaigners. They will happily sacrifice the well being of the Nation...Just to win an election.

[mavisdarling]

Some of you people are so clueless. Bill Ayers has "palled around" with PLENTY of prominent Republicans as well, but you are too ignorant to do any real research about it. You probably don't know anything about Walter Annenberg, do you? You listen to people like McCain's campaign handlers who distort and twist everything.

I couldn't care less about Bill Ayers. He is not a terrorist now, he is a respected university professor. If you think it's an issue, so be it.

Obama has a better understanding of this country and its social fabric than 99% of the general population. I'm sure he has had associations with all kinds of people, some shady, some not.

Guess what? That's a GOOD thing. It gives a person a much more well-rounded view of society and our history than most people have. A good leader NEEDS to know all sides, all walks of life. He needs to know what's out there and he needs to know the views of dissidents and protestors. What makes you think his ideology is the same just because he TALKS to these people??

Are you really that close-minded and shallow??

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Obama serving on boards with Bill Ayers, OR going to his house for a political fundraiser.

I sure don't have a problem with it, nor do MOST people.

[Spanky]

Straight out of radical playbook 101. Accuse the other side of every evil imaginable while spewing hatred yourself, keep repeating the charge, and wait for the other side to take the bait. As soon as they do, there is your proof. Demonize the other into monsters and then start idealogical cleansing. Civil war is coming.

[steve rodriguez]

Obama= Race!!!

[Topo Gigio]

"The repeated insinuation that Obama is "palling around" with terrorists is irresponsible and dangerous..."

First of all, it's not an insinuation. It's a statement of fact. How is it irresponsible and dangerous to state a plain fact? Ayers was a terrorist by any conceivable definition. Unlike some of his mates, he has never repented his actions. He escaped legal judgment for them, but has neither apologized nor paid any debt to society. He's a vicious prick with an intellectual veneer. I want a president who can see through people like that.

It was more irresponsible and foolish (not dangerous) for Obama to use this guy as part of his social climb. He's stuck with him, and will be even after he wins.

[Jason]

Mavisdarling,

Take a deep breath. While Rep. Lewis' past actions are laudable, his statement today was inappropriate, inaccurate and nothing more than race-baiting. That's why Senator McCain was calling him out for it. As for Sen. Obama palling around with terrorists, the truth hurts. Rather than deal with your candidate's admitted connection to Bill Ayers, you launch ad hominem attacks at Governor Palin. Lame.

[Prospector]

A few republicans acting like a bunch of liberal democrats. Who would have thought it would ever come to this?

[kergee]

Try not to find racism in every comment. It will backfire. If Obama is elected, and you ever disagree with anything at all that he says or does, or anything his administration does, guess what? That will automatically prove that you are a RACIST.

Remember, you not only must exercise the utmost civility at all times (a good thing), but you must never use a word or phrase that someone might perceive as "coded" racism. Don't wear white, don't use the word "different," don't point out anything that might appear shady (and I use that in "The Hills" way, but because they say that a lot they may be racist; then again probably not, because they are attractive wealthy California TV stars with clothing lines, rather than lower-income Midwesterners), don't get upset or fail to vote for an Obama initiative, because that will be evidence of ..., well, you know. And the Missouri Truth Squad will come get you. Now really, do you want Clare McCaskill on your doorstep at 6 a.m. before you've had your latte?

And I say that as an avid latte fan, which is not code for racist.

[Charles L. Freeman]

I know it's a legitimate question if Obama can attract enough white votes across the country to win. I understand why it's asked and why it's a concern of the Obama campaign whether they address it directly or not.

But for the life of me and it's rapidly becoming an increasing point of frustration for me, I don't understand why no one in the media raises the very obvious point that when you look at a typical McCain/Palin rally, no matter what part of the country they're in, it looks like they're running for the presidency of "white America" and not the entire, multi-racially and culturally diverse nation that we are in the year 2008. I mean, change the fashions and hair styles and a McCain/Palin rally looks like an episode of "Happy Days"! And it's not just an "Obama thing"; Hillary Clinton's supporters were a diverse group too.

Why doesn't anyone in the media ever ask Senator McCain, "Does it bother you at all that at a time when our nation has never been more culturally and ethnically diverse, that you and Governor Palin are only seen speaking before virtually all-white audiences?" I don't know about you but I'd sure love to hear what his response would be.

[lindenen]

I cannot imagine anything worse for race relations in America than 4 or 8 years of "If you criticize the President, you are a racist."

Nothing McCain or Palin has done or said is racist in the least.

