| Author |
Message |
    
Tonya
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 3800
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 01, 2007 - 08:08 pm: | 
|
Power in Congress brings blacks new pressures
By David D. Kirkpatrick
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
WASHINGTON
The impending Democratic takeover of Congress in early January will elevate more blacks to positions of power in the Capitol than ever: four major House committee chairmen, as many as 16 subcommittee chairmen, the third-ranking House Democratic leader and a senator considered a credible candidate for his party's presidential nomination.
It is so much power that Representative Charles Rangel, Democrat of New York, who is set to be chairman of the pivotal Ways and Means Committee, said he hesitated to speak about it publicly. "I don't want to scare the hell out of people," Rangel said, "that blacks are now in charge of the committees and so, therefore, watch out."
While celebrating their rise to prominence, black lawmakers face conflicting pressures from their traditional supporters on one side and the Democratic leaders on the other. Many African-American lawmakers represent poor, predominantly black districts created to ensure black representation under voting rights laws. Their safely Democratic seats have helped them rise in seniority ahead of colleagues from more politically heterogeneous districts. Many lean well to the left of the Democratic caucus as a whole.
Traditional party allies like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and some members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they expect their newly powerful champions like Rangel, 76, to push a long- stalled agenda that includes hearings or a commission on reparations for slavery, guaranteeing voting rights for convicted felons, prohibiting racial profiling by police or customs officers, restricting gun sales and sharply increasing the compensation paid to people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
But like other leaders of the larger Democratic caucus, the black lawmakers are being cautioned to be mindful of a broader audience that includes voters in Republican-leaning swing districts, where those initiatives can be politically perilous. And black lawmakers say they feel pressure to appeal to a broader audience because their names and faces often appear as emblems of their party's liberalism in what they consider racially tinged campaign appeals by their opponents.
"It's going to be a delicate balance for the chairmen," said Representative Melvin Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, who is chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. "They want to be progressive in their agenda, but they don't want the public to react negatively to what they are doing, because they know you are leading up to a 2008 presidential election." (Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, who is black, could be a presidential candidate.)
Watt and others emphasized that the Democratic leadership had already embraced some black caucus priorities, like raising the minimum wage and increasing education subsidies. But the black caucus is still preparing its own agenda of items left off the Democratic leadership's program for the first 100 days of the new Congress, including more aid for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom were black.
The number of blacks in Congress has grown to 43 from just 13 at the founding of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969. But although the 2006 election elevated some caucus members to prominence, it did not add to the group's numbers. Its 43 members still make up less than 10 percent of the House and 1 percent of the Senate. By comparison, blacks make up about 13 percent of the population.
The previous high mark for black power in Congress was in 1993-1994, when three blacks served as chairmen of less significant House committees, said David Bositis, a researcher at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, an African-American research and policy group. In addition, Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, the second black senator since Reconstruction, was elected in 1992.
Many black lawmakers maintain that since then, Republican partisans have often played to the racial animosities of white voters by focusing attention on the black lawmakers who would be committee chairmen if the Democrats controlled the House. Republican speeches and other appeals often emphasized that Rangel would take over the Ways and Means Committee and that Representative John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, at 77 the dean of the black caucus, was in line to lead the Judiciary Committee.
Weeks before the midterm elections, the Republican strategist Mary Matalin told The Washington Post that the party was seeking to "hammer home what a Pelosi-Rangel-Conyers House would really mean," linking the two black members to Representative Nancy Pelosi, a liberal white Democrat from San Francisco in line to be House speaker. Black lawmakers say the Republican attacks usually fail to mention their white liberal counterparts like Representative David Obey of Wisconsin, soon to be chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
Richard Viguerie, a conservative direct mail pioneer, said the political liability was not the lawmakers' race but the impression that the Democrats were "a party of special interests."
"With the feminists, the homosexual groups, the other interest groups, you put it all together with the black interest groups and it does not look like America," Viguerie said, predicting that the theme would "get pounded" in conservative talk radio and other outlets during the next Congress.
