‘HARD’ TALK BRINGS BACKLASH FOR LEWIS
The weekend’s bitter feuding between Georgia U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Donald Trump has deepened Washington’s partisan divide as the president-elect prepares to take office, with Republicans defending Trump while Bay State Democrats and others doubled down for the civil rights legend.
The latest political storm — highlighting Democrats’ questions about the legitimacy of Trump’s election — began Friday when Lewis said he was skipping an inauguration for the first time since joining Congress three decades ago.
“You know, I believe in forgiveness. I believe in trying to work with people. It will be hard. It’s going to be very difficult. I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president,” Lewis said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” set to air today. “I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”
Trump tore into Lewis yesterday, tweeting that the Georgia Democrat “should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results.”
The incoming president added: “All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!”
Republican commentators attacked Lewis for questioning the legitimacy of Bush as well. Dem-
ocrats meanwhile voiced outrage, given Lewis’ stature as a civil rights advocate who marched at Selma, Ala., with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — whose legacy is being honored this weekend.
Ford O’Connell, a Republican strategist, said, “This is as low as I have seen Democrats stoop in quite some time. Basically they are trying to push this narrative that Trump is not a legit president and they can’t get traction with it, so they are trying to shroud themselves in the race card and civil rights by trotting out John Lewis to make the case, hoping that Trump explodes.”
At least one high-profile Democrat took Trump’s side — though with respect for Lewis. David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to President Obama, tweeted: “I disagree with what @repjohnlewis said, but I honor the man he is. Honesty; integrity; courage-these are qualities you just can’t buy.
But leading Massachusetts Democrats rallied to Lewis — some arguing that Lewis has a right to question the legitimacy of the election outcome given alleged Russian influence.
“I think it’s the truth; we know the Russians played a role in influencing the campaign and I think Trump has to own that, he has to live with it,” said Phil Johnston, a former state Democratic party chair. “I think John Lewis and others have a right to doubt the legitimacy of the outcome.”
U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III tweeted, “Stones and batons couldn’t stop @RepJohnLewis’s fight for justice. Petty tweets certainly won’t.”
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern blasted Trump, saying, “Here’s a tip: Instead of attacking civil rights icons like John Lewis, reach out to all the Americans feeling threatened by your presidency.” U.S. reps. Stephen Lynch and Katherine Clark also weighed in with defenses of Lewis.
Meanwhile, in Hollywood — another battlefield in the nation’s spiralling political conflict — at least one voice has emerged in the wake of Meryl Streep’s anti-Trump speech to defend the president-elect.
Nicole Kidman, a dual U.S.-Australian citizen who generally supports left-leaning issues, said, “I just say he’s now elected and we as a country need to support whoever’s the president because that’s what the country’s based on. However that happened, he’s there, and let’s go. ”
Ayla Brown’s bucket list just got a bit shorter.
On Thursday, the singer will perform the National Anthem at “Heroes Ball IV: A Rock and Roll Salute to the Armed Services,” a Washington, D.C., concert scheduled to coincide with Inauguration Week. Headlining “Heroes” is Poison frontman Brett Michaels, winner of the formerly Trump hosted — and still Trump-produced — “Celebrity Apprentice” series.
“Always at the top of my bucket list has been to sing at a presidential inauguration,” said Brown, daughter of former Sen. Scott Brown and journalist Gail Huff.
The Heroes Ball is an independently produced event and not part of the president-elect’s official celebrations, but “close enough” to merit a bucket list check mark, Brown said. She’ll separately attend the inaugural ball Friday.
Other inauguration-related performers have courted controversy. Most recently, Broadway starlet Jennifer Holliday canceled her Welcome Celebration performance, citing a “lapse of judgment” for ever accepting.
But Brown jumped at her opportunity, and hopes any detractors will consider the example of Waltham-based fashion designer David Josef, a longtime family friend who didn’t support Trump but offered to dress Brown for her performance. “Our friendship is bigger than any one person in the White House,” Brown said. “I hope more people see it that way, and we have open hearts on both sides of the aisle.
“These opportunities come up only once in a lifetime,” said Brown, who releases her next single, “Take Your Name,” in February.