[ohiopolitico]

Age discrimination is playing a much bigger role in this campaign, but you don't hear McCain whining. Why can't Obama and his surrogates grow up? Obama's
lack of experience is the problem, don't blame it on anything else.

[Carol191]

I would have loved to vote for the first black president, but Obama is not who he says he is. Look at his actions, not his wall of words. He represses free speech and dissent and encourages voter fraud. He worked with a "little c" communist to implement indoctrination in schools (that's the real problem with his work with Bill Ayers). He has erased his records and worked hard to repress any examination of them -- why?

Now that McCain has made that an issue, as if on cue, the Demagogues are coming out to change the subject by implying the honorable Sen. McCain is fanning flames. Excuse me?! So quickly we forget the hatefest and BIGOTRY when Sarah Palin came on the scene. (John Lewis, where were you then, like when Palin was invited to be gang-banged by "eight black brothas" if she went to NYC. Why did NONE of you defend the dignity of black men and condemn such a pathological spew?)

IT'S ALL ABOUT CHARACTER. Sen. Obama has proven to be a cunning liar of a man. Sen. McCain may have his flaws, but he has the character and courage to reform Washington, which we badly need. My vote for a black president will have to wait some more.

[dmw]

McCain: Obama's a decent man... who pals around with terrorists. He's a good family man... but WHO IS HE REALLY? Obama is not someone you should be afraid of as president... but he's a lying Chicago politician...

Come on, Sen. McCain, pick a story and stick to it. You're embarrassing yourself.

[Billo]

So you are saying that one of the candidates is a good friend of a convicted felon and terrorist.

Amazing coincidence. One of the candidates paid terrorists to rape women and murder children.

Your complaint is that Obama made friends with a terrorist who bombed his own nation. McCain has done that and a bit more. John McCain has unapologetically endorsed brutal terrorist acts that make the Weather Underground acts look like small fry.

Endorsed? McCain openly and actively funded a group which:

Kidnapped civilians.
Tortured civilians.
Murdered civilians.
Murdered children.
Raped women.
Bombed rural health care clinics.
Murdered health care workers.
Bombed schools.
Indiscriminately burned civilian homes.

McCain was a member of the U.S. Council for World Freedom, a private group secretly operating from the White House, which raised the funds for the gruesome Contra reign of terror in Nicaragua in the 1980s. At the time, McCain also voted for Contra funding as a member of the House of Representatives.

McCain resigned from the Council only after it hit the fan, as it were, when Jack Anderson publicly spilled the beans on the Council's makeup.

When John McCain apologizes for paying the Contras to commit those acts against defenseless civilians, including women and children --

-- then let's talk about Obama's relationship with an educator who was a radical when Obama was eight years old.

[Don Meaker]

Sorry, George Wallace was a Democrat.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a Republican. RFK who had him investigated as a Communist was a Democrat.

FDR, who had white land owners paid to not grow crops, but arranged that none of that money went to black sharecroppers was a Democrat.

Wilson, who segregated the US Civil Service was a Democrat.

We have nice parting gifts.

[James Bond]

If Obama was white with only 142 days worked in the senate he would not even have made it out of the primary.Because he is partly black people are afraid of speaking out on his personal issues,real birth certificate and associations with people that drag down his efforts campaigning.A guy said it best the other day who stated the voting booth is real private and I am voting for a guy just like me

[Heather]

I would like to thank those who post with knowledge and facts. For those of you that post with negativity, it overrides the message you are trying to send.

Obama's link to Ayers, simply put, Ayers is a prominent figure in the education circles of Chicago. The board that Obama and Ayers served on together promoted:
1. Smaller class size
2. Teacher/Parent involvement
3. Teacher/Parent accountability

I don't know about everyone, however, I believe those are important issues facing our school age children today.

It seems that the McCain supporters are very vocal on specific issues. There are many things that McCain has in his past that are less than desirable. For every one thing you dislike about Obama, you can also find one that is similarly connected to McCain.

I think some of you are focusing on the wrong issues. The issue should be who is showing steadfastness and strength while our economy crashes around us? Who is going to fight for the basic freedoms we deserve as well as hold the government responsible for their wrongdoings?

I am going to support someone who will support me. I don't need to bash another candidate to make myself feel justified in my decision.

If you can't say it with grace, then you've got no base.

[John]

Ayers is a terrorist. Obama is/was his friend. Obama pals around with terrorist. yep, an obvious lie. Ayers is white, Obama is half white. Must be racism. Got it. Thanks.