All Articles Tagged "allen west"
Congressional Black Caucus Chair Seeks to Support & Critique Obama
Unlike the extremely outspoken Rep. Maxine Waters, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has attempted to promote the cause of African-Americans through polite means. While he stands by many CBC members’ critiques of the president’s failure to address black unemployment, he has done so without fiery words. Cleaver understands that his group must be free to pursue black interests in Congress, even if that means going against the opinion of America’s first black president. But at the same time, the former mayor of Kansas City is highly sensitive to appearances. A black president being attacked by fellow African-American politicos can help fuel hostile foes of Obama’s legislation. The Miami Herald reports that Rep. Cleaver tries to balance the CBC’s scrutiny with support of the president — but this balancing act is not easy.
Miamiherald.com has more on this black leader caught in a political catch-22:
Cleaver is a lifelong Democrat who prizes political loyalty, and black unemployment has put him and the group he leads in the awkward position of criticizing the policies of a president they admire, but not the president himself.
“It’s not personal,” Cleaver said. “They’re attacking his policies, or lack thereof, with regard to this gigantic unemployment problem among African-Americans. If we can’t criticize a black president, then it’s all over.”
When lawmakers swarmed around Obama as he was leaving the House of Representatives chamber after his recent speech on jobs, caucus members were in the crush, eager for a handshake, a pat on the shoulder or an autograph.
“This is an unprecedented circumstance where an African-American president who is an iconic, heroic figure enjoys a status with African-Americans that no one since Martin Luther King has enjoyed,” said former Rep. Artur Davis, D-ALA., who was a member of the black caucus until leaving office a year ago.
Rep. West Accuses Herman Cain: Muslims "Backed Him Into a Corner"
Rep. Allen West is becoming famous for saying the most ridiculous things. As a man who entered Congress not even a year ago, he has transformed from being the Tea Party poster boy for their claims of racial inclusion into a figure who inspires vigorous head scratching with his boisterous words. Having JUST left behind the rancor caused by comparing himself to Harriet Tubman and black Democratic leaders to overseers on the Democratic plantation (I kid you not), Rep. West couldn’t just sit back for a moment and relax. That mouth had to keep on flapping — but now instead of trash-talking obvious enemies, he has decided to take on his real nemesis: GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain.
Yes, another overly loud and painfully cantankerous Tea Party “favorite,” who also gleans his popularity from the fact that his blackness seems to prove that the overwhelmingly white political organization is not racist. Rep. Allen West probably does not appreciate his doppelganger, who is stealing his shine as the black far right lap dog. And he made his feelings known in a rather lengthy offhand comment made to left-leaning political site, Talking Points Memo. When asked his opinion of Cain’s recent apology to Muslim groups for making inflammatory comments against them, Wild Wild West had this to say:
Cain issued an apology to Muslims in July following his meeting with officials at a Virginia mosque for a “discussion about religion and politics.” The meeting came after Cain claimed that American communities had the right to ban mosques in their neighborhoods.
His apology earned him a verbal beating from former supporters on his Facebook page and on anti-Muslim blogs.
Not gonna happen with West, the Tea Party favorite told TPM following a news conference at the Capitol Hill screening he hosted of an anti-“Ground Zero mosque” film.
“He did not frame things in a very good objective and historical assessment, and I think he kind of got himself backed into a very ugly corner,” West told TPM. “I would never give anyone the opportunity to come back and exploit me making some type of gaffe, and I think that’s what happened.”
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allen west, black members of tea party, Black Tea Party, Congress, dc, GOP, Herman Cain, Islam, Muslims, politics, tea partyThat’s What They Said: 7 Revealing Quotes and Quotables From The Week
In case you missed it, check out the interesting news and views that expressed and amused this week…so far!
“As you know, I have called you personally in the past about the inaccuracies in your writing. How you stay employed at such a venerable newspaper is beyond me, given your allergy to fact checking.
- Tavis Smiley in a written statement to Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart. Smiley didn’t take too well of Capehart’s criticisms of the bus tour Smiley conducted with Cornel West.
GOP Rep. Allen West: “Follow Underground Railroad Away From Democratic Plantation”
Florida congressman Rep. Allen West, the only Republican in the Congressional Black Caucus, had some choice words for Democrats after a CBC town hall held in Detroit on Tuesday. On Wednesday, West went on Fox News program “The O’Reilly Factor” and compared blacks in the Democratic party to slaves on a plantation. He went on to liken the black Democratic leadership to a bunch of overseers, and himself to a modern day Harriet Tubman seeking to lead African-Americans to political freedom. Citing the idea that Democrats take black voters for granted, West slammed the party with the underlying suggestion that Republicans have the answer. FoxNews.com reports:
“You have this 21st-century plantation that has been out there. Where the Democrat Party has forever taken the black vote for granted and you have established certain black leaders who are nothing more than the overseers of that plantation. And now the people on that plantation are upset because they’ve been disregarded, disrespected and their concerns are not cared about,” West said.
