Congressional Black Caucus Vice Chair Contradicts Rush: Obama Seat Not A 'Black Seat'

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, the new vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said Tuesday President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat should not viewed as 'the black seat.'

"Mr. Burris will be seated or won't be seated on the basis of what happens in a court. I don't think it's in the people of Illinois' interests for us to color that seat," Cleaver told reporters on Capitol Hill. "That seat can't be the black seat. If that happens we begin to lose the progress we made."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[GovtCheese]

FINALLY, someone from the Black Caucus comes down on the sign of reason!!

Blago and Burris are concerned about no one but themselves and have no care about how their actions effect the people of IL.

[iswideopen]

And this is why the African-American community, along with 51% of voters of all races say BLOCK BLAGO'S APPOINTMENT OF ROLAND BURRIS. Look at the big picture. We don't do Bobby Rush politics anymore and it is a blantant insult to the intelligence of African-Americans everywhere. You white dems on the hill are underestimating us as voters. If you listen to the wrong people, you place your own seats for the next re-election in great jeopardy. Seat Burris at your own peril. Burris is an opportunist and is attempting to cash in on PE Obama's fame as the former jr. senator from Illinois. Blago is looking out for Blago, period. It is disgusting.

[Jalenth]

Imagine an "Affirmative Action" Senator. How embarrassing.

[blaharumph]

i agree bobby rush's word choices really got to mean. the rejection is all about blago and within 10 minutes mr. rush makes it outright racial... i'm glad rep. clever is keeping it real.

[lvdragonlady]

"President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat should not viewed as 'the black seat.'"
Well said.
Bobby Rush is the one that started all of this 'b.s.' about the r.a.c.e. of the person who should hold this Senate seat. Anyone with half a brain can see that it is NOT about the c.o.l.o.r. of someone's skin but the person doing the appointing. If Burris had had the integrity that Davis had(he turned down Blago's offer), there would be none of the drama going on now.

[easarsfield]

Eat that Bobby Rush.