John Lewis will cast Super Delegate for Barack Obama at Denver Convention

The above picture of Sen. Hillary Clinton and Rep. John Lewis was taken on October 12, 2007 when Lewis endorsed Clinton to be the Democratic nominee for President. She’s probably not smiling so hard today with the news that Lewis has decided to cast his superdelegate vote for Obama at the Denver convention.

African-American party leaders (have) been moved by Mr. Obama’s recent victories and his ability to transcend racial and geographic lines.

Sen. Clinton and Fmr. President Bill Clinton have relied heavily on the Lewis name, and his association with Dr. King as leverage with black voters. It hasn’t worked, especially in South Carolina where this was a main campaign strategy.

Read the entire New York Times article on Rep. Lewis’ decision here.

In the Times article, Mr. Lewis said he and other prominent African-American party leaders had been moved by Mr. Obama’s recent victories and his ability to transcend racial and geographic lines. Sounds like bandwagoning to me.

New York Times writers JEFF ZELENY and PATRICK HEALY say the comments by Lewis underscored a growing sentiment among some of the party’s black leaders that they should not stand in the way of Mr. Obama’s historic quest for the nomination and should not go against the will of their constituents.

Hey whatever. The superdelegate is needed, but hopefully Mr. Lewis et. al are swayed by more than victories and history. If not, this cannot be seen as a true endorsement.

What is evident is that their constituents, including those of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Rep. Maxine Waters, are disappointed in their choice. It’s not because they went against the Black candidate, but its because they didn’t even give Sen. Obama a chance.

Thanks to Francis Holland for the heads up.