Georgia Rep. John Lewis has decided that the McCain campaign is channeling Southern segregationist George Wallace. The civil rights icon issued a statement over the weekend saying, "What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history." He accused Team McCain of "hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse."
Is John McCain's campaign desperate? Yes. Are they trying to change the subject with comments about Obama and Ayers? Yes. Are those comments racist? No.
Every time a minority uses the race card when there is, clearly, no hint of racism at all, they are doing a complete disservice to their cause. There is no doubt Lewis was instrumental during the civil rights movement. But that does not justify his idiotic comments regarding the McCain campaign inciting hatred. Last time I checked McCain does not want segregation to return. So comparing him to Wallace makes the person who drew this comparision disingenous and just plain ignorant. I am not here to decide whether Obama and Ayers were buddies, like some on the right have suggested. I am here, though, to ask either side to stop using the race card. Both sides are guilty. And both sides are ignorant.
Being against Obama does not make you a racist. And being against McCain does not mean you dislike old people. I've heard intelligent people on both sides make their case on why they plan on voting for either. Lets admit both candidates bring vastly different platforms to the table, and you're free to vote for one candidate without being labeled.
I fear that all this talk of race, and what it means to this election, is distracting us from what this election is all about - the issues.
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