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DEL.ICIO.USJohn Lewis no longer groovy? Hutchins to oppose him
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Rev. Markel Hutchins will announce today that he’s going to oppose Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta in the Democratic primary this July, saying the civil rights icon who has represented the city in Congress for two decades is un-hip.
Hutchins, who calls himself the “next generation civil rights activist,” will make his announcement at 5:30 p.m. on the bridge near the Richard Russell Federal Building, 75 Spring Street SW.
Hutchins, 30, is pitching his campaign as a generational changing of the guard and himself as the youthful face of the Hip-Hop generation, with which, he said, Lewis is out of touch. The race, he said, is a choice between “the generation that started the movement to the one poised to continue it.”
As evidence of a gap between Lewis and young, civic-minded activists, Hutchins points to Lewis’ decision to back Sen. Hillary Clinton instead of Sen. Barack Obama in the presidential race even though Obama is the first truly viable African American to run for president and the overwhelming favorite in Georgia’s Democratic primary this month.
Hutchins characterized Lewis’ choice of Clinton as a “decision to separate himself from his own electorate.”
Lewis, who spent much of his youth at the forefront of civil rights movement, enduring police beatings and threats, was recently quoted by the New York Times as saying that he was prepared to shift his support to Obama. But Lewis’ people have disavowed the report.
Lewis is 67. If that’s too old to be hip, it’s only going to get worse. On Thursday, he turns 68.
UPDATE: Just minutes before Hutchins was to announce his candidacy, we got a message from Lewis’ campaign reassuring us that Lewis isn’t too old to slug it would with Hutchins.
“Leadership cannot be given. It has to be earned with respect and integrity,” Lewis said in a statement that had a sit-down-junior tone to it.
“There is no question that something is happening in America,” Lewis said. “There is a movement, a movement I helped give birth to, that creates the conditions and the climate for change. I have always been a fighter.”
Comments
By RJ
February 20, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
This spells trouble for Lewis because not only is this young man articulate and well thought of in the district, he has embraced a message that will go over well the youth crowd, who is expected to turn out in record numbers in November.
Just like the Evangilicals in the last election, they have been stirred by their association the successful candidacy of Obama, regardless of whether he wins the nomination.
By PB
February 20, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
The problem for Hutchins is that he maybe a Democrat running against a Democratic incumbent who in general is well-liked and that will be in a primary in the middle of July when less young people will focus on campaigns let alone who will be the Congressman in the fifth Congressional District. If people don’t believe me on that, all one has to do is look at how badly state Representative Able “Mable” Thomas did against Lewis back in the 1992 Democratic primary, in basically the same district (another thing though that might work in Lewis’ favor is the fact he has actually picked up more Jewish voters in DeKalb County since the 1992 elections). If Lewis was as outspokenly unstable as former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, I might see Hutchins with a chance, but not against Lewis (with or without Lewis’ endorsement in the Presidential primary).
By RJ
February 20, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
PB, A movement for change can create a wide broom. Rationality is often cast aside in a movement
The problem for Lewis is that he took the lead and his district did not follow. Can this variance in a receptive change message environment be successfully exploited? The answer is not that simple.
Although Lewis is well liked and responds to the interests of his district, will the voters respond to the argument that the challenges of the future requires new and more youthful leadership?
PB, note that I pose questions rather than postulations because the outcome is anybody’s guess.
One thing for sure, for the pundits the competition and the outcome will be interesting indeed.
By Little One
February 20, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this
GAME ON!
By rss
February 20, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
Are you guys forgetting that Markel Hutchins was arrested for writing a bad check in 2006?! Do you really want someone representing you who can’t clear a $275 check?!
By Joy
February 20, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
If John Lewis and the rest of the overrated civil rights folks want us to believe that Martin Luther King would not have supported Barak in the 21st century, then we have not really overcome. Does sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom mean that much to them that they would go against the electorate? Hutchinson will have my vote and my money.
By JimmieFromDayton
February 20, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
RSS, trust me. The days of old political tricks are soon comming to an end. The people want change and anyone who’s not with the people will not survive. You can bet on that. Oh, and I wonder who Senator Obama will be supporting in this race…..Hmmmm very interesting! See you in July Mr Lewis. We Want Change!!!!!
By Tricia
February 20, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
I have as much respect for Black AMERICAN history and reverence for those that made many of our “civil luxuries” possible as the next person - perhaps even more so…but the time comes for every man (& woman) to pass the torch. Particularly for those that have outlived the usefulness of their station.
I mean no disrespect to Congressman Lewis or his contributions to Georgia, black folks or America. But we have to be realistic — there is CHANGE coming — in order to keep pace, and perhaps direct its course, one must have the clarity, passion and ENERGY to keep up. We may only get this shot at opportunity ONCE. The passing of the guard happens for a reason — sometimes the guard is TIRED and needs to SIT DOWN. Sometimes, new blood, new energy, new attitudes and as Dr. King said, “new mental responses” are required to “do what the new situation demands”.
We indeed have a “new situation”. Knock it out of the box Markel.
By Tricia
February 20, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
I have as much respect for Black AMERICAN history and reverence for those that made many of our “civil luxuries” possible as the next person - perhaps even more so…but the time comes for every man (& woman) to pass the torch. Particularly for those that have outlived the usefulness of their station.
I mean no disrespect to Congressman Lewis or his contributions to Georgia, black folks or America. But we have to be realistic — there is CHANGE coming — in order to keep pace, and perhaps direct its course, one must have the clarity, passion and ENERGY to keep up. We may only get this shot at opportunity ONCE. The passing of the guard happens for a reason — sometimes the guard is TIRED and needs to SIT DOWN. Sometimes, new blood, new energy, new attitudes and as Dr. King said, “new mental responses” are required to “do what the new situation demands”.
