John Lewis hit with the ‘n-word’ by tea party demonstrators
This was posted by McClatchy Newspapers last night:
Demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol , angry over the proposed health care bill, shouted “[the n-word]” Saturday at U.S. Rep. John Lewis , a Georgia congressman and civil rights icon who was nearly beaten to death during an Alabama march in the 1960s.
The protesters also shouted obscenities at other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, lawmakers said.
U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) is questioned by reporters about an incident involving tea party demonstrators as he leaves a speech by President Obama to House Democrats on Saturday. Associated Press
“They were shouting, sort of harassing,” Lewis said. “But, it’s okay, I’ve faced this before. It reminded me of the 60s. It was a lot of downright hate and anger and people being downright mean.”
Lewis said he was leaving the Cannon office building across from the Capitol when protesters shouted “Kill the bill, kill the bill,” Lewis said.
“I said ‘I’m for the bill, I support the bill, I’m voting for the bill’,” Lewis said.
A colleague who was accompanying Lewis said people in the crowd responded by saying “Kill the bill, then the n-word.”
“It surprised me that people are so mean and we can’t engage in a civil dialogue and debate,” Lewis said.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver , D- Mo. , said he was a few yards behind Lewis and distinctly heard “[the n-word].”
On Sunday morning, Republicans denounced the language. “What you had out there yesterday was a handful of people who got stupid,” said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Steele, who is African-American, denied that the language used by Republicans during the health care debate fueled the harsh language outside the Capitol on Saturday.
On Friday, the last two Georgia congressmen chose sides on health care: John Barrow (D-Savannah) announced he would voted against it. Sanford Bishop (D-Albany) said he would vote yes.
Over the weekend, the Atlanta Tea Party in essence took out a classified ad, soliciting primary opposition to Bishop:
“Despite thousands of phone calls, trips to his offices in Georgia and Washington, D.C., and countless polls that show Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to Obamacare, Congressman Bishop is completely ignoring the will of the people of Georgia who elected him,” said Atlanta Tea Party organizer Julianne Thompson.
“The organizers and members of the Atlanta Tea Party are looking for a strong Democratic primary candidate as well as Republican candidates that will listen to the voters, and represent their interest, instead of special interests,” she continued.
Bishop already has two Republican opponents: Mike Keown and Rudy Adams.
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186 comments Add your comment
bank walker
March 21st, 2010
12:46 pm
…..and black people aren’t racists. Blacks are the most racist group of people, fact!
Americus Jacket
March 21st, 2010
12:48 pm
I abhor the calling of ANY names. It’s bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.
So some knucklehead spewed venom at a politician whom he/she thinks is hurting our country. It’s unseemly but not unexpected.
But “It surprised me that people are so mean and we can’t engage in a civil dialogue and debate,” Lewis said. I agree with this and wonder why Lewis supports a plan to do just this by passing a Senate bill he does not really believe is good for this country to avoid one. hmmmm….
Harold
March 21st, 2010
12:50 pm
Everybody knows now what the tea baggers are really like. They are just haters plain and simple.
I'm back - GA PEACH
March 21st, 2010
12:51 pm
Tea Partiers used the “N” word . . Pelosi called Tea Partiers . . . “Nazis” . . POINT MADE!
Dan Deacon
March 21st, 2010
12:54 pm
If you look at Obama’s past, it’s easy to verify how he supported federally funded programs for abortion. He supports abortion as demonstrated in the healthcare bill that funds abortion. It portrays our country as one of murderers of our own people. No True American Citizens should every be forced to pay for abortions and that’s exactly (while only one terrible, destructive component of this bill) what this bill does.
Obama & his cronies like John Lewis (who will be voted out of office next term) is a disgrace to our nation and is destroying it daily with policy like this. After today’s vote, Obama should be impeached. Continued daily protest on the Ga capitol and Washington white house steps is needed to take our country back and to regain our freedoms intended by our forefathers.
Perhaps we could put Obama in the white house yard picking up trash, so he can keep his group insurance to show compassion for this idiot.
