I realized that with African American people, where we've been blocked from being all that God meant for us to be, I don't have time to be patient.
– Elijah Cummings, Rest in Power pic.twitter.com/cHRPVLMcuL— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) October 17, 2019
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces that the late Rep. Elijah Cummings will lie in state in National Statuary Hall in the Capitol on Thursday, October 24.
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) October 18, 2019
The courts handed Elijah Cummings a posthumous victory…https://t.co/ajnYweG8dW
— Jeff Mayers (@TimeLordJeff) October 20, 2019
Maryland Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a sharecropper's son who rose to become the powerful chairman of a House committee that investigated President Trump, has died at age 68. Cummings was a formidable orator who passionately advocated for the poor. https://t.co/CV6sJffWHn
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 17, 2019
WATCH: Elijah Cummings in June:
"200 to 300 years from now, people will look back on this moment and they will ask the question, what did you do? … I may be dancing with the angels when all of this is corrected, but I've got to tell you, we must fight for our democracy." pic.twitter.com/6Mk1OWnbni
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 17, 2019
I want to tell you – and I want you to believe me – that you just do not know what a powerful loss this is for us all. The leadership #ElijahCummings practiced was remarkable and special. In these times, especially, we must really pause & respect the passing of great people.
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) October 17, 2019
How would you caption this photo? pic.twitter.com/nlvOuokt2t
— EssenViews (@essenviews) October 18, 2019
The House has lost our North Star. Chairman Elijah Cummings was a leader of towering character & integrity. His wisdom, his warm friendship and his great humanity will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, my friend. https://t.co/WP0830KCkV pic.twitter.com/Hx8RFIWFPC
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) October 17, 2019
Elijah Cummings' faith in the Constitution was whole, it was complete, and he didn't plan to sit there and be an idle spectator to its destruction. He was, as Thomas Paine wrote, a winter soldier of the first rank. https://t.co/CXVIE7AYzN
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) October 17, 2019
.@JamilSmith on Elijah Cummings: "[He] knew all too well that this is a country that kills people with its racism, and saw this president trying to do it. He went to his deathbed trying to change that America."https://t.co/iPJt2xa6U6
— Rolling Stone Politics (@RSPolitics) October 18, 2019
America lost a giant with the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings, a man of principle who championed truth, justice and kindness. He fiercely loved his country and the people he served. Rest In Peace, my friend.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 17, 2019
Statement from Barack Obama on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings: "He showed us all not only the importance of checks and balances within our democracy, but also the necessity of good people stewarding it." https://t.co/vro0xacVvX pic.twitter.com/C7e9EKXjnu
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) October 17, 2019
There are good men, great men, strong leaders, true patriots, and able politicians. Sometimes you get them all in one. Elijah Cummings was all of those in one. He was as tough, blunt and effective on the congressional dais as a prosecutor and as fiery as a preacher. pic.twitter.com/4qVpve5wIa
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) October 17, 2019
Think getting lost in all the praise of Cummings’ voice, moral clarity, decency,long journey from poverty to tremendous power & respect, etc, is that he was really damn sharp. When I attended Oversight hearings w my former boss Cummings regularly had some of the best questions
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) October 17, 2019
Our Chairman leaves behind a beautiful and powerful legacy. I am already feeling the impact of a little less grace in the world. Deep gratitude to have spent these early months in Congress guided by his wisdom. Rest in power @RepCummings pic.twitter.com/n4ekGvhAVx
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) October 17, 2019
Son of two factory workers with seven children; helped integrate a swimming pool while being attacked with bottles and rocks at age 11; championed first-in-nation tobacco-ad ban in inner-city Baltimore; was rare lawmaker to oppose sending "our young people off to war" in Iraq https://t.co/EYZWbce5Lw
— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell) October 17, 2019
Watch this remarkable speech from Elijah Cummings
Last words from his 92 year old mother were “do not let them take the vote away from us”
“There are efforts to stop people from voting,” he said. “That's not right. This is not Russia. This is the USA!”pic.twitter.com/9d8ZICW5is
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) October 17, 2019
@RepCummings was more than a vigilant defender of oversight and civil rights, he was also a strong voice for environmental justice as @ourdailyplanet’s @MiroKorenha reminds us in this fantastic piece – https://t.co/EyRmOu7FwA
— Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) October 19, 2019
schrodingers_cat
Caption of the photo: Passing of the torch.
zhena gogolia
Very nice touch in Obama’s statement to pay tribute to Baltimore.
