At Lewis funeral, Obama calls for renewing Voting Rights Act

Not sure how great the speech was by the former president. Talking about how federal agents are using tear gas and batons on "peaceful protesters". He mustn't be watching much news. Check out the destruction of Portland downtown and Seattle to see how peaceful these protesters are. I am frankly amazed at the restraint shown by the federal marshals in the face of hours of provocation and attack by militant savages.

The memorial of a man like John Lewis deserved better.

As an aside- the mayor of Washington DC has ordered 2 week quarantine of anyone who comes to Washington from Georgia (among many states). I wonder how many of the politicians in attendance at the funeral will obey? Violation punishable by 90 days in jail or a $5,000 fine!

As to the law, I quote from the Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines on funerals:

Again , is there a proof law was broken? They could have ensured the not more than 50 people were in the room at a time.

I am sorry about your mother, but a politician will get special treatment, whether we like it or not.

Republicans have always been for a color blind America- Dems have always been for a racist America.

And, the moon is made of cheese.

RIP to John Lewis. For him, the struggle is over. For the many victims of Republican (and occasional Democrat) racism, the long battle continues.

And it's not just a war on racism, it's a war on falsehoods that are promoted by cowardly forces applauding the status quo.

Great speech. Just watched it from beginning to end.

I agree. I miss the communication skills both President Clinton and President Obama have, especially when contrasted with Trump's. And I miss their economies, which given the mess Trump's made of his the US will probably never see again.

Great speech. Just watched it from beginning to end.

I am not a Trump supporter. I wouldn't have voted for him in 2016, if that makes any difference.

As to the law, I quote from the Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines on funerals:

"Governor Kemp’s “Empowering a Healthy Georgia” executive order prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people if social distancing of 6 feet or more between people cannot be maintained. However, even if social distancing is possible, the National Funeral Directors Association strongly recommends that funerals be limited to immediate family and close friends of the decedent."

My mother's funeral only permitted 10 people to be in attendance. But I guess a politician is more important than she is.

Yes, the pictures also show lack of social distancing.

trump supporters concerned about social distancing, that's really funny!!

Just as an aside, it sure looks like more than 50 people attended the funeral. Georgia law prohibits gatherings of that size.

Care to point out a source that the funeral broke any laws???

Guess there are one set of rules for us and one set for "them".

That sure looks to be the trump supporters position!!!

Ulysses, an answer in the form of a question is not an answer.

Looks like it touched a raw nerve, ROFL!!!

What do you call it when the Democratic nominee for president promises to use race AND gender as criteria for choosing a running mate?

Biden's making a statement that unlike Trump's swamp made up primarily of wealthy, white males Biden wants his administration to be more inclusive. The US includes roughly 100,000,000 people of color, roughly half the total population is female.

Long, long passed time for the US to do a better job of including people other than white males in positions at all levels of leadership and government.

Yes, the pictures also show lack of social distancing. Also churches are not allowed to have that many people at once in attendance. But hey, its ok right?

Just as an aside, it sure looks like more than 50 people attended the funeral. Georgia law prohibits gatherings of that size. Guess there are one set of rules for us and one set for "them"...

Ulysses, an answer in the form of a question is not an answer.

Except Dems explicitly support public policy based on racial identity and Republicans do not. 

No they dont, voter suppression anyone??

Republicans have always been for a color blind America-

Thanks for the morning laugh!!!

Dems have always been for a racist America.

Unfortunately the trump hardliners believe giving equal right to the minorities is racist!!

The GOP is mildly racist?

Not anymore, they are overly racist now.

What do you call it when the Democratic nominee for president promises to use race AND gender as criteria for choosing a running mate?

What do you call it when the President demonizes races, criticizes judges because they belong to a particular race, asks elected representatives to go back to their countries, because they are women and minorities....

I can go on you know!

People who have no idea who is involved have no business voting

I don't know what political system your country has, but if it does include elements of a democracy, some democratic principles a reality is many voters will have little or no idea what and who they're voting for. Reality. The same as it's always been. I'll take that any day over a system like China, Russia, and other authoritarian states have.

The GOP is mildly racist? What do you call it when the Democratic nominee for president promises to use race AND gender as criteria for choosing a running mate?

Even without trump the GOP was mildly racist, now it is openly so!!!

Except Dems explicitly support public policy based on racial identity and Republicans do not. The gaslighting never ends. Republicans have always been for a color blind America- Dems have always been for a racist America.

When an ex president complains about his country, you have to ask what did he do in 8 years?

, lets politicize a funeral

Once again far right Trump supporters show their disdain for America's political system. As @sweezy said, Rep Lewis was a politician. RIP.

George Wallace was a..... (Democrat or Republican) (pick one)

And Lincoln was a Republican.....

Funny how things have changed!!

Even without trump the GOP was mildly racist, now it is openly so!!!

yep, lets politicize a funeral. Good job Obama.

It is the funeral of a politician. Do you know what a politician is?

I would rather have a more simple system, such as informed voting. A person must pass a simple test to see if they have been paying attention, THEN they can vote. Eg, who are the two major candidates in the Presidential election, who is your member, who are your state Senators, etc. People who have no idea who is involved have no business voting.

I think this is an extremely bad idea.

Barack Obama and John Lewis are Democrats.

George Wallace was a..... (Democrat or Republican) (pick one)

 Wallace, the four-term governor of Lewis' native Alabama, built his political career on a defense of segregation and overt appeals to white grievances, and it was his state highway patrol who beat Lewis and others as they marched for voting rights in 1965.

Compulsory voting? You have to be joking.

I would rather have a more simple system, such as informed voting. A person must pass a simple test to see if they have been paying attention, THEN they can vote. Eg, who are the two major candidates in the Presidential election, who is your member, who are your state Senators, etc. People who have no idea who is involved have no business voting.

Compulsory voting should become the norm in U.S. voting. It's every citizen's right & duty to cast a vote.

yep, lets politicize a funeral. Good job Obama.

John Lewis: great man, huge stones, seriously brave.

Barack Obama? Not so much. He needs to do what most former Presidents do and stay former. He can retire to his 15 million dollar mansion in Cape Cod and wait for the oceans to rise and swallow it up (if he ever believed that).

The sheer physical courage of John Lewis is, to me, breathtaking. He was beaten and jailed multiple times and survived a fractured skull showing that despite the ruling of the US Supreme Court a black man could still not ride a desegregated bus in the deep south. The southern police would arrest you and southern citizens would attack you. To go into a meat grinder like that knowing what you face takes a degree of raw physical courage and moral certitude few of us possess. A great man than I will ever be. What an amazing man he was.

Barack Obama was able to become President because he was standing on the shoulder of giants who had sacrificed so much for future generations: John Lewis continued to be one of the greatest of those giants until his final breath.

He was a fierce fighter to the very end, but his fight did not require weapons - it required an unwavering fealty to justice, to equality, to our nation's soul, and to our commonality above all else. What a gift he was to this nation, and we truly must rededicate ourselves to keeping his torch brightly lit. Rest in eternal peace, humble soldier!

voting rights and equal opportunity the late civil rights icon championed are threatened heading into the 2020 election.

Thank you for pointing that out, President Obama. As Trump and his far right fellow 'elite' (US and 'foreign') continue to do so much damage to the economy and society, it's doubtful the US will ever again see the stability it had during President Obama's terms.