Posted on 01/23/2007 5:42:55 AM PST by slowhand520
Black Caucus: Whites Not Allowed
By: Josephine Hearn January 22, 2007 08:33 PM EST
Freshman Rep. Stephen I. Cohen, D-Tenn., is not joining the Congressional Black Caucus after several current and former members made it clear that a white lawmaker was not welcome.
"I think they're real happy I'm not going to join," said Cohen, who succeeded Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., in a majority-black Memphis district. "It's their caucus and they do things their way. You don't force your way in. You need to be invited."
Cohen said he became convinced that joining the caucus would be "a social faux pas" after seeing news reports that former Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr., D-Mo., a co-founder of the caucus, had circulated a memo telling members it was "critical" that the group remain "exclusively African- American."
Other members, including the new chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., and Clay's son, Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., agreed.
"Mr. Cohen asked for admission, and he got his answer. ... It's time to move on," the younger Clay said. "It's an unwritten rule. It's understood. It's clear."
The bylaws of the caucus do not make race a prerequisite for membership, a House aide said, but no non-black member has ever joined.
Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who is white, tried in 1975 when he was a sophomore representative and the group was only 6 years old.
"Half my Democratic constituents were African-American. I felt we had interests in common as far as helping people in poverty," Stark said. "They had a vote, and I lost. They said the issue was that I was white, and they felt it was important that the group be limited to African-Americans."
Cohen remains hopeful, though, that he can forge relationships with black members in other ways.
"When I saw the reticence, I didn't want anyone to misunderstand my motives. Politically, it was the right thing to do," he said. "There are other ways to gain fellowship with people I respect."
Cohen won his seat in the 60 percent black district as the only white candidate in a crowded primary field. If he faces a primary challenge next year from a black candidate, as expected, some Black Caucus members may work to defeat him.
A similar situation arose in 2004 after redistricting added more black voters to the Houston district of former Rep. Chris Bell, D-Texas.
Although House tradition discourages members of the same party from working against each other, about a dozen black lawmakers contributed to Bell's opponent, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, the eventual victor. Even Bell's Houston neighbor, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, campaigned against him.
One black member who criticized his colleagues for sandbagging Bell was Cohen's predecessor, Harold Ford.
"You have an incumbent, and you don't support an incumbent? It was inappropriate," Ford told Congressional Quarterly in 2004.
Cohen has won high marks for hiring African-Americans. His staff is now majority African- American, he said, including his chief of staff.
Racism, bigotry, discrimination... the cornerstones of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Do they have separate water fountains too?
Dr. King is spinning.
Cohen is a one termer. He knows it and is trying to ingratiate himself with the black community. It won't work. Next time, the primary field will not be crowded and there will be an annointed black challenger.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Yep, Jim, that's certainly something to Crow about...
Politico Inauguration Day.
Mike Allen was just talking about this on C-SPAN, WJ.
If this is the rules, why would a majority white district EVER elect a black person? Why would a majority-white state ever elect a black senator? Why would a majority-white country ever elect a black president?
And so his Cohen's family and his insurance agent(s).
(Though 'relieved' is probably a better word.)
We all know what a S-storm would happen if any Black was excluded from anything on that basis, yet we let this gang get away with it.
I wonder...I wonder...
I think he'd be appalled.
And as usual most whites will remain silent about this and black racism will continue to live on in this country.
I Barack Obama only half a member?...........Or is he black enough?......
...nothing to see here, move along...put your head in the sand.
You left out HATE..........
they dont need to if they dont even let whitey in!
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