The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) said this week it will welcome a pair of newly elected black Republicans if they wish to join.
Membership in the Congressional Black Caucus has never been restricted to Democrats the group said in an unattributed email to its members. Should either of the two African-American Republicans recently elected to the House of Representatives request membership in the Congressional Black Caucus they will be welcomed.
The announcement breaks the CBCs silence on the possibility that GOP Reps.-elect Allen West (Fla.) and Tim Scott (S.C.) be allowed to join the overwhelmingly Democratic group. West has said hell seek membership while Scott reportedly hasnt decided.
The CBCs message also seems to run counter to statements made last month by CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) who told The Economist that while the group is technically bipartisan it also has an agenda.
Our agenda is about lifting people out of poverty providing middle-class tax cuts supporting climate-change legislation she said. Do incoming black Republicans embrace this agenda?
On at least one of those items the Democrats climate change bill both West and Scott are vocally opposed. Both have also been critical of the Democrats new health reform law and the partys plan to allow tax cuts for wealthy Americans to expire.
Indeed West has said he wants to join the CBC in order to bring some ideological diversity to the Democratic group.
I plan on joining Im not gonna ask for permission or whatever Im gonna find out when they meet and I will be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus West told WOR radio after his victory last week. I meet all of the criteria and its so important that we break down this monolithic voice that continues to talk about victimization and dependency in the black community.
Weve got to turn this thing around and I think its time for some different voices to be in that body politic.
Including West and Scott just five black Republicans have been elected to the House since the CBC was founded in 1969. Reps. Melvin Evans (V.I.) and Gary Franks (Conn.) both joined the group but Rep. J.C. Watts (Okla.) who retired in 2003 famously declined to do so.
The New York Times has reported that Scott hasnt yet decided whether hell join the CBC.
Neither Wests or Scotts offices responded to requests for comment Tuesday.
The CBC is currently made up of 41 House members and outgoing Sen. Roland Burris (Ill.) all Democrats. Two of the groups founders Reps. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.) are still active members of the House.
While the CBC has been open to accepting Republicans its been less inclusive of other groups. In 2007 Rep. Steve Cohen a Democrat representing the predominately black district around Memphis Tenn. was denied a bid to join the group because hes white.
A similar scenario played out in 1975 when Rep. Pete Stark (D) who represents a largely black district around Oakland Calif. was also denied CBC membership.
The caucus symbolizes black political development in this country" Rangel then CBC chairman explained at the time. We feel that maintaining this symbolism is critical at this juncture in our development.
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) said this week it will welcome a pair of newly elected black Republicans if they wish to join.
Membership in the Congressional Black Caucus has never been restricted to Democrats the group said in an unattributed email to its members. Should either of the two African-American Republicans recently elected to the House of Representatives request membership in the Congressional Black Caucus they will be welcomed.
The announcement breaks the CBCs silence on the possibility that GOP Reps.-elect Allen West (Fla.) and Tim Scott (S.C.) be allowed to join the overwhelmingly Democratic group. West has said hell seek membership while Scott reportedly hasnt decided.
The CBCs message also seems to run counter to statements made last month by CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) who told The Economist that while the group is technically bipartisan it also has an agenda.
Our agenda is about lifting people out of poverty providing middle-class tax cuts supporting climate-change legislation she said. Do incoming black Republicans embrace this agenda?
On at least one of those items the Democrats climate change bill both West and Scott are vocally opposed. Both have also been critical of the Democrats new health reform law and the partys plan to allow tax cuts for wealthy Americans to expire.
Indeed West has said he wants to join the CBC in order to bring some ideological diversity to the Democratic group.
I plan on joining Im not gonna ask for permission or whatever Im gonna find out when they meet and I will be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus West told WOR radio after his victory last week. I meet all of the criteria and its so important that we break down this monolithic voice that continues to talk about victimization and dependency in the black community.
Weve got to turn this thing around and I think its time for some different voices to be in that body politic.
Including West and Scott just five black Republicans have been elected to the House since the CBC was founded in 1969. Reps. Melvin Evans (V.I.) and Gary Franks (Conn.) both joined the group but Rep. J.C. Watts (Okla.) who retired in 2003 famously declined to do so.
The New York Times has reported that Scott hasnt yet decided whether hell join the CBC.
Neither Wests or Scotts offices responded to requests for comment Tuesday.
The CBC is currently made up of 41 House members and outgoing Sen. Roland Burris (Ill.) all Democrats. Two of the groups founders Reps. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.) are still active members of the House.
While the CBC has been open to accepting Republicans its been less inclusive of other groups. In 2007 Rep. Steve Cohen a Democrat representing the predominately black district around Memphis Tenn. was denied a bid to join the group because hes white.
A similar scenario played out in 1975 when Rep. Pete Stark (D) who represents a largely black district around Oakland Calif. was also denied CBC membership.
The caucus symbolizes black political development in this country" Rangel then CBC chairman explained at the time. We feel that maintaining this symbolism is critical at this juncture in our development.
