Rep. John Lewis managed to dominate the news this weekend by declaring that, like at least 30 (update: make that 40) other Democrat members of the House so far, he will not be attending the inauguration, nor does he consider Donald Trump a legitimate president, blaming Russian tampering in part for helping “destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”
On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Lewis said the inauguration Friday “will be the first one that I miss since I’ve been in Congress.”
Rep John Lewis on #MTP: "I don't plan to attend the inauguration..first one that I miss since I've been in Congress" https://t.co/4wRHSuFtmM
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) January 13, 2017
A few, however, fact-checked that claim and found that Lewis did not attend George W. Bush’s inauguration in 2001 either.
According to this @washingtonpost story, this statement is untrue: he also boycotted GW Bush's inauguration. https://t.co/tq1pggXqnh https://t.co/NrL2A1DNSc
— Fred Bauer (@fredbauerblog) January 16, 2017
Hmm … according to this article published on Jan. 21, 2001, “Some members of the Black Caucus decided to boycott Inauguration Day; John Lewis, for instance, spent the day in his Atlanta district.” Why? “He thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush’s swearing-in because he doesn’t believe Bush is the true elected president.”
https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/821131497021341697
What John Lewis is doing isn't partisan. He's a man of principle who can't normalize such an unprecedented racioh wait he did it to Bush too pic.twitter.com/JA9E3v2OkF
— NeoN: Automataster (@neontaster) January 17, 2017
Looks like that excuse can be used more than once.
@NRO Funny, he said he's attended every inauguration since he's been in congress.
— Jay Stewart (@jpstew54) January 17, 2017
John Lewis goes to every* presidential inauguration.
*Democratic presidents only.
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) January 17, 2017
and gave the same reason, not legitimately elected. Yawn, welp.
— Beirne (@BeirneWhite) January 16, 2017
Almost like this isn't really about Trump https://t.co/4O714y9C3j
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 17, 2017
Almost like claiming illegitimacy is a long tradition among Democrats.
Almost.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) January 17, 2017
Also boycotted Bibi's speech to congress.
— Doug Gorman (@DougGorman1) January 17, 2017
is it possible for someone to be both a civil rights hero AND a knee jerk partisan? Media seems to be saying 1 cancels the other
— Matt (@Crazy_Commuter) January 17, 2017
* * *
Related:
Dana Loesch SCHOOLS John Lewis for attacking legitimate election, NUKES troll for ‘sexualizing’ herhttps://t.co/MwMZppLRXt
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 16, 2017
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