"We have to be very careful," said William Lacy Clay Sr., a former Democratic representative from Missouri who was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and chairman of the postal committee before the Republican takeover in 1994. (His son, William Lacy Clay Jr., now holds his seat.) "You can bet your life we do not live in a color-blind society," the elder Clay said.
Some lawmakers, though, said the Democratic victories this year showed that racially charged attacks were losing their edge.
Representative Bennie Thompson, 58, Democrat of Mississippi, who is set to be chairman of the Homeland Security committee, said he would not shy away from potentially controversial measures intended to undo the effects of discrimination, including ensuring that a part of domestic security contracts went to firms owned by blacks and other minorities, that contractors hired members of minority groups and that border security officers did not single out travelers on the basis of race or ethnicity.
Representative William Lacy Clay Jr. said Black lawmakers should not get distracted by the concerns of the larger Democratic caucus, Clay Jr. said. "We need to stay focused as a caucus on the people who sent us there," he said, "and remember we are the black caucus."
Conyers, who has sponsored a bill creating a commission to study the idea of reparations, and Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald, 68, Democrat of California, who is set to lead the House administration committee, both declined to discuss potential agendas until the caucus formally selected the new chairmen.
Rangel, however, said he was conscious that as Ways and Means Committee chairman he would be accountable to a different constituency, including what he called "wannabe Democrats" — moderate freshman elected in Republican-leaning districts.
So instead, Rangel said he will advocate policies to help the disadvantaged of all races, which could help blacks as well. "When God hit with Katrina, she didn't give a damn about color at all," he said, "but she sure did give the poor people a hard road to travel."
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/05/news/congress.php |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6377
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 01, 2007 - 11:27 pm: |
|
"Politics makes strange bedfellows" and the dilemma of black law makers is so fraught with ambivalence and contradictions that the only way for them to exert their dominance is to perpetuate the ambiguities that keep their opponents off-balance. This is a good tactic if spinning their wheels will get them past the irony of being in control of impotent power. At least the poor have yet another savior in the person of Charles Rangle. Lotsa luck, Chucky-boy. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2685
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 01, 2007 - 11:39 pm: |
|
This is great news. But I'll bet your girl Cynthia M isn't taking this very well. It seems that she's not even missed  |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3238
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 11:55 am: |
|
Mzuri:
You have a sick jones for that woman. If you're ever in the shower together I bet she shouldn't bend over to get the soap.
Them Negroes up there are going to fold uplike an accordion.
Power. If they get out of line they will toss them out the door like they did McKinney and Foley and they got enough on all of them to send them to jail. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6379
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 12:03 pm: |
|
Not a surprising response from you, chrishayden. The only black people you give credit to are those who have accomplished nothing but staying poor and being ineffective. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2689
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 12:38 pm: |
|
Oh Chris! I have no jones for Cynthia M. My post was directed to those of you who behaved as if her absence from Congress was going to be a detriment to the earth continuing to rotate upon its axis.
If you don't have anything intelligent to say to me then STFU!  |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3246
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 12:38 pm: |
|
The only black people you give credit to are those who have accomplished nothing but staying poor and being ineffective.
But that would mean I would spend all my time praising you |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2690
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 12:39 pm: |
|
Should earth have been capitalized, Einsteins? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6384
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 12:46 pm: |
|
Sorry, chrishayden, you forget that I am not poor but am a member of the scurrilous black middleclass! |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3249
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 02:10 pm: |
|
CyniqueMzuri:
Let us say you plan to run for Congress. First you have to go around and get the go ahead from the power brokers in your party. Then you have to get the go ahead from the power brokers in your community, who own the Congress regardless of the bushwah they say about The People's House.
Then you are told you need a minimum of five million dollars--probably more like ten or twenty these days.
You don't get that from Black folks. You don't rake it up out of five and ten dollar contributions.
Then you get elected. Who are you gonna serve--the people who voted for you--which we now know that they can vote for you or not dependent upon a mechanism that is in the control of the party bosses, or those who gave you all that money and the go ahead--and who you will need again if you are to be re elected?
