African American Elected Officials
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It's Kilpatrick vs. Lee in race to chair the CBC
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It's Kilpatrick vs. Lee in race to chair the CBC
By Josephine Hearn
May 16, 2006
Two women are vying to lead the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) next year in a contest that will catapult the victor to national prominence as a spokeswoman for African-Americans in the 2008 presidential election.
The two candidates, Reps. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), have only recently begun to approach other CBC members and quietly campaign for the top post at the 42-member, all-Democratic group. But the stakes are high.
The victor will be the first woman since 1980 to lead the group during a presidential election, a time when presidential hopefuls and CBC members trade favorable policy positions for endorsements and a time when the media spotlight shines brightly on the constituencies in the Democratic Party. Should Democrats take back control of the House in November, the CBC chairwoman would lead a group that could include as many as five committee chairmen.
Both Kilpatrick and Lee remained mum on the particulars of the race when contacted by The Hill yesterday, saying only that they are candidates and that they plan to meet to discuss the contest in the coming weeks.
“Congresswoman Lee is very interested in being the CBC chair. She will be talking to Congresswoman Kilpatrick and other members of the caucus,” said Nathan Britton, a spokesman for Lee.
Kilpatrick initiated a phone interview with The Hill only to read a short statement.
“I am running for chair of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 110th Congress. One other person is running. She and I will be meeting very soon. ... I will have more to say later,” Kilpatrick said without entertaining questions.
Although Chairman Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) was elected without opposition in 2004, leadership races are not uncommon in the CBC. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) edged out Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) in 2000. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) beat Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) in 2002.
The contest between Kilpatrick and Lee is in its early stages. The caucus will not vote on a new leader until after the November elections. Several sources contacted for this article commented that the similarities between Kilpatrick and Lee are more pronounced than the differences.
Each has a background in public service. Lee served as an aide to former Rep. Ronald Dellums (D-Calif.) for a dozen years and then was elected to the state Assembly and Senate. When Dellums retired in 1996, he endorsed her as his replacement. Kilpatrick served 18 years in the Michigan Statehouse before coming to Congress. Her son, Kwame Kilpatrick, is mayor of Detroit.
Both Kilpatrick and Lee represent liberal urban areas in blue states. Lee’s district covers Oakland, and Kilpatrick’s includes much of Detroit and some adjacent suburbs. Both districts delivered over 80 percent of their votes to John Kerry in 2004.
Lee and Kilpatrick are also nearly the same age, with Kilpatrick a year older, at 60. Neither has a clear edge in the race, political observers said.
“Both would be passionate and assertive,” said Jarvis Stewart, a lobbyist at Stewart Partners LLC and a former aide to Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.), a CBC member. “When you’re chair of the CBC, you have to get in there and get dirt under your fingernails. You have to make it happen. Both of those members would be able to do it.”
Both women have clearly liberal voting records, although Lee has been somewhat more outspoken in championing liberal causes. She serves as co-chairman of the 62-member Congressional Progressive Caucus and was the only member of the House to vote against allowing the president to use military force after Sept. 11.
One aide to a CBC member thought that Kilpatrick and Lee would differ on their openness to meeting with lobbyists and business interests.
“In terms of who is perceived as being open and available to allowing business folk to form a relationship with the CBC, there will be a difference,” the aide said. “Ms. Kilpatrick comes across as more open to business concerns, while Ms. Lee appears to be more in touch with what’s going on socially in black America.”
The victor will be the latest in a line of varied CBC leaders. Watt has been relatively quiet and circumspect as chairman, focusing much of his tenure on policy goals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His predecessor was the outspoken Cummings, who excelled at bringing press attention to the CBC.
One Democratic aide gave Cummings high marks for his handling of the 2004 election.
“Cummings set the model in ’04,” the aide said. “In a presidential race, you need a consensus builder, someone who can bring people together and bring the caucus together to work constructively.”
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), who chaired the caucus in 1999 and 2000, is considered by many to have been the most adept at behind-the-scenes deal-making with Democratic leadership. He serves as chairman of the full Democratic caucus, the third-ranking leadership position among House Democrats.
http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/051606/news2.html
i was looking for a thread to post this.
It's Kilpatrick vs. Lee in race to chair the CBC
By Josephine Hearn
May 16, 2006
Two women are vying to lead the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) next year in a contest that will catapult the victor to national prominence as a spokeswoman for African-Americans in the 2008 presidential election.
