Barack Obama reminds us of ever-present threat of voter suppression in John Lewis eulogy.
Barack Obama reminds us of ever-present threat of voter suppression in John Lewis eulogy
On Thursday, during a eulogy for the late Rep. John Lewis in
Georgia, former President Barack Obama took aim at the current administration
and criticized an ever-present threat to our democracy: voter
suppression.
"...there are those in power who are doing their darnedest
to discourage people from voting, by closing polling locations, and targeting
minorities and students with restrictive I.D. laws, and attacking our voting
right with surgical precision, even undermining the postal service to an election
that's going to be dependent on mail-in ballot so people don't get sick,"
said Obama during his eulogy of Lewis.
Obama said he was cognizant that some people would probably
rather he not dwell on politics during the former Congressman's funeral. But to
ignore it would undermine what Lewis spent his life advocating for.
"John Lewis devoted his time on this Earth, fighting the
very attacks on democracy and what's best for America that we're seeing
circulate right now," Obama said.
Indeed, during a march for voting rights, Lewis was brutally
beaten and almost died as he led marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in
1965.
A bill to
restore the Voting Rights Act, named after Lewis, has passed the House but is
still waiting for Senate approval.
“You want to honor John? Let's honor him by revitalizing the law
he was willing to die for," Obama said in reference to the act.
"Naming it the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, that is a fine tribute.
But John wouldn't want us to stop there, just trying to get back to where we
already were."
The former president also encouraged people to tap into their
talents to keep our democracy alive.
"He knew that every single one of us has a God-given power and the
fate of this democracy depends on how we use it," Obama said. "That
democracy isn't automatic. It has to be nurtured."
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I wouldn't be surprised if John Lewis spoke with President Obama about things he'd like in his eulogy. I don't think he left everything to chance. JL knew this man could deliver.
ReplyDeleteWhat was his political agenda other than to bring comfort to his family by reminding them how much we the American public admired and loved Rep. John Lewis and how much he will be missed. RIP
ReplyDeleteObviously none of you listened to his speech. Stop acting like you care even remotely about the life and legacy of John Lewis.
ReplyDeleteI think 95% of the people on this feed care more about his legacy than they do about your existence!
DeleteHow can you honestly question my feelings towards John Lewis?
DeleteObviously you HEARD but you did not LISTEN
Deleteabout 12 min into this bull crap.... he ADMITS he PRESUMED what the COPS were saying after John got hit in the head...
AND HIS PRESUMPTION BASED ON ADMITTED IGNORANCE WAS THE COPS WERE RACISTS...
The of course tied this into George Floyd who was not beating at all, and died at the hands of THREE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
Obama clearly like the dead man in the casket is a RACIST set on dividing America.
Dont believe me.... LISTEN TO THE REACTION HE GOT WHEN HE SAID IT!
WAKE THE HELL UP!
Literally the second most ignorant comment I’ve read today. Only second to Claire Gerke whose most ignorant post on the Mashable thread appeared first.
DeleteSo very sad for all of you. I will pray for you.
Deletehttps://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=134426806697693&id=100001734194077&hc_location=ufi
DeletePresident Obama and Michelle graciously served this country. They did it with class. There will always be haters. To speak about voting in a eulogy about a man who was a corner stone in the civil rights movement is not disrespectful. It would be however to ignore his journey that began as a 17 year old boy. Have we forgotten the work of the civil rights movement? Have we forgotten there is still work to be done? No negative comments.
ReplyDeleteFYI ..... his eulogy was pre- approved by the family.
ReplyDeleteand...?
DeleteObama rocks! I miss a President that can speak in full sentence.
ReplyDeleteerrrr, you gonna be surely disappointed if Joe gets elected. He is good for comic relief though.
Deletedoubt that
Deletehttps://youtu.be/Ftpc4fwcDfk
Deletehttps://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=134426806697693&id=100001734194077&hc_location=ufi
DeleteThat's all ever did.
Deleteif Joe gets elected I will be glad I'm not going to live many more years.
Deleteaaaaaaannnnnndddddd that's it
Deletewell you won’t with Trump either then. So it really shouldn’t matter for you.
DeleteAnd there’s also that he speaks in complete sentences...
ReplyDeleteYeah. You’re right on the money. I mean, a guy who got his skull fractured in an effort to secure the voting rights of American citizens certainly wouldn’t want people talking about that sort of silly stuff when eulogizing him. Said no one.
ReplyDeleteShoot what’s appropriate anymore with trump as Prez. He finally spoke his truth without worry as prez. Kuddos to our President Obama for not chickening out and stating truth that Mr Lewis would approve. Geesh.
ReplyDeleteNo one has broken more laws than your President and his cronies who he has to pardon every 2 minutes
ReplyDeleteprove it, we're all waiting
Deletei don’t know who you are answering, I was asking what crimes did Obama commit
Deletesorry, I clicked the wrong link. My mistake. No harm intended.
