John Lewis backs Biden:

[Kingofalldems]

Link to tweet

End of discussion.

[stonecutter357]

1. K&R

[hlthe2b]

2. I'm so thankful for John Lewis. What a treasure.

[emmaverybo]

5. +1000

[demigoddess]

51. a real National Treasure.

glad he is in the Congress.

[hlthe2b]

3. So does the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/19/joe-biden-segregationist-comments-1370844

[tishaLA]

7. Some in the CBC. Others pretended not to have heard what he said

or gave anodyne comments about working across differences, or thought the comments were wrong (Bobby Rush, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, all of whom are part of "the rest" of the CBC)

[Gothmog]

25. Civil rights heroes Lewis and Clyburn defend Biden

Link to tweet

[tishaLA]

26. That's fine. I was responding to a post that incorrectly asserted

"the rest" of the CBC, in addition to Rep Lewis, supports VP Biden. As my post indicates, that's untrue.

[Gothmog]

48. Black lawmakers get Biden's back amid 'segregationist' uproar

It appears that a good number of these leaders are supporting Joe Biden in the real world https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/19/joe-biden-segregationist-comments-1370844

Senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus leaped to former Vice President Joe Biden’s defense Wednesday after he touted his bipartisan work with known segregationists as a time of “civility.”....

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said he had yet to see Biden’s full remarks from the fundraiser but agreed with his overall sentiment.

“I disagree with the overwhelming items that have come out of the mouth of Donald J. Trump. But we managed to work together with his administration to enact historic criminal justice reform,” Jeffries said.

“I think we here in the House Democratic Caucus have ourselves taken the position that sometimes you have to work with the opposition to the extent they’re in power without compromising your values if you can get things done.”

“If he was able to work with Eastland, he’s a great person,” Rep. Bennie Thompson, who represents a district in Eastland’s home state of Mississippi, said of Biden.

[tishaLA]

50. Again, I was responding to a specific claim that was untrue.

[hlthe2b]

53. Given that is the exact article I posted, I beg to argue. I didn't say all. I repeated what

article said. You want to point out the abstainers, fine--there will always be a few in any incidence or circumstance. But enough. The point remains. The majority of CBC led by Lewis and Clyburn are defending and behind Biden.

[tishaLA]

54. The OP says that John Lewis supports VP Biden

I replied to someone who said that "the rest" of the CBC does, too. But they don't. Sens Harris and Booker, for example, are in the CBC, as is Bobby Rush. And many members of the CBC have not made statements or pretended they hadn't heard what VP Biden said.

[hlthe2b]

55. Do you pay any attention to whom you are replying? Apparently not, as "that poster" was me.

Forget it. I don't know your motivation, but you clearly seem intent on discounting the likes of Lewis and Clyburn (and all the other CBC members who DO defend Biden). Lewis is one of the best among us and I'm not having it.

[tishaLA]

57. If you were the poster, presumably you'd know that you typed "the rest"

of the CBC supported VP Biden on this matter and I shouldn't have to explain that trying to erase Sens Harris and Booker, to say nothing of Rep Rush, isn't great. I don't even know how many of the senior members of the CBC feel about it. I haven't seen a statement from Rep Waters or Lee, for example, and I don't want to presume to know what "the rest" who haven't spoken about it believe.

[hlthe2b]

58. You keep posting yet pay no attention to whom you are addressing or to what. What is your point?

Just to be disrespectful?

[tishaLA]

59. No, my aim is to correct an error about "the rest" of the CBC

and its response to VP Biden's remarks

[revmclaren]

4. I wonder how many people will now try

to downplay this and trash John Lewis.

Usual suspects in 3-2-1...

Go Joe!!!

ONLY!!! 2019 and beyond.

[Iliyah]

10. Wonder how many people will trash John Lewis.

[revmclaren]

16. Exactly...

ONLY 2019 and beyond.

[Gothmog]

19. I was a delegate to the 2016 National Convention

I saw how the sanders delegates treated Congressman John Lewis. My whip warned me of the plan to boo Congressman John Lewis 20 to 30 minutes in advance. It was really a sad stunt

[joshcryer]

22. That shit still enrages me.

I don't even like to think about it which is why I've not even been involved in politics in 2 years. It's just so insane to me.

