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.