21st Century Dems Meet to Back "10 Extraordinary, Visionary Leaders"

Jamie Raskin with Rep. John Lewis

The two guests of honor were Congressman John Lewis, hero of the American Civil Rights Movement who faced down sheriffs, water hoses and German Shepherds, and Paul Rusesabagina, the assistant hotel manager in Rwanda whose jaw-dropping valor and heroism saved more than 1,500 lives and were memorialized in the 2004 Academy Award Best Picture Nominee "Hotel Rwanda."

At the dinner, Jamie introduced Rusesabagina. "Washington is a city where the word 'courage' is often tossed around," Jamie said. "Congressmen vote against an amendment in subcommittee and praise each other's courage. Republicans praise the courage of their leaders who resign after being indicted or the courage of the president for sending other people's children to die in a war based on lies. But real courage--physical courage, death-defying moral courage--is hard to come by, but not in this room, not tonight."