Tea Party
March 21st, 2010
12:54 pm
Tea Party has nothing to do with racism…unless of course, it is freeing blacks and poor whites from the slavery of welfare and other government entitlement programs. We are tired of our tax dollars being used for entitlement programs while the country is bankrupt…we are owned by China, Japan, other Asian governments and the middle east…they hold our debt and will demand payment soon….blacks and poor whites don’t care about this…they don’t care who their owner is…right?
Farsider
March 21st, 2010
12:56 pm
Tea Party= Racism.
Angry, aging racist baby-boomers. Now that they’re about to lose this fight, the mask has come off completely. We’re seeing them as they truly are. Ugly, isn’t it?
William
March 21st, 2010
1:00 pm
If you voice your opinion against the Great Komrade Obama, you must be a racist!
All Hail Obama!
Next step: End Presidential Term Limits! Barack Hussein Obama for LIFE!!!
I call BS
March 21st, 2010
1:02 pm
It’s just Lewis and other blacks in congress just trying to stir up BS to justify their position on the bill. They are saying “See what kind of mean and irrational people we have to put up with?”
There’s gonna be a rebellion at the polls in November the likes of which this country hasn’t seen in ages……And I’m gonna do my part at the ballot box as well.We need to vote all these morons out.
td
March 21st, 2010
1:02 pm
Aquagirl, I am personally sick of both parties, special interest groups that only care about their interest at whatever prize, and with no consideration of consequences of the country as a whole, big business that is run by bean counters only concerned with stock price and not corporate responsibility to the country. I am really sick in tired of this crazy movement trying to force political correctness on everyone in this country. I listened to the you tube videos and did not hear the N word. I personally would not use the word but you know what we have the right to free speech in this country and if they choose to call someone that then so be it. This whole movement of political correctness saying we can are not allowed to express ourselves in a in manner that we want is total unpatriotic and just plain BS. I did not like it when the left was out there burning the flag and falsely accusing our men and women in the military of intentionally killing women and children overseas but they have that right. I will defend them of that right with every breath in my body. The government and WE THE PEOPLE have no right to tell anyone what they should feel or believe and we sure as hell do not have a right to tell them they can not express their feelings.
Obama Rules
March 21st, 2010
1:05 pm
Typical of the republican party, angry at the new healthcare bill! Too bad—all these rich people will have to pay a lot more taxes and they don’t like it!!! Now, the minorities can finally get free healthcare like everyone else!
Troothsayer
March 21st, 2010
1:08 pm
And isn’t it funny that these same “people” who cannot afford health insurance have no problem with a cell phone bill. What they do have a problem with is paying for things that can be taken from those of us who work hard for the things we have and sacrifice for our children. But lots of them don’t mind buying cigarettes and owning pets that are chained outside to their trailers/apartments/crack houses !!!
Dagnabbit
March 21st, 2010
1:10 pm
I don’t call myself an “R” or a “D” because I would be ashamed to have it known that I support either. I will vote for ethics and morals, lacking a choice I will vote NOTA. NooX Noodeal.
tea party
March 21st, 2010
1:10 pm
Blacks like jesse jackson,al sharpton want to keep racism alive because without it they are just another liberal democrat.The remarks were made by liberal activist planted to bring race into the issue.
Dawgs88
March 21st, 2010
1:15 pm
Good to see those socialist Democrats giving Congress back to the Republicans. This year’s elections will be interesting.
td
March 21st, 2010
1:21 pm
Troothsayer, Also how many of the non payers of healthcare have cable TV and high speed internet service in their trailers/apartments/crack houses? Also, how many people have been on welfare for years and continue to have one child after another? This is really about the liberals telling their supporters you do not have to be responsible for your actions. We will keep allowing you to make bad decisions and we will pay for the consequences of those decisions. You do not have to get an educations, you do not have to work a job, you can keep having children out of wedlock, you can drink and do drugs every night and have unprotected sex and we will not hold you responsible. You can sit around all day long and eat chips, meats, sweets, drink beer and not exercise and someone will pick up the tab when you get into your 40 or 50’s for your lack of self control. Yes, the nanny state is about to take the next step and soon everyone will not have to take any responsibility from birth to grave.
