Racism Is A Two Way Street

Stephen Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, made a pledge during the mid-terms last year declaring that he would try to become the first white member of the black caucus. What a gesture. If it was the "White Caucus", wouldn't the first step to tearing down the racial barrier, include allowing a member of the opposite race join the party already in session? I would think so, but apparently that is not the case in Washington. The leaders of the caucus, made it quite clear that he shouldn't seek admission. He has now dropped his bid to join.

"Mr. Cohen asked for admission, and he got his answer. ... It's time to move on," the younger Clay said. "It's an unwritten rule. It's understood. It's clear."

The bylaws of the caucus do not make race a prerequisite for membership, a House aide said, but no non-black member has ever joined.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who is white, tried in 1975 when he was a sophomore representative and the group was only six years old.

"Half my Democratic constituents were African American. I felt we had interests in common as far as helping people in poverty," Stark said. "They had a vote, and I lost. They said the issue was that I was white, and they felt it was important that the group be limited to African Americans."

Isn't this a little hypocritical? I have said for sometime that the only people that truly see race are those in power, that derive that power by promoting the race card. By not allowing a white congressman to join the black caucus, they are in effect still promoting racism.