You know the old saying : “With friends like these, who needs enemies?”

A Georgia Democratic representative and civil rights leader who says he has a “deep and abiding love for both Sen. Clinton and President Clinton” has decided to turn his back on his “loved one” and throw his support to Barack Obama.

Rep. John Lewis has been a long time Clinton supporter. Hillary Clinton was counting on him to help get out the African-American vote.

Lewis’ involvement in the civil rights movement dates all the way back to the 1960s when he got the crap beaten out of him during demonstrations in the South.

But, today, he decided not to support his old “friend” because, in his words, “something is happening in America. The People are pressing for a new day in American politics and I think they see Sen. Barack Obama as a symbol of that change.”

Lewis matters for another very big reason. He is one of those so-called superdelegates whose vote could help swing the Democratic presidential nomination one way or the other.

Superdelegates were created by the party to be independent thinkers, (Congresspeople, party bosses, governors,etc., ) and to make up their own minds about whom to vote for at the convention.

Clinton believes this is how superdelegates ought to behave and that the rules of the game ought not to be changed in the middle of the game.

Obama believes superdelegates must vote according to the wishes of the people they represent. In the case of John Lewis, people in his congressional district supported Obama.

So, now, late in the game, Rep. Lewis has decided to play by a different set of rules. Great pal, right?

But, in politics, things can get pretty ruthless. I mean, that’s why Barack Obama wants to “change” the old ways and usher in a new, more honorable political system.

Fine. How about starting, then, with Rep. Lewis.

Barack, may I call you Barack? Barack, why don’t you call Lewis and tell him that you expect him to play fairly by the rules that everyone understood at the outset. And, tell him you won’t stand for politicians knifing other politicians in the back because it is the easier action to take.

Go ahead, Barack. You’re about change. Change the good representative’s mind, then!