Posted on 06/30/2007 7:27:26 AM PDT by SergeiRachmaninov
The Legislative Black Caucus is a force at the General Assembly. It is a steady and sometimes effective advocate for causes, such as raising the minimum wage and funding historically black colleges, that at times face long odds. It can be a powerful voting bloc, particularly in the state House. Its members hold leadership positions on important legislative committees.
But this week, the caucus has faced more questions about its nonprofit foundation than about votes or legislative work. The foundation collects donations from politicians, political committees and corporations to pay for college scholarships and an annual dinner and education conference. At issue is the disclosure that relatives of five members of the caucus, all Democratic House members, received scholarships from the foundation in 2005 and 2006.
Some caucus members have defended the practice, with some wondering aloud why anyone would be troubled by it.
But government watchdogs criticized the scholarship awards. At least one caucus member, Sen. Charlie Dannelly, a Charlotte Democrat, questioned the appearance of recommending relatives for scholarships.
"It may not necessarily look good for a relative to get it, particularly a close relative," he said.
[snip]
But suddenly, the caucus finds itself on the defensive about its foundation.
Traditionally, the foundation gave historically black colleges and universities scholarship money and let the schools decide who should benefit, Adams said in a statement this week. In 2005 and 2006, legislators were asked to recommend recipients.
Five caucus members, including Adams, have had relatives to receive scholarships.
Womble was the caucus foundation's second vice chairman in 2006. His son, Jamaal, received two scholarship checks to attend Winston-Salem State University. Womble would not talk about awarding scholarships to relatives.
Adams said this week that the caucus is reviewing its practices..." [snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...
I salute this liberal -- but certainly not uniformly unfair -- newspaper for putting this story on Page 1, above the fold.
Is NC having these same kinds of problems with the White Caucus?
Careful or you’ll end up having to apologize to Al Sharpton.
I presume that you are referring sarcastically to the inherently racist idea of even having a "black caucus" (or a black dorm or black student union or black graduation, etc.). Yea...I think we all know that a "white caucus" would be cause for the arrival of federal marshalls, a team of "human rights" investigators from the U.N., etc. And, in the category of "ironies yet to be enjoyed," I think we can count on the continued unacceptability of any specifically "white" projects, even as whites become a minority and minority racists (e.g., La Raza) organize themselves (and probably get government grants.).
I will also say that it is my opinion that corruption is much more accepted in the black "community" than among whites.
However, it seems appropriate to point out that during the last year, North Carolina, traditionally a place not especially infested with this kind of corruption, had the most embarrassing scandal of recent decades.
A Democrat, white gentleman, the speaker of the house, was holding meetings in public restrooms where he was stuffing his pockets with bribe money that he was receiving for selling out the interests of the people.
It is not a problem limited to blacks.
Being so politically wired has its perks. The judge managed to send his six children to Tulane University for a combined 27 years. And the really nice part for his honor is that it didn’t cost him anywhere near what an unconnected parent would have paid.
According to a 1995 article in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the kids received tuition waivers from various state legislators for all those 27 years. Kennedy’s wife completed both her undergraduate and law school training with tuition waivers. Sort of a No Child Left Behind program for insiders.
Yet another reason Teddy and other libs just love those government programs.
Good thing this isn’t at the federal level ‘cause Pelosi would clean it up in a heartbeat. not
All I was trying to do was to point out the absurdity of even having a black caucus, and what a racist thing it is. Everytime I see the term, "Black Caucus" I see red!
I wonder why we are such wusses that we allow these things.
I hear you, bro!
I’m basil with a small b—as in the herb. I’m also a sis, not a bro—LOL!
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