Et Tu Congressional Black Caucus?

The recent New York Times article detailing the cash machine that the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has become is story within a story. At first blush, the capacity of the CBC to tap into the long and deep pockets of major corporations, in a manner unparalleled in Washington is impressive. But, taking the longer view, it is troubling on several levels. One, as the article mentioned, although, the Congressional Black Caucus members serve in predominantly black districts, and are in office due to the unwavering support of the black community, they – not their constituents are the primary beneficiaries of the corporate largess. A few years ago, I came across a blog on the Congressional Black Caucus, titled Train to Nowhere by Joshua Frank. In that piece Mr. Frank wrote “For starters the pro-black organization doesn't represent the majority of black people in the Untied States. As a matter of fact, one could rightly argue that the Black Caucus is anti-black”. He went on to “look under the hood” of the CBC and outlined the extent the Congressional Black Caucus was in bed with major corporations, and he went on to list a litany of policy choices made by this group, that reflect the influence of corporate America, rather than the community, they serve. On the face of it, one may say, what makes the CBC any different that any other inside the beltway organization that understands the connection between power and money? One may also say that the rules of the road in Washington inflict a Darwinian type of mentality ergo, those who refuse to play the game, do so at their own peril. Finally, one may make the case that even though the benefits represent a mere trickledown effect, it beats a blank. Therefore many of those black legislators will tell you this game the cost of doing business, and undoubtedly, they will remind doubters that they are able to leverage those relationships for the good of the community.

Or have they? What “We the People” often see is the finished product, the Rose Garden ceremonies, but not the horse trading that goes on smoke filled rooms, nor do we fully gauge the ever widening impact of special interest groups. However, this year’s raucous debate over health care, allowed a peek behind the curtain to expose a legislative process that should shame the framers of the Constitution. Using the First Amendment guarantee of Freedom of Speech as a cover, many of these groups, for all practical purposes have become a defacto fourth branch of government, further marginalizing the will of the people.

All which begs the question, when our Congressman come back home spouting a laundry list of bills they are sponsoring, do we truly know how much of that legislation represents their K street and corporate patrons, and how much represents the people? How much of the original intent of the legislation been watered down, in exchange for junkets, gifts, donations, and other “perks”? For years, the black community has given our legislators a “pass” assuming that they operated above the fray, and their work was solely on behalf of those who elected them. Considering recent revelations, I believe it is time to for our community to reevaluate the loyalties and priorities of the Congressional Black Caucus. No longer should they be allowed use their “blackness” as a protective shield and therefore avoid being held to the same standard as their white counterparts.

What is interesting is the context in which the CBC has been “outed”. In the last twelve months, no one word has been dissected and parsed apart more that the word change. The cries of “Yes We Can" in the summer and fall of 2008 were in support of the change message of then candidate Obama. Now one year into his presidency, critics on the left and the right, raise doubts on the effectiveness of President Obama to deliver on change. As recently as December, members of the Congressional Black Caucus chastised the Obama administration for failing to direct more Presidential attention to the Black Community. With alarming alacrity they made headlines by threatening to hold up some key administration initiatives, as an expression of their concern. Yet to be fair, for anyone to assert that Barack Obama promised he would be the “black” President is engaging in revisionist history. In 2008 Barack Obama did promise bring change to Washington, a campaign promise that sounded great on the hustings, but much harder to deliver even from the Oval Office. Moreover, Barack Obama the candidate, often talked about the shared responsibility for change, which meant those in power would must be open to more transparency, and have less fidelity to corporations, and lobbyists. Now it appears many of those “advocates” for change, want change as long as it doesn’t inflict pain on them or intrude on their private fiefdoms.

This is unfortunate and symptomatic of a government’s dwindling capacity to do big things. Given the disconnect between what is needed in Washington, and what Washington is able to deliver can there be little doubt that our officials’ impotence have stoked the seeds of discontent? For years, partisan politics and political allegiance to corporate interests were merely glossed over as business as usual. Now with the hot glare of engorged media outlets, and the unrelenting 24 hour news cycle things are changing. This summer’s raucous debate over health care exposed our government as being incapable to rise to the occasion, as their heads stayed on the collective swivel trying to determine how to balance the needs of one corporate entity over another. Lost in the commotion was the precept that policymaking should represent the will of the people, not the profit margin of major corporations.

The fact that the Congressional Black Caucus is engaging in a long standing Washington ritual doesn’t make it right - it makes it worse. In fact it is downright disingenuous for them to criticize the Obama administration while they continue to dip their collective beaks. A perusal of the CBC website listed 42 “bills to watch” in 2009. Included in those “ones to watch” were bills on predatory lending, the Community Reinvestment Act, and affordable housing. Despite their import to the black community, according to government watchdog website govtrack.us.com, all three bills lay dormant and far removed from Presidential signature. One would think that while they are holding President Obama’s feet to the fire, they would be mindful of unfinished business on their end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Too often the default mechanism of African American organizations and leaders whose dealings are exposed is to pull out the tried and true race card, and/or to whine “the white guys do it too”. And too often the black community goes for the “okie doke” and succumbs to this sophomoric attempt at victimization. Just to be clear, any such attempt by the CBC will fall on deaf ears, as I am reminded of the old adage, either you are part of the problem, or you are part of the solution. Right now, I would have to look real hard to see any real problem solving by members of the Congressional Black Caucus. I recall reading John Kennedy’s book Profile in Courage, and how many politicians responded in the face of influence and pressure to do what was right, not merely what was politically expedient. Unfortunately, our political leadership’s ability to do the right thing is eroding exponentially. And now, the Congressional Black Caucus is having their “et tu” moment.

Historically, crisis is one of the great unifiers, where people of all races, stations in life rally around a common cause or common threat. Yet when I look at the political landscape, the American public has been duped into a variety of distracting and false choices. Political leaders have been aided and abetted in this distraction by media talking heads who scream loudly in both directions, as many Americans refused to do their own thinking, and still believe that our political system can still produce change. They become long hanging fruit for those who can push emotional buttons and continue to look the other way as politicians avoid making hard decisions, and point fingers. But the fact is that this system is broken, policy that begins pure and ethereal becomes a political football, as political puppets, pawns, have lost their collective nerve to stare down their patrons. Instead of division, there should be a national discussion on the undue influence of corporate and multinational interests, and how it threatens our national sovereignty.

The Congressional Black Caucus, although new to the game, is just another example of how deep and pervasive this crisis is. This organization founded in 1971 with a mission to empower America’s “neglected” citizens now seems more intent on self empowerment and self agrandization. The machinations of some of their members came to a head late last year when it was leaked that several CBC members including Congresswoman Maxine Waters, was being investigated by the House Ethics Committee, and powerful Chairman of the House Ways and Means (the committee that ostensibly writes the tax laws) Charles Rangel was revealed to have several questionable real estate tax shelters in New York city. All this comes as much of the celebratory mood within the African American community has been dampened by the struggles of the Obama administration, the gridlock in Congress, and the awakening that those who support the status quo are more emboldened than ever. Now when courageous, effective leadership is needed, it appears many of their own legislators are showing themselves as duplicitous co-conspirators fighting not for change, but against it.