Jake
That photo is of John Lewis, so I’d caption it: “This has nothing to do with Elijah Cummings, but it’s nice anyway.”
Tony Jay
He was the kind of man the rest of us wish we had the courage to be.
And that picture is lovely.
“You gonna get this done without me, yeah?”
“We’ll get it done, Elijah. You rest now.”
rikyrah
Congressman Cummings was a good man. A decent man. A real public servant.
Miss Bianca
Wow, he was only 68. I’m still blown away with sadness about this.
Heidi Mom
I think the man in the photo being embraced by President Obama is John Lewis, not Elijah Cummings. I’ve often thought that the faces of Lewis and Cummings are very similar–showing the weight of their struggles, but still powerful.
Ruckus
@Tony Jay:
Very well said.
Normally when you only see someone from afar you don’t really know them. But with Mr Cummings you see someone that has that steadfast direction about being human, being all that we can be, being better. A person of great character, of great humanity, selfless, an aspiration for all of us to be, to work together to raise all of us rather than the few.
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve really been broken up by his death. Of all the people we could least afford to lose, he was right at the top. It sickens me that he’s the one who’s gone, while a whole host of Tяump asskissers still draw breath.
germy
prostratedragon
Of the same timber. Elijah Cummings was only a year older than I, so I’m quite sure that when growing he both knew of John Lewis and admired him. I imagine they were often mistaken, and suspect Cummings (or Lewis for that matter) might have been rather proud of it.
Another Scott
@Jake: +1
:-/
Rest easy, Chairman Cummings. We will not forget your example.
Cheers,
Scott.
Fair Economist
He was such a gift to the nation. So sorry he is gone.
Dorothy A. Winsor
I love the headline Wonkette used:
hueyplong
We’ll be broken up when John Lewis passes, too.
Betty Cracker
It would be sad at any time to lose a man like Elijah Cummings, but the loss is especially acute now. We need him, and he deserved to see justice done on Trump.
Patricia Kayden
@Jake: Lol! That’s exactly what I was going to say. All Black men do not look alike, dang it!!
In any case, farewell and enjoy your well-deserved rest, Rep Cummings.
schrodingers_cat
@Jake: I thought so too. But was not 100% sure. They are both bald and beautiful, may be that’s the point of confusion!
zhena gogolia
Testing. I added a comment here a while ago, but it looks as if it never showed up.
JWR
Good news for Michigan. Elijah Cummings might be smiling right now.
rachel
Now, there was a man who fought to help others until the day he passed.
Respect.
columbusqueen
@germy: WTF? Somebody still says this garbage out loud?
laura
@columbusqueen: yes, it loud and proud. That’s institutional racism in action and its fellow traveller, power without accountability.
May the family, friends and decent people everywhere remember Congressman Elijah Cummings for his deep devotion to our Constitution, our Nation and our common humanity.
HumboldtBlue
Just when he was needed most.
Damn it.
J R in WV
Mr Cummings was 3 weeks younger than I, give or take a couple of days. What a shock to my system.
And the photo only needs a one word caption: “Heros”
We will miss him.
Patricia Kayden
@JWR: Actually that’s the opposite of good news.
https://www.joemygod.com/2019/10/scotus-sides-with-gop-on-michigan-gerrymandering/
Marcopolo
@JWR:
Did you read the article? It says the challenge to the Republican gerrymander of MI’s state & congressional districts was thrown out by the SC due to the SC’s ruling earlier this year that federal courts should play no role in gerrymandering debates–which they deemed a problem that had to be resolved at the state level and/or via the political process.
So not a victory. Though I will add the article also states:
So the gerrymandered districts will be used in 2020 and then hopefully will be replaced with more equitable maps in 2022.
