Quote of the Day: John Lewis on the negativity of McCain-Palin

By Michael J.W. Stickings

From Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), one of America's greatest civil rights leaders:

As one who was a victim of violence and hate during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, I am deeply disturbed by the negative tone of the McCain-Palin campaign. What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history. Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse...

As public figures with the power to influence and persuade, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all. They are playing a very dangerous game that disregards the value of the political process and cheapens our entire democracy. We can do better. The American people deserve better.

What McCain and Palin are doing -- creating and feeding off an "atmosphere of hate" -- reminds Lewis of what George Wallace did in '68.

Yes, it's that ugly.

For more, see BJ at Newshoggers and Joe Windish at TMV.