Haywood Jablome
March 21st, 2010
1:33 pm
the n-word.
who said? he whose name cannot be spoken?
use the word! expose the ugliness and the hate of the tea party phonies!
phil
March 21st, 2010
1:33 pm
All of you should have been in church this morning, rather than trying to one up each other on a newspaper article. Shame on all right wing wackos, give away liberals, tea partiers, move on. orgs, conservatives, democrats & republicans.
Darrell
March 21st, 2010
1:34 pm
Go watch the video’s and see if yiou hear anything like Lewis claims. It’s an old trick, claim misbehavior by your opponents and try and change the topic of debate.
WAW
March 21st, 2010
1:42 pm
I don’t care if the Corporate Republican runs the Pope, himself, for dog catcher, I will never ever vote for any Republican again. Yes, the next elections will be interesting. Nixon’s Southern Strategy has run it full course and the segregationist are right out front again. Tea Party Atlanta will be handing our axe handles any day!
Steve
March 21st, 2010
1:55 pm
“I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side… Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds. ”
— Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944,”
Tea partyers don’t have a lock on racism, there’s plenty to go around.
Jim
March 21st, 2010
1:55 pm
WAW – Your clarity is completely correct on this one. The Southern Stategy has run its full course. The sad part is that alot of people do not even know what you are saying. They watch Fixed News and honestly believe that they get “news”. They listen to right wing politicians/tea baggers and think they have the “holy grail of thought”. It is mind numbing. I have always believed in civil discourse and the right to disagree. That crowd has no , and I mean no, idea of what that is about. Shout, stomp your feet, and call anybody who disagrees with you and idiot. The new American politics – God help us.
Jim
March 21st, 2010
1:55 pm
should have read – “an idiot”
Diehard
March 21st, 2010
1:57 pm
Lewis is still marching. Give it up, man. You hear the N word because you listen for it. Its your excuse to do whatever you want, no matter the cost to future generations. And you did it again – diverted attention from your duty to your whole reason for being. That is racism, pure and simple.
Alabama Communist
March 21st, 2010
1:59 pm
Meanwhile in a amazing turnround! Former Det of the OJ trial fame Mark Furman reminded Tea Party leaders that the N word would have no affect on it’s future
AH
March 21st, 2010
2:02 pm
I’ve met John several times and believe me it is not beneath him to make up stories.
Noggin
March 21st, 2010
2:03 pm
Did anyone other than Mr. Cleaver hear the word?
In the ’60s, people did not like how they were being treated and they took to the streets. Now, people do not like the treatment that they are receiving and they are marching in the streets. It’s frustrating to think that you are not heard. By the way, it may be different people marching but it is not just one race.
td
March 21st, 2010
2:05 pm
Jim and Steve, What in the world has the left wing been doing for the past 8 years? OMG you talk about Fox and Talk Show host but the left wing has MSNBC, CNN, CNBC and all three networks and the overwhelming majority of the newspapers. I guess you are going to come back now and tell me that they are neutral? Get a freaking clue and be a little more honest. Both political parties suck and neither is looking out for the real American people, just their own special interest groups.
td
March 21st, 2010
2:07 pm
I meant to address WAW and Jim not Steve.
tim
March 21st, 2010
2:13 pm
Too F****** bad John Lewis. Yoy didn’t have a problem race baiting during the Atlanta Mayoral race. Just callin a spade a spade.
tea party
March 21st, 2010
2:17 pm
yes we are racist and we will come in first second and third in the nov elections.
tim
March 21st, 2010
2:18 pm
Too f****** bad John Lewis. You didn’t have a problem race baiting during the Atlanta Mayoral campaign. Just callin spade a spade!