Msb
We say that the good die young because we cannot spare them, no matter their age at death. 68 is too young, but so will be the age at which Jimmy Carter, for example, dies. The gaping hole in American life left by Rep Cummings’ death is a fine measure of the man and his service to his country. We must mourn his loss and the pain felt by his friends and family, but the central question is, who will step up to supply (not take) his place?
As to Mr Whitten, I hope he is spared for many years in which to grow as a human being. And repent.
Martin
Someone is still butthurt Obama’s inauguration (among other things) was like 10x the size of his.
Marcopolo
Now this is good news:
Red Flags All Over for Senate Republicans
You know what they say, “When your opponent is drowning, throw them an anvil.” Here’s an anvil if you have a few bucks:
GET MITCH OR DIE TRYING
Last but not least, RIP Elijah Cummings. I think I only first started paying attention to him during the Benghazi hearings. But what a first impression! Definitely a hero & role model.
zhena gogolia
@Marcopolo:
I’m on a monthly to Amy McGrath.
Just sent a contribution to Chris Murphy and Sara Gideon today.
I guess I have to get onto that Hawaiian guy’s list now too.
JWR
@Patricia Kayden:
@Marcopolo:
Yep, you guys are right. I misread the opening graf and read the rest of the story from that basis. (Plus, I haven’t slept in well over 24 hours, which alone should remind not to post. Oh well.)
Marcopolo
@zhena gogolia:Yay! I am giving a monthly contribution to that ActBlue fund I put in my post. That is the way I am going to help out D Senate candidates from now at least until the actual general election candidates are chosen. It is probably silly but I like having my finger in a bunch of different contests. You never know what is going to happen between now and Nov 2020 so hedging my Senate bets by spreading them out appeals to me.
The same folks (Crooked Media) who do this Senate list also currently have a list for contributing to VA state legislative candidates, the “F*ck Gerrymandering Fund” that I’m participating in–one final donate there on Nov 1. At some point they will put one out for the 2020 Congressional races. I hope i also has a catchy name.
Starfish
@Jake: There have been a lot of people mistaking Lewis for Cummings.
bemused senior
Shared by a friend on FB:
This poem is stunning. Just wanted to share it. It is used in the Reform Jewish liturgy, as an optional reading, before Kaddish
”Every once in a while, a poem or song is so well constructed, so clearly conveys the authors meaning and is so precisely expressive that it becomes something of an anthem. The poem below, Epitaph, was written by Merrit Malloy and as one of those poems, has become a staple of funeral and memorial services…for good reason.”
Epitaph – By Merrit Malloy
When I die
Give what’s left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.
I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.
Look for me
In the people I’ve known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live on in your eyes
And not your mind.
You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands,
By letting bodies touch bodies,
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.
Love doesn’t die,
People do.
So, when all that’s left of me
Is love,
Give me away.
Aleta
(Wa Post, by Leana S. Wen)
Leana S. Wen is an emergency physician and a visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She was Baltimore health commissioner from 2015 to 2018 and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Federation of America from November 2018 until July.
janesays
Ummm… the correct answer to the question posed by the 7th tweet in this post, “How would you caption this photo?” is:
“Barack Obama and John Lewis hugging at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on September 24, 2016”.
If the picture were of Obama and Lewis consoling each other in the immediate wake of Cummings’ passing, it would make sense to post it right now. But it isn’t.
Sorry, but waaaay too many well-intentioned liberal white people have been mixing up John Lewis and Elijah Cummings in the past few days. On Stephanie Miller’s show the morning of Rep. Cummings passing, a caller was reminiscing about that courageous moment when Elijah Cummings crossed that bridge in Selma as a young man and had his head bloodied by an angry white mob. Miller didn’t bother correcting him, and even joined in the reminiscing about it, completely oblivious to the fact that Elijah Cummings was a 14 year old kid living in South Baltimore on Bloody Sunday in 1965, and never had his head bloodied on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
AxelFoley
@janesays: Thank you. It irks me that so many folks confused Rep. Cummings and Rep. Lewis.