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Political newcomer vies for Kennedy's House seat
Projo ^ | December 18, 2003 | EDWARD FITZPATRICK

Posted on 12/18/2003 6:19:35 AM PST by NYer

PROVIDENCE -- Margaret B. Crosby is aiming to become the first black Republican woman elected to Congress.

Crosby, a scholar who lives in Providence, has announced plans to take on Dave Rogers in a GOP primary, with the winner challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy.

While African-Americans are now identified more closely with the Democratic Party than the GOP, that was not the case earlier in American history, said Crosby, who has a doctorate in history from Brown University.

Crosby said congressional Republicans approved the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, thereby abolishing slavery, providing for equal protection and giving women the right to vote. "African-Americans and women don't realize how much their rights are bound up with the fierce fights Republicans waged in Congress for these basic rights," she said.

Crosby also noted that the first state-level Republican parties were formed on anti-slavery platforms in 1854. So this year marks the 150th anniversary of those events, she said, calling her candidacy "a wonderful way to revive that legacy."

Crosby is a research fellow at King's College-London, working on a project called "Constituting the Nation" with colleagues from Germany, Britain and France.

She said she wants to bring her educational background to bear in Congress. "Government is a complicated science, and those who serve in the federal legislature should know something of that science so they can serve effectively," she said, paraphrasing the framers of the Constitution.

*
Journal photo
Margaret B. Crosby
Crosby, 36, often quotes from the Federalist Papers, and she looks to the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall as a role model.

In discussing her candidacy, she quoted Founding Father Pelatiah Webster: "The grand secret of forming a good government is to put good men into the administration." She added that, "Naturally, I would amend that to say 'good people' rather than 'good men.' "

Republicans have emphasized "returning confidence and honor to the presidency," Crosby said. "And we have to be as rigorous in restoring competence and honor to Congress," she said. "So that's why I'm running."

A 2001 congressional report found that 22 black women had served in Congress, and all were Democrats. But each year several black Republican women run for Congress, said Lisa Ziriax, spokeswoman for the National Federation of Republican Women. "It's definitely a matter of time," Ziriax said. "We just need the right candidate in the right race. Running against an incumbent can be tough."

Kennedy, now serving his fifth two-year term, received 60 percent of the vote when Rogers challenged him in the last election.

Crosby accused Kennedy of "behaving like a typical safe incumbent." She said, "The Founding Fathers would have rejected the idea of a professional politician, and that is what you see with Patrick Kennedy."

Margaret B. Crosby

PARTY: Republican

OFFICE SOUGHT: U.S. Representative, 1st District

CURRENT POSITION: None

PREVIOUS OFFICE: None

AGE: 36

RESIDENCE: Providence

PROFESSION: Scholar

EDUCATION: Received bachelor's degree in history from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1994, master's degree in history from Brown University in 1995, and Ph.D. in history from Brown University in 2001.

FAMILY: Single. One child, Erin, 11.

Crosby said she has read the speeches of Robert F. Kennedy. "He was erudite, and we are not getting that from Patrick," she said. "Patrick has shown he is not Camelot, not RFK, not JFK."

Crosby said it was "outrageous" for Kennedy to say he has "never worked a [bleeping] day" in his life during a June fundraiser. Kennedy was asserting that rich people such as himself are the chief beneficiaries of President Bush's tax cuts. Crosby said, "He may not give a rip about the tax cut, but Joe Blow may want to use that money to buy shoes for his children."

Kennedy press secretary Ernesto C. Anguilla said, "The congressman is very proud of his accomplishments. There is clearly going to be a [Republican] primary, and after the primary he'll continue doing what he's been doing, which is bringing his message to the people of Rhode Island."

But before facing Kennedy, Crosby must take on Rogers. Crosby criticized the former Navy SEAL for promoting his candidacy by vowing to swim the length of the 1st Congressional District, from Pawtucket to Newport.

"I will not swim the Bay. I think it degrades the whole process," Crosby said. "These types of political antics are a sign of the corruption of American political ideals." She said she uses the word "corruption" in its broader sense and not to mean bribery.

Crosby noted Rogers has not been a SEAL since 1994, saying, "When you hand in your résumé, people ask, 'What have you been doing during the last five years?' "

Rogers said the swim "helps us demonstrate to people how hard I am willing to work for the people of the 1st District," and he said feedback has been "utterly fantastic." Rogers said Crosby is entitled to her opinion. "But she ought to be more careful with words like 'corruption,' which has a very specific meaning in Rhode Island," he said.

Crosby said she was an "Army brat," born in 1967 in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to Callie and Joe Crosby. She went on to live in Virginia, Germany and Japan, and went to high school in San Francisco.

Crosby said she met a record executive in New York and became pregnant with her daughter, Erin, who is now 11. She said that when she was hospitalized during the first trimester with severe morning sickness, Erin's father called to say she was on her own. "It was an unthinkably bad time," she said.

But when she was six months pregnant, Crosby went to back to college. And it became a turning point. She was sure she'd failed a mid-term in a world history class, but she ended up with one of the highest grades. Three days before giving birth, she took the final exam and got an "A."

