Rep. John Lewis: John McCain, Sarah Palin are 'sowing the seeds of hatred and division' AP Oct 11, 2008
(WASHINGTON) Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and veteran of the civil rights movement, says the negative tone of the Republican presidential campaign reminds him of the hateful atmosphere that segregationist Gov. George Wallace fostered in Alabama in the 1960s.
Republican candidate John McCain on Saturday called Lewis' remarks "shocking and beyond the pale."
The Obama campaign said the Illinois senator doesn't believe McCain or his policy criticism is at all comparable to Wallace and his segregationist policies.
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."
The outbursts came amid a harshly personal line of attack against Obama by the GOP 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.
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.
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* Posted By: josemarti 10/11/2008 9:43:51 PM

* Comment: Obama on the defensive. "When I told ACORN to register the dead to vote, I meant the Grateful Dead." said the candidate today in Miami. Reporters were generally reassured by the statement. Posted By: DavidCA 10/11/2008 8:51:45 PM

• Comment: Consider the source.Posted By: DavidCA 10/11/2008 8:49:13 PM
• Comment:
  I grew up in a racially diverse city and attended integrated schools. I've seen the body language McCain has demonstrated throughout two debates before. It's the way white people react when they're afraid. As in, afraid of being robbed while walking through my mixed-race neighborhood.
  
  McCain says he respects John Lewis, but instead of listening he lashes out defensively? He calls Obama "decent" but lets his own campaign describe Obama as, in effect, a terrorist sympathizer? And don't forget, he voted (repeatedly) against the MLK holiday.
  
  Enough is enough! Who is the real John McCain? Sorry, but there have been way too many contradictions. At this point, we're entitled to ask for a straight answer from the Straight Talk Express:
  
  Senator McCain, there are only two possibilities that make any sense. Are you merely trying to exploit the prejudices of some of your supporters with your inflammatory rhetoric, or do you, yourself, harbor racial prejudice?

* Congressman says

* McCain 'sowing

* seeds of hatred

* Posted By: DavidCA @ 10/11/2008 8:49:13 PM

* Comment:
I grew up in a racially diverse city and attended integrated schools. I've seen the body language McCain has demonstrated throughout two debates before. It's the way white people react when they're afraid. As in, afraid of being robbed while walking through my mixed-race neighborhood.

McCain says he respects John Lewis, but instead of listening he lashes out defensively? He calls Obama "decent" but lets his own campaign describe Obama as, in effect, a terrorist sympathizer? And don't forget, he voted (repeatedly) against the MLK holiday.

Enough is enough! Who is the real John McCain? Sorry, but there have been way too many contradictions. At this point, we're entitled to ask for a straight answer from the Straight Talk Express:

* Posted By: wendydk @ 10/11/2008 8:35:16 PM

* Comment: John McCain is a good man, who got carried away by ambition, bad people and bad decisions. I think his conscience is bothering him now, and makes him more appealing, and more the man I know him to be.

Sarah Palin may be smart, but she's not who you think she is. Sarah Palin is a traitor to America and to her party.

Palins un-American activities
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/index.html

Alaskan Independence Party chairwoman Lynette Clark talks about why she does not identify herself as an American, and about her kindred spirit Sarah Palin.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/10/alaska_secession/index.html

The pastor who clashed with Palin
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/15/bess/index.html

Troopergate Report Concludes Palin Abused Power. Full 263 Page report here???
http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf

Palins Attack On Obamas Patriotism Legitimizes Questions About her Association With Group Founded By America-Hating Secessionist
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/palins_attack_on_obamas_patrio.php

Palin And The Alaska Independence Party
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_alaska_independence_party.php




Senator McCain, there are only two possibilities that make any sense. Are you merely trying to exploit the prejudices of some of your supporters with your inflammatory rhetoric, or do you, yourself, harbor racial prejudices?

• Ga. congressman says McCain and Palin are 'sowing the seeds of hatred and division' AP Oct 11, 2008