House Speaker: Rep. Watts May Retire

ETHERZONE ^

[newsperson999]

House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Sunday he hoped that Rep. J.C. Watts, the only black Republican in Congress and a member of the GOP leadership, would seek re-election but acknowledged that the Oklahoman might retire.

Watts' district is in limbo as a result of a legislative redistricting plan and last week he left open the possibility of retirement.

Hastert, R-Ill., said Watts, now in his fourth term, is important to the GOP's House leadership team, where he is the chairman of the House Republican Conference.

"J.C. Watts is certainly somebody who I depend on," Hastert said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "He carries out our whole communications effort. ... He'll play a key role in the whole homeland defense issue." SOURCE HERE

[gg188]

We (Pubbies) run the House and own the White House. How can we have allowed this district to be gerrymandered into jeopardy!? Or why didn't WE gerrymander this thing like DEMS have done and always do to keep their power when they are running the show?....And it isn't just any district---it is that of a young, black Republican. At all costs we need to make this district secure if it has to geographically look like a corkscrew. (That's what the dems do---districts that are two miles wide and hundreds of miles long if that is what it takes to keep THEIR voters IN the district and the OTHERS' voters OUT.)

[goodnesswins]

Maybe the next VP? JUST a wild A** thought....

[arkfreepdom]

How can we have allowed this district to be gerrymandered into jeopardy!? Or why didn't WE gerrymander this thing like DEMS have done and always do to keep their power when they are running the show?....

Because the OK legislature is still demwit controlled. That is slowly changing.

[FF578]

JC Watts would make an AWESOME VP.

I don't know of very many people that could feel that role better.

The demonrats would have a fit with that.

[LenS]

The House and White House don't control redistricting. The states do. Sometimes it's the legislature alone. Sometimes the governor has a say. And sometimes it's been delegated to a commission. Also, the courts play a role in refereeing disputes.

In Oklahoma, they lost one seat in the Census, leaving five. Democrats control the state legislature (surprising when you consider the five of the six Congressmen are Republican) but the GOP Governor has veto power over it. One GOP incumbent is retiring, leaving one Democratic incumbent and four GOP incumbents.

[goodnesswins]

The demonrats are going to be in a fit and tied up in their own straitjacket soon....MY PREDICTION!

[Torie]

Watts may be in limbo, but his district is not, which was little changed by redistricting. Etherzone is out of date and ill informed.

[Torie]

The district was not gerrymandered into jeapordy. The GOP won its court case, and got its plan approved.

[RFP]

It's secure. Oklahoma has lost population so is being downsized from six to five congressional districts. Ernest Istook, another strong conservative, also lives in this district with JC. It's either him or JC. JC is probably thinking, "why waste Republican money campaigning against a fellow conservative?" - similar to Ronaldus Reagan's 11th commandment.

I'm sure there are plenty of other important things that JC can do and become involved with if and when he "retires."

[deport]

Any comments you'd like to make about this situation?

[deport]

06/20/2002 - Updated 06:44 PM ET

J.C. Watts raises possibility of retirement

	By Larry Downing, Reuters
	U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts may retire.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, the fourth-ranking member of the House Republican leadership, left open the possibility of retirement on Thursday.

"At this point, I don't know," he said.

But Watts, the only black Republican serving in Congress, also said he never makes announcements about his plans too far in advance of Election Day and would wait until he is in Oklahoma to announce his intentions.

"Fact is, I don't have to focus on re-election right now," he said.

He added, "These things come up every two years, some rumor about this."

Watts made his remarks at a time when congressional redistricting remains clouded in his home state, which is losing one seat because of population shifts. After months of internal struggle, the legislature approved a new map that would give each of the four remaining incumbents a safe district in which to seek re-election.

The plan is under legal challenge, and Watts said he hoped for a ruling from the state Supreme Court in the near future.

When that happens, he said, "I'll have a district and I will announce in the state of Oklahoma, not in my Washington office."

Watts is serving his fourth term, his second as chairman of the House Republican Conference, a leadership position.

---

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[varon]

JC Watts would make an AWESOME VP.

As a vote getter, yes.
A heartbeat away from the Presidency, noooo way.

[I'mAllRightJack]

JC Watts would make an AWESOME VP.

Another vote here for JC. Good luck!

We cannot afford to lose a talent like this...and one that is so articulate in presenting his (our) positions.

[JacksonCalhoun]

That's what the dems do---districts that are two miles wide and hundreds of miles long if that is what it takes to keep THEIR voters IN the district and the OTHERS' voters OUT.

Actually, Rep. Mel Watt's (D-NC, 12th) district is only the width of I-85 at some points so it can stretch all the way from Charlotte to Greensboro.

[NormsRevenge]

heat .. kitchen .. yada yada

[T-Bird45]

PhiKapMom must be at the lake this afternoon but as an Okie I will take a shot at it. First off, gg188, you are incorrect on the redistricting result -- Istook got a special gerrymandered finger of Oklahoma County to take in his house, it is not part of Watts' district.

Watts' district was probably the least affected in Oklahoma by the changes. He kept the three largest military bases which means he would stay on the Armed Services committee. I think he is still hot over the treatment he and the rest of Congress got on the Crusader artillery system bailout by Bush et al. Basically they took him and his vote for granted without consulting on the political impact of the decision.

In addition, Watts has some skeletons in the closet that get rattled every election cycle: out of wedlock children, taxes, etc. It could be he is just tired of the politics and does not perceive a benefit in continuing. Alternatively, it is a good way to rally the troops to the cause, ie Win One for the Gipper.

[RightWhale]

How can we have allowed this district to be gerrymandered into jeopardy!?

The state elections office configures election districts. It is not a federal function.

[deport]

Thanks