“So I’m here as the modern-day Harriet Tubman to kind of lead people on the underground railroad away from that plantation into a sense of sensibility.”
West said Democrats’ “social welfare policies” have failed.
These statements were made after much griping by those who attended the CBC town hall, where voters gathered to complain about the poor service President Obama has rendered to the black community. Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters responded by suggesting that the CBC agrees, and is only waiting for explicit permission from African-Americans to take the president to task over his failure to address our issues.
Waters told attendants of the Detroit town hall: “We’re getting tired, y’all…We want to give him every opportunity. But our people are hurting. The unemployment is unconscionable. … When you let us know it is time to let go, we’ll let go.” She referred to the fact that black unemployment stands at over 17% compared to the national average of about 9% — statistics often mentioned as proof that Obama has failed to help blacks.
While Rep. Waters does have a point about holding President Obama accountable for his actions (or lack thereof) regarding the black community, the CBC has never been the president’s friend. In fact, the Congressional Black Caucus famously supported Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential campaign before Obama secured the nomination. Theirs has been a love-hate relationship ever since, and they have never acted as true allies. The CBC has unleashed a string of criticisms on the president since that time.
Thus, it’s hard to take one more CBC bad-mouthing of Obama seriously. It reeks of political posturing. While that’s the name of the game in DC, until all the political interests in Washington work together to create positive change for blacks (including the CBC), it amounts to empty posturing.
Black Politics: Jack & Jill Politics Blogger Talks Obama’s Outlook for 2012
President Obama took the time to greet a group of black bloggers in late 2010 as part of the push to gain African-American support for the midterm elections. This shows yet again how key new media is to his overall campaigning strategy, but more importantly demonstrates the power of black new media to unite the disparate factors in our community into one empowered group. Black voters online must be courted through African-American outlets. Jack & Jill Politics is one of the most important African-American venues, documenting issues that deserve more attention than the mainstream often doles to us and exerting pressure against enemies of the black middle class.
The Atlanta Post sought out co-founder Cheryl Contee to discuss how Jack & Jill Politics came into being, its successes as a top political influencer, and her hopes for the black community in the future as pressure from right-wing demagogues intensifies.
What is the social mission of Jack & Jill Politics?
Our goal is to provide a more balanced perspective from average, middle class African-Americans on politics and current affairs.
What inspired you to start the site? How old is it?
I grew frustrated in the summer of 2006 by the lack of voices from black people in American mainstream media who are neither criminals nor Will and Jada. We wanted to reflect the opinions and priorities of the majority of black folks who are hardworking, tax paying, concerned citizens.
What has been your most important story or influential blog post?
I’d say our early endorsement of Barack Obama as a presidential candidate! We were also very active during the 2008 election in pushing back on racism on the campaign trail. Our posts taking the Congressional Black Caucus and NAACP to task have also been influential in how those organizations approach African-Americans online.
Finally, we take a small share of credit in partnering with Color of Change and other organizations in pushing back on Glenn Beck and cutting down his advertising dollars. He’s now off the nation’s TV airwaves, and I’m proud of reducing a hate-filled fearmonger’s influence.
How do you generate revenue? Is that a primary concern, or does the political influence of the site come first? Is the site a springboard for personal branding?
Revenue is not a primary concern; we’re an all-volunteer operation and are all professionals with decent jobs. That said, we do accept advertising since that helps pay for site operations and travel to speaking appearances. For many of our bloggers, Jack and Jill Politics has created a strong platform that has helped their careers and opened other doors.
Is President Obama handling the debt ceiling debacle as he should?
I think Obama’s handling this more adroitly than the healthcare reform debate. The White House appears to be learning how to deal with the extreme right-wing better.
Do you think black republicans like Rep. Allen West and Herman Cain represent important figures in black politics? What is good and bad about their rise?
I do think the rise of West and Cain is worth watching. Unlike Obama, Cory Booker and Deval Patrick, they do not appear to appeal to a broad, diverse audience — their supporters are primarily white. So that’s of interest. That said, given their base, I believe like Clarence Thomas, they will likely advocate for policies that hurt, not help, other black people.
What is the number one thing most politicians tend to miss when trying to attract the black vote?
I think today it’s important to go beyond just the barbershop, beauty salon and church. These are still important gathering points. However, Pew Internet just released a study that says that 25% of blacks are using Twitter. The digital divide is dead and politicians need to get hip to a digital-savvy hip-hop generation on the march.
Are blacks doing enough to use the web as a political tool?
I think right now on sites like Tumblr or Twitter, there’s a lot of discussion that’s fun. I’d like to see more black folks tweet directly to members of Congress, their state legislatures and even corporations and tell them what they believe is right for our communities and for American families.
What are some of your predictions for the 2012 presidential election?
I think it’s going to be really rocky. Obama is an attractive candidate and the GOP will be throwing the kitchen sink at him to try and dent his appeal. Things might get ugly and more than a little bit racist.
If you could say one thing in person to President Obama, what would it be?
