McCain Exploits Civil Rights Legacy Of John Lewis

CQ:

On Monday morning, John McCain traveled to Selma, Alabama, to give a speech about patriotism and courage--that is, to expropriate the patriotism and courage of a Barack Obama supporter....

It was as if McCain was trying to wrap himself in the bloody shirt of John Lewis. McCain, of course, was not part of the civil rights movement. In fact, in 1983, he was one of 77 Republican House members to vote against the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. He has never been close to Lewis, according to an associate of Lewis. He did not tell Lewis he would be making this speech, and he did not invite Lewis to attend the event. Lewis learned about the speech from reporters. (And, as of this writing, Lewis has yet to comment on it.) Given Lewis' high-profile support of Obama, McCain's speech--which was far more about John Lewis than John McCain--was rather odd. After all, the "better country" that Lewis now fights for would be led by a President Obama.

Read the whole story: CQ

Comments

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

John McSame is a Political Whore-Pig! What's next, likening himself to the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Ca. fought in the Resistance, captured, imprisoned and escaped to return to fighting the Nazis) while hitting-up Jewish RePukes for cash?

[MadJeffersonian]

Maybe there weren't any black folks there because they forgot to invite us?

[johnnygoodwud]

big turn out mcgramps, according to nbc, you drew about 100 people to hear your speech. they took a shot of the crowd and it was 99.9 % white. obama draws twice as much to watch him eat his waffles for breakfast.

[coolrepublica]

Black people were invited they chose not to show up. So it's McCain's fault that blacks don't care to hear a white man speak.

[MadJeffersonian]

Maybe black folks are tired of being lied to and pissed on around election time by a white guy full of promises he will NEVER deliver on.

AND this from McCain, the same guy who didn't give a shit about voting for a holiday to recognize the efforts of Martin Luther King.

40 acres and a mule!

[alfrede]

Hi,

We do have civilian control of the military and Secretary Gates is "in charge" (isn't he?)

It has been reported that each of the services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) have their "own" drones (the drones are NOT compatible). WHY??

Perhaps the Secretary or the President could issue an "order" to say that ALL drones must be compatible (the same). Is this too complicated??

What do U think??

[better100]

Hillary and ed randells reponse follow link you DECIDE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo7fIPW8Tu0

[Shaddup]

McLame would be ashamed if he could remember what it was he was talking about.

[aplegrand]

McCain probably doesn't realize that John Lewis is still alive. I bet he doesn't even know who he is.

[Nolawi]

I am AA so i don't think that he is looking for a vote here. Because he knows that if hillary who actually is a great for all minorities, at least prior to this campaign doesn't get the vote against obama; he has no chance in hell to get even30% of the AA vote.

On the other hand, there are white moderate independent and moderate democrats who are questioning some aspects of Obama but still think is a good candidate.

McCain is looking not to lose the "white guilt" vote.

[anney]

John McCain is one of the weirdest candidates I've seen in my lifetime. He seems totally unable to make any connections between what he says campaigning and any desired result. It's almost as if his speeches and statements have no purpose at all.

[BGDiNLV]

Its called SENILE!!!!!! LOL!!

[prestodan]

Don't be so gullible, people. This is a campaign event designed to drum up support, and create an image. John McCain cannot claim much of a connection to the sacred civil rights ground of Selma, the civil rights movement itself, or to the unaware John Lewis, who supports Barack Obama. Not only does this not add up, it's a hollow gesture, and an exploitative one at that. Nice try McCain, but I'm not buying it. I realize he's at least making an effort to reach out to minorities, but he carries the baggage of his party, and of his own record in terms of race issues, neither of which will garner him much favor among the African American community. Maybe he can explain why his party only gets about 10% of the black vote, or why they're were hardly any blacks people at this event, or why he voted against the King holiday back in '83. That would give him more content to discuss, and more appropriate speech material. The "Forgotten Americans" aren't John Lewis and the Selma marchers - they're the people left out by the bias and favoritism brought forth through the policies of his GOP.

[Softnsweet]

Atleast he is trying to make an effort, that is more than any other Republican has done. McCain earned my respect when he showed up and ask for an apology from blacks and told them (which most of them may have not known) that he did not vote for MLK holiday. That took guts!!

If Obama does not win, you can best to believe that I would vote for McCain. I lasted 8 years with Bush, I can last the same with McCain. I cannot stomach Hillary for 8 years.

[filo]

It is complete and total pandering. He thinks he can make a dent in the black demographics. He is being handled.

Ok its Monday here's the black speech John. Tomorrow we do the evangelical sppech.

[Nolawi]

I agree

[cdub1991]

The purpose of actions like this is to convince moderates that, "Shucks, maybe that McCain isn't such a bad guy after all." It's the "Thousand Points of Light" strategy. It's the "Compassionate Conservative" strategy. We've seen this dog and pony show before and we can only hope that a sadder but wiser electorate won't be fooled by it this time.

[joanVA]

If you click on "Read the Whole Story" you will see McCain's quotes of John Lewis' legacy. Personally, I think it's shameful. Complimenting Lewis on his courage is fine. However, it is a problem when McCain goes further by saying he has that same courage and his opponent (Obama who Lewis supports) does not. That is outrageous especially because he opposed MLK holiday (most people I knew in Virginia who opposed the MLK day were bigots). If he truly wanted to compliment John Lewis, wouldn't he have invited him to his speech?

The more I learn about McCain, the more I believe he is a man without courage or the leadership skills to be president. He will say whatever he needs to to court whatever voters are in front of him.

[barackaide]

well. this is just an odd campaign stop for the old guy. he really is very old.

i'd say it was nice of him to praise Lewis but I think there was supposed to be some sort of motive behind it. hard to tel

[zizi]

Actually if you think about it , it is an attempt at a clever ploy to draw blood. That is to provoke a response from John Lewis or any prominent black political entity to what seems like McCain's usurpation of the Civil Rights legacy. Indeed speaking of John Lewis as if he were already dead in fact symbolically marginalizes him, and in effect Barack Obama. It is like someone coming to your house, taunting you and turns around to feign surprise that you should be offended at their mention of your name. Should that happen, McCain's campaign will be able to pivot and point out African Americans as "ungracious" and "angry" -- the effect will be to ghettoize the black vote and whip up dormant "heartland" support. it is a roundabout attempt to shore up the conservative base. methinks.

[sherbug]

McCain in pandering after the AA vote as he did by attending the MLK event in Memphis.

[maria1253]

Guess he wasn't boooed there...

[rollingdivision]

McCain honored John Lewis in his speech.

[rollingdivision]

And rightfully so, John Lewis is an American hero.