Political Insider

By Brigette

February 27, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

Lewis is in sizeable trouble. Hutchins may have a helluva of a shot at taking down old John. No one can dispute that John is a “saint” but he does done very little for his district. Furthermore, Obama supporters are not likely to forgive him for playing coy and ignoring them for a month while us Clinton supporters are not likely to forget his on-again, off-again loyalty. This mess is really politics at there worst. One word for Lewis - Yuck!

By Little One

February 27, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this

When I first heard about this, I thought there was no this guy had a chance. But the more I think about, the more I think if Hutchins runs a smart, focused campaign then he might just win it. Lewis hasn’t had to answer to anybody in far too long.

By Lee

February 27, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

John Lewis did the right thing. He did not undermine the voters of his district. He also understands that the voters should decide elections - not politicians. John Lewis did not silence the voices of his constituents, he simply amplified their voices.

By Jaimie Evans

February 27, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this

Oh brother. Hutchins couldn’t claw his way out of a wet paper bag and there is NO WAY, repeat NO—WAY— he will beat Congressman Lewis.

Me thinks Hillary’s supporters are logging on here feeling a bit perturbed.

Kudos to you Congressman Lewis! I am so happy to hear that you’re supporting Senator Barack Obama!!

Jaimie

By minister slack daddy

February 27, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this

Hey how ‘bout we quit electing race-baiters and apologists let’s get real we sold out the Clintons for a brother with soul and I’m totally cool with that ya’ll peeps who call him the 1st black prez are biting your tongues today after 25 yrs. mj had it right…I’m looking at the man in the mirror

By Al Moreno

February 27, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this

The news of John Lewis defecting shouldn’t be a great surprise. The good news is that soon we will not have to put up with his lack of commitment and betrayal

By RJ

February 27, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this

Mr. Hutchins… I do not know you personally, however, I believe your public personna bodes well for victory. Toward that end, I offer the following unsolicited advice.

Be respectful but call John into account. The Congressional seat he holds is in the capacity of an elected official, not a civil rights icon. Being a civil rights icon may have gotten him into Congress but performance is what should keep him there. There is a service and a policy making aspect to the job of a Congressman. Do your research to ensure that any shortcomings you bring to light are backed up with the facts.

As the biblical phrase goes, “There is a time and a season for all things.” Some of our great heroes of history did not recognize when they should step aside and move into another phase of their lives. As a conseqence, they had to be pushed.

It is most unfortunate that John Lewis missed his golden opportunity to exemplify his public personna.

It is significant moments in time that test the soul and John clearly failed his second one.

By KYJurisDoctor

February 27, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this

It sounds like the sinking SS Billary Clinton is being abandoned!

http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://RealConservativesSpeak.com

By KYJurisDoctor

February 27, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this

It sounds like the sinking SS Billary Clinton is being abandoned!

http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://RealConservativesSpeak.com

By Retired

February 27, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this

I don;t see how folks can say that Lewis did the right thing to switch. He came out for Hillary before the primary. After she lost, Lewis switches his vote even before the rest of the primaries are held. He proved that his word isn’t worth the effort he used to utter it, and in my mind he just showed his true colors (no pun intended).

By Churchill

February 27, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this

Ru Paul is the only candidate that can save Hillary now. She should pick him as her veep.

By Jon Stephens

February 27, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this

With friends like Lewis, Senator Clinton doesn’t need enemies. Why should anyone ever trust Lewis or other Johnny-come-lately switchers? Talk about wafflers and flip-flop politicos. Shame.

By Cheryl

February 27, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this

I have long admired John Lewis. He has been an unmistakeable freedom fighter during the 60s but when I heard he was backing Hillary Clinton, I was disappointed, suprised and utterly shocked. I understand commtment and he had given her his word for support early on. With that said, his constituents spoke very loudly and very clearly when they voted in a landslide victory for Obama. That is when he should have made a move. Let’s remember everyone: Politicians are not in office to do favors and be devoted to ONE ANOTHER. Their primary job and the reason they were elected is because people feel that this person will represent their constituents. He is to be the voice of all of his constituents combined. Endorsing Hillary showed he did not heed the voice of his constituents. I think he did the right thing by now backing Obama but it’s just TOO LATE. He could have come out earlier and looked like a champ by saying, “I’m going with the way my constituents voted.” But now he simply looks like he doesn’t know WHATS going on. I think his seat up for grabs is a good thing. he may hav done well in the past, but his time is up. I’m glad now that someone else, a young person preferably will take his seat and REALLY represent the voices of the masses of people. Let’s be serious, we can’t afford to have political favors jeopardize our opinions! Any politician who does this shows their true colors. I respect John lewis for his work in the past, his BLoody Sunday beating and his SNCC affiliation but he is clearly out of touch with the real people who count: his constituents!

By Churchill

February 27, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

Cheryl would like to buy a paragraph.

By jim

February 27, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this

It is unfortunate that Rep.John Lewis is not a man of his word. He has done so much as a man of great integrity and steadfastness and now to sell out in his golden years.

