As the honorable man he is, he walked back his previous unfortunate statement about Sen. Sanders.

I have always liked him and still do. I think his comments were taken out of context.
It is a good thing inasmuch as the Bernie picture thing opened a can of worms.
I cannot fathom Hillary being involved in swift-boating Bernie. If she is that naive
there is no way she can lead this country.

Too many of our politicians choose to let their cohorts play dirty as long as
they remain uninformed -

I think that many of us pick our loyalties through emotion. I think that Lewis feels loyalty to Clinton.

is better, when the other side is working day and night to stop minorities from voting, buying property in their neighborhoods, etc.

those rat bastards.

Thank you for linking that song. I have alway's loved Queen and their music.

We'll fight the GE when we have a candidate

eom

And I'm glad. Though the damage it was still and honorable thing to do. After all how many folks out there would admit they were wrong that clearly (i.e. no weasel words).

That is what a man of integrity does. Unlike Jonathan Capehart, who is doubling down on his lie.

Last edited Sat Feb 13, 2016, 04:42 PM - Edit history (1)

at the DNC event where the Congressional Black Caucus PAC endorsed Clinton.

>Lewis' reply to press question about Bernie Sanders who was involved in civil rights work in the Chicago area:

--> "I never saw him, I never met him. I was the chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) for three years, 1963-1966. I was involved in the sit- ins, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the march from Selma to Montgomery and directed voter education project for six years. But I met Hillary Clinton. I met President Clinton."

*WATCH the Video & read the Article, for Lewis' comments at the Hillary Clinton endorsement press conference at the DNC, Feb. 11.
http://www.inquisitr.com/2787378/john-lewis-reportedly-questions-bernie-sanders-civil-rights-history-media-claims-lewis-statements-inconsistent/

(The MSNBC link of this just copied and posted here, was soon replaced with a session on Corey Booker today).
------
>What unfortunate statements that concerned many and were reported widely in the media.

I think we need further clarification - at least I do. I'd like to know exactly when he met them. He is implying with this statement that he did not meet Bernie during those years, but he did meet the Clintons during those specific years (63-66). We know that she enrolled at Wellesley College in 1965, where she majored in political science (source: Wiki). So she knew her when she was quite young (I thought she was a Goldwater Girl at that time?).

It's fine if he likes the Clintons and appreciates their efforts, but his statements really make me wonder if he's exaggerating their involvement because he likes them.

section on the Clintons in John Lewis' book, it says he heard of Bill in the 70s, paid attention at the '88 convention, and met him in '91. Or something very close to that. Unless there's more evidence or recollections it doesn't seem to add up. And I think the matter will remain closed now, officially anyway.

"But I met Hillary"--
While I admire Mr Lewis, it's plain that there is something going on behind the scenes.

but it's clear what he was implying, and I'm really disappointed he did that.

Politics is a dirty business, but I hate seeing the politicians I admire sinking to that kind of thing.

When he said what he said, it was obvious what he wanted people to infer, in my opinion...

If He Did Not Make Up To Outright Lies Out Of His Mouth -- Bernie was not an activist in the Civil Rights Movement & Bill/Hillary Clinton were.

Bernie was a Civil Rights Activist and Bill/Hillary Clinton Were not.

Guess That Means the Lies of David Brock Creation Have Begun Cracking But Shame The Congressman Let His Reputation Get Tied Into A David Brock Scheme.

met Hillary. All over Social Media AAs were outraged. I believe he has damaged his reputation which may be why he made this statement today.

While I'm glad that he has 'walked back' his statement he still has not explained how he met Clinton who was definitely a Goldwater girl at the time, and intrepid citizen journalists and actual journalists, produced all the evidence necessary to refute his unfortunate statement. He really had no choice but to try to walk it back.

.

It was the fact that she didn't even graduate high school until June 1965, the end of the period when Lewis claimed to have met her.

I don't know what her parents might have thought, but no way would I have let my daughter go traipsing off to god knows where when she was 15 or 16 years old. She got in enough trouble living right here at home with us.

Re Bill and Hillary. I won't hold my breath.

I once had ENORMOUS respect for him. Perhaps at age 75 his mind is slipping just a bit?

It's nuts to see how such a vague statement of yours can cause so much mayhem in such a short amount of time... But that's politics.

Glad to see some of the Bernie supporters jump out immediately to not get het up and to be respectful.
Sad to see some of the Bernie supporters not do that.

I expect JL to be a devout h supporter and I am perfectly fine with that. I have people in my own life who support Republicans and I love and respect them. I just won't vote like them.

And all people make mistakes. I'm happy he clarified, because it shows that he has caught wind that his comment left unclarified caused unnecessary confusion. And that shows he at least understands.

Maybe because it allowed the news media to run with it for two days and get the false message out to voters?

His office was flooded with calls

Put out the statement to make Bernie look bad on civil rights, or like he is a pretender, let your media surrogates amplify that statement around the world a hundred times, then put out a slight walk-back that gets little attention. The Clintons know this game like the back of their hands, it's who they are and how they roll.

If Lewis was just replying to the question the way his walk-back says, he would have used different phrasing and words when speaking about Bernie. Not buying it.

reference in the last sentence?

but he might have been winging it.

I just posted here (# 24) Lewis' comments to the reporter asking about Bernie after Lewis finished his announcement and was leaving the DNC Black Caucus Hillary endorsement event. Did Lewis have to state matters that way, go into such depth and add strange comments about meeting the Clintons I'm thinking.

I appreciate what he's trying to do, but he previous words were more than just a mis-speaking.

After He Said the Lie -- But Better Late Than Never....

I think John Lewis was set up.

