Many news stations reported today "Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a Civil Rights-era leader, condemned GOP campaign tactics as "sowing the seeds of hatred and division," drawing an immediate and angry response from Sen. John McCain." Immediate?! Angry?! That immediate anger is nothing new. We have all seen immediate anger in John McCain over and over again. That immediate anger is what will drive this county into many many wars with no end in sight if John McCain becomes POTUS. Why is it that every time someone calls McCain out on his stuff he wants Obama to repudiate their comments? Obama is not responsible for every word that comes out of every American's mouth. I could think of a few choice comments of Sarah Palin and Cindy McCain that ”MaverickMan" himself should repudiate. If Obama's feet are going to be held to the fire for everything every Democrat says then let’s hold McCain's feet to the fire for everything Republican supporters say. How about the man that yelled out "kill him" at a recent McCain rally. Has McCain repudiated that comment? How about Sarah Palin insinuating that Obama pals around with terrorists. Has McCain repudiated that comment? How about Cindy McCain accusing Obama of running "the dirtiest campaign in American history." We don't need McCain to "tone down" Sarah Palin's rhetoric. If John McCain wants to prove to us that he is a man "fit to lead", then he needs to stop Palin's divisive and incendiary comments dead in their tracks. As a presidential nominee McCain should get plenty of practice NOW reviewing Palin's speeches and comments and editing them before she opens her mouth to the public. She is a part of HIS ticket and should be held responsible for the things she says about another candidate.
John Lewis, is not an inside part of Obama's campaign. If you will recall, he did not immediately support Obama. He was a Hillary supporter, John come lately, if you will, but I digress. Lewis is an elected official and a Democrat and can speak to any issue he chooses in any way he chooses. Obama is not responsible for that. Only John Lewis is responsible for what he says. And while I'm on this topic, what church going member gets to choose his/her Pastor's sermons? You show up, you sit down, and the words that come out of their mouths are theirs. Obama should not be held accountable for the comments made by his Pastor.
It's only been since the very late 70's (in some states) that blacks have been able to publicly walk around and experience the "American way of life" without being spat on, hit on or harassed by a public official. Heaven forbid if a comment like John Lewis' was made more than 30 years ago, that poor soul would be looped down from a tree some where in the bowels of an untraveled wooded area. For this reason, minorities have always been sensitive to and could easily pick out comments by others that were meant to pick the boil of racism, incite riots and build-up hatred in those who hear the comments. These comments are still very fresh to our ears and easy to pick up on. No wonder when we hear them again today in 2008 they cause a reaction in many like the sound of sharp fingernails racing across a chalkboard. John Lewis heard those nails on the chalkboard, cringed and spoke up. Thank you John Lewis.
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