Posted on 01/23/2007 6:50:02 AM PST by TexasCajun
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.
Where Racism & Bigotry is not only tolerated but promoted.
No Whites Allowed! Isn't there a law against discrimination based on race?
Oh, just for regular folk and businesses, not members of congress!
Then how about a Congressional White Caucus??
"Whites Not Allowed"
Just like Africa but Bush still took 15 Billion of our dollars and sent it there.
Hmmmm - was not this the same argument that country clubs, neighborhoods and schools used in the 1960's to keep blacks out...?
So much for content of character and not color of skin! Hypocrites are hurting their own cause and destroying their credibility. Segregationists all!
Perhaps Robert Byrd can recruit a White Caucus. He certainly has the experience.
You mean like that "back of the bus" thing?
"Hmmmm - was not this the same argument that country clubs, neighborhoods and schools used in the 1960's to keep blacks out...?"
This is the kind of thing that just kills me. It illustrates 2 things that will be the death of America, (NOT hyperbole):
First, that the MSM drives what happens in America. The MSM is ok with minorities being more than equal. It's payback, and they love it. The MSM is full of minorities with a chip and self loathing whites.
Second, that Americans, in general, are mindless drones driven by the MSM. I see it all the time, people spewing MSM talking points with absolutely no thought behind it.
The MSM is in control, and the sheeple are fine with it. America is in big trouble.
We have the NAACP, Black Caucus, and United Negro College fund. Yet, the MSM insists on using the PC term African American. We need a little consistency.
There is no elected Republican that has the guts to call the CBC what it is nor start a CWC, even if only to make a point.
I just found out that a social organization I belong to does not admit blacks. I was feeling kind of funny about that until I read this.
And if the roles were reversed? I can't imagine the fallout if it were a black man saying this about a white organization. What a load of crap this has become.
huh?
What I wouldn't give to see a congressman or senator act to expose the hypocracy of these people- Start by trying to form a "white caucus" and see what happens.
Do everything the democraps do... and see what happens.
MLK's dream is dying - I don't think this is what he had in mind when he gave his "I have a dream" speech
"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood"
The Congressional Black Caucus doesn't welcome all black congressmen. In 1995, then-Rep. J.C. Watts tried to join, and he was told, by a few members, that the caucus is only for liberal Blacks.
Nine years ago, I wrote to Jesse Jackson, and I asked him why he calls Blacks African-Americans but doesn't call Whites European-Americans. I said that about 2/3 of the Blacks I know prefer being called Blacks. They know that, since the definition of "African" is "a resident of Africa," an African-American must be anyone who was born in Africa, immigrated to the U.S., and became a U.S. citizen. This definition includes some Whites, so whether someone is an African-American can't be determined by his or her skin color. I sent a self-addressed stamped envelope, and I didn't get a response. I didn't think he would respond.
The CBC motto is "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine"
Yes, if you are not a raving racist black, spraying victimization all over everyone, and every other word is reparations, then you are not BLACK ENOUGH to be part of the racist Black Caucus.
Who is kidding who?
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