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.
No, not "whatever." You cannot dismiss the facts when they become inconvenient to your argument.
Why am I not surprised bookmark for later printing.
I'm not dismissing or arguing. Newt tried to force something and it didn't work. I wish it would have.
I agree with you that "Dr. King...if he was still alive he would be the bigger race pimp than Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton." MLK was little more than a useful tool, one day this so-called Saint will be exposed for what he represented...but until that day just remember his close associates were Jesse Jackson and a true "Red" advisor. MLK was well immersed in all things collectivism, ie Communism! There were and are better representatives than MLK or the Jesses' of the world.
If they don't want "whitey" in their little racist club, let them change their bylaws to say, "no white people allowed."
Make them endorse their segregationist policy in writing and let's see what people have to say about it. Show a little courage up there, Cohen.
http://www.rightwingnews.com/archives/week_2007_01_21.PHP#007216
From eleven and a half years ago. I believe the CBC is still using my money:
http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ED062995d.cfm
June 29, 1995
Washington's Spending on Special- Interest Groups
Cohen can sneak in if he hangs around with a nice Black woman. Those old pharts in the CBC would turn over a new leaf:)
I personnally do not know the rules of the Hispanic caucus. I do not know for instance if they allow non-hispanics to join . I do suspect they will push Hispanic favorable legislation, that is a given.
I havent heard them try to use their race as an axe over anyones head yet . I give them a wait and see attitude.
Any exclusionary caucus is a bad thing IMO,but the CBC in their standing ovation for Jeffries, their backing of Cynthia McKinney, their agenda as a whole ,IMO make them a racist organisation,not an organisation that is merely trying to oversee gains for their people.
Have you clicked on the link I provided to you and read what is on their website?
Doubt it. Dr King was not as pure as the driven snow like everyone thinks.
I almost fell out of my chair laughing at Number 6.
That "Black Value System" could best be described as Racial Socialism.
I know folks with very dark skin, and ancestors from Africa, who were vary good workers ... and folks with very pale skin, and ancestors from northern Europe, who were lazy SOBs. And, of course, the converse of that. At least in my professional experience, I don't see skin colour as a good predictor of much of anything.
I have always thought that Steve is gay! More like a nice black MAN.
Who the hell would want to join anyway?
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