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

[FedUpIndie]

Sure must be nice to belong to a protected group where anytime you don't like what someone says or an inconvenient truth is exposed that you can't logically counter you just have to redirect the argument to whatever personal bias card you have available. It would be particularly useful for practicing the art of deception.

[John Dunshee]

Obama's supporters bring out the "racist" charge every time anyone says anything that they object to.

I encourage them to continue. Any criticism? The speaker is a racist. Any inconvenience? A racist plot. Obama's plans don't work out? Racist saboteurs. Just continue to use the "racist" labet to explain away each shortcoming. With the support the news media has given him it shouldn't be a problem.

But what they'll find is that its overuse to meet every bump in the road will lessen its bite. If everyone is a "racist" then no one is.

Keep it up.

[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.

[Harvard@Cal]

George Wallace....George Wallace...someone from the past, what was he again....oh yeah, a DEMOCRAT gov from some southern state.

[christopher]

I came to the same conclusion before I heard Senator Lewis's comments and was slightly amazed the media was not picking up on it. It was pretty clear what McCain/Palin rhetoric was trying to do: belittle and imply that someone is less American and untrustworthy simply because his name is different than yours or mine. Kudos to you Senator Lewis for speaking up.

[Lisa]

Reading this article makes me feel we are still living in the 60's. Surely, nobody wants to go back there. It is very sad that we have to bring up George Wallace. This has nothing to do with being a Republican or a Democrat. I am a Republican, but I am smart enough to see that Palin is BAD NEWS! McCain was a man of integrity. Now he has to ask his party base to pretty much forgive his VP nominee for putting her foot in her mouth! This is extreme racism at its best. I am ashamed to be a Republican and will probably change my vote for Obama. Mr. Obama has not attacked McCain's character the way Palin and McCain have attacked his. It is sad and pathetic that a man like McCain has lost what little respect he had. Palin is dragging him down in the mud everyday she opens her dirty mouth.

[Jenn]

Suddenly, everybody opposing Senator Obama is a racist. Senator Clinton's a racist. President Clinton's a racist. Joe Biden, yeah, racist, but I guess he's been cleansed. Governor Palin is a racist. Senator McCain's a racist...

This is going to be a long four years.

[stopthnonsense]

As Linda said "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. "
McCain himself on national tv insulted Obama by calling him 'that one'. For a man with 26 yr in service and war hero those comments should have been repudiated. It is no question that the comments in the rallies were heineous and it would have surprised me if one of those same people would have tried to kill Obama or harm him. I myself was alarmed and called various spineless democratic white leaders to speak and repudiate McCain. It is insulting for you to compare Lewis attack being similar to McCain and his supporters. It is equlally hateful. I know some of these people are truly crazy and wouldn't shy away from killing an innocent sikh or hindu gas attendant because of the climate of hate and bigottry created that was created after 911 by the republicans. It is same people calling Obama a muslim, Hussein or Osama, a sitting US senator, son of a white woman, a christian, with no father around, raised by chritrian grand white parents, months on ' without any one questioning or condoning their behavior.
I salute John Lewis for telling it like it is. Trust me as a person of olive color skin I have to endure personal verbal abuse in illinois grocery stores many times because of these same kind of crazies thinking that I was an arab or relatd to Sadam. So you comments are way off base. These rallies ar not laughing matter and they reminded of environment of 19960 after MLK assasination if Obama is harmed and race riots and racewar or war between democrats and republicans in streets in no joke.
McCain and Pallin should be disqualified for this behaviour. Since you never to endure this environment it doesn't gives you right to insult Obama or his team. Unless you are person of color or foreign looking american you will not understand this rhetoric and its criminal intent and impact.

[Anna]

I am watching with horror the direction this race is taking and I am ashamed of the vitriol and anger that is accompanying the democratic process that we are sooo proud of that we have been trying to bring it to parts of the world.

I think it's valied to mention Obama's connection with Ayers and ask about the candidate's position on his deeds. That answer has been given. (Again and again and again).But "palling around with terrorists" ? Please.

Ayers is a professor of education. Will we attack any given student of his should he or she choose to run for office after having been to his house (gasp!). Will we judge every candidate by the people they have been on a board with?

I am saddened that both sides but especially the Mccain staff don't seem to be able to conduct the race for election without disgusting smears such as this.
For the last year I have been insisting that I will vote for the person most likely to try and unite our torn country, an effort I see us to be in dire need of.

I think I know whom I will vote for.

[P.Hedgie]

This is not just back-and-forth rhetoric. The media reaction to Lewis' comments is tepid and perhaps blind.