The two candidates, Reps. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), have only recently begun to approach other CBC members and quietly campaign for the top post at the 42-member, all-Democratic group. But the stakes are high.
The victor will be the first woman since 1980 to lead the group during a presidential election, a time when presidential hopefuls and CBC members trade favorable policy positions for endorsements and a time when the media spotlight shines brightly on the constituencies in the Democratic Party. Should Democrats take back control of the House in November, the CBC chairwoman would lead a group that could include as many as five committee chairmen.
Both Kilpatrick and Lee remained mum on the particulars of the race when contacted by The Hill yesterday, saying only that they are candidates and that they plan to meet to discuss the contest in the coming weeks.
“Congresswoman Lee is very interested in being the CBC chair. She will be talking to Congresswoman Kilpatrick and other members of the caucus,” said Nathan Britton, a spokesman for Lee.
Kilpatrick initiated a phone interview with The Hill only to read a short statement.
“I am running for chair of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 110th Congress. One other person is running. She and I will be meeting very soon. ... I will have more to say later,” Kilpatrick said without entertaining questions.
Although Chairman Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) was elected without opposition in 2004, leadership races are not uncommon in the CBC. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) edged out Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) in 2000. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) beat Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) in 2002.
The contest between Kilpatrick and Lee is in its early stages. The caucus will not vote on a new leader until after the November elections. Several sources contacted for this article commented that the similarities between Kilpatrick and Lee are more pronounced than the differences.
Each has a background in public service. Lee served as an aide to former Rep. Ronald Dellums (D-Calif.) for a dozen years and then was elected to the state Assembly and Senate. When Dellums retired in 1996, he endorsed her as his replacement. Kilpatrick served 18 years in the Michigan Statehouse before coming to Congress. Her son, Kwame Kilpatrick, is mayor of Detroit.
Both Kilpatrick and Lee represent liberal urban areas in blue states. Lee’s district covers Oakland, and Kilpatrick’s includes much of Detroit and some adjacent suburbs. Both districts delivered over 80 percent of their votes to John Kerry in 2004.
Lee and Kilpatrick are also nearly the same age, with Kilpatrick a year older, at 60. Neither has a clear edge in the race, political observers said.
“Both would be passionate and assertive,” said Jarvis Stewart, a lobbyist at Stewart Partners LLC and a former aide to Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.), a CBC member. “When you’re chair of the CBC, you have to get in there and get dirt under your fingernails. You have to make it happen. Both of those members would be able to do it.”
Both women have clearly liberal voting records, although Lee has been somewhat more outspoken in championing liberal causes. She serves as co-chairman of the 62-member Congressional Progressive Caucus and was the only member of the House to vote against allowing the president to use military force after Sept. 11.
One aide to a CBC member thought that Kilpatrick and Lee would differ on their openness to meeting with lobbyists and business interests.
“In terms of who is perceived as being open and available to allowing business folk to form a relationship with the CBC, there will be a difference,” the aide said. “Ms. Kilpatrick comes across as more open to business concerns, while Ms. Lee appears to be more in touch with what’s going on socially in black America.”
The victor will be the latest in a line of varied CBC leaders. Watt has been relatively quiet and circumspect as chairman, focusing much of his tenure on policy goals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His predecessor was the outspoken Cummings, who excelled at bringing press attention to the CBC.
One Democratic aide gave Cummings high marks for his handling of the 2004 election.
“Cummings set the model in ’04,” the aide said. “In a presidential race, you need a consensus builder, someone who can bring people together and bring the caucus together to work constructively.”
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), who chaired the caucus in 1999 and 2000, is considered by many to have been the most adept at behind-the-scenes deal-making with Democratic leadership. He serves as chairman of the full Democratic caucus, the third-ranking leadership position among House Democrats.
http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/051606/news2.html
Pelosi seeks to end rift
Pelosi seeks to end rift
By Josephine Hearn
May 24, 2006
Looking to mediate a long-simmering feud, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has worked with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to form a working group to address the caucus’s objections to the tactics used by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the CBC have organized a small “ad hoc working group” of CBC members to address the caucus’s concerns with DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), the chief architect of the Democrats’ efforts to take control of the House.
The CBC has long been upset about Emanuel’s strong-arm tactics, registering complaints about his constant drumbeat on paying dues to the DCCC, his threats to withhold DCCC services from members who are in arrears and his alleged lack of interest in engaging them on electoral strategy. CBC members have also expressed frustration that he has not hired as many African-American staffers as they would like.
