Ellison Right On Choice of Holy Book

To those who have forgotten, Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA) pay particular attention, a couple of the founding principals of this great country of ours are religious tolerance and religious freedom.  A tolerance and freedom for all Americans not just those who happen to be Christians. 

 As basic as that sounds there has been an unbelievable uproar over the fact that incoming Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), who happens to be Muslim, has said he would take his oath of office with his hand on the Qu’ran.  Appropriate for a Muslim member of Congress. 

But becuase of our “war” on terrorism and the 9-11 attacks the mere mention of Islam freaks out Americans, even if the Muslim we’re talking about is recently elected African American who was a State Representative and lawyer from Minnesota. 

Mr. Ellison shouldn’t have to set aside his religious beliefs because people are uncomfortable with his faith or lack an understanding about the nuances of a religion practiced by millions throughout the world. 

Christians have a right to use the bible and many do, members of the Jewish faith can use the Torah and a Buddhist could use the Tripitaka.  Whatever Holy Book is used it shouldn’t matter because it is a personal choice, what should matter is that the elected official is swearing on the book of his faith that he will uphold the constitution.

When someone refuses to take the oath and uphold the constitution is when America should worry, not because someone has their hand on a book they’ve never seen, read or understood.    

The Degree of Obama’s “Blackness”

It was bound to happen sooner or later.  An increasingly terse discussion on the degree or extent of Illinois Senator and possible Presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s “blackness” is heating up within Black intellectual and community circles.  As a decision on whether he will run nears, there are those conflicted over whether the “bi-racial” Obama – born of a Kenyan father and White mother – is, indeed, Black enough.  Which gets into another discussion about literal and/or figurative and/or political and/or cultural interpretations of what “Black” means.  What is “African American”  (notice we don’t use the hyphen) or who is it? Is it or are we a unique, shared cultural experience shaped by a specific window of time over several hundred years old … or is it simply an American of African descent? 

The debate will rage on.  Some of it fueled by curiosity with his personal background; much of it based on anxiety over his Kenyan roots; and, yes, an uncomfortable bit dipped in that ugly tug-of-war between “dark complexion” and “light-complexion.” Perhaps to the chagrin of Obama, who may not want to deal with the heat of racial diatribes on how Black he is, and the scores of consultants who mold his campaign as we speak.  Certainly, complex discussion surrounding Obama’s “Blackness” could potentially alienate many White voters who may be willing to give the “brother” a chance – it may also complicate matters in terms of Black voters who could decide that he is not authentically “Black” enough based on his personal background (which gets into another discussion about lingering socio-economic tensions and resentments between African Americans and their sistren/brethren from the Caribbean, African and beyond.  In many ways, this discussion underscores that discussion.)

Interesting observation about this troubling debate is that Obama is between a rock and hard place – it may serve him well to ignore it.  There is no satisfying the crabs lurking and snapping in the barrell, many of the same folk who warned bi-racial African Americans during the 2000 Census that if they marked “Other” or “Black” and ”White” on census forms they’d be doing a great disservice to the “race” by shrinking the African American population.   Now, we have – perhaps – the first viable chance at a “Black” President and a man who, unabashedly, refers to himself as African American, is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus, projects a comfortable Black male composure, is married to a Black woman and raising a Black family and makes every reasonable attempt to connect with those Diasporic roots.  If that’s not “Black” enough, we’re not certain what is.  What we are certain of is that the conversation doubting such appears to border on a bit of insecurity and cultural lunacy.       

Round Two

In this space recently we commented on how new Congressional Black Caucus Chair (CBC), Cong. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), would have to juggle the interest of her caucus and the needs of the Democratic majority caucus. 

The first battle was over whether impeached judge and Congressman Alcee Hasting (D-FL) should be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee or should it go to another member who’s past was purer.  The CBC backed Cong. Hasting’s bid full tilt and pointed out that Hastings had not been convicted of the crime for which he was charged and has served with honesty in the Congress. 

But the Speaker-Elect, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), bucked the request of the CBC and named Texas Congressman Silvestre Reyes to the post. 

And now round two, as the CBC has asked that recently re-elected William Jefferson (D-LA) be returned to his position on the powerful Appropriations Committee.

You may recall that Jefferson was very publicaly dumped from his seat on “approps” by Pelosi after the FBI raided his office in the course of their bribery investigation of the Congressman and the public found out that $90,000 of marked bills was found in his fridge.  Pelosi, running a campaign to take control of the House on the mantra that the GOP was engaged in a “culture of corruption”, felt the need to make an example of the Jefferson and took the unusually step to create his ouster.  Meanwhile, Pelosi’s left on the panel Cong. Allan Mollohan (D-WV) who was also under investigation.   That move ruffled the feathers of the CBC, but all was smoothed out in the wake of the historic Democratic victory in November. 

However, after Jefferson won, impressively so last Saturday, the Congressman wants his seat back and CBC is supporting him and asking if there is a double standard since Mollohan not only remains on the committee but is slated to become its chairman while still under investigation. 

The question becomes, how deeply does Chairwoman Kilpatrick want to take this fight?  There are going to be fights and skirmishes over policy and politics where Kilpatrick will have to flex the now considerable muscle of the caucus; but does this fall into that category? 

