Byron York: Dem dilemma: Stand with Lewis?

[Draggingtree]

The Washington Examiner:

Byron York: Dem dilemma: Stand with Lewis?

By Byron York (@ByronYork) • 1/15/17 11:29 PM

 

Once Donald Trump responded to John Lewis's "illegitimate president" attack, the question wasn't whether Trump's pushback would cause a Twitter furor. It would. The question was how many Democrats, beyond those who occupy the left-most wing of the House Democratic caucus with Lewis, would go along with the Trump-is-not-legitimate charge.

 

So far, Democrats have come up with a variety of responses. Some openly disagree with Lewis. Others disagree but don't want to say so explicitly. Still others agree but don't want to say so explicitly. And some wholeheartedly support Lewis.

 

West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is in the first category. Asked on CNN Friday if Trump is a legitimate president, Manchin replied, "Absolutely." On CBS Sunday morning, Manchin described Lewis' rhetoric as "uncalled for."

 

"I've got the utmost respect for Congressman Lewis," Manchin said. "He's an icon, if you will. And we all have the most respect for him. I just think that was uncalled for….So for this type of rhetoric, it's non-productive. And I would like it if that would tone down a little bit, we'd be much better off and move on."

 

[Draggingtree]

Adriana Cohen: Not much legitimate about more Dems bashing Trump

Adriana Cohen Sunday, January 15, 2017

Since Donald Trump’s unexpected victory, Democrats have been trying to delegitimize his historic upset.

 

U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who sent shock waves through the media echo chamber this weekend when he said in an NBC interview, “I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president. I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.” Former Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon went on CNN Friday to chime in as well.

 

Talk about a snow job.

 

Clinton didn’t lose the election due to alleged Russian hacking. She lost because she was a flawed candidate who ran a bad campaign. But facts always get in the way when you’re an out-of-touch liberal trying to play the blame game.

 

Since Clinton’s crushing defeat, Democrats have refused to take personal responsibility. The Election Deniers keep looking for scapegoats. They’ve blamed WikiLeaks, FBI Director James Comey, and even sexism ... Clinton campaign operatives whined she was “overly” scrutinized for being a woman. Laughable, given that Donald Trump’s every move and tweet was scrutinized going back decades.

 

Bottom line: Dems are sore losers and should get over it. Come Friday, Donald J. Trump is our president.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/adriana_cohen/2017/01/adriana_cohen_not_much_legitimate_about_more_dems_bashing#.WHt7qDDpfZQ.twitter

[Draggingtree]

The American Spectator

A Modest Proposal — To All Those Boycotting Members of Congress

Arnold Steinberg / January 17, 2017, 12:50 am

 

Maybe they should think what they’re doing to their own legitimacy.

 

The first time I met Democrat Maxine Waters was nearly a generation ago when she was a Member of the California State Assembly. At the State Capitol with the Republican Minority Leader of the State Assembly, I entered a “Members Only” elevator just as Assemblywoman Waters was about to close the door. She gave the Republican Leader a dirty look, then glanced at the customary “no smoking sign” and blew smoke in my face.

 

A Member of the U.S. Congress since since1990, Maxine Waters remains perennially angry. If Al Sharpton were a transsexual, he would be Maxine Waters, except she may be more demagogic, if that is possible. A quintessential political hack, she sees everything in terms of race, gender, class, in that order. Extra points if you’re a Palestinian or Muslim. She has presided over a political machine; her daughter has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars to sell her mother’s name. Given the family’s moral clarity, it is hardly surprising to find Waters

https://spectator.org/a-modest-proposal-to-all-those-boycotting-members-of-congress/

[Draggingtree]

The American Spectator

John Lewis’ Moment of Untruth

Scott McKay / January 17, 2017, 12:05 am

 

John Lewis and the Congressional Black Caucus make a mockery of the civil rights movement with their partisan antics.

 

I offer three thoughts in the wake of the running political theater involving Donald Trump and John Lewis, last week and the past weekend.

 

First, that the celebration surrounding a presidential inauguration is far less about the president being inaugurated than it is about the American tradition — which is relatively unique and highly salutary — of transferring political power without bloodshed. Those possessed with some knowledge of history are aware that until the American Revolution came along it was by no means normal for a leader of a nation to voluntarily cede power to another without thousands of corpses littering a battlefield; that, following America’s lead, this has become unremarkable is reason for even more celebration of our tradition rather than less. Peaceful succession of elected leaders is in fact a big deal; every four years we have our opportunity to brag a little about that contribution to the improvement of human society, so the pomp and circumstance of an inauguration isn’t about POTUS; it’s about us.

https://spectator.org/john-lewis-moment-of-untruth/

[Draggingtree]

In RE: Lewis v. Trump—A Thought Experiment

 

January 16, 2017

by Seth Leibsohn 2 Comments

It should be stipulated without reservation that U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) was one of the most important civil rights heroes of the 1960s. He sacrificed not only his personal safety but helped to lead a movement that brought America into line with its own founding, ideals, and aspirations. As we commemorate the broad life and scope of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life …

http://amgreatness.com/2017/01/16/re-lewis-v-trump-thought-experiment/

[Valin]

Rep. John Lewis just committed a major ‘oopsie’
Chris Cillizza
January 17 2017

For the past 96 hours, Rep. John Lewis's decision to not attend Donald Trump's inauguration Friday has been cast as the beating heart of a large-scale protest movement against the businessman-turned-politician. Lewis's status as a civil rights icon and Trump's baffling attempts to suggest that the Georgia Democrat is more talk than action have only fueled the idea of Lewis as the last principled man in Washington.

Turns out that story line might have been a wee bit overstated. Why? Because Lewis also boycotted — again, on principle — the inauguration of George W. Bush back in 2001. This, from a Washington Post story dated Jan. 21, 2001:

Some members of the Black Caucus decided to boycott Inauguration Day; John Lewis, for instance, spent the day in his Atlanta district. He thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in because he doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president.

(Snip)

So here's what we now know:

* John Lewis has said the last two Republican presidents were illegitimate.

* John Lewis has attended just one inauguration of a Republican president since he was first elected to Congress in 1986: that of George H.W. Bush in 1988.

(Snip)

[RandyM]

John Lewis' 5th Congressional District is primarily comprised of the city of Atlanta. I live about 40 miles from there and try to stay away. If I had to go near his district at night I wouldn't go without a primary pistol, backup pistol and a knife.... and at least two friends similarly equipped. Trump's response was absolutely correct.