Obama takes aim at Trump in fiery eulogy for Civil Rights icon John Lewis

By Rich McKay and Nathan Layne

 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the service during the funeral of late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, a pioneer of the civil rights movement and long-time member of the U.S. House of Representatives who died July 17, at Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. July 30, 2020. Alyssa Pointer/Pool via REUTERS

 

ATLANTA (Reuters) - In a fiery eulogy for longtime U.S. Representative John Lewis on Thursday, former President Barack Obama took a series of thinly veiled shots at the actions of his successor that he said tore at the legacy of the Black civil rights icon being laid to rest.

 

The funeral for Lewis, who played an instrumental role in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, came on the same day Republican President Donald Trump suggested the Nov. 3 election could be delayed. Trump has also waged a war against mail-in ballots, a tactic critics say is aimed at suppressing votes.

 

"We no longer have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar in order to cast a ballot," Obama said in the eulogy, referring to one way Black people were once disqualified at the ballot box.

 

"But even as we sit here, there are those in power doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities with restrictive ID laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision."

 

Obama also referred to reported moves to undermine "the postal service in the run-up to an election that could be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don't get sick."

 

Obama, joined at the funeral by two fellow former presidents, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton, spoke of Lewis's rise from humble beginnings on a Troy, Alabama, farm to become a leader of the 1960s struggle for equal rights for Black Americans. Ultimately, the man known as the "conscience of Congress" never gave up his drive to make "good trouble" in the cause of justice, Obama said.

 

Obama and others spoke or sang in front of his casket draped in the American flag at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. once preached. King, who was assassinated in 1968, had been a mentor to Lewis.

 

Former President Barack Obama on Thursday said the American electoral system was under attack and called for an expansion of the Voting Rights Act, an effort led by longtime U.S. Representative John Lewis.

 

Lewis, who was first elected in 1986 to represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, died on July 17 at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death came at a time of reckoning across the United States over racial injustice ignited by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.

 

Obama - a Democrat who was the nation's first black president and who awarded Lewis the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 - argued that the man whose sharecropping parents "picked someone else's cotton" now should be counted among the Founding Fathers.

 

"America was built by John Lewis. He as much as anyone in our history brought our country closer to its highest ideals," the Democratic former president said.

 

In his speech, Bush remembered joining Lewis in Selma, Alabama, for the 50th anniversary of the watershed 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. "The story that began in Troy isn't ending here today, nor is the work."

 

The funeral capped a week of memorial services.

 

Lewis's coffin was escorted across the bridge on Sunday, decades after his beating there drew a national spotlight to the struggle for racial equality, including suppression of the Black vote in the South. And on Monday his casket was taken to the U.S. Capitol in Washington where it lay in state through Tuesday.

 

Eric Terrell, 65, of Atlanta, sat outside the church in his wheelchair, in the heat and thick air of an Atlanta summer morning, waiting to get a glimpse of former Presidents Clinton and Bush, but especially Obama. He was camped out before 6:30 a.m. so he could bow his head as Lewis's funeral procession rolled by.

 

And he held his homemade sign until his arms got tired. It read, "Get your ass out and vote."

 

"He put his life on the line in Selma so we could vote," said Terrell, who is Black. "So we better do it," he said before joining the throng of onlookers outside the church watching the services on a Jumbotron.

 

In an essay written shortly before his death and published in the New York Times on Thursday, Lewis called on the younger generation to get into "good trouble," using perhaps his most famous utterance about the importance of challenging inequality.

 

"In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way," he wrote, before invoking a famous line from King: "Now it is your turn to let freedom ring."

 

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-31

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Where is Donald Trump's speech honoring John Lewis?

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Where is Donald Trump's speech honoring John Lewis?

I haven't followed as I don't live the news of politics.  But I believe the "woke" left forced him to not attend the event.  Their continued projection of Trump as a racist made him unwelcome.

