Judgment Day for Alabama Incumbent Involved in Racial Rift

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 6/25/02 | Oubai Shahbandar

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - U.S. Rep. Earl Hilliard, Alabama's first black congressman since 1877 and a supporter of slave reparations, faces a primary challenge Tuesday from a Harvard-educated black lawyer, "whose primary source of financial support is coming from New York City's Jewish community," Hilliard said.

Following those comments, even Rep. Charles Rangel, one of the most influential Democrats in the House and a member, along with Hilliard, of the Congressional Black Caucus, refused to sign a fundraising letter for Hilliard.

"[Legislators] need to figure out what causes others pain," Rangel said in a statement released to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Rep. Nita Lowey, co-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), also refused to sign the Hilliard fundraising letter. Both Rangel and Lowey represent New York congressional districts that are heavily Jewish.

The DCCC has officially endorsed Hilliard's re-election bid, but Rangel reportedly stated that support for Hilliard should not come in the form of money.

It is not the first time the five-term congressman from Alabama's seventh district has angered Jewish interests. Last month, Hilliard was one of only thirty House members to vote against a resolution condemning the Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel. And in 1997, Hilliard visited Libya, labeled a terrorist state by the U.S.

Two years ago, Hilliard beat back the challenge of attorney Artur Davis, 58 to 34 percent. But Davis is back this year to challenge the incumbent, and Hilliard recently criticized what he called "the disproportionate influence that some members of the Israeli lobby have over black elected officials and black organizations."

Hilliard referred to himself, as one of the "black incumbents being opposed by blacks whose primary source of financial support is coming from New York City's Jewish community" and lamented the "powerlessness of the black community."

In his statement, Hilliard called on the black community to bear "the bulk of responsibility for changing [this] reality ... exemplified by Democratic primary races in Alabama," and noted that that "the Democratic Party ... exaggerates the extent of the need for a black and Jewish coalition."

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, president of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND), a conservative African American outreach group, said Hilliard is following a policy that "seeks to politically profit from sowing racial hatred between Jews and blacks."

"Black people have a history of being told by radical black politicians that the Jews are our enemies," Peterson said. "This sort of rhetoric is definitely not fostering a healthy relationship between African Americans and Jews in this country.

"It's dividing us more now in this time of war on terror than at any other time," Peterson added.

A senior official of a prominent American Jewish group said "Hilliard should not be surprised that his opponent is receiving so much support from Jewish individuals" after Hilliard "personally visited Moammar Quadaffi, a madman implicated in some of the most vicious terrorism that has taken hundreds of American lives." The official spoke on the condition that his name and organization not be identified.

However, Hilliard does retain the support of his party's leaders. House Minority Whip Nanci Pelosi (D-Calif.) "has given [Hilliard] the maximum support from her leadership PAC, $17,000," according to Brandon Daly, Pelosi's spokesman.

Hilliard also won praise from the Black Radical Congress, an activist group devoted to "forging a black liberation agenda for the 21st century." The group applauded Hilliard for showing" courage in taking a stand of voting against House Resolution 426," the bill condemning the Palestinian suicide bombings, and for not supporting "state [Israel] suppressing by violent means [another] people."

 

[catonsville]

It is, of course, ironic that some of the most virilent, anti-semitic activity in present American society is coming from certain iberal Black extremists.

[VA Advogado]

It's refreshing to see that even these wacko race nuts in these 90% democrat districts can have the hell scared out of them.

[VA Advogado]

It is, of course, ironic that some of the most virilent, anti-semitic activity in present American society is coming from certain iberal Black extremists.

And yet some of their strongest supporters have been from the Jewish community. This is a very big fissure that has a dynamic and positive potential for realignment of Jews as part of the democratic party coalition. Bush is causing the same dynamic with Hispanics, yet is bashed here consistently by the flat earth anti-immigrant race baiters.

[sneakypete]

faces a primary challenge Tuesday from a Harvard-educated black lawyer, "whose primary source of financial support is coming from New York City's Jewish community," Hilliard said.

LOl! What goes around,comes around.

[sneakypete]

A senior official of a prominent American Jewish group said "Hilliard should not be surprised that his opponent is receiving so much support from Jewish individuals" after Hilliard "personally visited Moammar Quadaffi, a madman implicated in some of the most vicious terrorism that has taken hundreds of American lives." The official spoke on the condition that his name and organization not be identified.

Ahhh,it's good to see good old whassisface taking such a courageous stand for himself and his organization. Nothing like standing on principles!

[AppyPappy]

In the black community, the term "Jew" is sometimes a generic phrase meaning "nameless faceless evil rich white person".

[6ppc]

Hilliard is a mush mouth idiot who cannot complete a coherent sentence. I'm sure Artur Davis is a flaming liberal but at least he can speak clearly. I'm thankful I don't live in his district.