I had not thought of Lewis' Civil Rights analogy myself. Here in Europe, other analogies come to mind first. Palin's recent rallies have reminded me of the American version of Hitler's rallies. Delivered with Ameerican folksiness and a big smile, we have the same hate-mongering, fear-mongering, and incendiary speeches intended to incite the crowds.

Her rhetoric also reminded me that the right wing has done this before, and it resulted in assassinations at abortion clinics. The media appear relieved that she is no longer ranting about Ayers and terrorists. Note that she has now switched the topic to abortion.

Why has everyone waited for John Lewis to state publicly what McCain and Palin are doing? The rest of us "ordinary folks" can see it plain as day, but the media keep downplaying it. I would state it even more bluntly that Lewis: The McCain campaign is not only playing with fire; they seem to be inciting potential assassins.

[P.Hedgie]

This is not just back-and-forth rhetoric. The media reaction to Lewis' comments is tepid and perhaps blind.

I had not thought of Lewis' Civil Rights analogy myself. Here in Europe, other analogies come to mind first. Palin's recent rallies have reminded me of the American version of Hitler's rallies. Delivered with Ameerican folksiness and a big smile, we have the same hate-mongering, fear-mongering, and incendiary speeches intended to incite the crowds.

Her rhetoric also reminded me that the right wing has done this before, and it resulted in assassinations at abortion clinics. The media appear relieved that she is no longer ranting about Ayers and terrorists. Note that she has now switched the topic to abortion.

Why has everyone waited for John Lewis to state publicly what McCain and Palin are doing? The rest of us "ordinary folks" can see it plain as day, but the media keep downplaying it. I would state it even more bluntly that Lewis: The McCain campaign is not only playing with fire; they seem to be inciting potential assassins.

[Steve J.]

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

That and cliches are all the GOP has because the American people do not support its agenda.

[Edwin L. Jones]

Just politics as usual. Republicans are doing what has always netted success. NEGATIVITY. They cannot fight fairly on the issues because the republican party CREATED those issues. So, what the republicans are doing now is a "hail mary". Just politics as usual.

[woodstock1969]

John, you should read this, it may change your mind...
"This election has me very worried. So many things to consider. About a year ago I would have voted for Obama. I have changed my mind three times since than. I watch all the news channels, jumping from one to another. I must say this drives my husband crazy. But, I feel if you view MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, you might get some middle ground to work with. About six months ago, I started thinking "where did the money come from for Obama". I have four daughters who went to College, and we were middle class, and money was tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there were lots of student loans.
I started looking into Obama's life.
Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. "Barry" (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan . During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a "round the world" trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia , next Hyderabad in India , three weeks in Karachi , Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? Nether I, nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York . It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. He was already living in New York, Why Chicago?

By "chance" he met Antoin "Tony" Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real estate developer in Chicago . Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named "Entrepreneur of the Decade" by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association". About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School ? Where did he get the money for Law School ? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago . Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented "Rezar" which Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago . In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with "seed money" for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.

Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran ! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?

On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley advisor to Obama was "sacked" after the press found out he was having regular contacts with "Hamas", which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran . This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq , he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will "Take care of things".

Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan ? They are in charge of all those "small" Internet campaign contribution for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East ?

And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on "This Week" with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, "My Muslim faith". When questioned, "he make a mistake". Some mistake! We trained them to fly airplanes; so they could carry out their mission. Now we're training them to run our country.

All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.

Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven't all of our "intelligent" members of the press been reporting this?

A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - "Beware of the enemy from within"!!"

Please, anybody with any common sense, please pass this on, which is what I am doing. This came from a writer on Craigslist....

[aloysiusmiller]

The stench of hypocrisy here is overwhelming. Here is Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.com.

"NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE? So we've had nearly 8 years of lefty assassination fantasies about George W. Bush, and Bill Ayers' bombing campaign is explained away as a consequence of him having just felt so strongly about social justice, but a few people yell things at McCain rallies and suddenly it's a sign that anger is out of control in American politics? It's nice of McCain to try to tamp that down, and James Taranto sounds a proper cautionary note -- but, please, can we also note the staggering level of hypocrisy here? (And that's before we get to the Obama campaign's thuggish tactics aimed at silencing critics.)

The Angry Left has gotten away with all sorts of beyond-the-pale behavior throughout the Bush Administration. The double standards involved -- particularly on the part of the press -- are what are feeding this anger. (Indeed, as Ann Althouse and John Leo have noted, the reporting on this very issue is dubious). So while asking for McCain supporters to chill a bit, can we also ask the press to start doing its job rather than openly shilling for a Democratic victory? Self-control is for everybody, if it's for anybody. . . ."

