Congressional Black Caucus: "We Can't Support The Bush Tax Cut Extensions"

OK, yeah I know some of you don't like them; but, I gotta give a special shout out and major props the the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus). Not only did they come together and support the DREAM Act. They also held firm in opposing president Barack Obama's proposed tax deal with Republicans. I gotta tell you, as much talk that goes around about black folks not sticking together. I gotta stop and give props when deserved. I mean on a day when Barack Obama reached out for help in selling the deal from America's first black president, Bill Clinton. It's good to see that black folks who remember the good ole days of Negro bliss did not cave in... Not yet anyway:


Once again big ups to the CBC for not being a rubberstamp for Barack Obama and standing on principle. I mean if black folks can't get a "special handout" to create jobs in these economic times, and are forced to wait for that rising tide to float the sinking Mayflower that is the hood. Why then should they support the wealthy top 2% here in America? And another thing, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) is right. This is truly about the Republicans. Yeah, I'm still kinda salty about the compromise, but it's time to get back to focusing on the GOP. I still think we should fight this proposal. However, it's time to shift attention to the GOP douchebags who have no regard for the welfare of regular not-so-wealthy folks like you and I. Once again, big up CBC, as well as Dems willing to fight.

Congressional Black Caucus: "We Got Your Back, Barack; But We Ain't No Punk."

"No Rubber Stamp Here, Barry."

I tell you what: even after the losses taken by the Democrats a couple of weeks ago, some of you Negroes still don't get it. Yeah, I've had conversations with some of you about just where the White House went wrong by not pursuing a more aggressive and progressive agenda, and you still defend his lack of action.

Nothing wrong with supporting and loving the brother: hell, I love Barack like a play-cousin too! However, as I've said before: a more progressive agenda targeting urban communities should have been the way to go as part of the now 2yr old stimulus. But no, all I ever heard was, "give Barack a chance, bro; give him some time." Yep, "a rising tide floats all boats, RiPPa." Well, how's that floating thing working out, black folks?

Well, obviously the suffrage of people of color in this day and age isn't too important when people who look like me fail to recognize what Martin Luther King Jr. called, "the fierce urgency of now." But thankfully some of us get it; namely, that political organization you love to hate: the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus). Which is rather ironic because Obama asked the CBC to push you Negroes to get out and vote recently.

Since becoming the incoming chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus this week, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) has stressed the need for the caucus to chart its own course.

Cleaver said he recognizes both the need to support President Obama and that the agendas of the black caucus and the White House sometimes conflict.

"The CBC has had disagreement with every president that has come to office since it was created," Cleaver said. "All of a sudden, it's like, 'Oh my goodness, black people are disagreeing with somebody black.' There is absolutely no way that we can function in a manner consistent with the wishes of our constituents and always be in lockstep with the president."

Rep. James Clyburn Pushes Back Against Critics of Dems, CBC

[Editor's Note: Last week I mentioned Rep. Jim Clyburn's outreach to black bloggers to help shape the message as we head into the 2010 Midterm elections. Well, my blog cousin Danielle Belton aka The Black Snob attended the event. Do check out her recap and share your thoughts.]

And he did it with a history lesson.

In a fiery presser on Capitol Hill Thursday where he at times seemed visibly frustrated, South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn blasted members of the Democratic base who were withdrawing support, money during the Midterm elections. He said those Liberal and progressive critics who get stuck on things like the health care bill not being exactly what they wanted lose sight of the long battle.

"I don't understand this notion that if I can't get everything right now then there's no tomorrow," Clyburn said.

Clyburn was holding an on-the-record chat with black bloggers, invited to his office at the Capitol, the latest high profile interaction a member of the Democratic Party has made in an effort to reach out to the African American online community to build support for candidates in the contentious midterms where the Democrats face losing their majorities in Congress.

Democrats and President Obama have received criticism from the left for the health care legislation, which they charged did not go far enough. Some are now abandoning their support, leading Clyburn to decry their actions. Pointing out that if members of the pro-civil rights coalition had stopped supporting pro-civil rights candidates simply because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 didn't contain everything they wanted -- a provision on protecting the right to vote by getting rid of literacy tests and poll taxes -- the movement would have dissolved.

Congressional Black Caucus: "Get yo hand out my pocket!!"

Several years ago, I could remember watching The Chris Rock Show on HBO where he interviewed legendary boxing promoter Don King. The one line that has always stuck with me from that interview was when Don said, "The problem with black people is that they're too busy worrying about what's in another niggas pockets." I found that to be very profound then, and even more so today in light of a recently published article in the New York Times, about the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) titled In Black Caucus, a Fund-Raising Powerhouse.

Now just by the title alone one would think this was an article singing praises of this institution. But upon reading it, it's quite obvious that that assumption couldn't be further from the truth. The piece all but made the CBC out to be a bunch of Negro crooks who robbed Fort Knox of all of its gold. At least that's what I thought of it, and sadly a few of my melanin afflicted cousins agree, or are of that very same opinion. I guess the caveat of the impending black rage came from this information in the New York Times piece:

In 2008, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation spent more on the caterer for its signature legislative dinner and conference — nearly $700,000 for an event one organizer called “Hollywood on the Potomac” — than it gave out in scholarships, federal tax records show.

Yep, I've been hearing the talk about the CBC being a bunch of greedy Negroes who walk around lining their pockets for the last day or so. Sure, I could understand the rage especially when all you focus on is that tiny piece of information. But when you over look the fact, as the piece states, that from 2004 to 2008, the CBC raised a total of $55 million via corporate and union donations. Of which all but $1 million was funneled into non-profit organizations that are setup to assist African Americans. I guess I can see how some folks can be upset, and exert what I'd like to call myopic lunacy.