When I watched the video of his statement that he didn't know Bernie, I thought, "He's only saying he didn't know Bernie, not saying Bernie was not part of the movement." Then I thought, "But why would he say he didn't know Bernie, if not to say Bernie was not part of the movement?"

Now John Lewis has answered that question. He made those statements about Bernie in response to questions. If you don't hear the questions asked, it looks like he's saying "I didn't know Bernie, so what he says about his history in the civil rights movement must be overblown." Once you know he is answering a question you didn't hear, it sounds different. I still don't know what question he was answering, but it sounds like most likely he said he didn't know Bernie back in the day because someone asked him whether he knew Bernie back in the day.

I'm glad Representative Lewis came forward with this, he will calm things a bit.

It's still the shiny object though, the DNC lifting restrictions under the radar is pretty ugly and should be the headline of the day.

corporate donors to the DNC/DWS/Hillary.

of Lewis' original remarks about Bernie raised by a reporter who mentioned Bernie's civil rights work in Chicago as Lewis was just about to leave the event.

Yes, real headline should be about *DNC just lifting Obama's ban on more lobbyist money coming in the last couple days.

I doubt he has any interest in sullying his reputation by being an attack dog.

You don't think all three of them weren't surprised at the backlash their dirty work for Clinton generated? And yes, all three of their reputations were sullied to some degree by their decision to climb down into the Clinton cesspool. Ergo the need for all three of them to walk back their comments. Times are changing and even long time icons of the left are learning that the people are no longer going to put up with the dirty, slimy political tactics the Clintons use to attain power and the message her supporters are starting to get is that if they stick their hands in that fire, they are going to get burned.

He is a good man with a generous, as well as brave, heart.

The quote was weird, and misleading whether by accident or (someone else's?) design. Given the other misleading attacks on Sanders' civil rights history rolled out in such a coordinated fashion after the last debate, "clarity" is the best policy here.

Good on Rep. Lewis.

still one of my heroes!

I think those kind of attacks are some of the most difficult given they usually unexpected, amorphous, and off-the-wall.

Most Democratic politicians were behind HRC because nobody believed that upstart junior senator from Illinois had a chance. We're seeing quite a bit of that again.

I never doubted that's what you meant.

With Time Magazine's hatchet job, I don't doubt that what their "reporter" said it exactly what he meant.

A simple answer to a direct question was spun until it was completely distorted for the express purpose of enraging Bernie's supporters.
Do not become a stereotype in a fit of anger. Bernie Bros are an artificial creation of propaganda. do not validate their propaganda.

Completely okay to ask for a statement to be clarified. Until proven to be under attack, keep your anger in check.


Panicking and over reacting should be left for the opposing side.

Bernie. Review the video. It wasn't a casual observation. Very disappointed in Lewis.

John Lewis on Thurs. Feb 11. Rather curious that Rep. Lewis went into it as much as he did, after finishing the official speech endorsing Hillary and almost leaving. Making an effort to reply to the reporter who mentioned Bernie, in that detailed fashion and the Clintons he said he also met seemed strange.
The story's been walked back but two days later after it's been all over the media.

Ben Jealous spoke about it on MSNBC this morning and said his mom also worked with civil rights groups in the 60s, and a bit more on Lewis' statements, with honesty and tact of course. What an unfortunate matter, but important timing as momentum heats up.

I apologize if I offended you, appalachiablue.

Peace.

Last edited Sun Feb 14, 2016, 09:36 PM - Edit history (1)

you didn't request it I know. And I'm made for research! No offense either, 9,000 posts today on DU, my first real intense 'forum experience' which has been great and I'm still standing. I can take pretty much. Not weird Miley Cyrus replies but otherwise it's good. Thanks for the note.

and soon Jonathan "Scoop" Capeheart - when will these people realize they're being USED - and that they've all suffered public embarrassment while Hillary barely blinks an eye.

As His Tweet Line is STILL Trying to Prove a Lie. #SMH...

I really think he's a paid operative as no one could be that unprofessional and just stupid at his age. He reported a story in all mediums which he had not in any way researched. He should never work again in that field.

The flying kitchen sink is launched...

Bernie Sanders as a marginal candidate. You can't expect that PoC will simply give out votes without earning them each and every election. This election is not about the past other than to gauge a candidate's trustworthiness and capacity to be our nominee.

Look back at how things have been going lately. Not very effing good regarding social justice, civil rights, etc. It is not all the Dems fault certainly, but some have promoted policies in the past that have adversely affected the lives of people of color.

The question now is how do these candidates propose to fix this and who has the best record to do just that. Opinions may vary.
In the end, it sure as hell is not any Republican.

were bad.....evil.

dirty politics of this type should be beneath a heroic figure such as John Lewis. I wonder what caused him to stoop so low as to signify in the manner he did that the Clinton's are far and away better than Bernie Sanders when it comes to Civil Rights in this nation. I for many years have known that the Clinton's are no friend of minorities per say. I believe they only do what they feel is best for themselves politically. I also feel they have a sort of belief that people of color somehow aren't quite as intelligent as others and that they will fall for any kind of B.S. they decide to throw at us. This walk back by John Lewis is a BFD in my opinion, the only thing that would be better is if he had not sullied his image with what I consider unintentional (maybe) dirty politics.

glad to see him clarifying his original statement. I also believe that the people Clinton has surrounded herself with in her campaign are very adept at using dirty tactics and innuendo to discredit opponents unfairly...even candidate Clinton herself with her coy "I don't know" about Obama's faith.

to be exploited by clintoncorp.

His comments were not trending well.

I am willing to move on. I am still not terrible happy about the second part of his original statement. BOTH, I don't really care when Bill and Hill got involved in Civil Rights issues or who they met while working on those issues.