[NBachers]

38. That alone is enough to set my teeth to grinding with rage at every sanders supporter.

There is no human being whom I have more respect and admiration for than John Lewis.

[Gothmog]

46. I was shocked when I got the warning from my whip

[ucrdem]

6. So glad he said this.

[Tiggeroshii]

8. That's really fucking profound.

John Lewis reiterated something to put what happened in perspective: Biden said something very profound in the worst way possible. It's kinda how he does things and it is an endearing quality that will actually make him stick out in the crowd in the long run and can be more of an asset than a liability. I'm worried that he isn't our strongest candidate, and I don't think he is. But he certainly is far from our weakest, and if he does eventually win the nomination -it will be because his liabilities will actually be used as assets, and connect with the electorate in far more deeply meaningful ways than has been done in the past by others.

[SouthernProgressive]

9. "Biden said something very profound in the worst way possible."

No. That's what a bunch of people trying to use race for political means are saying he did. And that is the great offense here. There is a word for it and it's what many are trying to insinuate what Biden is supportive of.

[Tiggeroshii]

12. It was absolutely the worst way he could've said it simply because they were able to pervert what he

said so easily. If he was more tactful, nobody would have been able to blow it up the way it was. He said a good thing, but it was easily misinterpreted, which means he said it poorly.

[SouthernProgressive]

15. "pervert what he said"

Exactly what they are doing. Thank you. It's extremely offensive to use race in such a manner.

[Dream Girl]

34. No it just means people are looking for shit to "get" him on

[Nuggets]

14. Yep

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

[CentralMass]

63. There was nothing profound about working with those segregationist senators in the 70's

considering what the were working on.

[MadDAsHell]

64. We need to roll back any law that was passed in the 70's. Pretend it never happened. nt

[Gothmog]

18. According to Symone Sanders, Biden did not praise a segregationist

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[mcar]

39. She is correct

Biden did not praise a segregationist.

[Tiggeroshii]

47. Agreed

[Gothmog]

49. John Lewis backs Biden, says segregationist comments were not offensive

From the Politico article https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/21/john-lewis-joe-biden-segregationist-comments-1376364

Civil rights icon John Lewis said Friday that former Vice President Joe Biden's remarks about his past work with segregationists in the Senate were not offensive, offering the 2020 Democratic front-runner a lifeline after a week of withering criticism from other White House hopefuls.....

But Lewis, like several other prominent African-American lawmakers, had Biden’s back with a full-throated defense of the front-runner.

“I don't think the remarks are offensive,” Lewis (D-Ga.) told reporters, recounting the range of unsavory people he’s worked shoulder to shoulder with. “During the height of the civil rights movement we worked with people and got to know people that were members of the Klan — people who opposed us, even people who beat us, and arrested us and jailed us.”

But, the longtime Georgia congressman declared, “We never gave up on our fellow human beings, and I will not give up on any human being."

[Tiggeroshii]

66. The only issue I have with this post, is this:

How has John Lewis never decided to run for President?

He would be amazing.

[yaesu]

11. Biden is a statesman, working with people who are apposed to you is what statesman do, but

there will be no common ground with the corporate Mc Turtle fascists in charge today.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. one thing I am not hearing one thing about:

what was Biden trying to accomplish by negotiating with the racist Senators.

I am reminded of my dearly departed friend Speaker of the House Jim Wright who spent the last 20 years of his life greatly saddened by the increasing inability of the Congress to work things out between the Houses and ultimately the White House. He spoke about it often.

I miss him so much and often wonder what he would have to say about the current debacle. Sometimes I think the small tremors which occur around here from time to time are not due to fracking but to the Speaker rolling in his grave out there in Weatherford

[Gothmog]

17. Congressman John Lewis is indeed a national treasure

This is a major endorsement. I was at the National Convention when the sanders delegates engaged in a planned stunt of booing Congressman John Lewis. The Clinton campaign had a great "whipping infrastructure" and my whip warned me of this stunt 20 to 30 minutes in advance. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop this planned stunt and declined.

