Video: McCain rips John Lewis for comparing him to George Wallace
posted at 6:23 pm on October 13, 2008 by Allahpundit
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“It’s unfair and it’s outrageous,” saith the Maverick, and so it is. In fairness to The One, his campaign did repudiate Lewis … sort of. Their official position is that it’s wrong to equate McCain with Wallace — which is precisely what Lewis did, overtly, even though he denied it later — but not wrong to call McCain out on his, um, hatefulness in mentioning that Obama’s an associate of an unrepentant terrorist. How very racist indeed of Maverick not to extend Lewis an infinite line of political credit with which to smear his opponents as thanks for his service during the civil rights movement. Where can ex-POWs go to sign up for that same package from the media?
Not shown: CNN pressed him again on whether he’s ready to hit Wright. Nope.
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He’s says fight…time to walk the walk.
deedtrader on October 13, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Good start, Maverick. Now follow through!!!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 13, 2008 at 6:26 PM
McCain has the easiest talking point to use to shut up liberals when he goes after Obama on Ayers/Dhorn and Rev. Wright. Its really simple, libs can’t answer it without lying.
“Whats the difference between an association and political alliance with someone like William Ayers and a domestic terrorist like Timothy McVeigh or Eric Rudolph?”
Whats the difference between a long and close association with Rev. Wright and his hate fille church, and a Politician with a long and close relationship with someone like David Duke?
If you frame this quesiton right, they are stumped
jp on October 13, 2008 at 6:27 PM
As I said earlier today, Obama himself is the most racially divisive presidential candidate since George Wallace himself.
Of course, they were both Democrats.
thirteen28 on October 13, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Good response, Mac!
Make BO call for a Lewis apology!
jgapinoy on October 13, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Not good McCain is in North Carolina at this stage of the game.
however, Obama has been running ads non-stop on TV and Radio. It is amazing how many ads Obama is running, haven’t seen a single McCain TV or Radio ad yet.
jp on October 13, 2008 at 6:30 PM
McCain is just toying with us again. He’ll be back to “my friends, my friends” soon enough. Ugh.
D0WNT0WN on October 13, 2008 at 6:32 PM
um, John, please stop referring to Lewis as someone you “admire” — he’s shivving you in the back — the LEAST you can do is tell him where he can stick said shiv …
Buckaroo on October 13, 2008 at 6:32 PM
If Mac can stick a solid ACORN up Obama’s Fannie Mae at the debate, that’ll be enough!
Steve Z on October 13, 2008 at 6:33 PM
And Sarah Palin is in Virginia. In front of 30,000 people.
http://hillbuzz.wordpress.com
Steve Z on October 13, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Only if he can make it root and sprout.
PappaMac on October 13, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Go Mac! Fight! Fight for your country!
jencab on October 13, 2008 at 6:36 PM
George Wallace’s evil was to support segregation in schools, right? That’s what made him an awful racist. Well, what is it that Obama and the rest of the leftist elite is working for in their education reforms? Segregated schools! All-black, even now all-gay schools. This is a new liberal trend now. So what am I missing?
p.s. the george wallace comparison is going to be the thing that wins us this election. it is so over the top outrageously vile, so obviously wrong, such a blatant attempt at playing the race card, that not only will nobody buy it but there will be a big backlash against obama over it. mccain is right to make as big a deal of it as he can.
AdrianG on October 13, 2008 at 6:36 PM
I think that 527s and RNC should do the dirty work - it’s becoming clear that anytime McCain or Palin says anything about Obama’s associations, it hurts them. Really it is only preaching to the choir.
I worry that those who haven’t committed one way or another yet will get turned off by negativity - either direction - so if McCain takes the high ground, he’s better for it.
Of course I could be totally off base. Maybe I am just sick of hearing the MSM slam McCain/Palin for telling the truth.
tru2tx on October 13, 2008 at 6:38 PM
And so it begins.
ManlyRash on October 13, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Steve Z, thanks for the link. There I found this choice quote:
jgapinoy on October 13, 2008 at 6:38 PM
The racism attack is not “so obviously wrong” to the ignorant masses who know every football stat & every tidbit of Hollywood gossip, but have no idea how this financial crisis started.
jgapinoy on October 13, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Ugly stuff, people. And it seems it’s only gonna get uglier as November nears.
Was just watching Brit Hume’s grapevine (hadn’t seen this one yet), he showed a picture of 4 Obama supporters at a Palin rally wearing t-shirts that read, “Palin is a C**t.” (sorry to even spell it out that much) That right there IMO, is no different than using the N-word to describe Obama. Why? It’s the most vile word one can call a woman. And Obama’s supporters are proudly wearing it on their chests.
dugan on October 13, 2008 at 6:44 PM
this should, in fact, be a campaign ad at this point. “I don’t think we should raise taxes on america’s small businesses. I don’t think we should take the secret ballot away from hardworking american union members. I don’t think we should dramatically increase welfare payments after all the great work President Clinton did to reform welfare in the 90s. And on all those issues, I am in stark disagreement with Senator Obama. So, Senator, does that make me a racist, too?”
