Congressional Black Clout

The new 2007 House of Representatives is still a couple of weeks away from convening, and yet many members of that august house are already looking forward past next year toward the 2008 presidential race. Those forward-looking lawmakers include the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, but these purpose-driven congressional delegates have another agenda that is, to their minds, of even more import. Clout.

The Congressional Black Caucus, in its 35th year, has grown to a new level of influence. Three of its members now chair major House committees: Michigan Congressman John Conyers (the Judiciary Committee); New York Congressman Charles Rangel (Ways and Means) and Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson (Homeland Security).

Amaya Smith, spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, says beyond the CBC chairmanship and subcommittee chairs, key members are becoming powerful players in the presidential race because of their influence. That includes Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the new majority Whip.

Of course, the whole reason the CBC was formed 35 years ago was to unite black lawmakers in their efforts to better serve their primary constituency, black Americans, right?

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks [I've always wondered: Is that her given name or a nickname?] Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), the new chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, says her role will be to galvanize the clout of CBC constituents to help Democrats win the presidency in 2008...

As I have said so many times before, I think the members of the Caucus would do a much better job of serving their constituents if they were to focus their attention on the betterment of their communities, rather than their continuing, single-minded ambition for more and more political power. If they truly want to help their constituents, perhaps they should be looking for a different sort of clout.