I have been privileged to hear Congressman John Lewis tell his "preaching to chickens" story four times in person

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

This is a major endorsement

[James48]

37. IT IS NOT AN ENDORSAEMENT

Lewis has NOT endorsed anyone-

He simply said that he was not offended by Biden's remarks.

That's a HUGE difference.

[Gothmog]

42. Time will tell

I am very confident that Congressman John Lewis will not be endorsing the candidate supported by the people who booed him at the National Convention

[saidsimplesimon]

41. You reminded me of a very

long and enduring thread on DU before the 2016 elections, I think the title was "Counting Chickens" and other related subjects. It was so full of humour, word play, I still smile when thinking of it. Sorry, I did not bookmark the thread.

[Scurrilous]

20. K&R

[grantcart]

21. Just when you think there isn't a higher road John Lewis goes even higher.

[MFGsunny]

23. Aaaaaaaaaamen! n/t

[Gothmog]

24. Rep. John Lewis with a powerful defense of @JoeBiden: "I don't think the remarks are offensive.

Link to tweet

[Polly Hennessey]

27. Thank you, Mr. Lewis.

Booker and Harris are hurting their chances by not understanding what Joe was saying and trying to use his statements for political gain.

[Hulk]

28. My bad....thought it was an endorsement.

Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2019, 04:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Way too early to put my personal support behind any one candidate. There are only a couple I would prefer NOT get the nomination, but the majority are solid.

Why should anyone care who John Lewis supports anyway...or any other person, politician, celebrity, etc. Asinine that we are expected to be so lazy to care what another single person wants, especially at this stage of the nomination.

[BlueStater]

32. He didn't endorse him.

"Backing" means he's covering for Biden's latest gaffe.

[mcar]

40. Wow

A. Lewis did not endorse Biden. He commented on the hair on fire issue du jour.

B. Why wouldn't Democrats care who the one of the most noted civil rights leaders endorses?

[MineralMan]

29. And Now, Moving on to the Next Thing...

Nothing lasts more than a week these days. Something else will come along for us to fret over very soon...

[Cattledog]

30. Words of wisdom.

[gordianot]

31. Biden still needs to be more careful.

As a leaning Biden supporter this worries me.

[sarabelle]

33. Thank you JL. We still have to worry about young blacks who demeaned the "old establishment blacks"

in 2016 and decided to sit out the election. The wounds have not healed and seemingly progressives have not learned any lessons from 2016. And many activists blacks still remain committed to destroying the party. Had we all been as wise as the black establishment and black women Trump would never have been elected.

Not bringing up 2016 to fight, but to remind us not to make the same mistakes again. If you can't learn from the past we will be living it in the future.

[George II]

35. Powerful statement from an elder statesman of the Civil Rights Movement.

[James48]

36. NOT EXACTLY-

What John Lewis said is that the comments were not offensive to him.

He did NOT say that he "Backs Biden".

Lewis has not formally endorsed any candidate, and the words "Backs Biden" can be misconstrued to make it sound like Lewis is endorsing Biden.

Lewis has not endorsed ANYONE.

Please make that clear!

[progressoid]

43. Right. It's more like Biden "defends" Biden

[TwilightZone]

45. In context, it is clear.

The context is in relation to the comments. Only by taking those two words out of context can it be misconstrued.

[Cha]

62. Spin it anyway you want.. John Lewis has

Biden's Back.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. Wise and savvy man!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

52. K&R

[NYMinute]

56. Take that David Sirota!! nt

[aikoaiko]

60. And the old school wagons circle up.

[Kingofalldems]

61. I don't get it.

[Cha]

67. Yeah, too bad for some that

John Lewis has Biden's Back.

[aikoaiko]

69. As you say, it is what it is.

[hughee99]

65. Thank god for John Lewis! Without him, people would have to decide for themselves

What they think is offensive.

[BootinUp]

68. Old and wise not to mention he's like a real hero. Nt