AdrianG on October 13, 2008 at 6:45 PM
KIDS ONLINE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ALERT:
The Nickelodeon Channel is extremely liberal, and right now they’re running their “kids pick the president” online election for kids to “have their say”. Anyone can vote. Anybody here interested in throwing this toward McCain/Palin, feel free:
http://www.nick.com/kpp/
(The last two presidential elections, they did this, and of course Gore and Kerry both won in landslides.)
ErinF on October 13, 2008 at 6:45 PM
And we Conservatives are the one’s that are “out of control”. Yeah right.
Moonbats on parade.
HornetSting on October 13, 2008 at 6:47 PM
In Soviet United States, circa 2009, everything is racism.
Wait, that’s happening now, too.
Racism charges got McCain to stop talking about Ayers.
What’s going to happen in 2009 - 2012? Any opposition to socialism will be racism.
Enough is enough.
lorien1973 on October 13, 2008 at 6:48 PM
McCain is white. That’s enough to make him (and every other white person) a racist in the eyes of those who want to play the victim game. Add to it that McCain DID have a lilly white elitist upbringing and he is a very easy target for anybody who wants to go down that road. It’s not right or fair but it is what it is.
There really isn’t much that McCain can do to counter these charges other than to ignore them best they can and keep moving forward. Wright needs to be attacked on his racist statements because he’s a racist, not because he’s black. Ayers needs to be attacked as a terrorist. Obama needs to be attacked as unready to lead. Yet, sadly, we get a muddled and tepid message out of McCain at a time he needs to be forceful.
highhopes on October 13, 2008 at 6:48 PM
A generalized ‘racism’ attack, no. But the specific George Wallace attack, yes. It’s a bridge too far for any remotely sane person (I hope!)
AdrianG on October 13, 2008 at 6:48 PM
What Lewis said was outragious. Absolutely outragious.
Spirit of 1776 on October 13, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Someone designed t-shirts “Obama is a can’t”.
Entelechy on October 13, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Again, if you think it’s ugly now, wait a week.
And if you think it’s ugly then…wait til Obama gets in office and any criticism of him will be brushed off due to charges of racism.
We knew it was coming, it’s the Dem’s ace-in-the-hole. And they’re gonna play that card no matter what.
dugan on October 13, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Have you seen the amount of advertising and promoting there is for Obambi on Nick? I haven’t once seen anything for McCain but plenty for “that one.” It’s no wonder the libtards win by landslides.
And before you ask, SPONGEBOB RULES!!!!!
Brass Pair on October 13, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Yep. Gateway Pundit had this yesterday.
Michael in MI on October 13, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Here’s the Gateway link.
Michael in MI on October 13, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Third time’s the charm: GATEWAY PUNDIT
Michael in MI on October 13, 2008 at 6:56 PM
When the thoroughbred colt BIG BROWN defeated the runner-up filly EIGHT BELLES in this years Kentucky Derby (the filly was euthanized after fracturing her front ankles) many saw it as a foreshadowing of the Democratic primary race. Now BIG BROWN is out of the Breeders Cup championship (retired) and look who is now set to challenge for this years championship. COLONEL JOHN ! (I know that he retired as a Captain but it’s a close equivalent).
Bluecaper on October 13, 2008 at 6:56 PM
As Ace would say,
Why are they calling McCain a racist?
Shut up, that’s why.
fossten on October 13, 2008 at 6:56 PM
A year ago this time I never gave racism a second thought- Ever since Obama came on the scene, it’s front and center in everyone’s life. I can say with certainty that I’ve never suffered from racial guilt, but what I’m suffering from now is even worse; Racial Bitterness. I have never been so angry about anything in my life. It makes me boil that we can’t be HONEST about Obama and his supporters- and I think of myself as being “relatively” even tempered. This anger among Republican/Conservatives is NOT going to go away. I think the future is shaping up to be pretty ugly. Thanks Obama.
anniekc on October 13, 2008 at 6:58 PM
And they look so proud to be standing there in front of the camera. The girl’s even lifting her bottle as if to say “Cheers”. Disgusting.