I already said it! I met him in person finally at the first White House Twitter Townhall. I told him that I’ve tried my best to try and help him. Obama’s not perfect — there are definitely issues I wish he’d approach differently. Yet I respect him as an amazing leader who really is trying to be the president of all the people.
I’m proud to say I helped America’s first black president get elected. That’s something I’ll be able to tell my grandkids about someday, I hope!
Republican Congressman Allen West Calls Congressman “Not A Lady”
Seriously, when will politicians fear the words they send over email, twitter and facebook? The latest victim of self-sabotage is Republican Congressman Allen West, who sent a scathing email to fellow Democrat Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, that was released to the public recently.
The email included the statements: “You are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the U.S. House of Representatives. You have proven repeatedly that you are not a lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me.”
West cc’d other congress members on the email, so it’s not certain whether or not his intentions centered on generating attention for his maneuver. Certainly, many members of Congress and women’s rights groups are outraged over the email and West will have to answer some tough questions over the next few days.
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Fury Follows Allen West’s Email About Democratic Chair
(Politico) — Several House Democratic women on Wednesday called on Rep. Allen West to apologize to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for his e-mail that called her “vile,” “despicable” and “not a Lady.” The lawmakers said they were sending a letter to House GOP leadership, asking them to condemn the e-mail from the freshman Florida Republican. The group of five House Democrats said West’s e-mail was indicative of a larger problem – both inside Congress and out – of gender discrimination in the workplace. “For his own good, they ought to take him into the woodshed and say, ‘if you want to survive in this work environment, you’ve got to keep your word, you’ve got to be cordial and congenial and civil even when you’re disagreeing,” said Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) “It makes for a very hard career otherwise.”
Allen West’s Far Reach Among the Right
(New York Times) — Often, the most interesting thing about a person is the characteristic that lies beneath, that hidden thing that bobs up along the waves of time. But the most compelling part of Representative Allen B. West of Florida is his own biography, there for all to see: an African-American Tea Party activist Republican congressman and ally of hard-right Israelis who, after his beloved career in the Army ended under a cloud, defeated the sitting Democrat in a largely white, politically polarized district here and quickly became one of the right’s most visible spokesmen. Mr. West’s fans in his district, which stretches over two counties along the east coast of Florida, are both numerous and loud; hundreds fill his town hall-style meetings, many of them favoring T-shirts bearing his image. At a recent Tea Party rally in Washington, supporters flocked to him like sea gulls to a crust of baguette. Among the 87 House Republican freshmen, he ranks third in the latest fund-raising period for his re-election campaign; his $433,551 haul came largely through individual donations.
Black Caucus Split on GOP’s Allen West
(The Hill) — A conservative lawmaker has made friends with liberal colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), but others are skeptical of him. Some in the caucus have embraced freshman Rep. Allen West (Fla.), who is the first Republican to join the CBC since 1996. Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), a CBC member, said, “He’s not like what I’ve read, I’ll say that. He seems to be cordial and friendly. He and I have developed a rapport.”
Still, some are “leery” of West, according to a CBC member who requested anonymity. West raised some eyebrows in a CBC meeting soon after the assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). After members expressed concern for their safety, West, a two-decade plus Army veteran, said members should consider carrying a concealed weapon. In an interview with The Hill this week, West said, “They were talking about getting detailed security and I said, ‘Well you just look in your state as far as getting a concealed weapons licensing,’ which is something that I have. I think personal protection starts with yourself, but you just coordinate with local law enforcement to make sure you have collateral security at your events.” CBC member Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said West’s suggestion didn’t go over well, adding it was “frowned” on by other lawmakers.
Allen West’s Extreme Conservatism
(ThyBlackMan) — There’s something going on with the conservative movement, and it doesn’t look good. Just days before the annual CPAC conference, its organizer, David Keene, stepped down as chairman of the American Conservative Union, a post he had held since 1984. Perhaps this reveals a schism in the conservative movement, between the old-school, libertarian, keep-government-out-of-my-way crowd and the authoritarian, put-government-into-your-bedroom types. Sarah Palin turned down CPAC’s offer to deliver their keynote address at the last minute, though her political action committee is sponsoring a reception there. And others such as Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) wont attend due to the inclusion of gay groups. At the eleventh hour, CPAC has a keynote speaker, and it is Rep. Allen West (R-Florida), the newly-elected black Tea Party member of Congress from Floridas 22nd Congressional district. The selection speaks volumes about where the conservative movement and the GOP have gone off the deep end, that is. Some would call West crazy, perhaps even nuttier than your mamas pecan pie. And that’s not merely because he proudly sports a high-top fade in the second decade of the twenty-first century. One of Sarah Palin’s pick for Congress, Rep. West is a member of the Tea Party Caucus, which is chaired by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn). Bachmann, known for her outlandish, over-the-top statements, has accused President Obama of being “very anti-American”, and of setting up politically correct re-education camps for young people. In an odd pairing of affiliations, the Florida lawmaker is also the first black Republican to join the Congressional Black Caucus since 1996.
