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Almost a year ago, this nationally heroic figure--think bridges, cops and dogs--gave his word to the Hillary Clinton he would support her. Now, he's considering flipping, talking about it openly.
posted by UMRBlog @ 07:12
25 comments
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25 Comments:
This won't be the last one either. It just makes it easier for those of lesser character to jump ship...and jump they will.
I think it is difficult for any of use who are not black to pass judgment in this situation.
We haven't seen life through John Lewis's eyes. He probably never thought he would see a serious black candidate in his lifetime. Now he's got one.
Been fighting the fight all of his life and now he's gotta tell the young blacks in his district why he's not "with them"?
I understand and respect your POV from Hillaryville, but I think you gotta look at this one objectively.
You can thank Bubba's racist comments for that one.
When I wrote this, he hadn't jumped and I have been to busy to see today.
My POV here is not really from H'ville. I have given my word a lot of times politically and wished afterward that I had not. Still, if I'd pledged my support to somebody, I Stuck. I just went through an awkward one very recently.
John Lewis got where he got as a man of principle. If he now breaches a fundamental principle, he's not the guy who so many of us revered. He's just another flipper.
Thanks for good comments.
Update:
I have just read the most recent pieces re Lewis. He is said by others to be "torn" but nobody from his camp is actually saying he's considering a flip with a half twist.
Looks like he remains what he's always been.
Well,
I was too kind above. He's now flipped on whether he's actually flipped or not. Then had the cheek to offer to mediate.
He's now the leader in the clubhouse for the John Connally award.
So much for true American Heroes. My word is my bond, except when it isn't.
DT,
You do realize you're arguing for a different standard of integrity for black people than whites.
Appreciate your views.
How could Lewis know a year ago that the Clintons would inject race into the contest?
1238,
Only person who injected race into contest was BObama--"If it weren't for MLK, I wouldn't be standin' here".
"Fairy Tale" speech was devoid of racial reference (It was also incoveniently true). I thought the Jesse Jackson historical reference was poorly conceived but it wasn't any kind of racial putdown. Just an explanation of why expectations in SC were low. I wish WJC hadn't said it but it wasn't in any sense racist.
So you tell me, where was the injection of race by the Clintons--or was it just having the temerity to disagree with The Prince?
This is an important point. When is man of honor released from his promise. LBJ, Everett Dirksen and Howard Baker were all quoted as saying in politics all you ever have is your word.
John Lewis, an estimable leader, just pissed away his most important asset. He can blame it on the Clintons (he didn't) or blame it on Mo (he did) or blame it on his constituents (he did) but his word is no good, tainted. Far beyond any delegate count, a sad day for singular black american and for two great friends of black americans.
Hope he enjoys permanently guest starring in episodes of "Flipper".
"This is an important point. When is man of honor released from his promise. LBJ, Everett Dirksen and Howard Baker were all quoted as saying in politics all you ever have is your word."
"I did not have sex with that woman".
Your turn.
I think even your 18 watts can get to the level of illumination that we are talking about promises to do things in the future.
Now go back to playing with Barbie Stained Dress.
Well, Jesse's weighed in on this:
.....
Jackson, an Obama supporter, confirmed the conversation, and said the dilemma may pose a career risk for some black politicians. "Many of these guys have offered their support to Mrs. Clinton, but Obama has won their districts. So you wake up without the carpet under your feet. You might find some young primary challenger placing you in a difficult position" in the future, he added.
....
My Mama used to call that "situational ethics".
She frowned upon it.
It was "situational ethics" when most of these supers pledged their support for the inevitable one. Why are you so shocked now? Quit crying, there's no crying in politics...unless you're a woman...playing the gender card.
Who cares about John Lewis---he's from Georgia.
What I want to know is who will buy our specially selected congressman Phil Hare?
"we are talking about promises to do things in the future."
You mean like tell the truth? That's part of "your word" isn't it?
1315,
This is not about crying. It's about the interesting notion of one holding to a promise under pressure.
TYFCB
1552,
My mistake. You're really not smart enough to grasp this.
Just spray your Barbie Stained Dress with lumenol and try not to bother the grownups.
Umr
Do you think the superdelegates should decide your party's nomination? Say your girl is behind in elected delegates going into the convention?
0845,
I think I have been clear in other threads. My position is the rules were out there for everybody to comment and vote on since '06. They've been identical since March of '07.
Michigan and Florida should remain disenfranchised and the Superdelegates should vote any damn way they feel appropriate. Otherwise, we're just jiggering the system to get the outcome that pleases us.
I fully realize that my candidate may take a contrary position on one of these propositions. This is the only way I see that the integrity of the process can be upheld.
TYFCB
After this election, do you think the rules should be changed?
Despite what the TV pundits think, most Dems I know are happy with Obama or Clinton. Edwards would have made them happy also. We all know we can't afford another four years of a Republican in the White House.
0959,
On the SuperD's, I would like to see them pared back to about 30-35%. That would be the 1976 level. I think that's the best balance of participatory democracy and anarchy (al la 1972). SuperD's are usually accountable to a block of democrats so it's not like they are this monolith that can undo the will of the people.
I am for the "six pack" plan and have been for the last 12 years. Very briefly, Iowa goes first, NH second, the remaining states are divided up to achieve diverse size and regionality in six blocks of 8 states. the six packs are numbered one through six. A lottery takes place and the six packs go in that order, then rotate in succeeding election cycles. Easy, clean, somewhat cheaper and binding.
Also, I would like to go back to per capita caps in Iowa but I'm afraid that ship has already sailed.
TYFCB
Suppose, for a moment, that the race remains as closely undecided as it is today beyond June or perhaps into the August convention. Clinton March and April victories in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania or a DNC capitulation on Florida's delegate penalty could once again tighten the race. Now suppose Obama lands in Denver with a 50 to 100 delegate lead but is nonetheless relegated to second place by virtue of the SD's.
Imagine trying to resolve the feelings of absolute abandonment and ensuing rage in a minority voting block whose candidate had for the first time ever won a majority of delegates, only to have all hope dashed by a bunch of mostly old white guys. Particularly having been all but assured by Hollywood's elite and the MSM that their turn, if not their Messiah, had at long last arrived.
What if Obama's lead of pledged delegates ultimately did prove indomitable? How might a candidate who claims to have met Martin Luther King as a young girl, fought her husband's attempt to reform affirmative action and worked to facilitate school desegregation in the South, ever hope to maintain her civil rights credibility after leveraging her preponderance of non-representative SD's to unseat a majority elected African-American?
While it's sweetly ironic that the party of pandering and continual submission to racial coercion would now find themselves victims of the system of their own design, is anyone truly prepared for irreconcilable crowds roaming the streets chanting "No Nomination, No Peace?"
Please go back and reread "Inverse Inward" from a few days ago. Al Sharpton Makes the argument not to disturb the existing rules. He's been joined today by Jim Clyburn.
If Obama people got hosed by Fla. or Michigan being seated, they'd be justiably outraged. If they lose, straightup under the Rules of Engagement that we all accepted from jump street, I think you greatly underestimate their ability to accept that. You want to create a racial outrage where there is none even likely. As long as the Rules don't change, there will be relative harmony and People like Al Sharpton will see to it.
I think Barack Obama will layer some of his unfortunate rhetoric about a week ago concerning SuperD's and will also promote harmony.
Also, we're never gonna know the answer to this question if HRC doesn't winn TX,OH, and PA. It'll be moot.
TYFCB
UberUMR 11:29,
I'm saying the blacks who fought for civil rights have a little different perspective on the whole thing than us lily-white midwest boys.
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