By Sue

February 28, 2008 12:11 AM | Link to this

Racism is alive and well in America. Mr. Lewis is a hypocrite. He has betrayed everything he fought for in the 60’s civil rights movement. He has proven to me that he is not a man of his word and that skin color trumps loyalty and friendships. Has anyone read Michelle Obama’s college thesis? Boy does she hate white peeps.

By Churchill

February 28, 2008 12:45 AM | Link to this

More race baiting by the Clintoniods. Sue is a perfect example. Lewis has wandered off the “Established Democrat Plantation,” and the Clinton supporters are fuming. I love how Sue, again, played the race card with her last sentence.

Anybody but Her!!

By Belin

February 28, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this

I am very disappointed with John Lewis. He endorsed Hillary Clinton and now he wants to get on the bandwagon for Obama. He is wishy washy. Too late now. No one will be able to rely on you for any support. He is disloyal and weak. It would have been more honorable that you continued your support for Hillary Clinton, regardless of the consequences.

By George Snyder

February 28, 2008 1:10 AM | Link to this

I fear that all this “serious” soul searching by John Lewis will come to naught, comes the fall election time if Mr. Obama is the Democratic choice.

Indeed, it is a sad spectacle to see Mr. Lewis behaving like the rest of Democratic Obama supporters who are more interested in getting a ride on the flashy Obama bandwagon than in finding out where the bandwagon is really heading first.

Unlike the vast majority of my fellow Democrats, I actually did some serious digging around to discover Barack Obama’s past rather than fall for the same “soul-searching” melodrama that Democrats like Mr. Lewis, the Kennedys, John Kerry, and their lesser luminaries are claiming to base their decision for Mr. Obama, and the result is eye-opening.

In fact what I found was so alarming that, even seven month before the explosive Republican attack ads that would use the same materials I found come out, I have decided for the first time in quarter of a century not to vote Democratic if Obama is the Democratic nominee.

I am quite certain when the unseemly past of Barack Obama that he has been careful to obscure in his life and his semi-fictional biography finally sees the light of day, enough moderate Democrats and independents will vote for John McCain to give him the presidency. I will feel sorry then as a Democrat, but I will feel better as an American. That’s more important in the end.

By Lynn

February 28, 2008 5:11 AM | Link to this

Ru Paul is the only candidate that can save Hillary now. She should pick him as her veep. I will paste this news in my profile on the dating site http://www.MeetWealthyBoomer.com. It’s a dating site for middle aged singles and older singles to meet love and romance. Also, as a part-time model, I uploaded my best photos taken on beach with my lovely bikini. You may …

By Sleepless in the 5th

February 28, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

I won’t be voting Democratic in the fall regardless of the ultimate nominee. If I had the opportunity I would vote against John Lewis in the 5th District Congressional races, but seeing as how he has apparently been given a lifetime appointment and runs unopposed every time, I don’t even get that small pleasure.

Will say this though, if Lewis were truly “The conscience of the Congress” as he is portrayed, then he will vote for Clinton if he truly feels she is the best candidate - regardless of what the majority of his supporters think.

It will blow over though, and he, along with Shirley Franklin and Andrew Young, will soon be doing ads on black radio stations race baiting the impressionable into voting for Obama in the fall simply because he is black and other guy isn’t.

Racial politics still exists. John Lewis has spent his post-civil rights career making sure of that fact.

By RMG

February 28, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

I am not a big fan of Hutchinson’s, but he makes a very good point. This morning on V103, Frankski & Wanda had a very informative discussion regarding John Lewis’ endorsement and comments about Sen. Barack Obama. It is amazing to me that someone who fought so hard for Civil Rights is not rejoicing in the fact that we have an articulate, experienced, intelligent, and worthy presidential candidate. I do not believe in voting for someone simply because of their race, but we (African Americans) have so little faith in ourselves that it is a shame.

BTW, I am so sick of people attacking Sen. Obama about his African attire, his middle name, and his wife’s so-called anti-American comments. When is someone going to discuss some real issues?

Go Barack Go!!!

By Copyleft

February 28, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Hutchins is a funny, funny man. “Lewis should spend more time listening to his constitutents”? And this is in reaction to Lewis doing exactly what his constituents said they wanted?

Oh, that’s a knee-slapper, that is!

By ChangeAgent

February 28, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

Copyleft, It’s not as funny as you make it out to be. I believe that Hutchins is dead on in his analysis. If Lewis hadn’t put his political loyalties ahead of his constituents in the first place then he wouldn’t have to come back 3 weeks after the primary, in the midst of a political firestorm and clean up what he messed up. At the very least Lewis exhibited very poor judgment and political strategy in how he’s veiled himself in secrecy these past few weeks.

I phersonally hope that Obama takes a whole new cadre of political leadership to Washington with him. He can’t do it alone!

By ace

March 25, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this

It is funny that no one really knows WHO this Markel Hutchins is. As I recall, was he not arrested for writing a bad check? What else has this guy done except wedge himself into the Atlanta police scandal? And where did the “REV. DR.” get his degrees from? I think people need to start looking into this guys past. John Lewis might not be the best or even the smartest BUT he seems to be less shady than “Rev. Dr.”