Rep. Lewis deserves respect, but not our ear, or how the Dems are helping Russia win

[CitizenBBN]

The guy is a hero of Civil Rights, no denying it. Trump of course attacked him personally, as he will no doubt do about 100,000 more times during his tenure in office with people, but that's a non-starter for a man with his resume.

That being said, this is also the guy who skipped Bush II's inauguration b/c HE wasn't a "legitimate President" and compared John McCain to George McGovern. So it's not like he's some guy above politics or exaggeration. he plays the politics game just like any other common politician, and has made more than one false, outlandish, politically motivated comment.

As of now 31 Dems are going to skip the weekend, yet these are the people who were crying about Trump undermining democracy itself when he said he wouldn't a priori agree to accept any election result.

I'm pretty sure all of this hoo-ha is the definition of not accepting an election result, even if you think you may have an excuse or even a good reason (there aren't any in this case, but OK).

Ironically, they are giving the Russians and all our enemies exactly what they want, and exactly what they said Trump would do: they are undermining confidence in the system before the American people, pulling apart the fundamental belief that the RULE OF LAW is more important than who actually wins.

It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. I get not being happy with the outcome (i wanted Fiorina this time around too), Obama's desire to "transform" my nation into European socialism has had me unhappy for years, but I never claimed he wasn't our President.

[KeithKSR]

Lewis's past doesn't excuse his actions, nor does it make him a good representative.

[CitizenBBN]

Lewis's past doesn't excuse his actions, nor does it make him a good representative.

he's not a good Representative. I'll say that flat out. Not a bad one, but unremarkable.

He has a moral high ground anointed by the media and his past, but he's not been a champion of real solutions in Washington but rather just another voice in a very stock solution chorus. He has been part of a Black Caucus that IMO only perpetuates the victim society view of race issues and thus perpetuates keeping African Americans second class citizens.

BLM is now trying to "radicalize" Dr. King, b/c of course dr. King stood AGAINST everything they suggest doing. He condemned violence and riots, and spoke of a dream where EVERYONE was judged not by the color of their skin but by the strength of their character.

That's the exact opposite of the world pursued by the Left of this country, who are utterly obsessed with seeing EVERYONE and everything according to the color of their skin. Every white person is a persecutor who has inherent privilege, every black person (I assume including someone like Doc Rivers son who grew up richer than God) is a victim. Everything is seen in terms of color.

that is the exact opposite direction Dr. King wanted to see for this country. I doubt he would have embraced a fully conservative approach, so he would have supported Affirmative Action and such, but I have no doubt he would oppose the modern PC approach where we are actually re-segregating our society by matter of policy and law and mindset.

I respect Lewis' past, but no his present isn't anything to write home about. Just another politician at this point.

[MickintheHam]

I agree he has been an unremarkable representative. For someone with his tenure, his effectiveness in moving legislation should be greater. It may be that the legislative process requires team building skills required to be effective.

I know quite a bit about John Lewis and I respect the stands he took as a youth. But his effectivenss is limited to taking stands it is what he knows how to do. In '85-'86 he was an anti-establishment, black establishment, running against Julian Bond.

A guy that worked for me was his campaign manager. I followed his first Congressional race very closely. Lewis came from nowhere to win, when every black and white leader in Atlanta, Georgia was endorsing Bond. The campaign theme was that blacks were not well served by their black leaders. But taking anti-establishment stands are all that Lewis knows. There is nothing else in his tool bag of skills.

[CitizenBBN]

Interesting Mick, b/c I'd describe his tenure as being classic establishment. He's right in step with the Black Caucus, and that group has done little but bluster, and even a lot of that comes from absolute nut bags like Maxine Waters. he's not in her league, no way, but I still don't see much there.

I agree with the premise, the black community has been served horridly by black leaders, but it seems to me so many leaders, black and white, campaign on that and then as soon as they get to Washington they settle right into the same pattern.

Some of that is inevitable, a single Congressman can't do a whole lot and you have to work with your party or you get no committee assignments worth having, but most seem to quickly accept doing little more than pork for the home district and a few token programs here and there for the constituents.

Senators can do more, much more, but I get how they can't change it all.

But they can call for the real changes necessary, and I don't see that with Lewis or really more than a few Congressmen of either house over many years.

He could tell Maxine to shut up, that would impress me. Calling out those kinds of black community leaders, who absolutely are a drag on everything good for the world, would be nice.

[MickintheHam]

CBBN, it was the black establishment that changed. Or should I say the leadership changed? They lost complete power. People such as Hosea Williams, Bond, Rev Lowery, Ralph David Abernathy the King family and now even Jessee Jackson all lost leadership of the black establishment and leadership was ceded to street militants. John Lewis has fallen in line with the new leadership, fragmented as it is. The principles of Dr. King while remembered on this day, are ignored in practice.

MLK III did today what his father would have done. He visited the President elect to find common ground and make a path forward. But he is not part of the black leadership. One day based on what he did today, the leadership will fall back to the King family and their associates. let's hope.

[KSRBEvans]

IMHO neither Lewis nor Trump have distinguished themselves well in this episode.

[Doc]

These crybabies, and that is what they are, serve nobody. Referring to any president as illegitimate is a slap in the face of the elected person but also the process and the voters. He didn't like the winner. Too bad. I wasn't happy with the election of Obama nor was about 1/2 the country for the last 2 election, didn't feel he represented my convictions but I know of nobody who questioned his legitimacy. There is a difference between not liking the results and questioning whether the results are valid. This infantile temper tantrum that the left is staging is throwing far more questions upon the election that anything any foreign government could ever do. As a perceived leader, it would be nice to see Congressman Lewis actually lead. Sometimes that means you don't get what you want but rather do what best for the country. Stomping your feet like a baby and questioning the legality of an election clearly is not in the nations best interests. The democrats lost and its time for them to grow up about it.

I'd add that Mr Trump needs to do the same. He needs to quit with the infantile twitter crap and act like a president rather than a 18 year old kids who just got his first computer.

[DanISSELisdaman]

I agree on all points Doc!

[CitizenBBN]

Trump's "counter punch" thing is very infantile, and only hurts him in most cases.

But I don't expect it to stop nor hold out any hope of it, b/c he got elected without changing so no one will be able to convince him it's hurting him.

The thing is then he'll go have an in person meeting and be very good at it, very Presidential.

Honestly he's like those internet guys who are childish jerks online then you meet them in person and they're super nice and great guys. Going to be unique having one of them as President.

[Doc]

His "phoney" and "Fake" and "Rigged" mantra is getting old. OK, he used it to get elected. We get it Donald. Now grow up and act like a LEADER. Its what Obama never did. He got into office and never had any intention of doing anything other than what was best for his base. Screw the those who didn't vote for him. All he cared about was catering to HIS side, HIS electorate. He had no intention of being leader of the United States. He wanted to remodel the United States into the Democratic Party. He said so. His approach was the GOP was along for the ride. He was driving the bus and republicans were just passengers who really didn't have any say. My hope is Trump doesn't do that. My hope is Trump does incorporate democrats ideas into policy, or at least the ideas that make sense because not every leftist idea needs rejection w/o consideration. Had Obama done that with things like Obama care it might not have been so unpalatable. Instead he jammed it down as a far one sided radical approach w/o any concessions to the oppositions so it was unacceptable to 1/2 the people and then is it any wonder that when the other side gets control they want to repeal it?