November 27, 2002Black caucus seeing red over green
By Janelle Carter
ASSOCIATED PRESSAs House Democrats pick a new leader for their fund-raising committee, black lawmakers are again protesting about being overlooked for key positions despite delivering millions of votes each year.
Louisiana Rep. William J. Jefferson has been lobbying to replace Rep. Nita M. Lowey, New York Democrat, as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
But Mr. Jefferson's (who is black) prospects of getting the plum assignment are anything but certain since the elevation earlier of this month of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, to House minority leader. The job may go to Rep. Martin Frost, a Texan who challenged Mrs. Pelosi for the leader's job before dropping out of the race. Mr. Frost has chaired the committee twice before.
Mrs. Pelosi, the first woman to lead the party in either the House or Senate, also approached Rep. Edward J. Markey, Massachusetts Democrat, about taking the job, but he declined, according to a Markey aide.
Mr. Jefferson would be the first black person to lead the campaign committee. Many black Democrats are clearly frustrated that his appointment is not a done deal.
"It is time for diversity to show its head," said Texas Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. All 38 members of the caucus are Democrats. "We want to have input with the Democratic caucus of the House. We get frequently labeled as the base, but the base is rarely heard from when it comes to decisions related to the DCCC."
Mr. Jefferson declined to comment for this report. According to party sources, he raised $1 million during the last election cycle for the DCCC. Mr. Frost, who was chairman of the House Democratic Caucus this year, raised $4.1 million. Members of leadership typically raise considerable amounts of money.
In a letter to Mrs. Pelosi, the black caucus noted that Mr. Jefferson chaired this year's annual fund-raising dinner for the DCCC, which brought in $5.2 million.
"It is critical that the next DCCC chair be a visionary with a proven record of raising money," the letter said. "Congressman Jefferson is that person."
Mrs. Pelosi's office said no decision has been made on the position and noted that Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, who is black, was elected vice chairman of the caucus last week.
"That means that Mr. Clyburn in the future will be looked upon. If there are any more openings, he is one of the members who will be looked at to progress," said Cindy Jimenez, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Pelosi. "That's how you start."
"Just voting for someone to be in the vice chair is a vote of confidence with this group that they are significant, and we are empowering them, and we want them to be in our leadership," Miss Jimenez said. "I think it sends a very strong message."
Nonetheless, complaints remain that there have been too few blacks in leadership roles within the Democratic Party.
Former Rep. Bill Gray of Pennsylvania became the No. 3 Democrat in 1989 before retiring two years later. The late Ron Brown in 1989 became the first black person to lead the Democratic National Committee.
Some blacks were angered last year when party leaders pushed Terry McAuliffe to head the Democratic National Committee over Maynard Jackson, a former Atlanta mayor who is black.
Meanwhile, Republicans prominently featured Rep. J.C. Watts Jr., who is retiring this year after serving as chairman of the Republican Conference, the No. 4 position in the House Republican leadership.
Ron Walters, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, said black Democrats are right to complain.
"You've got to think about the fact that everybody acknowledges how critical the black vote is to the Democratic Party. Then, when it comes to showing them how critical they are by giving them top positions, they don't do it," Mr. Walters said.
But Mr. Walters also blamed black politicians.
"They've got to do a better job of leveraging black voting power," Mr. Walters said. "You have to shake things up to get what you want."
Miss Johnson said: "It's like anything else. We end up seeing the same faces in leadership. There's nothing wrong with those leaders, but it is indeed time to try someone else's talent."
McAuliffe apparently stands on the heads of blacks not only to gain power, but also to hold on to it.
While Hitlery was having a running feud with Ron Brown McAuliffes power suddenly appears. Then Ron Brown meets his maker and McAuliffe is elected head fundraiser for the DNC. (Ron Brown's bad fortune is McAuliffes good fortune.)
The first thing McAuliffe does is hire Ron Browns old top employee Leah Daughtry as the DNC's new Chief of Staff. Sounds like a good way to keep her quite. Damn man, this whole thing stinks.
FReegards my FRiend and holiday cheers to you...Balata
That's 'cuz Terry McAuliffe is a RACIST!!
"The late Ron Brown in 1989 became the first black person to lead the Democratic National Committee."
That's 'cuz Terry McAuliffe had his thugs MURDER Ron Brown!!
"Some blacks were angered last year when party leaders pushed Terry McAuliffe to head the Democratic National Committee over Maynard Jackson, a former Atlanta mayor who is black."
If I wuz a Black DemonRAT, I'd be pissed off, too, seein' how McAuliffe's just a White-assed Cracker!!
Good post, Balata...MUD
Yep...McAuliffe's Contract Murder of Ron Brown is RACIST, IMHO...MUD