*retches*
Grue in the Attic on October 13, 2008 at 6:58 PM
and its the Dems stoking flames with their rhetoric on a race war. as usual, they are what they claim republicans are.
jp on October 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM
I don’t care what the left calls it, there must be a concerted effort by all liberty loving Americans against socialism and Marxism. When we lose our individual liberties and our free enterprise, capitalistic system this country is all but dead.
rplat on October 13, 2008 at 7:03 PM
The trainer of BIG BROWN said this about the injury that will end the horse’s career. “It looked like he grabbed himself in a bad spot.”
http://www.paulickreport.com/
Bluecaper on October 13, 2008 at 7:03 PM
McCain still does not understand liberals. He thinks if he is nice to them, they will be nice back. Well I dont know when is going to get it. Probably after he loses the election. He’ll have the excuse that at least he run a friendly and honest campaign.
mariloubaker on October 13, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Quit pulling punches or the maverick label gets replaced with girlie man.
BuckeyeSam on October 13, 2008 at 7:07 PM
By making his outrageous statements, Lewis was simply doing pennance to the One for not having faith (supporting Hillary in the beginning). He has been redeemed.
baldilocks on October 13, 2008 at 7:07 PM
So, is it safe to say that we can call Obama’s surrogates the new “Manson Family”? They tried to start a race war too.
HornetSting on October 13, 2008 at 7:09 PM
I find this behavior shocking… I’m sure Senator McCain will retract those vicious remarks tomorrow.
CC
CapedConservative on October 13, 2008 at 7:10 PM
I listened to Gov. Jindal being interviewed on one of the talk radio shows in Houston this afternoon. State Rep. Dan Patrick conducted the interview. At the close he told Gov. Jindal how much he wished he was the one facing Obama on Wednesday because he articulates conservatism so well and has truly done amazing things with Louisiana. With a wistful sigh I was thinking the exact same thing!
alwaysright43 on October 13, 2008 at 7:12 PM
So, where was Senator McCain when those churches were
bombed, Heh ??
gary on October 13, 2008 at 7:15 PM
I’m waiting for some prominent Democrat to claim Hank Jr. is a racist. If you want to see what real backlash looks like, find that comment.
Rovin on October 13, 2008 at 7:16 PM
All of which goes to show only that racist blacks have been granted, in Allah’s words, “an unlimited line of political credit” for some self-declared bravery and accomplishment in “fighting” alongside … uh … pretty much everyone else in the country in the search for freedoms granted … uh … 100 years earlier by President Lincoln and his congress, but occasionally abridged by some racists in the south.
Lewis is, of course, neither brave nor wise, but a butt-sniffing leftist nitwit who benefits from a gerrymandered, all-black congressional district.
As hundreds of people all smarter than John Lewis have pointed out - it’s not exactly racist for someone to observe that the snot-nosed white son of a really rich guy, who hates this country and set off a bunch of bombs targeting policemen and soldiers, might not make the best sort of political mentor for a politician who claims to be “post-partisan”.
John Lewis - who are you crappin’?
Jaibones on October 13, 2008 at 7:20 PM
McCain still does not understand liberals. He thinks if he is nice to them, they will be nice back. Well I dont know when is going to get it. Probably after he loses the election.
mariloubaker on October 13, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Bing.
Jaibones on October 13, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Boy what I’d give to have heard a Fred Thompson response!
OSUBuciz1 on October 13, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Come on, John. Are you naive to think the democrats won’t play the race card? Democrats are the party of hate. Without inciting racial hatred in the black poulation and causing class warfare between the income groups they could not exist. Hate is all they have and its all they have ever been. The evil coming from the level hasn’t really started yet. You have to fight back or they will destroy you.
volsense on October 13, 2008 at 7:34 PM
McCain:
“I’D RATHER LOSE THE ELECTION THAN LOSE MY TEMPER.”
leftnomore on October 13, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Oh, c’mon masser– he don’t know what he seZ…. Sorry, I don’t buy it. We lost congress last time by a couple of slips of the tongue. Not important????? These guys get away with murder…. Consider it not out of the realm of possibility the crash of the financial markets was a Democratic plot that probably went farther than they thought it would.. They’re October surprise.. There I said it!!!!
PaCadle on October 13, 2008 at 7:43 PM
their
PaCadle on October 13, 2008 at 7:44 PM
McCain needs to ask Barry O., at the debate, if a ghost writer helped pen his autobiography “Dreams From My Father”, and if so, was it, by any chance, domestic terrorist Bill Ayers?
Let’s hear Obama’s denial.
Or…
profitsbeard on October 13, 2008 at 7:46 PM
John Lewis lives in a far distant era.
It is really sad to see what has happened to the heroes of the civil rights era.
Captain America on October 13, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Obama and his surrogates (and that includes the media) are the only ones who’ve brought up race during this campaign. This should tell you everything you need to know about his character and theirs.