At a regular quarterly meeting with Pelosi several weeks ago, some members of the CBC, led by Chairman Mel Watt (D-N.C.), vented their concerns about the sharp-tongued Emanuel. Pelosi and Watt created the working group in response to those complaints.
The development marks the first time Pelosi has stepped into the feud and the first time a working group has been created to bring up concerns with Emanuel. The group is expected to meet with Emanuel, likely with Pelosi present, in the coming weeks.
Pelosi’s move suggests that the DCCC-CBC friction has been distracting as she is working to unite her caucus to win the House this November.
An aide to the CBC declined to discuss the developments or name the members of the working group, but two other sources said the group includes Watt, Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), among others. All members of the CBC have been under strict orders not to discuss the development with the press.
One aide to a CBC member, who was not aware of the recent meeting with Pelosi but is familiar with the group’s concerns in general, said the dispute was rooted in what the staffer says is Emanuel’s relentless and at times caustic demeanor.
“Members don’t like to be harassed. He’s been overly aggressive. It’s dues and tracking how many times you come over and use the phone or many times you use our conference room,” the aide said.
Some Democrats, however, say Emanuel’s aggressive leadership style is necessary for the DCCC, which has just about pulled even in its fundraising race with the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“CBC members should stop complaining and start helping the party,” one aide said. “In a year like this with everything at stake, it’s ridiculous to sit around and expect an engaged invitation to play a role.”
Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) is in a unique position in the debate as both a CBC member and a part of the DCCC’s recruitment team.
“I have a high opinion of what Rahm Emanuel is doing,” he said. “Anytime there are fractures in a relationship, dialogue is needed, but I’m really happy with what Rahm Emanuel is doing.”
The CBC has had a rocky relationship with several other committees and factions within the Democratic Party.
Members of the caucus met with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean in March to vent frustration about state party leaders’ not promoting black candidates for statewide offices. They also complained to Dean about Emanuel and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
CBC members have grumbled that Emanuel and Schumer have not been as eager to respond to their concerns as has Dean, nor have they been as attentive in hiring black staffers to key positions within their committees. Dean has three African-Americans on his top staff — Karen Finney as communications director, Leah Daughtry as chief of staff and Matt Nugen as one of the six deputy executive directors — and has pledged to meet on a quarterly basis with the caucus.
The DCCC recently lost a black staffer, Glenn Rushing, to the DSCC, but it has at least two other black aides: DCCC Communications Director Bill Burton and Beverly Gilyard, who directs member services.
The tensions between the CBC and Emanuel come less than a year after another Democratic group, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), charged Emanuel with failing to hire enough Hispanics to important staff positions.
CHC members withheld dues from the DCCC for more than six months until Emanuel hired a Hispanic staffer, Adrian Saenz from the office of Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas). Saenz serves as a liaison between the committee and the Hispanic caucus, often sitting in on CHC political meetings.
After the CBC’s last meeting with Dean, Schumer suggested that the group meet with him. The gathering would have been the first time this election cycle that Schumer had met with the CBC, but those plans later stalled.
In one bright note in the dispute between Emanuel and the CBC, Emanuel had agreed to attend the CBC’s spring fundraiser last night, where the group typically raises several hundred thousand dollars for its PAC.
A DCCC aide confirmed that Emanuel was anticipating meeting with the CBC working group: “As with all of our meetings with members, we look forward to having a productive discussion.”
DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said that Schumer had offered to meet with Watt but that he had declined. The committee plans to meet after the Memorial Day recess with CBC members who have Senate races in their states.
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/052406/news1.html
Pelosi seeks to end rift
By Josephine Hearn
May 24, 2006
Looking to mediate a long-simmering feud, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has worked with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to form a working group to address the caucus’s objections to the tactics used by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the CBC have organized a small “ad hoc working group” of CBC members to address the caucus’s concerns with DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), the chief architect of the Democrats’ efforts to take control of the House.
The CBC has long been upset about Emanuel’s strong-arm tactics, registering complaints about his constant drumbeat on paying dues to the DCCC, his threats to withhold DCCC services from members who are in arrears and his alleged lack of interest in engaging them on electoral strategy. CBC members have also expressed frustration that he has not hired as many African-American staffers as they would like.
At a regular quarterly meeting with Pelosi several weeks ago, some members of the CBC, led by Chairman Mel Watt (D-N.C.), vented their concerns about the sharp-tongued Emanuel. Pelosi and Watt created the working group in response to those complaints.
