Mon, Nov 5, 2007
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PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
At a panel discussion yesterday on race and politics, Shamed Dogan, a Republican candidate for state representative in west St. Louis County, slammed Congressman Lacy Clay for his stance against a white member of Congress attempting to join the Congressional Black Caucus.
Antonio D. French - who has written 2885 posts on PUB DEF.
Antonio D. French is a writer, political consultant, and newly-elected Democratic Committeeman living in north St. Louis, Missouri.
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November 5th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Harold Ford shares more ideals with Nancy Pelosi than he does with J.C. Watts or Alan Keyes. Race is artificial, and will continue to divide us as long as we let it. We need to tear down barriers, not build more.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
If I may offer this observation to the conversation:
Based on general census data, most male legislators have a slight majority of women in their districts. Should that then qualify them for admission to the Women’s Legislative Caucus?
Mayor Slay currently represents a majority African-American city, should that then make him eligible for membership in the National Conference of Black Mayors?
Mayor Adams in University City represents a very large Jewish population, should that make him eligible for membership in the Amerian Jewish Congress?
November 5th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Race is an issue so deal with it. If you can’t talk about it then you know you have a problem. If we stop talking about it now then we will stay where we are divided.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
John Q. Public
Regarding Mr. Dogan-
The word NOVICE comes to mind…
November 6th, 2007 at 11:14 am
The real question is whether the groups are formed to promote the needs of the individual legislators, or the needs of the residents of the district.
If the black caucus was formed to promote the needs of the black legislator, then it may be reasonable to exclude a non-black.
If the black caucus was formed to promote the needs of black individuals as a group, then a non-black legislator representing a large black community would have a valid reason to join.
Overall, though, these groups should consider allowing anyone to join that will assist in promoting their agenda.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Race/Ethnicity is also cultural. I am not going to try to obtain membership in an African American organization, or a Bosnian one, because I am not African American or Bosnian, but I may support their positions or their events. If they don’t want me then I won’t go where I am not wanted.
Race and ethnicity shouldn’t be eliminated because they exist. We shouldn’t eliminate race because it has been abused. Race and ethnicity are methods of identification and solidarity. We should celebrate and respect our differences.
November 7th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
the congressional black caucus is a group formed by a minority group within congress to promote an agenda that was ignored by the majority. forming a caucus gives them more power than as individuals. now- if they let the majority join- then where is there power? if all the whites joined-the black caucus would then be the same group as congress itself. get it? these claims of reverse racism are riduculous.