Obama reacts to Lewis

Posted: Saturday, October 11, 2008 4:53 PM by Carrie Dann

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
In a statement, Obama-Biden spokesman Bill Burton writes that, while Obama does not agree with the comparison of McCain's campaign to those of segregation advocate George Wallace, he does believe that Rep. John Lewis is justified in his condemnation of "the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked just last night," as well as Palin's assertion that the candidate "pals around with terrorists."

Here's the full statement: “Senator Obama does not believe that John McCain or his policy criticism is in any way comparable to George Wallace or his segregationist policies. But 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.’ As Barack Obama has said himself, the last thing we need from either party is the kind of angry, divisive rhetoric that tears us apart at a time of crisis when we desperately need to come together. That is the kind of campaign Senator Obama will continue to run in the weeks ahead,” said Obama-Biden spokesman Bill Burton.

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Comments

Obama is classy as always. He could easily take this new development to increase his lead, but he shows much more respect to his opponent than the McCain campaign shows him. He demonstrates the calm, cool, diplomatic leadership qualities that the next president desperately needs.

Angelle, LA (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:06 PM)

And that is why Obama will be the next President.

DV, CA (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:07 PM)

Again, Obama takes the high road.

BKinTX (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:09 PM)

Well done, Sir. Well done. It will be a pleasure to watch the votes roll in for you in November and an even greater pleasure to call you my President.

Very Pleased, FL (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:10 PM)

McCain and especially Palin truly enjoyed adding the ingredients stirring this angry pot over the flames - until they got burned.

Libratine (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:10 PM)

What!!!!

Did I hear the "Pallin around with terrorist crowd" demand an apology from Obama because they feel John Lewis has attacked McCain's character?

Olivia Young (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:11 PM)

Nice.

Lewis' comments are a little extreme, but there is also no doubt that McCain/Palin have been stoking a pretty dangerous fire.

Just look at that woman at the town hall event. "He's an Arab."

No, he's not. But this woman is definitely an example of someone who believes the worst of the e-mail smears that are out there. McCain and Palin have been playing to these type of supporters.

Oh and... go Penn State!

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:11 PM)

Burton is obsolutely right. Lewis has every right to call a spade a spade.
Having decided to pursue a path of no return McCaine tried to suddenly act compromizing. Flip flop? Erratic! Sounds familiar? This is further proof McCaine's behaviopur has been erraric. Can any one explain why such an erratic man even be allowed to contest for the very responsible positrion - that is President of the United States?

Sanaulla M Nazrulla, Warren MI (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:12 PM)

Although Congressman Lewis speaks, in part, from another historical context his comments may not be entirely applicable to today's context.Trust Obama to provide a balanced and sensible response. "Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called sons of God". (Matthew 5:9)

kent, victoria, bc (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:13 PM)

Obama is magnanimous to want to give John McCain the benefit of the doubt, but those of us who lived through the Wallace era know better. John Lewis has the scars and knows of what he speaks. McCain owes John Lewis an apology.

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:14 PM)

Great response from Obama

Dee Dee, College Park, MD (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:14 PM)

It's McCain's own fault that people are coming forward and spewing hate and untruths. McCain himself was pal's with David Ifshin, G Gordon Liddy, Keating 5, Carl H. Lindner Jr. As for Palin, she was pal's with Larry Pratt and Joe Vogler and even attended some of his meetings. People are frustrated and don't need to hear the garbage that Palin was spewing forth. McCain could of stopped her a week ago but chose to let her run her mouth off for a week before he heard from some of his "base" to stop the negative attacks and focus on the real issue the economy. If McCain loses, it's his own fault for going down that slippery and slimy road instead of taking the high road. He tarnished his own reputation by Sarah Palin's running mouth and doing nothing to stop it last week.

Susie (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:15 PM)

And that's how you run a campaign.

Are you taking notes, Senator McCain?

Hope you're watching on October 29; I will be, popcorn bucket in hand. Should be quite a show.

Leon, NJ (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:16 PM)

Once again, maintaining a reasonable calm while a storm rages all around him. No matter how hard the McCain-Palin campaign tries to divert Obama's (and our) attention away from the things that really matter, Senator Obama cuts through the crap and finds a positive way to address negative situations.

Barack Obama will make a wonderful President. He will work for all Americans, even those who spew their hate.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:16 PM)

Hey John,

I guess you don't ever watch the news. You are missing the part where you and Sarah are running the ugliest campaign in US Presidential Politics.
But after reading Rolling Stones, Make-Believe Maverick, the only person you are trying to impress is you.
John you were born to be a leader. Your Grandfather and father, may the rest peace, must be rolling over in their graves.
You have done nothing but disgrace their names. Shame.

Obama/Biden

rosse (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:18 PM)

RIGHT ON SEN. OBAMA, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT STARTING THIS KIND OF HATE NO ONE AND I MEAN ON ONE CAN QUESTION YOU ON THIS TYPE OF DIVISIVE BEHAVIOR!!!

"UNITED WE STAND", "DIVIDE WE FALL" !!!

OUR COUNTRY IS IN CRISIS AND WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON ONE ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!!

FELICHA FROM FLORIDA (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:18 PM)

Obama has won my vote. He's above Rovian politics. I think he will bring us together as president.

Me (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:19 PM)

Palin let's her husband use her public offices resources and he belongs to a group that wants Alaska to leave our union of states.

She needs to look closer to home for who pals around with terrorists.

ffoffeds. Seattle, WA (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:19 PM)

Racism is racism. It can't be measured. It belongs no where in our society.

John McCain should have understood that. He somehow misremembered, simply because he was losing.

