John Lewis seeks to fend off challengers

Register now, it's free!
Log In | Customer Care

John Lewis steps into fray, seeks to fend off challengers

By BEN SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/12/08

Declaring himself a " doer and a fighter," U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Atlanta), on Monday kicked off his first political campaign in eight years.

"Some people talk about change, I am change," said Lewis, to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters gathered at his Northside Drive campaign headquarters. "No one, but no one will out work or out campaign me.

GEORGIA ELECTION 2008:

"When I'm not in Washington voting, I'll be out here campaigning," Lewis said. "You're going to be sick of me."

Lewis faces the biggest challenge of his of 22-year career as a U.S. congressman.

For the first time since 1992, Lewis faces, not one, but two challengers from within his own party. Lewis hasn't faced an election opponent since 2000, when he crushed GOP challenger Hank Schwab.

One of Lewis's July Democratic primary challengers is a 31-year-old Atlanta minister and community activist, the Rev. Markel Hutchins. The other is longtime state Rep. "Able" Mable Thomas (D-Atlanta), 50.

Both challengers say Lewis, 68, is an aging civil rights-era veteran who has grown out of touch with his Atlanta constituents. Lewis, at least publicly, appears eager for the fight.

When asked last week about his two-front primary challenge, the one-time lieutenant of the Rev. Martin Luther King replied, "I'm going to give them a nonviolent kick."

Political observers say it's possible, if not likely, that Hutchins and Thomas will fare little better than any of Lewis's past challengers, none of whom carried a third of the vote.

Hutchins has never held political office. In Thomas's first try at Lewis's seat, she carried only 24 percent of the 1992 Democratic primary vote against Lewis. Neither challenger appears to have the financial or political clout at this point to beat Lewis.

But their candidacies alone may suggest there at least a crack in his iconic stature. Hutchins and Thomas point to Lewis's presidential endorsement reversal as a main reason.

Last October, Lewis endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton for president.

"I have looked at all the candidates, and I believe that Hillary Clinton is the best prepared to lead this country at a time when we are in desperate need of strong leadership," Lewis said at the time.

Georgia voters, including 5th district voters, did not agree. They overwhelmingly voted for Barack Obama for president on the state's Feb. 5 presidential primary.

Ten days after the primary, the New York Times reported that Lewis was switching to Obama. The same day, an aide to the congressman called the story "inaccurate," but wouldn't cite the specific error.

For nearly two weeks, Lewis refused to say who he was endorsing for president. On Feb. 28, he threw his support to Obama.

Bob Holmes, a fellow Democrat and a retiring Georgia lawmaker from Atlanta, says the Obama-Clinton endorsement flap hurt Lewis, but not nearly enough to imperil his re-election chances.

"What's their secondary issue?" asked Holmes of Hutchins and Thomas. "If it [the endorsement controversy] doesn't take hold with voters, what are they going to take him on for?"

Holmes predicted that Lewis would win the July 15 Democratic primary without a runoff.

"I'll say he [Lewis] gets 60 plus percent of the vote," said Holmes.

David Bositis agreed that Lewis will likely win an easy re-election contest. Bositis, a specialist in black electoral politics with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, D.C., said the endorsement controversy will be largely forgotten by election time.

"The fact is, he did switch," Bositis said.

Vote for this story!

Related Subjects

Expand this list

Comments

By Jason

May 16, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this

I'm posting again because I couldn't just let this go... It's really interesting that some of you (probably black just like the Congressman) makes these comments about him not speaking clearly. At times that may true but every time I listen to this man on the House Floor in Congress... his peers applaud him. He probably sound so much like your pastor at your church on a Sunday morning service.

It's really not cool to make fun of a person's disability. Blacks hating on Blacks -- a system designed so well that we as blacks can not see it. We all know who benefits.

By Jason

May 16, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this

What's embarrassing about the entire process are the individuals who's implying that John Lewis hasn't done anything for the 5th District. To make a statement like that clearly says you don't follow politics and you don't know the issues that impacts the 5th District. It's almost as some of you are writing from talking points by John Lewis' opponents.

