In two separate items, Wash. Post misled on Obama's response to Lewis statement
SUMMARY: In two separate items, The Washington Post reported John McCain's accusation in the October 15 presidential debate that Sen. Barack Obama failed to repudiate comments by Rep. John Lewis without noting that Obama responded by pointing out that his campaign did, in fact, issue a statement saying that Lewis' invocation of George Wallace in criticizing the McCain-Palin ticket was not appropriate.
In his October 16 Washington Post "analysis" of the October 15 presidential debate, chief political reporter Dan Balz wrote that Sen. John McCain "accused" Sen. Barack Obama "of failing to repudiate some of the worst attacks leveled by Democratic allies, pointing to comments over the weekend by Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who compared McCain to segregationist George Wallace and warned that McCain and [Gov. Sarah] Palin were empowering the kind of sentiment that led to violence during the civil rights movement." Balz then purported to provide Obama's full response to McCain's claim that Obama "fail[ed] to repudiate" Lewis' remarks, writing, "Obama said the comparison with Wallace was inappropriate, but he also fired back at McCain" by noting controversial audience comments reportedly made at recent McCain-Palin campaign events. In fact, Obama not only said that Lewis "inappropriately drew a comparison between what was happening" at McCain-Palin events and "what had happened during the civil rights movement" -- he also noted during the debate that days earlier, his campaign had "immediately put out a statement saying that we don't think that comparison is appropriate."
Additionally, in a separate October 16 Post article, staff writers Michael D. Shear and Robert Barnes uncritically reported that McCain "told Obama that he should have renounced Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who said that McCain and Palin at their rallies 'were sowing the seeds of hatred and division,' reminding him of the tone set by the late segregationist Alabama governor George Wallace." Shear and Barnes then quoted McCain saying, "That, to me, was so hurtful. And Senator Obama, you didn't repudiate those remarks." Shear and Barnes did not note that, in fact, Obama said he disagreed with Lewis' reference to Wallace in the October 11 campaign statement. Nor did they mention that Obama again said Lewis' invocation of Wallace was "inappropriate[]" during the debate, when prompted by McCain to discuss the matter.
From Balz's October 16 Washington Post "analysis":
McCain accused Obama of failing to repudiate some of the worst attacks leveled by Democratic allies, pointing to comments over the weekend by Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who compared McCain to segregationist George Wallace and warned that McCain and Palin were empowering the kind of sentiment that led to violence during the civil rights movement.
"Senator Obama," he said, "you didn't repudiate those remarks. Every time there's been an out-of-bounds remark made by a Republican, no matter where they are, I have repudiated them."
Obama said the comparison with Wallace was inappropriate, but he also fired back at McCain, saying that at GOP rallies, "when my name came up, things like 'terrorist' and 'kill him,' . . . your running mate didn't mention, didn't stop, didn't say, 'Hold on a second -- that's kind of out of line.' "
From Shears and Barnes' October 16 Washington Post article:
McCain and Obama blamed each other for the negative tone of the campaign, with the Republican saying it was caused by his opponent's decision not to hold town hall meetings and because he "spent more money on negative ads than any political campaign in history."
McCain said Obama had backed out of his pledge to take public financing for his campaign and told him: "You didn't keep your word."
He also told Obama that he should have renounced Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who said that McCain and Palin at their rallies "were sowing the seeds of hatred and division," reminding him of the tone set by the late segregationist Alabama governor George Wallace.
"That, to me, was so hurtful," McCain said. "And Senator Obama, you didn't repudiate those remarks."
But today's republicans are racist. Check this new "food stamp" design from the Chaffey Community Republican Women:
and read about it here. It is also worth noting that Palin said she had no intentions of ever putting a black person on her staff. The comparison is quite appropriate regardless of how much those two want to deny it.
Wow. that article had several minority Republican women saying that this stuff sets back their attempts to recruit fellow minority people to their party...well duh? Think they would figure out what kind of party they're in by now...
Sure, Snoopy, play the Race Card....
Oh, no! You read Maulkin today and agreed with her, didn't you? We must save you. Quick, look over there - it's Ann Coulter!
John Lewis is more of an American Hero than John McCain ever could be. Shame on John McCain.
This is absurd. Grampy sat there and acted all hurt by the TRUE statement that Lewis made, after the slanderous crap his ignoramus running mate has repeatedly spewed about Obama.
What a hypocritical jerk.
I don't blame Obama for being forced to repudiate the remarks by Lewis. They were absolutely correct. I hope Obama doesn't truly believe Lewis's statement was inappropriate.
Wow. I am stunned, STUNNED, I tell you. And that doesn't happen to often. This is so utterly racist, I have no words, none.
The only saving grace is that you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, aye? Now that these people's true colours have been displayed for all to see, it can only garner more and more momentum for the progressive movement that is fueling this nation's clamour for CHANGE.
GO OBAMA!!!
It's amazing to me that Sen. Obama has been able to stick to the high road, given all the garbarge the McCain-Palin campaign has strewn about. Sen. Obama very rightly could have said, "Sen. McCain, I will not repudiate one of the heroes of the non-violent civil rights movement. My campaign did issue a statement saying I disagree with Congressman Lewis on this point. What more do you want? And what does this say about your judgement, senator, and your sense of loyalty? Congressman Lewis is one of three people YOU named at the Saddlebrook forum as the wise people you will consult as president. And now you are asking ME to repudiate him? No, senator, I disagree with this particular statement of his, but I embrace Congressman Lewis as a courageous, non-violent hero, while you repudiate him a few short weeks after praising him as one of the three wisest possible counselors you know. Defend your judgement and your sense of loyalty, senator, instead of asking me to turn on someone you briefly embraced for political purposes."