Connie on October 13, 2008 at 8:24 PM
UM. It’s GREAT that McCain is here in NC. I am a registered indie because I got pissed after the open borders fiasco (because of Bush and McCain, essentially) so, I am not sure if they do this to everyone or if I just have special “undecided” status, but…the propaganda is INTENSE. Every day there is something…sometimes more than one thing for Obama. the other day, I was coming home with the family and was like, “Dude, if there is one more thing in the box, I am going to lose it.” We pulled up and not only did we have another flyer in our mailbox but also a thing shoved into our screen door!!!! I guess it is hard for the Obamabots to register “NOBAMA” and “McCain/Palin” bumper stickers and a lawn sign. Crikey.
Mommypundit on October 13, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Unfortunately, that’s only half of it. Obama and the Dems (with the help of the MSM) are on a full-fledged campaign to delegitimize anyone on the right.
Expect the word “mandate” to be used, and used often in early 2009 if Obama wins.
dugan on October 13, 2008 at 8:30 PM
He didn’t answer the question about “shutting down the debate” and he should have. He should say quite clearly that the Obama campaign strategy has been to link every criticism of Obama’s career and his associations to shut down free inquiry and debate.
Say it just once, Mac, and you won’t have to say it again.
Connie on October 13, 2008 at 8:32 PM
link every criticism to racism, I meant.
Connie on October 13, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Rips? Rips? I’ve heard harsher language between two British socialites arguing over which hors d’ oeuvres have the best flavor. Rips indeed.
CC
CapedConservative on October 13, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Beat me to it. “Rips” is an overstatement. I was expecting to see McCain go high and right in the video. But he’s responding like he’s on downers.
Hog Wild on October 13, 2008 at 8:42 PM
So wheres the public outrage over it? In a sane, healthy society Obama’s campaign would have been doomed the moment the Rev. Wright connection was established but that didn’t happen.
aengus on October 13, 2008 at 8:55 PM
McCain’s campaign response to each nutjob, as they come up, should be:
“God Damn (fill in the person)!”, followed by Wright doing his version. Then say McCain is only damning those that deserve it, not the entire country.
CC
CapedConservative on October 13, 2008 at 9:04 PM
there won’t be any my friend…the support for obama has become a religious cult. no matter how much he destroys the country…the dems will follow him…because they’re desperate for a savior….
not the REAL savior of course, but one that tickles their ears…we’re in for a dark time…
right4life on October 13, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Its pretty retarded that McCain used this guy’s name to show he would listen to Democrats. McCain has barely even talked to John Lewis at all.
Speedwagon82 on October 13, 2008 at 9:13 PM
btw: those were good articles from frontpagemag you posted the other day.
right4life on October 13, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Mommypundit, you must just be kinda “special” to them…I’m a registered Republican, McCain stickers on all three of our vehicles, and we only get Elizabeth Dole literature.
uncivilized on October 13, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Same thing in south Florida. My wife is independent and has gotten 5-6 pieces in the mail in a week. They know their market really well. She would vote for Obama if he would just change a few minor things… his past associations, his current politics and his future plans. Other than those three, she loves him.
CC
CapedConservative on October 13, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Where’s this bad temper everyone keeps saying McCain has? He’s sleepwalking through this whole campaign and allowing these idiots to diss him time and time again. Is it his age? Does he not want to be president? Romney would have had a pulse at least.
UnEasyRider on October 13, 2008 at 9:45 PM
On Brit Hume’s show tonight, Charles K said that McCain had unilaterally disarmed, and that his decision to do so was “insane.” Good point, and noone will tackle Charles for it; but if I had said that, one of the 2 or 3 Mac diehards on this site would have flagged me for it, and called me an Obama supporter.
I am voting for Palin, and therefore Mac; but he is his and their, and my, worst enemy in the effort to get him elected. The fighter who won’t fight.
james23 on October 13, 2008 at 11:29 PM
This whole incident is really ugly, especially since crying racism all the time diminishes true acts of racism in America. Kinda like crying wolf all the time.
Instead of crying racism, perhaps Obama’s supporters should try explaining why his policies are better than McCain’s. Of course, such a tactic is a sure loser with most of us here. But large portions of the American population are incredibly stupid and would probably be swayed by a repetition of Hope! and Change!.
Illinidiva on October 13, 2008 at 11:57 PM
We should call these race-baiters what they are being - racist - for what they’ve been willing to shovel out this year in pursuit of Obama’s election. The idiocracy is being “bamboozled”.
I honor Lewis’ courage in the civil rights era. But now he’s using racial division as part of a sleazy power grab. It’s dishonorable, and he should be called on the carpet for it.
Just because Paul Krugman did Nobel-worthy economics work a couple of decades ago doesn’t mean he’s any less the unhinged whackjob when he’s writing ill-conceived screeds for the NYT today.
sulla on October 14, 2008 at 4:25 AM
Mavrick is a waste of skin. Palin in 2012!
doufree on October 14, 2008 at 10:20 AM