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DEL.ICIO.USWednesday debate won’t include Lewis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
John Lewis will be a no-show for the Wednesday night’s Atlanta Press Club debate. He has a prior commitment, said Tharon Johnson the Fifth U.S. District Democrat’s campaign manager.
“I hope the press club and the Atlanta voters understand that we want to keep our commitments to the people,” Johnson said.
Instead of sparring on TV with challengers Markel Hutchins and “Able” Mable Thomas, Lewis, is scheduled to attend a public meeting with East Point constituents. Johnson said Lewis had agreed to attend the East Point gathering before he received the press club’s invitation to the debate.
Johnson said the “press club first sent us a debate request for July 9th, a day when Congressman Lewis was going to be in D.C. voting. They came back with July 2, but we had a prior planned event on July 2.”
Thomas said she isn’t buying Lewis’s excuse.
“What he wants to do is duck and hide,” Thomas said. “He’s not interested in debating, so any excuse’ll do.”
Hutchins said “we are disappointed and a little taken aback that the Congressman doesn’t think it’s necessary to debate the critical issues of our time … Perhaps the Congressman is not confident in his ability to articulate his positions on the issues and his record of accomplishment for his constituents — or lack thereof.”
UPDATE: Johnson replied to the criticism: “They just want an opportunity to take cheapshots, but we welcome the opportunity to talk about the Congressman’s record if that’s what they want to talk about.”
— Ben Smith
Jim Galloway is on vacation. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com; and Jim Tharpe at jtharpe@ajc.com.
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Comments
By pookie
June 30, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
I love John Lewis, but I’m extremely upset that he doesn’t respect the citizens enough to debate those running against him. I was at Greenbriar Mall on Saturday & he wasn’t there & he won’t be at wsbtv. Does Mr. Johnson want me to believe that Mr. Lewis is magically busy every time there is a debate. As a citizen of the 5th District, I want, no I demand to here from my Congressman or else I may have to look at voting for someone else.
By Will Jones
June 30, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
John Lewis’ “gravy train” is pulling into the station and its time for him to get off. As Atlanta’s Representative, it is he who needs to answer to the Fifth District for the abysmal performance of Congress.
He must be taken to account for the absence of an Impeachment when 90% of us in his District know Bush and Cheney committed 9-11 to send us to false war.
Lewis has sold out to fascist plutocracy and must be retired.
Mable Thomas should be given the chance to do a better job for Dr. King’s hometown. Virtue is its own reward.
http://www.theamericanfundament.blogspot.com
By betty boop
June 30, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
What, a politician who honors a commitment when he could get top billing in a televised media based event!!!! John Lewis has always kept his commitments to Georgians. His prior scheduled commitment in East Point precludes him taking what would be, for him, a chance to showcase himself against far less able and less qualified opponents.
John has always been there for us and Betty Boop hopes he stays there in Washington doing his job with the grace he has always done it.
Betty Boop
By Qtpie
June 30, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
Contrary to what Mr. Hutchins says, John Lewis has been articulating his position on the issues since he was knee high to a caterpillar. And while Mr. Hutchins was busy dropping out of Morehouse College, Congressman Lewis was fighting for all of us in the 5th District. So why is he “magically busy” everytime there is a debate? Maybe it’s because he is a WORKING Congressman who, unlike Mr. Hutchins and Ms. Thomas, has a full-time, yearlong job—serving his constituents.
So why disappoint his constiutents who he made a promise to in order to come debate two unworthy opponents who will inevitably attempt to outshout each other? Old folks say don’t spend time arguing with fools because from a distance you can’t tell who is who.
I’m glad I live in a District where the Congressman’s dedication shows not only through his words, but through his deeds.
By james adee
June 30, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
mabke andmarkel don’t deserve to share a stage with “the boy from troy”.
By james adee
June 30, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
mabke andmarkel don’t deserve to share a stage with “the boy from troy”.
