Lewis on Obama Critics in 2016: ‘If You Don’t Respect the Man, Respect the Position’

‘I have always said, if you don’t respect the man cannot respect the position’

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Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who has stoked controversy after saying he doesn't believe Donald Trump is a legitimate American president, sang a very different tune last year when discussing critics of President Obama. 

In an interview on CNBC, Lewis said that even if Obama's critics don't like him as a person, they should at least "respect the position."

The comment came in a conversation about whether Obama bears any responsibility over the state of social division in America. Lewis said Obama has faced unprecedented hostility on account of his race. 

Here's a transcript:

LEWIS: "I don't think this president, I don't think he's solely responsible for the country being so divided. We all are responsible for it."
HARWOOD: "Has he made it worse?"
LEWIS: "I don't think he made it worse. I think there were people, because of his election, made a conscious decision and said that we will not give him a victory. Obama been treated different because of his race. I really believe that. You wouldn't hear, if there had been a white Democrat or a white Republican speaking, hear someone hollering out 'You lie,' from member of the Republican Party in South Carolina."
HARWOOD: "You think that was race?"
LEWIS: "I think part of that was race. And you wouldn't have a governor putting her finger in the face of a white president. I' think there's been visible signs of disrespect for the man, and I have always said, if you don’t respect the man cannot respect the position."

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