Obama, an excellent orator and speech giver, big on words, not so much on deeds, big disappointment to many african american that saw him as their saviour, alas, a flash in a pan...

Barack Obama - He had to move to the whitest suburb in the United States of America, yet still feels like he can't fit it with black people. Poor guy.

24 minutes ago, Damual Travesty said:

The United States of America is currently a mess beyond words. That does not change anything at all about the current state of affairs in the UK. Might want to look in that direction if that is where you hail from.

Let's be honest, both these countries have moronic leadership right now.

The real racists are in the Democratic party...vile lying creatures fanning the flames of racism as they believe it benefits them politically...lust for power and political corruption are now the norm in many political circles. 

25 minutes ago, Damual Travesty said:

Barack Obama - He had to move to the whitest suburb in the United States of America, yet still feels like he can't fit it with black people. Poor guy.

And who to speak on TV? Where did you move?

32 minutes ago, twocatsmac said:

If only we were smart like Americans.

 

Wait a minute.....have you looked at America lately?

haha    new saying :   two dummies do not make a smartie 

 

 

No worries, Trump was following it on TV. And it irritated him so much, that just before Obama's speech he tried to start an impromptu press meeting.

Anyone can have attention as long as the name is Trump.

1 hour ago, jimmybcool said:

I haven't followed as I don't live the news of politics.  But I believe the "woke" left forced him to not attend the event.  Their continued projection of Trump as a racist made him unwelcome.

Now where would the left get ideas like that from?

Might it be something Trump said?

Or was it all the things he did or didn't do?

 

And Trump could make a speech in the White House - if he would want to do that...

Numerous off-topic posts and replies have been removed.  Please use the proper names for the Presidents and stay on topic.  The topic is not about Brexit.  

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In an essay written shortly before his death and published in the New York Times on Thursday, Lewis called on the younger generation to get into "good trouble," using perhaps his most famous utterance about the importance of challenging inequality.

 

"In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way," he wrote, before invoking a famous line from King: "Now it is your turn to let freedom ring."

Great words from a great man. 

Edited July 31, 20205 yr by Bluespunk

I see the haters  are out in force. they  just can't accept the fact that president Obama is loved, revered, respected and  a leader of  great integrity.

 

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Where is Donald Trump's speech honoring John Lewis?

He was busy getting ready for Herman Cain's funeral.  He needs to  play down, Herman's refusal to wear a mask, and refusal to social distance at trump's disaster of a Tulsa rally.

 

2 hours ago, jimmybcool said:

I haven't followed as I don't live the news of politics.  But I believe the "woke" left forced him to not attend the event.  Their continued projection of Trump as a racist made him unwelcome.

Rubbish.  Trump despised Lewis.  He constantly disparaged the  man. And yes you are right, he most likely would not be welcome at a funeral of a man who championed voting rights  for the poor and marginalized of society, since Trump wishes to disenfranchise millions of Americans.

 

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Obama, an excellent orator and speech giver, big on words, not so much on deeds, big disappointment to many african american that saw him as their saviour, alas, a flash in a pan...

ok. Why not just say you don't like Obama because he doesn't fit into your extreme right wing views.  I did not agree with president Obama on many issues, but I recognize that he is a decent, honest, compassionate and honourable man. learn from his example. See how he was able to get along with people of different political views such as  George Bush,   Sen. Romney, Sen. McCain etc.  president Bush is similar. It's called class and putting the interests of the nation first. It is something the petty bully Trump has yet to grasp.

 

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Obama, an excellent orator and speech giver, big on words, not so much on deeds, big disappointment to many african american that saw him as their saviour, alas, a flash in a pan...

 

Tell me what you think he should have achieved.

2 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

The real racists are in the Democratic party...vile lying creatures fanning the flames of racism as they believe it benefits them politically...lust for power and political corruption are now the norm in many political circles. 

 

What does this have to do with John Lewis or Barack Obama? Same old people here pushing their agendas.