No excuses, please. McCain and McCain alone caused this uproar.

No demands for McCain or Palin I suppose for their outrageous role in this ugly turn of events?

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:19 PM)

I agree with Sen. Obama that Sen. McCain was not being like George Wallace. Sen. McCain was just being ignorant of where such incitement to hate would obviously lead. So what does that say about Sen. McCain's judgment and fitness to be president?

Steven Elliott, Petaluma, CA (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:20 PM)

Excellent statement! Couldn't have said it better myself. Ought to really piss the McPhalin campaign off. Expect them to express more phony outrage.

Ian (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:21 PM)

Amen

Larry, ABQ, NM (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:22 PM)

Spoken from the Obama camp like a true Presidental candidate. I agree with Rep. Lewis and appreciate his comments. Maybe someone (McCain, hint hint) will listen and get back to issues that we want to learn about in this election.
Thanks

GrammieJ, Pulaski, TN (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:23 PM)

When Palin stops her lies and hate speech, then perhaps they could condemn what Lewis wrote. until that time, the McCain/Palin camp is trying to use the racism alive in the United States for political advantage, Lewis' comments are accurate.

The McCain camp is trying to stop the bleeding that their negative campaign has caused in the polls, and they are realizing too late that the type of campaign ran by Bush in 2000 and 2004 will no longer be tolerated. Obama has stuck to the issues, and although he has distorted McCain's record in doing so, it is in no way comparable to the lies and smears that the McCain campaign has utilized.

I'm glad that other republicans are now speaking out against the tactics of their candidate.

Tzalaran (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:24 PM)

Well said (soon -to-be) President Obama!

Sharon, Waukesha, WI (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:24 PM)

And yet the McCain/Palin campaign continues to wonder why Obama is ahead of them in the polls.

Latest RCP Stats
----------------
Gallup Tracking: Obama - 51 McCain - 42 Obama +9
Rasmussen Tracking: Obama - 52 McCain - 45 Obama +7
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby: Obama - 48 McCain - 44 Obama +4
Hotline/FD Tracking: Obama - 50 McCain - 40 Obama +10
Newsweek: Obama - 52 McCain - 41 Obama +11
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/

Obama/Biden '08!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:25 PM)

It's pretty embarressing watching some of these folks at the McCain-Palin rallies. And btw, how come no one has picked up on this: that old lady accused Obama of being an "Arab," and McCain's reply? "No he's not. He's a family man." Since when are Arabs not family men??? Wow.

Tony (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:28 PM)

Only Obama can hold us together. What a leader !

Sandy, Mississippi (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:28 PM)

If McCain truly wants to calm his mobs, he should tell talk radio thugs to stop spreading all their lies and hatred. McCain is just a small part of it. The RNC and the rest of the GOP are 100% trying to build anger and outrage.

Mondesco Bowmansdale (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:29 PM)

Excellent response. That's why I'm voting for Barack Obama on November 4th.

R.J. (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:31 PM)

This is a truly frightening trend. It is about time that McCain has stepped up and tried to stop some of this behavior. But why is Palin allowed to continue? If you haven't figured this out yet folks, she is positioning herself to be the leader of the republican party of the future. She is trying to solidify the base around her and her tacit is to incite anger, fear and hint at a return to "white power". This is just the first taste of Sarah Palin's ultimate agenda. I not looking forward to the future she would like to see.

IWW (independant white woman) (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:32 PM)

As usual, Senator Obama is the mature adult. There is absolutely no comparison between him and McCain. And, Sarah Palin is truly a joke. They better be very careful with their hateful remarks. I hope no harm comes to Senator Obama. They will be personally responsible if something does happen. And to think John McCain acted shocked. I think he and his sidekick know exactly what they are doing.

Vicki, Lewisville, Pa. (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:32 PM)

Way to play the race card over and over and over again, Mr. Obama. Does America really want to see this kind of tactic employed for four long years, every time Obama receives resistance to his flawed policy proposals? I, for one, do not.

Roberto, Miami, Florida (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:35 PM)

The most divisive issue not being discussed is that Todd Palin was a member of and Sarah Palin attended meetings of a group that wants to secede Alaska from the U.S. Talk about a lack of patriotism. Doesn't anybody but me care about this?

patti, west chicago, il (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:36 PM)

Dignified and Presidential. Even when McCain and his hysterical allies say the most divisive things, Obama focuses on what is best for the people and the nation. The name calling and whining from the right is turning every thinking American even those in their own party against them.

Hal, RB California (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:37 PM)

"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.'"

That's all they have: Irresponsible, hateful, repugnant lies and mischaracterizations. They don't really have ideas because neither of them are intellectually-curious in the least and they actually aren't conservatives so they don't even adhere to their party's ideologies.

Please, members of the national media, don't cover this horrible woman - what she says or does - until she is willing to sit down and answer real, tough questions. Covering her hate-filled festivals of self-aggrandizement is not doing this country any good - in fact it's tearing us apart even more than the last eight years.

R. Long, Panama City, FLorida (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:37 PM)

Sen. Obama is lucky enough to be too young to remember or have experienced the hatred and violence that people like Gov. Wallace inspired, if not invoked. He is also wise enough not to retaliate in kind. That's the President I want to lead us: he sees the pointlessness of the behaviour of the few haters and the positive potential of the vast majority of Americans.

Cynthia Timko (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:37 PM)

What a hypocrite you are, John McCain. You are fanning the flames of hatred, anger, potential violence. The Galileo tactic -- emanding an apology of someone who is only pointing out the truth or else -- is truly appalling.

Quin Dwyer (Sent Saturday, October 11, 2008 5:38 PM)

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