Represent!: Tagged 'that's my issue'

Anibal Ortiz

KPCC's Franks Stoltze interviews Michael Lewis at Philippe: The Original in downtown L.A.

Anibal Ortiz

A group of friends have lunch at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz / KPCC

KPCC's Frank Stoltze cuts soundbites of an interview at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz / KPCC

KPCC interviews breakfastgoers at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz

The sawdust-covered floor at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz / KPCC

KPCC's Frank Stoltze interviews Sophie Lafferty at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz

The noon rush starts to arrive at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz / KPCC

KPCC interviews breakfastgoers at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz / KPCC

KPCC's Frank Stoltze phones in an interview at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Anibal Ortiz / KPCC

KPCC's Lauren Osen and Frank Stoltze talk briefly before their next interview at Philippe's in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Update 12:15 pm: Lunch rush

The lunch crowd is here in force, shuffling the sawdust around Philippe's floor and upping the chatter quotient. We're wrapping up for the day, but check our That's My Issue section for updates on our next stop. We've been looking at a few cafes and meeting spots around South Los Angeles who'd be willing to host us next time. Any suggestions?

Update 12:00 pm: Gay Marriage

Michael Lewis, a former supporter of President Barack Obama, says he'll be sitting this election out. Lewis says he feels the President's decision to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act caused him to reconsider his vote.

"My position is in alignment with the Bible," he says. "The Bible says that God wants a marriage between a man and a woman, so I withdrew my vote."

Lewis says he has a number of gay and lesbian friends, but says his beliefs have nothing to do with his feelings about individuals. "Nobody should judge anybody," Lewis says.