TIm
March 21st, 2010
2:22 pm
Let’s pass a federal law that prohibits the use of the n-word for everyone…and that includes rap music. In my lifetime, for every one time I’ve heard it from the lips of a white person, I’ve heard it 10 times from the lips of African-Americans.
Rick
March 21st, 2010
2:26 pm
The N-word Lewis should be worried about is “NOT” as in Congress is not listening to the people. They are lying about the full costs of this bill. They collect revenues for 10 years and provide only 6 years of healthcare! The next decade will bring huge deficits to the US. We cannot continue providing free everything. Half the people in the US do not pay taxes or at least significant taxes. The top 25% of taxpayers pay almost all the taxes for the rest of the population. The well, like jobs, is simply running dry. We continue to encourage illegal aliens to come to this country while low wage, low skilled jobs will not be available. US citizens will need those jobs as we continue to outsource jobs to low wage countries and import foreign workers on H1-B and other visas.
Our politicians have lost touch with the American public and it some cases reality. John Lewis is just that sort of politician.
Jim
March 21st, 2010
2:26 pm
td – I will agree with you on one point – both parties have issues. Both parties can be too party oriented at times. I will not disagree with that. After years of being involved in politics, I just reach another conclusion than you. I am old enough to remember when Nixon began the southern strategy. I am old enough to remember when the Georgia senator, Richard Russell to LBJ that by voting for the Civil Rights Bill, LBJ had lost the south to the democrats for the next 100 yrs. And guess what, that is what happened.
As for Fox news – it is the only “news organization” in America that has a major former leader of a political party as the head of news- Roger Ailes. Many of us remember him as the absolute Republican guru of propaganda and political dirty tricks ( and yes both parties do that too) – just Fox that finds one and puts him in charge.
You may not like what you hear/see on the other networks. That is your right and it is other people’s right to disagree with you. And it should be done in a far more civil manner than it is today. One of the things that I thought I fought for as a young infantry sgt. in Vietnam was just that – the right to disagree without being disagreeable. So, while you think people who disagree with you should “get a clue” as you put it, some of us believe we not only have the clue but a better solution.
South GA Conservative
March 21st, 2010
2:26 pm
I will believe this when I hear it on tape- I wouldn’t believe Lewis if he told me what time it was- he will lie to promote his agenda.
A lot of people are on here lying about the Tea Party because it wants limited government, and they prefer a nanny state. If they can’t win the battle of ideas, they will lie and name-call.
Jim
March 21st, 2010
2:27 pm
should be – Richard Russell told LBJ
Barry
March 21st, 2010
2:32 pm
Noggin and South GA Conservative hit it: Despite the dozens of media representatives and all the TV cameras there at the protests, no one has yet produced a single, independent example of a single protester yelling the “n”-word – let alone the dozens we’re led to believe were there. Cleaver, Lewis, et.al, have an ax-grinder’s interest in portraying their political opponents as “racist.”
Mentos
March 21st, 2010
2:36 pm
As a person of color I have witness the hatred of whites and the use of the C word and other racial epithets among many African Americans. My co-worker has a Asian wife and he is black, his daughter hates Blacks because of the racial slurs she is call. Half N, slanted eye N, N, you guessed it. Also bigots are in the Democratic party, go to south ga and find out for yourself.
Listen to W_*K AM 1&80 if you want to hear bigotry. Bigotry goes both sides and there are members of the Democratic party that were in the KKK.
itstrue
March 21st, 2010
2:38 pm
“In my lifetime, for every one time I’ve heard it from the lips of a white person, I’ve heard it 10 times from the lips of African-Americans.”
I hate it when I hear black people use this word, but mostly because it’s a way of putting each other down, lowering expectations for themselves. It also makes them look bad. For their own good, they should put it to rest.
But I hate it much, much more when I hear white people use this word. When they say it, it’s only meant to “put them in their place” with that whiteboy superiority that is so often taken as “real America” whereas everyone else is an impostor, traitor, or a second-class citizen. A lot of people don’t realize the moral assumptions that go along with being a white male.