DeleteSomehow I double clicked you by accident. My bad.
Deleteyou need some major education Obama pardoned hundreds lol
Deletedid he pardon people he selected in his cabinet
Deletenot that gavw been proven yet. but just wait
Deletemaybe you should research that ;D
DeleteYoure talking about Obama. Correct?
DeleteShe is part of the trump cult. No common sense and can’t think for herself and believes all his lies are the truth. Also all the people who have died because of his mismanagement is a hoax. That’s why we need new and younger blood in this cane these old white people is what is wrong with this country.
ReplyDeleteI am 66, white, and female, and believe Trump and his minions are a scourge. Please don’t generalize. I think the bigger problem is where they live - the South!
DeleteThat would be all well and good, but I got a better idea, why don't we make a law that says voter suppression of any kind, i.e. blocking any American citizen from voting in any way, a 25 year federal felony. That means that anyone, and I mean anyone who tries to make a law making it harder for anyone to vote, or any government official closing polling places to make it harder to vote should be arrested and tried in federal court and jailed for no less than 25 years. Oh, and have their own right to run for government office of any kind taken away permanently.
ReplyDeleteIf you were born here in this country and are over the age of 18, or if you are a naturalized citizen over the age of 18, you are eligible and should be allowed to vote.
whos stopping them !!
DeleteRepublican State Party chairmen, for one. They gerrymander districts to insure that minority districts are marginalized. And they make sure that there are fewer polling places in black neighborhoods, shorter hours of operation & fewer voting machines.
Deletehttps://www.usnews.com/.../long-lines-frustrate-houston...
What are you talking about? He has no political agenda. There is nothing more he can gain from politics and there was no disrespect shown at all.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to hear apolitician speak so eloquently. We haven’t heard apresident speak with such eloquence since he left. Wish he could be back and he would know how to help people during this pandemic.
ReplyDeleteTrump can point out an elephant.
DeleteSo good to see smart people opposing blind and arrogant comments from from these closed-minded and entitled fools.
ReplyDeleteSo good to see smart people opposing blind and arrogant comments from from these closed-minded and entitled fools.
ReplyDeleteHow many executive orders did he sign that reduce the populations rights ? Remind me pls
ReplyDeleteEverything is political and every event an opportunity to vent...
ReplyDeleteHe is a..... Facebook will put me in Facebook jail if I use the words I'm thinking.
ReplyDeleteMore than ever we need to demand for a voters ID.
ReplyDeletejust as many millions know he is wrong, he he
DeleteBill. He doesn’t deserve jail trump does but I’ll be happy just to be rid of him in Nov
ReplyDeleteit isn't going to happen.
DeleteNot going to happen.
DeleteSearching for loopholes at a eulogy. Only the Dems.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to shut up, he's not for the USA
ReplyDeleteThere is no voter suppression.
ReplyDeletehttps://media1.tenor.co/images/5b4a3ee63e79b71aeeb3fb068ce13b99/tenor.gif?itemid=5892980
of course there is voter suppression. -- GOP dumping the Voters Rights Act, gerrymandering, closure of polling places in predominantly poor and black neighborhoods, absentee ballots arriving in black neighborhoods with the ballot envelope already sealed. Not to worry, there's a cure for white privilege blindnes: Just take off your rose-colored glasses.
DeleteNope, no voter suppression.
ReplyDeleteWhat political purposes? He did that for John Lewis !!!
ReplyDeleteWhere have you been the last 3 years while Trump was president? Sit in a corner like the 3 monkeys, hands over eyes, ears and mouth and turned your brain off?
ReplyDeleteYep! for sure Trump is a threat to democracy! No doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to shut up and get deported
ReplyDeleteGirl by maybe you get your head out Trump ... you might learn something
ReplyDeleteyou. have your days, just shut up
ReplyDeleteHe has a forked tongue!
ReplyDeleteIs he campaigning for Quid Pro Quo Biden in a funeral?
ReplyDeleteNo, he spoke of the things Lewis fought for all his life and what he stood for and was working for up until the day he died. Those present stood and applauded. So what right do you have to try to turn it into something else?
DeleteNot the time to politic
ReplyDeleteLewis' life was political, and all three former presidents who spoke honored that.
DeleteI guess you were sleeping when Obama gave a political speech no mask and you did not see the news say anything about the pack church shoulder to shoulder
DeleteWe want you back 😢
ReplyDeleteIsn’t this mind candy?
ReplyDeleteGo home to your multi million dollar mansion and keep your lying mouth shut
ReplyDeletethat message is for Trump!
DeleteHey Bill Annunzio wasn’t this Lewis guy in the olympics or something, or was it maybe he was a boxer.
ReplyDelete