Celeb activist slams Lewis

Asner says he'll back Democratic rival
By Lauren McSherry, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/25/2008 09:19:09 PM PDT

Actor and political activist Ed Asner has taken a swipe at Rep. Jerry Lewis, one of the nation's longest running congressmen.

The Redlands Republican who represents the 41st Congressional District, a vast area spanning much of San Bernardino County from San Bernardino to the Arizona border is running for re-election in November.

Asner, who appeared on the ``Mary Tyler Moore Show'' and the spinoff ``Lou Grant,'' recently announced he is endorsing Tim Prince, the Democratic candidate opposing Lewis.

``If he could amuse us as well as his namesake actor/comedian could, I'd consider keeping him in office,'' Asner said in a statement distributed by Prince's communications director. ``But Jerry Lewis doesn't amuse, he deceives and has been deceiving for 30 years. Keeping him in office perpetuates the corruption of Washington.''

Jim Specht, Lewis' spokesman, said that to his knowledge the congressman has not attempted to get any celebrity endorsements.

``Congressman Lewis doesn't believe that celebrity endorsements are the kind of thing a congressman for the Inland Empire needs to be doing or should be doing,'' Specht said. ``While his opponent was looking for celebrity endorsements from liberal Hollywood types, Congressman Lewis was in Washington leading the opposition to an off-shore drilling ban and trying to get more energy supplies.''

Asner is scheduled to appear at the San Bernardino County Democratic Party celebration of ``Turning the County Blue'' on Oct. 11 at Bob Molina Memorial Park behind the Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 63 at 379 W. Valley Blvd., Rialto.

lauren.mcsherry@inlandnewspapers.com

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