I say this as a certified whiteboy myself.
I’m always surprised that people still use that word. To use it on a US Representative is just plain terrible. No excuses. Disagree with Lewis all you want, go ahead and dislike the guy, but he’s an elected official.
There’s no need for new laws on this, but there’s got to be a basic code of decency, or else we’re headed towards some really, really bad times.
This is politics. The Democrats are playing by the rules, as complicated, even unfair as they may be. There is no conspiracy, no socialist coup going on. There are sides, and one side is going to lose. That’s all. You win some, you lose some.
None of that makes a case to be made for violence and intimidation like we’re seeing today at the Capitol. That’s not a movement. That’s a mob, plain and simple.
Dr. J
March 21st, 2010
2:38 pm
Just a way for the Democrats to discredit the protesters. They can’t do it with logic. They make this race stuff up every time they’re against the wall.
MrSmalls
March 21st, 2010
2:39 pm
Tea Parties are for Girls!
I'm back - GA PEACH
March 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
You cannot do away with lifetime max and pre-existing conditions while at the same time subsidize premiums and allow everybody (including their dependents regardless of whether they are disabled or a student) to have coverage up to the age of 26 and think that is will be deficit neutral. Those people who keep arguing that people fought against Medicare when it was implemented and now just ask those on Medicare if they like it are those people who have preached against Medicare . . . like Cynthia Tucker. Rest assured . . .this is just a ploy to get all the illegals covered to assure that voting block in the next Presdential election.
Kappa
March 21st, 2010
2:47 pm
Gordon,
do you know your history…Southern Democrats were all over it.? Those Southern Democrats were the foundation of this Republican Party. When the Civil War was over, and the Confederacy destroyed, a deep resentment among white Southern citizens toward Republicans helped propel the Democratic Party to a majority in Congress by the 1870s and bring an end to Reconstruction. The Democrats were now the party of states rights, the party of the South, and would remain that way until the mid-1960s. Their dominance in Southern politics would give rise to the phrase “Solid South”. This sounds nothing like the Democratic of today…just switch the names around. Get the picture?
Mentos
March 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
itstrue, I agree with you the word serves not purpose but to divide but you have to realize some people of that generation still pimp the civil rights movement for their advantage to take advantage of white guilt. Jessie Jackson is a multi-millionaire because of his pimping.
White guilt is to pay for generations of past dreadful deeds to blacks and non-blacks are to step aside and take you punishment. This message is in Barack Obama’s ideology based on liberation theology specifically black liberation theology, preached to him for 20 years.
This is why everytime someone opposed Barack, they are racist, KKK, neo-Nazi, etc. Blacks kill more blacks than the klan, its an internal problem, not being solved by the religious and political establishment because they are to server themselves and not the people.
Aquagirl
March 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
Yowza, td, get some therapy. You think disapproval of the n-word is “political correctness?” Or that Rep. Lewis is lying because your in-depth examination via YouTube is superior to ACTUALLY BEING THERE? Your lack of self-awareness is sadly comical.
Honestly, try medication. Seething anger makes Teapartiers like you far more of a medical burden than the mythical legion of junk food welfare recipients.
Jim
March 21st, 2010
2:54 pm
Some of us get it Kappa. It is also known as re-packaging the same product or brand. The Southern Strategy lives on and on and on. The Enegizer Bunny has nothing on this sad story. The trick is getting people to A. See and B. Believe what they see. Do not hold your breath.
Mentos
March 21st, 2010
2:54 pm
Kappa U have it partially correct. The Republican party was founded to abolish slavery. There first candidate was Abe Lincoln. White Republicans help found the NAACP. Republicans also help start black colleges in the South.
The Democrats have done a great job of blinding America. People don’t know their history, Democrats instituted JIM CROW and SEGREGATION.
will fight for liberty
March 21st, 2010
2:56 pm
why do all these racist dirty serpents get to post comments and i don’t!!!!!!!!
will fight for liberty
March 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
i will fight you dirty racist with my last breath! i will not be intimidated!!