Also, the Dems are about to spike down prominent Blacks from running for California governor (recall 2003) and Senate race (2004).
Posted on 06/18/2003 10:38:21 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Black lawmakers have joined with other prominent Democrats in an attempt to mend a serious and growing rift between Democratic National Committee (DNC) and frustrated minority groups who feel shut out of party decision-making.
To solve the imbroglio, members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are demanding that the DNC award more contracts to minority political consultants.
Responding to caucus members' complaining questions at a meeting last week, DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe revealed that the DNC had not signed a contract with any African American political consultants for the 2002 election, an attendee said.
McAuliffe also divulged that the committee had a contract with only one African American consultant for 2004, even though African Americans support Democrats over Republicans by a nearly 9-1 margin and are widely seen as a vital segment of the Democratic base.
"I told him that was insulting," said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). "That did not go over well with our caucus."
Thompson recounted the story of a black political consultant who after repeated attempts to secure a DNC contract took his business proposal to the Republicans, who promptly signed him.
"The party can start acknowledging through contracts with minorities the good minorities do for the party," said Thompson.
"Congressman [Elijah] Cummings [D-Md.] outlined that and so did [Rep.] Jesse Jackson Jr. [D-Ill.]," Thompson said. Cummings chairs the black caucus. Doug Thornell, Cummings' spokesman, said: "This is not just at the DNC. Congressmen Cummings and others have been pressing the other party committees and committees and offices on the Hill to hire more African Americans and put them in positions of authority. That is also true of giving contracts to African American firms."
Tension between longtime Democratic allies in the African American community and the DNC has simmered for some time. It predates revelations that committee officials planned last month to fire 10 African American staff members.
But news of the impending dismissals broke the quietly harbored grudges into the open.
The flare-up comes at an inopportune time for Democrats, when Republicans are waging a concerted effort to woo African Americans. Last month more than 300 leaders from around the country came to Washington to meet with Republican officials at GOP-sponsored African American Leadership Summit.
DNC officials have asked Alexis Herman, former labor secretary under President Bill Clinton and an African American, to help with damage control.
Guillermo Meneses, DNC spokesman said: "The chairman had a very positive and productive meeting with members of the black caucus."
"He has a clear understanding of the issues and concerns the DNC needs to address," Meneses added. "Chairman McAuliffe is committed to working with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and has spoken to several members since last week's meetings."
Some party leaders, such as DNC National Finance Vice-Chair Michael Brown, son of the late chairman Ron Brown, have made it their mission to give African American supporters more of a say in party operations.
"There have been a lot of discussions over the last two weeks," said Donna Brazile when asked about the tensions within the Democratic tent. Brazile managed Al Gore's presidential campaign and heads the DNC's Voting Rights Institute.
McAuliffe's meeting with the black caucus focused on personnel issues at the DNC and on the assertions that the committee pays inadequate attention to allies in minority communities.
"I would not describe it as a rift," said Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.), who chairs the black caucus's political action committee. "I would describe it as a friction, a tension and a frustration."
"I would not define it as a permanent separation, but it's a very serious matter," he said.
"There is a sense that people are not being listened to in terms of decision making," Wynn said. "People are not being included in [deciding] internal positions, polling, financial management."
"I don't think it's directed at the DNC as an entity but at the Democratic Party," he added. "African Americans are not listened to about how funds are distributed and how races are conducted."
When asked about the situation, Cummings said, "I would say Wynn describes it accurately."
"But we had an excellent meeting," he said. "Members of the CBC [will be] working very close with McAuliffe and the DNC leadership on what races are targeted and voter registration efforts and basically how much money is spent."
"Somebody said the DNC wants black folks for their output and not their input," said Lanier Avant, an aide to Mississippi's Thompson.
Lawmakers in the black caucus approached McAuliffe at the beginning of 2001 concerned that minority consultants were not getting contracts and minority staffers were not being hired for top slots. They asked McAuliffe to conduct organizational reviews of the party committees, something "that is still lacking," said Lanier.
Last Wednesday, the lawmakers extracted a pledge from McAuliffe to meet with the group monthly to discuss DNC operations. He also offered to invite a representative from the group to regular strategy meetings of the DNC's inner circle.
McAuliffe also named Ben Johnson, a prominent African American Democrat and donor, as the committee's deputy chairman.
The recent appointment of new DNC officials such as Johnson and Brown, who became vice chairman of the finance committee within the last six months, appears to be an effort to replicate the inclusive atmosphere of the Ron Brown era.
"Historically the DNC did not reach out African American groups and other ethnic groups in terms of how it could shape the party in Washington and around the country," said Jarvis Stewart, a Democratic lobbyist who worked at the DNC under Brown. "[Ron Brown] gave them the opportunity to be players and have a place at the table. He began bringing to the table people of all different shapes, sorts and fashions."
Stewart said Brown's son, Michael, could play a valuable role by doing the same thing.
"The chairman and I we never talked about that," said Brown. "That's something I'm aware of and feel I have a responsibility to do."
Brown said he and others such as Brazile and Herman are "trying to do the same thing which is to makes sure the playing field continues to be level in the party and that people have a seat around that table when the eventual [presidential] nominee is decided."
Also, the Dems are about to spike down prominent Blacks from running for California governor (recall 2003) and Senate race (2004).
Not this brotha. I'm trying to drop 1,000 Daisy-Cutters, 10 or 12 nuclear bombs, 500 Claymore mines, and Anthrax on that rift.
In fact, I'll slap Anthrax on a Tampax and smack them until they can't stand with it!
Thanx, Eminem.
The really "telling" part about this news article is that the prominent Democratic Party Blacks who were mentioned were simply asking for ca$h jobs for their friends as their price to be bought off with.None of them were asking the Democratic Party for anything useful to Blacks at large, such as school vouchers that would let poor Black families send their children into rich White schools.
Nope. They just wanted some ca$h jobs for their friends.
...
Tell me we can't whip 'em if all they are thinking about are a few private handouts for their buddies. Go ahead, just tell me!
You know I can't. We can whip the hell out of them with this.
Sadly, Right-thinking members on the Right such as you and I face an extremely difficult and steep uphill battle on this issue. The Left fights us tooth-and-nail because it goes against anything meaningful that would encourage American black achievement. The Right doesn't fight us. They just don't give a damn.
Oftentimes, I find myself wondering why I even bother with any of it. Just grin and take it, you know?
I'm thinking that it's getting close to being time for you to go undercover.It will make for one heck of a story to show pictures, tapes, and video of powerful Democratic politicians dissing a Black Democrat who is campaigning *for* school vouchers, after all.
"Don't you just want a job at the DNC? So cool it on the voucher nonsense, Mr."
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.
"Thompson recounted the story of a black political consultant who after repeated attempts to secure a DNC contract took his business proposal to the Republicans, who promptly signed him."
I can vote the democratic primary; however, if we vote for Sharpton, aren't we sending a message to politicians to pay more attention to Sharpton's agenda?
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