By james adee
June 30, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
mabke andmarkel don’t deserve to share a stage with “the boy from troy”.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
July 1, 2008 7:24 AM | Link to this
laughing…as IF either of these clowns are qualified to be a ‘leader’…pitiful choices including Lewis.
when ‘they’ start working to GET THE PEOPLE OFF THE PLANTATION, then they can be taken seriously. Strive to be smarter than a democrackkk, the ORIGINAL ‘party’ of SLAVERY, as they continue to ENSLAVE US ALL daily!
www.ERRVideo.com
This movie needs to be shown in every local venue!
By andy
July 1, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
It strikes me a little strange that Lewis spokesman says that “we” are glad to talk about his record. Is John that backwards that he can’t talk about his record without the help of others in an open debate???? Why does the press not follow up on who he is meeting with…was this a meeting put together at the last minute to avoid a T.V. appearance. Finally, not sure I would want someone named “Betty Boop” defending me (does not speak strongly about her ability to put together logical ideas).
By Bart
July 1, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Andy, you sure have a lot to say for someone who admittedly doesn’t know anything about any of this. Why would the readers care what strikes you a little strange? That the concept of Prior Commitment is lost on you says more about you than about Rep. Lewis. I can’t imagine Betty or anyone else wanting to defend you, so relax.
By SpaceyG
July 1, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
ANY Georgia politician, big or small, who choses to opt-out of televised debates should…. fear the chicken.
By GM
July 1, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
He has a responsibility to debate the issues in open forum. PERIOD.
By Matilda
July 1, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hey, where were y’all two years ago when sixth district Congressman TOM PRICE (R-Weasel) repeatdly AGREED TO debate his opponent Steve Sinton (D- rock & roll hall of fame) at a specific date and time, and THEN “got tied up” and “couldn’t make it.” That’s the true meaning of “no show.”
Of course, the newspaper hacks did not report this (despite my phone calls and emails requesting that they actually cover the election news), because big swaggering money GOP’ers get special treatment in this corner of the world. (Call Ray Appen, Publisher, “Review & News” driveway rags.) But now that you know, why don’t you tell us how irresponsible Tom Price is? Good news: Price is opposed once again by Bill Jones (D-thats his real name).
By Juan
July 3, 2008 5:28 AM | Link to this
I am still trying to figure out how so many people throughout Atlanta are seriously talking about voting for Vernon Jones for a U.S. Senate seat representing Georgia. Apparently they have forgotten that Vernon Jones is an individual who has no real respect for women whatsoever, and has a proven history of abusing them both in his own home and by using his current position as CEO of Dekalb County to interfere with their job.
And people want him to represent them at the national level? Are people mentally ill or what? Give me a break! If anything, the guy should be trying to find a deep hole to climb into over the way he has continually mistreated mostly ever female whom he has either got behind closed doors or attempted to sabotage due to his current position.
WAKE UP GEORGIA! Vote you should, but definitely NOT for Vernon Jones!
By Ed
July 3, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
Rest assured this area of the state will continue in the tradition of picking the dumbest of the dumb to represent them. John Lewis and his inability to articulate a sentence and his great ability of riding the coat-tails of any issue that will promote his impotent, worthless self. He doesn’t have to show up, he knows his voters, all as dumb as he is, will vote for him. You can’t change the mentality of some folks, this district is full of those some folks.
By SAR
July 3, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Qtpie?????? If you think John Lewis has ever articulated anything in his life, you’re dumber than I first expected when I read your post and trust me, from the get-go I had you pegged as very dumb. John Lewis and the word articulate are oxymorons.
By Ed
July 3, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
After reading the headlines today and how many people were shot last night in or around Clayton County, they better send the troops in there. The hell with elections, declare Marshall Law. Clayton County is a lot more dangerous than Iraq. Just last night: Multiple people shot at a Starbucks, more shot at Krystal and a Clayton County cop shot and all the Democrats can do is blast Bush and Iraq when in reality more people are dying from young black males than from Al Queda.