In the past two weeks, one could make the argument that African American politicians are somehow under siege.
With Republicans headed into a majority, the four Congressional Black Caucus Members lose Chairmanships over powerful House committees. Eighteen will give up subcommittee Chairs. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) barely held on to finally end up with a specially designed "Assistant Leader" position to back midterm-demoted House Minority Leader-designate Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Publicly, the CBC appears fine with it; privately, some cringe that Clyburn ultimately got a made-up political crumb.
Founding CBC Member Rep. Charlie Rangel's (D-NY) ethics trial ends up in an embarrassing vote for censure. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) will be next to face the House Ethics Committee gavel. Two others, Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), are in the immediate inquiry pipeline.
There is a larger issue of waning Black political influence nationwide. Much of it is simple partisan calculus: most Black elected officials are staunch Democrats, and there are few either willing or in an able position to leverage relationships on the other side of the aisle. Loss of 19 state legislatures to Republicans, who now wield the ruthless magic wand of redistricting, poses a political life-and-death scenario to the 630 Black and mostly Democratic state legislators spread throughout the fifty states. That also poses a problem to CBC Members enjoying safe majority-Black districts. Some are nervous they could lose seats to a happily gerrymandering GOP.
Even on the Republican side -- and despite major gains for the party on Nov. 2nd -- a chorus of GOP elected officials are calling for the resignation of Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele, the party's first Black chair. Recently, Steele's own political director Gentry Collins resigned in a flashy public retort of Steele's tenure. Republican observers note Steele only has 50 of the 85 votes he'll need for reelection at the party's January Winter Meeting.
And while the majority of lost Chairmanships on Capitol Hill will simply transition into ranking member status, it's not the same as the full power associated with Chair. African American Members were once controlling the composition and flow of legislation; they're now relegated to loud dissenting opinions. While their White Democratic colleagues might be resigned to it, licking wounds from electoral losses, the stakes are higher for the Black Members who represent a larger community in desperate need of real political influence.
The uncomfortable jolt of reality is already spurring bold bids for Ranking Members positions on major Committees as Black Members find their bearing. Outgoing House Government Reform Committee Chair Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), a longtime king of the Brooklyn political machine, wants to stay on as the committee's Ranking Member to the chagrin of leading Democrats - including one corner that needs him the most: the White House. Towns is ready to glove-up and go cage match with an emboldened incoming Chair Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the loquacious center-right Congressman who's promised to blast the Obama Administration with a ceaseless barrage of inquiries, probes and subpoenas.
West Philly political brawler Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) is ready to shake up the antiquated Democratic seniority system by running for ranking member of House Appropriations and directly bumping heads with longtime lawmaker Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA). Jumping from his No. 22 spot is a move certain to rile both Dicks and senior Democrats who've been waiting in line.
The Black Caucus on the Hill is frantically searching for some footing on the new political landscape. Its predominant Democratic make-up creates the usual problems as it enters a Republican-led Congress next year. How they decide to interface with the two new Black Republicans on the block, Rep.-elect Tim Scott (R-SC) and Rep.-elect Allen West (R-FL), is unknown. Still, the newly-elected Chair of the CBC, Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), is famously known for his ability to reach across the aisle. And Cleaver, who barely managed to beat back a belligerent Republican challenger two weeks ago in a district only 30% Black, won't be expected to play defense for the White House all the time.
Black political power and influence appears somehow strafed and in serious condition since the midterm elections. Even President Barack Obama is not immune as he fends off assaults from both left and right, including a Washington Post column by two prominent Democratic strategists recommending he pass on reelection in 2012. A combination of scandal, Republican electoral tsunamis and lack of coordinated response to the new political climate have left Black politicos trapped in a smoky wilderness of uncertainty. And it could not have come at a worse time for African Americans, near paralyzed by unemployment double the national average, record foreclosure rates and a recession which vaporized a quarter of the Black middle class.
There could also be an opportunity for needed change in political strategy or a realignment of the traditional guard. In reality, it may not be as much of a devastating blow to Black politicians as it is a moment of reflection. Politics, indeed, is an ugly blood sport and the sting of defeat is a regular occupational hazard. After rapid maturation over the past 40 years, course correction is essential as African American politicians evolve. However, we have not arrived, yet, and we cannot act as though we have -- high unemployment numbers, foreclosure rates, disproportionate public health indicators and the inability of many to afford a college education speaks to that. There's good -- but there's still quite a bit of bad and ugly. We're in the kitchen now. This is the heat.
Follow Charles D. Ellison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/charlesdellison
BUT the Black managers of White wealth,power and privilege are being questioned about their effectiveness. Lets be clear from a geo-political point of view.
Why is your medium quiet on this replacement? What about General Ham Senate Confirmation Hearing's self-admitting lack of intelligence on African Affairs? Is General Ward being promoted to a cabinet position?
It also brought out the best in people all over this nation. He would not have been elected without the support of a large majority of whites. And that is a measure of progress. If he fails to get re-elected, it won't be due to his race. It will be because those who supported him in 08 somehow lost a degree of confidence in him for other reasons.
The phenomenon of Black allegiance to the Democratic Party is something that bears more discussion. In a very truthful way you could say that this allegiance has been purchased, and by this I don't mean the historic 'walking around money' on election day, although that's certainly a part of it, but it has been bought with a certain amount of money from the public treasury - money flowing through such organizations as ACORN and others.
But the surprising thing is that it has been so thoroughly bought at such a modest price by the dems - at least a modest price that they pay out of anything other than the public treasury - in such an uneven exchange.
Dems would not exist as a competitive national party without the near-lockstep Black vote, but over the past 45 years since the war on poverty began, but this has little benefited Black America. Other groups that have come here in poverty have - fairly rapidly in most cases - achieved economic parity. Even non-native African-Americans who share all the genes (but not the culture) seem to do fine.
Perhaps Blacks should ponder the true cost of the political role they have chosen to play.
If the Republican party was not so hostile to minorities perhaps more of us would join, but they continually spout vitriol that attacks us as a community. I live in Georgia where our newly elected Republican Governor was quoted as making references to "ghetto grandma's" and proudly proclaimed voting against the voting rights act.
"Blacks" have pondered the cost of our political role and we find it to be much more beneficial than the alternative. And for the record not all black people are welfare babies as you are insinuating. Maybe if you NOT so rich Republican "Whites" pondered the true cost of the political role you play you would vote with us before you end up on the same welfare you accuse us of receiving because of your dedication to your racism. If you make less than 250K a year your precious Republicans DO NOT CARE about you regardless of color and they will make you poor before they are finished.
So you are saying that the 'Reagan Democrats' upon whom the dems have always depended for their success have always been a bunch of racist dimwit honkys? And that Rove is smarter at motivating them than the national dems are?
And I take it you don't believe the poll that said the Tea Party was wealthier and more educated than the national average?
US CENSUS OF 1860:
(1) 27M total pop. of US; (2) 8M total pop of South; (3) 385k of the 8M owned slaves or 4.8%; (4) 6.5% of Blacks in the South were Free or 262k of 4M(Blacks).
And a large slave owner "plantation" which meant you owned 50 or more slaves was 1% of the 4.8% who owned slaves.
But by your logic this means that 1.5% percent of all the whites in the US or 4.8%(South) who owned slaves means 100% of whites are at fault for all Blacks struggles and even worse somehow "racist"?
Power and the Tiny Acts of Rebellion
By Chris Hedges
Why? Because the REAL r@cists out there (regardless of their skin color) will be more exposed and isolated when skin color is no longer relevant.
Unfortunately, there are too many people who have too much to gain by keeping us separated.
You first!