Congressman John Lewis Condemns McCain Palin Racism
Christian Church
October 14, 2008
Congressman John Lewis recently spoke out about the blatant hatred, racism, and bigotry that have become orchestrated features of McCain Palin campaign rallies: "As one who was a victim of violence and hate during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, I am deeply disturbed by the negative tone of the McCain-Palin campaign. What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history. Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse."
The consequences of this GOP-devised vitriol, and the refusal of McCain or Palin to curtain or apologize for it, has been the eruption of loathing so malignant, it rivals that of the Ku Klux Klan. And the Republican Party lynch mob is right there, encouraged and rewarded by a despicable John McCain so desperate to win that he will eagerly wallow in the gutter among those he calls his "friends."
Lewis continued, "During another period, in the not too distant past, there was a governor of the state of Alabama named George Wallace who also became a presidential candidate. 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. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."
Yes, we´ve all read or heard about the attacks. For example, at a recent McCain Palin campaign rally, supporters were caught on camera cheering and laughing alongside a man who brought a racist monkey doll with a Barack Obama sticker wrapped around its head. The man held the monkey doll up near his face as fellow Republicans in line with him laughed with encouragement. See the video here: here and inside the venue here.
If the McCain Palin monkey doll scandal isn´t enough to make you vomit, the following are a few more examples of blatant racism featured at recent McCain Palin rallies:
>> A man called Senator Obama a "hooligan."
>> Supporters called Senator Obama a "terrorist" while others yelled, "Kill him!"
>> A woman claimed that Barack Obama is an Arab and a Muslim. (Senator Obama is not an Arab; he is a Christian.)
>> Gov. Sarah Palin told her audience that Senator Obama "…tried to influence negotiations with Iraqi leaders in a way that would set back America´s cause there while advancing his campaign here. …" See NYT article.
Lewis concluded, "As public figures with the power to influence and persuade, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all. They are playing a very dangerous game that disregards the value of the political process and cheapens our entire democracy. We can do better. The American people deserve better."
So there you have it, America. Friends of John McCain and Sarah Palin want you to think that Senator Barack Obama is an "Arab terrorist" who should be "killed" and who – because he´s black – should remind you of a monkey. Think about that, and then go vote.
The consequences of this GOP-devised vitriol, and the refusal of McCain or Palin to curtain or apologize for it, has been the eruption of loathing so malignant, it rivals that of the Ku Klux Klan. And the Republican Party lynch mob is right there, encouraged and rewarded by a despicable John McCain so desperate to win that he will eagerly wallow in the gutter among those he calls his "friends."
Lewis continued, "During another period, in the not too distant past, there was a governor of the state of Alabama named George Wallace who also became a presidential candidate. 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. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."
Yes, we´ve all read or heard about the attacks. For example, at a recent McCain Palin campaign rally, supporters were caught on camera cheering and laughing alongside a man who brought a racist monkey doll with a Barack Obama sticker wrapped around its head. The man held the monkey doll up near his face as fellow Republicans in line with him laughed with encouragement. See the video here: here and inside the venue here.
If the McCain Palin monkey doll scandal isn´t enough to make you vomit, the following are a few more examples of blatant racism featured at recent McCain Palin rallies:
>> A man called Senator Obama a "hooligan."
>> Supporters called Senator Obama a "terrorist" while others yelled, "Kill him!"
>> A woman claimed that Barack Obama is an Arab and a Muslim. (Senator Obama is not an Arab; he is a Christian.)
>> Gov. Sarah Palin told her audience that Senator Obama "…tried to influence negotiations with Iraqi leaders in a way that would set back America´s cause there while advancing his campaign here. …" See NYT article.
Lewis concluded, "As public figures with the power to influence and persuade, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all. They are playing a very dangerous game that disregards the value of the political process and cheapens our entire democracy. We can do better. The American people deserve better."
So there you have it, America. Friends of John McCain and Sarah Palin want you to think that Senator Barack Obama is an "Arab terrorist" who should be "killed" and who – because he´s black – should remind you of a monkey. Think about that, and then go vote.
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