5 minutes ago, Eindhoven said:

 

Seven people applauded you for you false statement.

 

So you are saying that John Lewis ordered over 500 drone strikes? Either you cannot read or you are publishing fake news.

 

https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-john-lewis-us-drone-strike

pssst

 

take a peek at comment #15 right before yours. i'll wait. 

1 hour ago, Scott said:

Numerous off-topic posts and replies have been removed.  Please use the proper names for the Presidents and stay on topic.  The topic is not about Brexit.  

 

 

Scott, good to see you again.

Off-topic posts and replies along with an altered quote have been removed.   Do not change a quote inside a quote box, even with bold or italics. 

 

 

22 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

I see the haters  are out in force. they  just can't accept the fact that president Obama is loved, revered, respected and  a leader of  great integrity.

 

He was busy getting ready for Herman Cain's funeral.  He needs to  play down, Herman's refusal to wear a mask, and refusal to social distance at trump's disaster of a Tulsa rally.

 

Rubbish.  Trump despised Lewis.  He constantly disparaged the  man. And yes you are right, he most likely would not be welcome at a funeral of a man who championed voting rights  for the poor and marginalized of society, since Trump wishes to disenfranchise millions of Americans.

 

ok. Why not just say you don't like Obama because he doesn't fit into your extreme right wing views.  I did not agree with president Obama on many issues, but I recognize that he is a decent, honest, compassionate and honourable man. learn from his example. See how he was able to get along with people of different political views such as  George Bush,   Sen. Romney, Sen. McCain etc.  president Bush is similar. It's called class and putting the interests of the nation first. It is something the petty bully Trump has yet to grasp.

 

Excellent post imo in watching President Obama’s eulogy I was struck by how much more articulate and intelligent than trump there is really no comparison I’m glad he took the gloves off ritghtly so imo all trump does is troll enough allready our remedy comes on November 2 as president Obama said meanwhile trump does all he can to undermine and cast doubt on the vote I know were my heart lies I know what side of history I want to be on I want to do my bit to help my country live up to it’s potential 

Edited July 31, 20205 yr by Tug

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Obama, an excellent orator and speech giver, big on words, not so much on deeds, big disappointment to many african american that saw him as their saviour, alas, a flash in a pan...

Unfortunately I have to agree: Mr Speach.

When he - as middle-brown coloured man - just ONLY would have brought a responsability-awareness to the more-or-less brown coloured young men in the USA.

6 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

I see the haters  are out in force.

And then paragraph after paragraph of hate speech.  Just a shame it wasn't intended to be funny.

Using a funeral eulogy to deliver a political speech......Classy

7 minutes ago, nattaya09 said:

Using a funeral eulogy to deliver a political speech......Classy

Using a covid-19 briefing to deliver campaign speech....deplorable. 

35 minutes ago, nattaya09 said:

Using a funeral eulogy to deliver a political speech......Classy

My guess is the deceased would have very much appreciated the speech. So well chosen moment and speech imo.

10 hours ago, jimmybcool said:

I haven't followed as I don't live the news of politics.  But I believe the "woke" left forced him to not attend the event.  Their continued projection of Trump as a racist made him unwelcome.

What forced him to refuse to make a comment of any kind on the passing of this great American?

45 minutes ago, nattaya09 said:

Using a funeral eulogy to deliver a political speech......Classy

I guess you missed the letter John Lewis wrote to be printed on the day of his funeral?!

 

Or perhaps you are unaware of this great American’s life’s work?

Good to see President Obama delivering the eulogy. After 3.5 years of tantrums, BS, outright lies, treachery and incompetence on an unprecedented scale it was great to get a reminder on how a grown-up President behaves. 

Excellent opinion piece on the eulogy, https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a33472794/president-obama-filibuster-voting-rights-act-john-lewis-funeral/ .

Off-topic, troll posts and replies have been removed.