The Speaker-Elect should not be allowed to get away with what appears to be a double standard but the caucus has to figure out how to pop Pelosi but not expend precious political capital that they will need during the session.

Let the juggling begin.   

          

CNN Racism Poll …

CNN attempts to state the obvious in this recent poll on racist attitudes in the U.S.  Another superficial moment in media history - you know what we’d like to see: a poll of race attitudes among media professionals – TV, Print, Radio and Internet – including reporters, producers and editors.  Of course, you won’t see that because 1) many White media professionals (particularly in major media outlets perceived as “trusted” news sources) are in a destructive state of denial about their attitudes toward “people of color” which shows heavily in content decisions and their management and hiring practices. 2) Minority journalist – particularly Black journalists and other news professionals – are too afraid to talk about the above problem out of a real (and substantiated) fear that they will either be “black-listed” or slowly forced out of the profession (losing their job) through systematic, institutionalized and subtle racism on the part of their White colleagues and managers.  3) Too many news professionals buy into this foolish notion that they have transcended prejudice through an ethic/standard of non-bias, leaving them to believe that polling themselves on these types of questions would be an insane proposition.  CNN reports:

Most Americans, white and black, see racism as a lingering problem in the United States, and many say they know people who are racist, according to a new poll.

But few Americans of either race — about one out of eight — consider themselves racist.

And experts say racism has evolved from the days of Jim Crow to the point that people may not even recognize it in themselves. (Watch how many blacks are still afraid to stop in a Texas town )

A poll conducted last week by Opinion Research Corp. for CNN indicates that whites and blacks disagree on how serious a problem racial bias is in the United States.

Almost half of black respondents — 49 percent — said racism is a “very serious” problem, while 18 percent of whites shared that view. Forty-eight percent of whites and 35 percent of blacks chose the description “somewhat serious.” (See the poll results)

Revisiting the “One Drop Rule” …

Chicago Sun Times columnist Mary Mitchell presents a compelling (and some might argue rather bizarre … perhaps unnecessary) angle on Obamamania, which may (or may not) revive debates on “bi-racial” existence in America:

Why are so many people saying that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama could become the first black president? If by that they mean that he would become the first African-American president — meaning his father was from Kenya and his mother from Kansas — it would make sense.

But I don’t think that’s what people mean.

Despite the deaths of legal segregation and Jim Crow, apparently most Americans still embrace the one-drop rule.

Between Barack and a Hard Place

Upon further review…we may be wrong. 

Since Obama-mania began in earnest earlier this year we had been leaning against a run for president by the junior Senator from Illinois.  The numbers (historically Senators are rarely elected to the presidency and African Americans never are) seemed against it and the timing (only two years in the Senate) didn’t add up.  But maybe it’s time for history to change.

On recent trips to Iowa, New Hampshire and a right wing church (for an AIDS Day event) Barack Obama’s flame continues to burn bright.  So bright that is blinding supposed front runner Hillary Clinton’s path to the White House.  Obama’s trip to New Hampshire this weekend’s was greeted by raucous crowds and national media attention.  

However, that’s nothing new and that may be why the Senator has to make the run. 

Barack Obama will never be more popular than he is right now.  He may become more seasoned, more politically savvy and earn more political chits, but his “Q” rating will never again be this high, regardless of what he accomplishes in Senate.  

“Waiting his trun” may mean an 8 year wait if a Democrat win the White Hosue in 2008 and by then he may be in line behind the Vice President whomever that might be, but who has waiting dutiful in the West Wing.  An 8 year wait also reshuffles the line of hopefuls and opens the door to the next rock star (and there will be one) and ques up the next “acceptable” African American potential candidate, most likely the dynamic and by then administratively seasoned Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick.  

Obama can now tap just about anyone to run the campaign (unless their in the Clinton pipeline) and can command the media for an extended period of time with an announcement now about a historic candidacy in 2008.  All that goes away if he waits and he’ll have to fight for consults just like Edwards, Bayh, Richardson, Kerry, and Vilsack etc. al are doing right now. 

By diving in now he cements support, so that by the time bloom falls of the rose and we find out he isn’t Superman (and the media begins to delve into moments of youthful indiscretions) his base is locked down.  Waiting ensures that whole nation finds out he smokes and may have engaged in other behaviors we collectively find repulsive (if he has).

Waiting means possibly running when the party has its act together and isn’t visionless and rudderless.  Now the Senator can remake the party with a campaign on his terms, his vision and his dreams.  Just like Ronald Reagan remade the Republican Party in the 1980’s, Obama has the opportunity to remake the Democratic Party at the dawn of the 21st century.   

Opportunities like the one staring Senator Barack Obama in face right now are rare and once they pass they never return, therefore, if the Obamas (wife Michelle and the daughters are ready) the Senator should make the run.  A run, win or lose, would be historic and a properly timed test for America.  Is all the excitement real and is America ready for an African American to be the Commander-in-Chief?  Only an Obama campaign right now will answer that question.

 Selfishly we wanted the Senator to stay in the Senate, since those opportunites are also rare, but upon further review we think it’s time for the run, he and us should not have to look back years from now and wonder what if….