Some of you talk about the Congressman being out of touch because at one point he supported Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. Even so... I wonder who Senator Obama would come to the 5th District and campaign for. I am sure it will be the candidate that is and will continue to make a difference in Congress. Let go of those talking points... Mr. Hutchins and Ms. Thomas WILL not have the power in Congress as Congressman John Lewis does. Let's not go backwards Atlanta. We must support our leaders in position and not tear them down because of our selfish reasons. Jason

By Ron Ali

May 14, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this

Congressman John Lewis is a great man. He paid his dues with his blood on the Edmond Petis Bridge, so that we can have the right to vote. Mable Thomas and the good Rev. Hutchins are only opportunist. They need to get jobs like reagular people and leave Congressman Lewis alone to continue doing a great job in Congress. His seniority is a asset to the 5th. Congressional District. Both Thomas and Hutchins if elected for that seat would not know what to do.

By Reba

May 13, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

John Lewis may be my representative, but he does not now, nor has he ever represented me or my views. He is married to the unions, civil rights only for the Black population, and is addicted to a lifetime tenure in congress. It is way past time for a change. And while we're at it, lets reclaim our city, too.

By Real Talk

May 13, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

Markel is shady. Dont trust him further than you can spit. He is a cheater, liar, and fake. John Lewis did support the Millon Man March. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was a MAJOR contributor and sponsor of the march and Lewis is a Sigma Man just like Hosea Williams. I like Able Mable but she is not better than Lewis. Lewis supported Hillary so what? He switched to the right candidate OBAMA when the people spoke in his district. Cant hold that against him. With Lewis you know he is honest a fighter but no he is not perfect. With Markel you will get another lying wannabe leader/preacher. He is not a leader by no stretch of the imagination. And the way Markel behaves when he thinks nobody is looking lets me know he is not a very loyal man of the cloth. Yeah, I said it. And its the truth.

By linorra

May 13, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

steve-o

Point taken, the man DID take a lot of crap to effect change. Good for him.

The point is, he's still trying to RIDE that 40 years later.

What has he done for his consituents lately?

Guess he's been busy responding to your inquiries --- but not mine.

John Lewis needs to learn how to speak clearly so as not to embarass himself and those he represents. He loses a lot of the message because people have a hard time seeing past the messenger.

Is it right? It is fair? Of course not.

But it is reality.

And I want a representative who represents me, not 1964.

By steve-o

May 13, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

JUSTICE,

And it was John Lewis, who had more guts than anyone on this blog, that took bumps, bruises, and beatings for your blackass to have the right to vote--let alone giving you the right to take a pss in any public facility you choose.

Lewis is a great Congressman and his office has always responded to the letters that I've sent them. His views also closely represent mine.

Lewis '08!

By JUSTICE

May 13, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

I am tired of John Lewis and his crap. He is one of the reason as a so called leader that the problems exist in our communities. Oh yeah I am a black man.

By linorra

May 13, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Chcuk 12:05 pm comment
LOL!! These Atlanta folks ride the movement waaaay too long. It was 40 years ago!!

Lewis needs to step down. He's just trying to hang on to the old days.

Btw, I tried to contact him about something using his on-line form AND calling both the D.C. and Atlanta offices. Think I EVER got ANY response? Heck, no! Guess I didn't march in the right marches.

Can't stand the guy.

By Bruce

May 13, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately, John Lewis continues to cling to the message of the 60's when it was needed. Today a leader that represents the Black community should be willing to point their finger at themselves as much as for other reasons.

Bill Cosby is the one providing the leadership that will truly effect change in our world. Read his words and argue with that!
'They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English.

I can't even talk the way these people talk:

Why you ain't,
Where you is,
What he drive,
Where he stay,
Where he work,
Who you be...

And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk.

And then I heard the father talk.

Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth.

In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living.

People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an Education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around.

The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal.

These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids.

$500 sneakers for what ? ?

And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics.

I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit.

Where were you when he was 2 ? ?

Where were you when he was 12 ? ?

Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol ? ?

And where is the father ? ? Or who is his father ?

People putting their clothes on backward:
Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong?

People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something ?

Or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up ?

Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body?

What part of Africa did this come from??

We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa

With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and all of that crap . . .. .

and all of them are in jail.

Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem.

We have got to take the neighborhood back.

People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now.

We have millionaire football players who cannot read.

We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job.

Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us.

We have to start holding each other to a higher standard.

We cannot blame the white people any longer.'

Dr. William Henry 'Bill' Cosby, Jr., Ed.D.