[Troy Lee]

As an undecided voter I am leaning more toward the McCain Camp (after hearing so many politicians making comments such as this). I'm not sure I want to be called a racist every time I disagree with the President.

[MarkC]

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

If you, Mr. Malcolm, could note that this time there is a basic difference between the campaigns, it might encourage candidates to run better ones in the future. McCain is now close to 100% negative, and Obama 30%. But your imply they are the same.

[john]

Stay tuned for the next

KLAN RALLY

for McCain/Palin!

(we'll show THAT ONE, cause he's NOT LIKE US)

Don't forget your CROSS and MATCHES!

Birds of a feather...

[Andre Miller]

Many of you need to get your head out of the sand. Whey is McCain preventing Palin from being interviewed or being questioned about anything? Only one answer, because she does not know a damn thing. She reminds me of some 6th grade student running for school office. Throwing jabs at every turn while never stating any facts whats so ever. The uniformed and ignrorant hang to her every word, yet if you took the time to investigate these ridiculous claims you would understand how ill-informed she is. Just prior to McCain selecting this highly unqualified person "had any of you ever heard of her". The answer is NO,why is that? She is a non-player, a person that brings NOTHING to the political arena and will go back to that world when this is all over.

[plankbob]

Given the too-often-trite posts here by Mr. Malcolm on non-issues throughout the campaign, it's hilarious to contemplate him shaking his head over the lack of "serious discussion beyond bumper-sticker sound bites."

[Thingumbobesq]

Honorable men ?
If you recall the congressional testimony during Oliver North Iran Contra hearings, one thing that conspicuously stood out was so many Republican "character witnesses" incessantly referring to North as an "honorable man." Yesterday it was widely reported that John McCain stood up for Barrack Obama in like manner when some woman at one of his rallies assailed Obama as an "Arab." McCain, pulling the microphone from her hands, declaimed that Obama was an honorable man, or some words to that effect. Well now, it seems that the old saw "it takes one to know one" perfectly applies in this case. McCain, after all, dumped his ailing crippled wife for a young beer heiress and then went on to choose a ex-beauty pageant Governor as his running mate. Why wouldn't such a man admire how Obama parlayed his many years long connections with the Ayers family into a successful run for the Democratic Party Presidential nomination, all the while keeping it at arms length. What was it that Roosevelt said about Joe Kennedy?

[John]

Barack Obama and Bill Burton should have condemned the activist who was selectively choosing haters from the crowd and videoing them. What a crock, Tim Russo gets a few idiots get on tape, baits them into showing the world how stupid they are, and now Barack Obama gains credibility from it. He gets the opportunity to appear grateful to McCain for condemning them. These idiots no more represent the average McCain supporter than a black man who dresses in "street clothes" represents a fool street drug dealer filled with hate and taking advantage of those with problems in his community, just because they both support Obama. This Tim Russo jerk videographer wants to find redneck fools that Obama can use to make himself look better and justify Rev. Wright's hate speech. Tim Russo is even quoted on Obama's website. He should be banned from having anything to do with Obama's campaign. John McCain would have had that kind of junk taken down and refused to allow the poster any further access. This is all all smoke and mirrors Chicago style politics. The truth is, Barack Obama is not even able to get the same type of security clearance that you and I would have to get if we applied for a job in the Secret Services, just from the Resko connection alone. And people want him to be Commander in Chief. Somebody explain to me, how this is defensible?

[Mary]

John Lewis's opportunism was deeply offensive.

Shades of pre-South Carolina primary, with false race-baiting for sympathy, which Mr. Lewis himself , condemned.

NO ONE in America believes John McCain or Sarah Palin are like George Wallace, and we all watched McCain admonish the one or two members of his audience who misbehaved.

Shame on you, Mr. Lewis.

Shame on you, Barak Obama.

[Vivi]

Anything to win, huh. Lewis should be ashamed to have gone to sensationalism. I always saw him as a fair person until now. Is this election about POTUS for all of the people or for some of the people? McCain is no George Wallace and Lewis knows it. This is another instance of the race card being played. Sometimes such a tactic can backfire. I hope voters won't be swayed by emotion. Forget the parties, vote for the person.

[SpecialK]

Sometimes Dorothy - when thousands of supporters are calling essentially for the public humiliation and even death of one of the candidates because "we don't know" who this guy is "who sees America differently than you and me" - the race card is justifiable. If your candidate wants to amp up attacks on Obama because he is a scary unknown, that makes the situation very dangerous, because a lot of these right wing nutjobs don't know when to say when, especially since they keep complaining about how "scared" they are of an Obama presidency. And the reason this "unknown" quality is even an issue is because of Obama's race and name. So don't give me your fake conservative double-talk. John Lewis is absolutely right.