The Congressional Black Caucus is Dead

Posted by Guest Blogger at 2:35 PM on May 25, 2007.

This post originally appeared on Daily Kos

Yeah, I said it. I sat on my anger for days, and with Bennie Thompson referring to liberals as it if was a dirty word, not to mention spouting off ReThug Talking points, I find I can no longer be silent about this travesty.

For the last few years, many of us political activists have gone out of our way to make sure the Congressional Black Caucus remained relevant in the theory of political discourse. And what do we have to show for it?

The Truth's diary :: ::

What we have to show for it is the following:

At least 25% - 40% of the members voting more Corporate, even though they represent districts that have been hard hit by corporations (trade agreements, telecom, Big Pharma, you name it)

More DLC/Blue Dog Influence (and many DLC members wouldn't allow these guys to tote water for them, much less collaborate on anything)

Voting for the Bankruptcy Bill, Voting Against Net Neutrality, Taking Bribes (and cheap ones, too)

Becoming as anti-immigrant and homophobic as their rednecked bretheren (and they should know better.

Collaboration with Fox News Corp. - attempting to give that network a legitimacy it never deserved, while Fox continues the MO of treating African-Americans with high contempt and that contempt extends to the few House Negroes working for them (Amy Holmes, I'm talking about you and Angela McGowan).

The latter was the straw that broke the camel's back. That, and Bennie Thompson spewing ReThug talking points by blaming the backlash on "liberal activists" complainaing.

Guess what? We're not shutting up; if anything, you've just energized us to come back at you, and come back hard: http://colorofchange.org

You'd better ask your boy, Bobby Rush about trying to take on angry Black folk who want him to do some 'splainin' on that Telecom bill when he got nailed with this: http://www.blackcommentator.com/...

I know of what I speak. I've spent the last four years studying the anomaly formerly known as the Congressional Black Caucus. Consider the following from a blogger pal of mine, Greg, over at JackandJill politics: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.blogs...

In the view of many, mine included, the Black Community consist of people with diverse viewpoints and interest, but it is also true that many in the Black community understand that we still have an common interest in maintaining , and expanding to those still left out of,the political and economic gains of the past 40 years. Moreover, the Black Community common interest still has as goals : solidifying our position in new arenas we now find ourselves, and breaking down the barriers to arenas we are still excluded from. The CBC was founded in recognition of and to further these goals.

If one analyzes the struggle for Blacks to attain parity in this society, there is no doubt that, since 1964 and to this very day, the GOP has opposed those goals in action if not in principle. Moreover, it is a matter of fact and beyond dispute, that Fox News Network is one of the GOP's most pronounced and effective tools in actively opposing the goals many in the Black Community are unified on. That said, the CBC needs to explain it self: Why is the CBC cooperating with Fox News on any level?

In General, Fox News is a bastion of political operatives who champion views and agendas that are an anathema to the interest of the majority of Black people in particular and the middleclass in general.

I double-dog dare any CBC member to try and defend this mess. Unless you're one of the 17 who didn't sign off on that letter to play that "Remember, Obama, you're Still a Negro" card to pressure the man to show up for the debate and bring Hillary and Edwards along as a bad date, you need to quit spewing ReThug talking points and explain why the Congressional Black Caucus should still be relevant in the flow of political discourse.

You have ceased to matter. You have ceased to bring anything of significance to the table, and for the corrupt ones in the party, you sell yourself so cheaply, you need to look at Tom DeLay for guidance on how to be corrupt and get fat paid.

You need to quit playing the "Blacks Shouldn't Criticize other Blacks" card for fear of "tearing down the race". Through your actions, and your insistance that CBC goes through with this debate when you can't possibly look more of a fool than you already do, you've not only "torn down the race" you've negated it to where we need to get rid of you, clean house and start over.

Oh, BTW, thank you for calling me a "loud-mouthed operative" Rep. Rush. Now I can add "Liberal Activist" to the list of labels you pin on me, and I wear them with pride, because I am a proud African-American woman who not only fights for uniqueness of and inclusion of all, but call out those of my own ethnicity who's laying down on the job and being derelict in the duty of the public office we fought for you to have. Don't you dare call me out and tell me I have no right to engage in political discourse by criticizing the actions of this Caucus, and you or your bretheren saying I'm helping out white liberals when I do. (Remember when you said that to me, Rep. Mel Watt?) http://www.blackcommentator.com/...

The Congressional Black Caucus doesn't want to be reported on. Watt went off. At that moment, Niyi Shomade, a CBC Monitor founder arrived, to confront the congressman. Watt dismissed the criticism of the CBC as "name-calling" by "you damned bloggers." He "went on," according to Stills, to "a rant about how our group was no better than the white media in exposing the fractures within the Caucus."

Dr. King didn't die for you to obtain public office and then crap on everything he stood for. You're being the biggest of hypocrites when you talk about Martin every Black History Month in dutiful fashion, but you chumps couldn't carry Martin's shoes when it comes to standing on principle. In fact, you run away from any issue that calls for principle. That's because, with the exception of John Conyers, Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, and Bobby Scott, the rest of you have no principles.

Sorry, Champagne Charlie Rangel, but you're included in the list of CBC members with no principles when you tried to negotiate a secret trade deal that continues screwing over the working class of this country, and Dave Sirota called you out on it: http://www.sirotablog.com.

And an organization with members who have no principles is a worthless organization and of no earthly use to anyone. Even the ReThugs have principles (skewered and crooked, I know, but at least they stand on them until the bitter end.) Need I say more? The CBC is DOA and is waiting for someone to call the time of it's death.

Tagged as: congress, rangel

"The Truth" is a regular blogger on Daily Kos