We indeed have a “new situation”. Knock it out of the box Markel.
By Tricia
February 20, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this
I have as much respect for Black AMERICAN history and reverence for those that made many of our “civil luxuries” possible as the next person - perhaps even more so…but the time comes for every man (& woman) to pass the torch. Particularly for those that have outlived the usefulness of their station.
I mean no disrespect to Congressman Lewis or his contributions to Georgia, black folks or America. But we have to be realistic — there is CHANGE coming — in order to keep pace, and perhaps direct its course, one must have the clarity, passion and ENERGY to keep up. We may only get this shot at opportunity ONCE. The passing of the guard happens for a reason — sometimes the guard is TIRED and needs to SIT DOWN. Sometimes, new blood, new energy, new attitudes and as Dr. King said, “new mental responses” are required to “do what the new situation demands”.
We indeed have a “new situation”. Knock it out of the box Markel.
By gadzooks
February 20, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
Hutchins is a race pimp who only cares about personal aggrandizement.
By Changer
February 21, 2008 4:24 AM | Link to this
Out with the old dusty bootlickers and in with the new, free and independent!
Change is catching. Yes we can!
By Changer
February 21, 2008 4:32 AM | Link to this
A time has come when you no longer have to sell your soul and your constituency to gain what the constitution afforded you in the first place. If you will see yourself as equal, you will be treated equally and you will finally be free!
By GB
February 21, 2008 6:25 AM | Link to this
It is interesting to note that the challenger cites Obama’s race as the reason Lewis should be supporting him. When white people harbor such sentiments they are considered racists. Black people, however, are permitted to judge others by their skin color.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
February 21, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
Democrats were the ORIGINAL party of SLAVERY, as they continue to ENSLAVE us ALL! Dont EVER vote for another one!
By KH
February 21, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
I would love to see someone successfully run against John Lewis. Just make it anyone but Markel Hutchins. He is a poverty pimp and biggest political opportunist to come down the pipe in a long time. We want change, not the same old warmed over civil rights schtick in a younger body.
By Tom
February 21, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Atlanta, GA (AP) - Sen Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) today brought a bill to the floor of the General Assembly that would force the end of Iranian nuclear development, hold back the tides, and cure genital herpes.
Film at 11:00.
* *
By 5thDistVoter
February 21, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
When I heard Markel on the TV news saying about John Lewis “what have you done for me lately?”, all I could think of was Cynthia McKinney. I was so proud to be redistricted out of the 4th and into the 5th District, where I could be proud to have a truthful, productive Congressman, who has power, uses it wisely, and has done a lot for our district every year that he’s been there — the whole district, not just his best friends. Do you really want to be represented by a guy who writes bad checks? That’s not who Obama is. That’s why he’s winning — he a perfect example that the black community has great people to put in office, not just crazies like Cynthia or check-bouncers like Markel. If you think Obama would back a Markel Hutchins, you’re going to be very disappointed.
By Judy Fambro
February 21, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
I am very proud of Congressman Lewis’s leadership. I am also proud of his endorsement of Senator Clinton. How soon we forget the accomplishments of the Clinton administration. As well as Hillary was the only one to step out and talk about the right wing conspiracy that eventually came into fuition with 911 and Iraq war. She is brave and has the experience. If never before I support Congressman Lewis for his decision to support the best candidate. This has nothing to do with the skills and intelligence of Obama this is just NOT the right time and I really wish he would have run for Governor of Illionois first. At least Hillary’s right-hand have the EXPERIENCE and the HISTORY of creating jobs, small businesses and a budget surplus. I want change too! A WOMAN.
By WEHines
February 21, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
I’m a supporter of Sen. Obama, however it irritates me greatly to hear anyone question an Afican-American’s choice of Sen. Clinton as their candidate simply because she isn’t black. I have chosen to support Sen. Obama because I believe him to be the best candidate - period. If someone else comes to the same conclusion regarding Sen. Clinton, I hope he/she will vote for her.
By Brett
February 22, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Finally, someone has the balls to stand up to John Lewis. I have great respect for the guy as a civil rights veteran, but he’s completely beholden to the Democratic machine. And because of his iconic status, he has run for re-election unopposed for years. I’m not sure if this newcomer is what I’m looking for in his replacment, but with someone opposing him in the Democratic primary, maybe a Republican or Libertarian would join the race after smelling the blood in the water. We can only hope.
By Jake
February 24, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Get real, Brett. The day a Republican or Libertarian wins the 5th district is day the Democrats sweep the rest of Georgia’s congressional seats.
By otimio vasquez
February 27, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
the rev markel hutchins can be elected and is better human beign than the clintons if people are overlooking the corrupt politiciians clinton team bill got impeach as president and he had sexual relations in the white house and his still running around the country acting like his a good role model for our youth and people actually look up to him
By George
March 1, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
“There is CHANGE coming”… this sentiment makes think that far too many people have bought into campaign rhetoric. The only substantive “change” coming is a change in presidency… and that’s going to happen regardless. As to Obama’s readiness for this position and ability to carry out the plethora of promises he’s making… well, I’m not holding my breath. He’s no different than any other politician making promises to people ready for change. No different. And he will deliver… no difference.
By Black Baptist Jesus
March 1, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Oh, Uncle Tom why? Jesus said don’t follow false idols and I wouldn’t vote for either one of these race baitors shock the World vote for a liberal Jew to save the mess yall created you know in our hearts only a Jew can save Grady Hospital
By DetroitRockCity
March 1, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
You can have our mayor only a Southern Black man could give him a 2nd chance the ugly whites want to kick him to the curb just for cheating on his wife, lying about it, and wearing bling. Word.