"My father told me: The best revenge is success," Crosby said. "Just go on."

Crosby went on to earn a master's degree and a doctorate in history from Brown University. She said it was challenging getting through grad school as a single mom, but with help from some "good people," she did it. She said she and Erin's father ended up having custody battles, and Erin lives in California with her father.

Now, Crosby is now launching her first campaign for elected office. She said she has just begun fundraising and hopes to raise $1.5 million. "I'm not in this to take a stab," Crosby said. "I'm in this to win."

MARGARET B. CROSBY PARTY: Republican

OFFICE SOUGHT: U.S. House of Representatives, 1st District

CURRENT POSITION: None

PREVIOUS OFFICE: None

AGE: 36

RESIDENCE: Providence

PROFESSION: Scholar

EDUCATION: Received bachelor's degree in history from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1994, master's degree in history from Brown University in 1995, and Ph.D. in history from Brown University in 2001.

FAMILY: Single. One child, Erin, 11.




TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: 2004; blackrepublicans; electionushouse; gop; kennedy; margaretbcrosby; margaretcrosby; rhodeisland

1 posted on 12/18/2003 6:19:36 AM PST by NYer
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To: NYer
Go Marge !
2 posted on 12/18/2003 6:21:51 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: NYer
Him, other than that period of bad judgment earlier in her life, she sounds like a pretty decent candidate. I wonder what her stand on the issues are.
3 posted on 12/18/2003 6:23:53 AM PST by ClintonBeGone
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To: ClintonBeGone
Three words: YOU GO GIRL!
4 posted on 12/18/2003 6:26:53 AM PST by Galtoid
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To: NYer
little Patrick should prove his support for affirmative action and step down and ask for her to be appointed to his seat. It's only fair.
5 posted on 12/18/2003 6:32:34 AM PST by Ron in Acreage
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To: NYer
I'll bet the DNC slogan against her will be "The courts didn't trust her to care fo her child -- why should you trust her to care for your district."
6 posted on 12/18/2003 6:34:08 AM PST by Naspino (Exodus 22: 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.)
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To: NYer
Interesting candidate. Should generate some good debate at the very least.
7 posted on 12/18/2003 6:36:25 AM PST by Think free or die
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To: TLBSHOW
Bump!
8 posted on 12/18/2003 6:39:35 AM PST by NYer (Keep CHRIST in Christmas!)
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To: Ron in Acreage
little Patrick should prove his support for affirmative action and step down and ask for her to be appointed to his seat. It's only fair.

LOL Little Patty.

9 posted on 12/18/2003 6:57:32 AM PST by ClintonBeGone
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To: Naspino
I'll bet the DNC slogan against her will be "The courts didn't trust her to care fo her child -- why should you trust her to care for your district."

I missed that part of the article. Did they take her kid from her?

10 posted on 12/18/2003 6:58:18 AM PST by ClintonBeGone
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To: NYer
Crosby said congressional Republicans approved the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, thereby abolishing slavery, providing for equal protection and giving women the right to vote. "African-Americans and women don't realize how much their rights are bound up with the fierce fights Republicans waged in Congress for these basic rights," she said.

They believe the Democrat lie. It's been repeated so much, they think it's real.

11 posted on 12/18/2003 7:00:52 AM PST by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: ClintonBeGone
I have spoken with her - she is anti-tax, pro-gun and pro-life.
12 posted on 12/18/2003 7:05:25 AM PST by Jeff Gannon
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To: NYer
So, were do I my campaign contribution?
13 posted on 12/18/2003 7:40:43 AM PST by NotQuiteCricket (http://www.strangesolutions.com)
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To: NYer; mhking
I'm digging around but as of yet have found no website for her campaign, so we'll know where to send contributions.
14 posted on 12/18/2003 7:41:16 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: ClintonBeGone
I missed that part of the article. Did they take her kid from her?

She said she and Erin's father ended up having custody battles, and Erin lives in California with her father.

15 posted on 12/18/2003 7:46:34 AM PST by Naspino (Exodus 22: 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.)
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To: rdb3; Khepera; elwoodp; MAKnight; condolinda; mafree; Trueblackman; FRlurker; Teacher317; ...
Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

16 posted on 12/18/2003 7:50:20 AM PST by mhking (Bud Light salutes Real Men of Genius: Mr. Silent Killer Gas Passer...)
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To: mhking
I hope she doesn't end up on the Kennedy drop-dead list.
17 posted on 12/18/2003 9:19:05 AM PST by cyborg
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To: NYer; mhking
This lady sounds like a great H of R candidate. How long will it take for the RATS to smear her?
18 posted on 12/18/2003 9:42:07 AM PST by wjcsux
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To: wjcsux
How long will it take for the RATS to smear her?

...as soon as they see her as a threat!

19 posted on 12/18/2003 10:06:27 AM PST by Gritty ("Christianity has been a proponent, not an opponent, of reason and tolerance"-Chuck Colson)
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To: cyborg
Ditto!
20 posted on 12/18/2003 10:43:50 AM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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