Thing is I admit how it is and you guys still want to talk High School Civics.
|
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2695
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 02:21 pm: |
|
Chris  Hayden,
And you need this $5-10-20M for what? Advertising? Payoffs? or Bribes?
BTW - No one is discussing HS civics except for you. You need to dredge up some new insults.
|
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3251
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 02:32 pm: |
|
Mzuri:
This is why Negroes can't get anywhere. They sleep--
You need it primarily to pay for all the televsion advertising that is di reguer these days, not to mention the mailouts pollsters and consultants you need.
Now somebody will bring up Jesse Ventura--who was a fluke, and Howard Dean, who didn't make it.
As the Wu Tang Clan says, C.R.E.A.M. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2698
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 02:38 pm: |
|
Okay. So you pay your $5-10-20M for advertising. How does that make you beholden to anyone? Isn't there a limit on campaign contributions, RipVanCrinkle??? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6388
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 02:48 pm: |
|
Why haven't you ever gone into politics, chrishayden, either as a candidate or as a campaign manager, since you have so much expertise and savvy? Do you think you could fare better than those you ridicule? You're the one who is naive because you seem to have forgotten that politics is the art of compromise and that only if blacks represent the majority will their power be dominent. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3253
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 02:58 pm: |
|
Mzuri:
If you don't know that when you take money from people you owe them (oh, they won't say anything. If you don't come across you just don't get anymore and they go to your opponent in the next election) I don't know what kind of education they have down in Texas--
But I can guess.
Cynique:
You're right about my expertise and savvy. I have enough expertise and savvy to know that I am not nearly devious enough to be a politician--
At least not here in St. Louis. Now mabe in Mayberry I could be Mayor--but that is an honor I will pass.
They will have no power. The Majority wants to keep black people down and that includes them, too--
Black policemen often find themselves in this predicament. Able to excercise their authority fully only against black evildoers.
notice how McCain slapped your boy Obama down a few months ago |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2699
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 03:08 pm: |
|
If the maximum amount an organization can legally contribute to a candidate's campaign is $25K, then I don't know what you're talking about Chris. We don't kiss no ass around here for chump change.
You're the one who needs an edumacation. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6389
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 03:38 pm: |
|
You, chrishayden, couldn't win the position of garbage collector in Mayberry or anywhere else that requires a candidate to have some qualifications other than being a malcontented gas bag. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3256
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 04:05 pm: |
|
Mdummy:
But you can contributed an UNLIMITED amount to the party (so called soft money) that doles it out to the candidate
Cynorkle:
The first thing I would do is to post WANTED posters all over town bearing your puss and offering a $1.98 reward-- |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2705
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 04:15 pm: |
|
You better not never refer to me as Mdummy again and if you call Cynique Cynorkle one more time, I'm coming to ESL to kick your stanky warty ugly hairy fatnasty black ass!
Shove your hypotheticals between your balls and that gross patch of steelwool that's growing out of your back. Fucker! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6395
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 04:40 pm: |
|
Pay chrishayden no mind, Mzuri. He always resorts to low humor when he can't offer intelligent rebuttals. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3257
Registered: 03-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 05:16 pm: |
|
Misery:
Whatchoo waitin for?
Cynique:
Who asked you to Ralph Bunche this mutha? |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3258
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 05:18 pm: |
|
Gosh. I guess I was too scared to call you Mdummi (with an "i") and Cynique Cynorkle.
You sho got me told! |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2709
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 05:24 pm: |
|
You just remember your place Chris Hayden. You are no match for the C&M intelligentsia brigade. HAMDummi!  |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3263
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 11:50 am: |
|
A Threesome. Or Manger De Twat as they say in Mayberry.
Kinky! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6419
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 04:09 pm: |
|
Is the frog croaking again?? |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 2735
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 04:34 pm: |
|
 |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6425
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 04:43 pm: |
|
Mzuri you are just a treasure trove of emoticons. You make my day! LMAO. (Of course we know what CH's response will be.) |
Email This Page