From Lamont to Lewis: The One Issue Obsession Is Back

Two years ago, I wrote that the legions of Ned Lamont supporters across the nation who were targeting Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman for defeat were doing so only because of one issue. Well, ladies and gentlemen, to quote Carol Anne from Poltergeist 2; "They'rrrreeee Baaaack!"

Now I ask you, does anyone think that the "anonymous, disillusioned" John Lewis supporter that leaked the details of this lawsuit to the press would have done so if John Lewis had endorsed Barack Obama?

In this morning's Atlanta Journal-Constitution there is an almost half-page article about Georgia Congressman John Lewis that reports on the settlement of a discrimination lawsuit filed against him by a former staffer in his office.

The article says the lawsuit, which was settled in July of 2007 before John Lewis endorsed Hillary Clinton, was brought to the attention of the media by a "former admirer of Lewis" who "became disillusioned and circulated the tip after Lewis endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton." [Source: 3/7/2008 AJC article "Lewis settled bias suit in July"]

Barack Obama supporter Joe Beasley, the Southern regional director for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, was quoted as saying the following:

"We tried to press that point with Congressman Lewis —- to let her retire," Beasley said. "He was the personification of everything that's bad in the workplace."

Now I ask you, does anyone think that the "anonymous, disillusioned" John Lewis supporter that leaked the details of this lawsuit to the press would have done so if John Lewis had endorsed Barack Obama?

I don't.

John Lewis is a good Congressman who has literally taken his licks and voted the right way on all of the issues that are important to the people of his district. He opposed the war in Iraq. He opposed the impeachment of President Clinton. He opposed the Bush tax cuts. He opposed voter ID here in Georgia. He supported raising the minimum wage. He supported expanding PeachCare for Kids. You can't attack the man on his record or his votes because he has a stellar record in Congress, so the only thing these folks can attack him on is his support of Hillary Clinton for President.

One issue. That's it.