First Black Woman on Ways and Means Committee after GOP Backtracks

Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, ^ | 01-09-03 | Staff Report

[Theodore R.]

January 9, 2003 First Black Woman on Ways and Means After GOP Backtracks House Republicans voted Wednesday to reduce the size of the Ways and Means Committee. Six hours later, they reversed the decision, thus denying Democrats the opportunity to accuse them of costing a black congresswoman a seat on the exclusive panel. The drama began unfolding around 1 p.m., when the Republican Steering Committee approved a request by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, R-Calif., to reduce the size of his panel by eliminating one GOP position and one Democratic slot. Before that word reached Democrats, the minority party had filled two seats on the committee, choosing Max Sandlin of Texas and Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio. Sandlin is a white conservative, part of the "Blue Dog" contingent. Tubbs Jones is black. Belatedly learning that Ways and Means was being contracted, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., nonetheless proceeded with an announcement of the selection of Sandlin and Tubbs Jones, then informed the Republican leadership that if there was only one seat to be had, the more senior Sandlin would get it. By 7 p.m, Republicans had reconsidered the earlier vote and reversed it. Ways and Means in the 108th Congress would be the same size as in the 107th, with 24 Republicans and 17 Democrats. Jones will be the first black woman to serve on that committee. "Justice has been served," said Rep. Charles B. Rangel, the committee's ranking Democrat.

[Theodore R.]

Is the GOP still paralyzed about fear of being called "racist"? The slot for Representative Tubbs Jones was to be deleted until the GOP saw that the action could be interpreted as removing a black woman from a key committee.So the idea of reducing the size of the committee was a non-starter.

I don't necessarily think Rep. Max Sandlin, D-TX, is a conservative, but CQ seems to think so. Does anyone from his East TX district have Sandlin's voting record. I know that he easily defeats his Republican challengers.

[Mr_Peter]

Chicken$hits.

[Bikers4Bush]

Tubbs Jones is a scumbag. She is NOT the type of person that you'd want to be the first anything.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., nonetheless proceeded with an announcement of the selection of Sandlin and Tubbs Jones, then informed the Republican leadership that if there was only one seat to be had, the more senior Sandlin would get it.

IOW, she threatened to choose the white man over the black woman--and blame the Republicans for her decision.

Rush pegged it!

[apillar]

In other news, Senator Robert Byrd D-WV applauded the inclusion of the first black woman on Ways and Means. Byrd stated, "Finally the esteemed congressmen on Ways and Means will have someone available at all times to fetch coffee and shine shoes." When asked if such statements could be construed as demeaning to Ms. Tubbs Jones, Sen. Byrd explained, "Only a white Ni***R would take it that way."

..........Sorry couldn't resist.............

[Fred Mertz]

The Pubbies are afraid of their own shadows.

[basil]

Good grief! Max Sandlin is a HUGE liberal, as well as what I would term a "dangerous" individual. Does anyone remember the fiasco when we tried to freep the Klintoon in Texarkana a few years back? Klintoon was there to raise money for Sandlin. This is the time that we were placed behind a barbed-wire topped high fence and told to line up in a straight line, where absolutely no one would see us,etc etc. The police were hostile to us, too. This was at the hotel where the Klintoon was speaking first.

After the speech at the hotel, there was a party/fund raiser for Sandlin out on a ranch outside of Texarkana. A family that lived across the street from the ranch had invited us to stand on their property to hold our little protest, but the police would not let us go there, either. One either USSS, or local policeman, stopped one car with freepers in it, and told them they had to turn back, because "there were snipers in the trees!" We never did figure out what this guy was talking about---but this was the most difficult time I have experienced while trying to exercise my 1st Amendment rights.

[Theodore R.]

Ground Hog Day could be "Republicans run in fear Day," but then nearly every day would be Ground Hog Day under that scenario, alas.

[Theodore R.]

I did not know about Sandlin's voting record, but it seems that he is a liberal and his "conservative" constituents do NOT know his voting record. Most TX newspapers do not routinely publish how members of Congress voted on issues; so many voters remain in the dark and are unable to figure out how to find out how their lawmakers vote. Sandlin's district is blue-collar Democrat. It was once represented by the liberal Wright Patman. There was a conservative congressman there for some years too, Judge Sam Hall, Jr., a Democrat.

[Theodore R.]

Very good satire. Notice that the Senate has been "lily white" since January 1999, and maybe Senator Byrd likes it that way! Just kidding. Actually, though I wonder if the Senate is not full of Senator Byrd's fellow W@@T@ @IG@@@S.

[TLBSHOW]

The Pubbies are afraid of their own shadows

Well Jesse Lee last night said on Radio FR they need to grow some and get over their white fear!

[dogbyte12]

[skeeter]

Is the GOP still paralyzed about fear of being called "racist"?

Not all Republicans. Just RINO's.

You'll even see 'em pop up on this board from time to time.

[TLBSHOW]

Go follow Howlin around, you add zip o!

[AppyPappy]

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Played like a fiddle. When we threw Lott over the side, I said he would pay for it. Now I can say I told you so.

[TLBSHOW]

When you threw Lott over board its the Republicans that have paid for it as Jesse Lee Peterson said last night get over your fear of being called a racist and grow up!

[Blood of Tyrants]

I don't necessarily think Rep. Max Sandlin, D-TX, is a conservative,

Sandlin has a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 33, as Rats go, that is Conservative.

Jones, on the other hand, has a lifetime rating of 1. That puts her left of Peta Pelosi.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Not only that, the Stupid Party let her get away with it.

[Katya]

Ah haaaah....so it seems Madame Pelosi believes seniority beats affirmative action....hmmm.

I guess it's true... being labeled, in republican Bill Thomas's case: as a member of the stupid party, really does have long term effects that are hard to overcome.

[ArrogantBustard]

Who cares what "color" the congressthings on the committee are? The content of their character seems more important.