Comments on: Barbara Lee, black caucus blast Obama’s tax plan

By: John W

John W — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:58:48 +0000

Re: #13

That’s sorta what they did in the political arena during the first half of the last century. Highly successful too.

By: Jim Jenkins

Jim Jenkins — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:25:22 +0000

I am absolutely disappointed with the Democratic party of which I have been all of my adult life. The very audacity that various Democratic law-makers are upset that the President struck a compromise which is in the best interest of this nation is pitiful.
If the Democrats, who have had the absolute majority for two years, with a Democratic President, had gotten off the lazy duffs and done more than social posturing, the President would not have been forced into a corner.
The Democrats, who seem to look for ways to muck things up, should be ashamed to be even think about a filibuster.
Please don’t tell me the Democrats have been hampered by the economy problem, because that is only a cop-out. With an overwhelming majority, they could have forced many issues. It seems the party does not understand the concept of fighting, when wimping out is so comfortable.
Good luck to the Democrats as they sit back and watch the Republicans run over them for the next two or more years.
It is just pathetic!

By: Common Tater

Common Tater — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 03:51:24 +0000

Yeh, the Boston Irish Caucus would have a smooth road being active in the legislature……….

By: John W

John W — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:01:37 +0000

Re: #10

Identity politics, yes. Racial profiling, no. The former has (or can have) a positive connotation — to champion the heritage, culture or political interests of a defined group, be they Boston Irish, women, gays, Latino or black. The latter places you under extra scrutiny or suspicion based primarily on race or nationality. It may be prudent and necessary in some cases, as in national security; but it’s a necessary evil at best.

By: unemployed1

unemployed1 — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:43:57 +0000

As a lifelong conservative from Southern California I commend Rep. Lee and the CBC for their support of all Americans in need during these difficult times. By Feb. 2011 there will be over four million 99ers with no life line. Our problems as a nation go far beyond black or white. We’d better start focusing on current issues in this country or there won’t be any future for children if we can’t feed and cloth them now.

By: Common Tater

Common Tater — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:53:16 +0000

Isn’t the CBC all about racial profiling, mebbe?

By: John W

John W — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:21:56 +0000

Re # 8

Can’t disagree with what RR said as to what the present day CBC is all about. I just react strongly to stupid remarks suggesting that its very existence is some sort of reverse racism or that even the occasional excesses of the black community in seeking special entitlements are in any way the equivalent of the virulent bigotry that unfortunately still rears its ugly head in the 21st Century.

By: RR, Uninvited Columnist

RR, Uninvited Columnist — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:23:25 +0000

The caucus exists for the same reason as the Lions Club or Kiwanis, to do some good for the community and get together for good times and camaraderie. If the caucus disappeared nobody would notice. It was needed 50 years ago when A. C. Powell faced racism from his colleagues in Congress along with bigotry outside the Capitol. Today the caucuses are largely self-congratulatory, useless bodies that exist to grab attention and hold an endless stream of luncheons, dinners and press briefings.

By: Laura Sanborn

Laura Sanborn — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:41:54 +0000

Well said John W.

When whites face the lingering effects of hundreds of years of racist oppression, and still face racist discrimination, then perhaps there will be a need for a Congressional White Caucus.

By: John W

John W — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:16:41 +0000

Oh jeez, how I love the concept of “reverse racism.” We whites have been such legacy victims of slavery, Jim Crow, prejudice, being pulled over for DWW (driving while white), the hopeless vortex of poverty, violence and crummy schools that characterize life in the suburbs, being viewed with suspicion if two or more of our youth are seen together on the sidewalk, under-representation in the seats of power. Yup, everything’s equal now. How dare these uppity folks form a caucus to keep us white folk down! All that other stuff is ancient history. Except maybe for the small town in Georgia where I lived in the 1974, where the only doctor in town still had “white” and “colored” waiting areas.