The development marks the first time Pelosi has stepped into the feud and the first time a working group has been created to bring up concerns with Emanuel. The group is expected to meet with Emanuel, likely with Pelosi present, in the coming weeks.
Pelosi’s move suggests that the DCCC-CBC friction has been distracting as she is working to unite her caucus to win the House this November.
An aide to the CBC declined to discuss the developments or name the members of the working group, but two other sources said the group includes Watt, Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), among others. All members of the CBC have been under strict orders not to discuss the development with the press.
One aide to a CBC member, who was not aware of the recent meeting with Pelosi but is familiar with the group’s concerns in general, said the dispute was rooted in what the staffer says is Emanuel’s relentless and at times caustic demeanor.
“Members don’t like to be harassed. He’s been overly aggressive. It’s dues and tracking how many times you come over and use the phone or many times you use our conference room,” the aide said.
Some Democrats, however, say Emanuel’s aggressive leadership style is necessary for the DCCC, which has just about pulled even in its fundraising race with the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“CBC members should stop complaining and start helping the party,” one aide said. “In a year like this with everything at stake, it’s ridiculous to sit around and expect an engaged invitation to play a role.”
Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) is in a unique position in the debate as both a CBC member and a part of the DCCC’s recruitment team.
“I have a high opinion of what Rahm Emanuel is doing,” he said. “Anytime there are fractures in a relationship, dialogue is needed, but I’m really happy with what Rahm Emanuel is doing.”
The CBC has had a rocky relationship with several other committees and factions within the Democratic Party.
Members of the caucus met with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean in March to vent frustration about state party leaders’ not promoting black candidates for statewide offices. They also complained to Dean about Emanuel and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
CBC members have grumbled that Emanuel and Schumer have not been as eager to respond to their concerns as has Dean, nor have they been as attentive in hiring black staffers to key positions within their committees. Dean has three African-Americans on his top staff — Karen Finney as communications director, Leah Daughtry as chief of staff and Matt Nugen as one of the six deputy executive directors — and has pledged to meet on a quarterly basis with the caucus.
The DCCC recently lost a black staffer, Glenn Rushing, to the DSCC, but it has at least two other black aides: DCCC Communications Director Bill Burton and Beverly Gilyard, who directs member services.
The tensions between the CBC and Emanuel come less than a year after another Democratic group, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), charged Emanuel with failing to hire enough Hispanics to important staff positions.
CHC members withheld dues from the DCCC for more than six months until Emanuel hired a Hispanic staffer, Adrian Saenz from the office of Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas). Saenz serves as a liaison between the committee and the Hispanic caucus, often sitting in on CHC political meetings.
After the CBC’s last meeting with Dean, Schumer suggested that the group meet with him. The gathering would have been the first time this election cycle that Schumer had met with the CBC, but those plans later stalled.
In one bright note in the dispute between Emanuel and the CBC, Emanuel had agreed to attend the CBC’s spring fundraiser last night, where the group typically raises several hundred thousand dollars for its PAC.
A DCCC aide confirmed that Emanuel was anticipating meeting with the CBC working group: “As with all of our meetings with members, we look forward to having a productive discussion.”
DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said that Schumer had offered to meet with Watt but that he had declined. The committee plans to meet after the Memorial Day recess with CBC members who have Senate races in their states.
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/052406/news1.html
Congressional Black Caucus Members Ranking on House Committes and Subcommittees
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<font size="4">Presently, 24 Congressional Black Caucus members are ranking members on 23 House committees and subcommittees. If Democrats retake control of the House in the November 2006 Congressional elections, these members are in line to become Chairs of those committees and subcommittees, marking one of the most powerful moments in African American political history:</font size>
[frame]http://www.blackpolicy.org/resources/RankingCBCMembers.php[/frame]
`
<font size="4">Presently, 24 Congressional Black Caucus members are ranking members on 23 House committees and subcommittees. If Democrats retake control of the House in the November 2006 Congressional elections, these members are in line to become Chairs of those committees and subcommittees, marking one of the most powerful moments in African American political history:</font size>
[frame]http://www.blackpolicy.org/resources/RankingCBCMembers.php[/frame]
Re: Congressional Black Caucus Members Ranking on House Committes and Subcommittees
For those that say, "what has the CBC done?"
For those that say, "what has the CBC done?"