Rep. James E. Clyburn who has gained a reputation for his soft touch as majority whip will find his conciliatory style tested in coming months as Democrats consider a budget that threatens to fracture a party known for its recent unity.
Clyburn a low-key South Carolinian who rarely raises his voice or uses strong language other than when he perceives slights against minorities might not seem the profile of a whip to those who recall the intimidating presence of past leaders such as former Republican Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas (1985-2006) known as The Hammer" for his ability to keep lawmakers in line. Others say Clyburn the highest-ranking African-American in Congress is aided by Speaker Nancy Pelosi D-Calif. who they contend is the one who carries the stick when it comes to maintaining party unity.
But the 68-year-old son of a minister said he subscribes to the view that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar." To that end he has been meeting with senior whips to plot strategy for bridging the budget concerns of the diverse groups that make up the Democratic Party from the liberal Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.
Tackling the Budget
Clyburn conceded that it wont be easy corralling Democratic votes for President Obamas ambitious agenda including a proposed $3.6 trillion budget that has already drawn howls from some in both parties.
Its going to be very very challenging" Clyburn said during an interview in his third-floor Capitol office which is lined with photographs including one of him seated near the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at an event in Charleston S.C. in 1967.
Clyburn said he hopes to reach party consensus before the bills hit the floor to avoid a frantic effort to round up the minimum 218 votes needed to pass legislation in the chamber where Democrats hold a 254-178 advantage.
I see my job as taking all the caucuses and their sensibilities into account" Clyburn said.
Given his partys recently expanded House majority Clyburn would like commitments from 225 Democratic lawmakers for the budget. But Clyburn said he might have to settle for the minimum number of Democratic votes and none from the GOP.
You cant assume we are going to get Republican support" he said. They are in campaign mode. We are not going to get anything from them."
Despite Democrats initial success at the outset of the 111th Congress in passing Obamas economic stimulus package (PL 111-5) and the omnibus spending measure (PL 111-8) experts say the fiscal 2010 budget will be a tough sell within the caucus pitting fiscal hawks in the party critical of higher spending and taxes against more liberal factions who are clamoring for more programs.
There is increasing tension between liberal Democrats and the Blue Dogs" said Norman Ornstein a government scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. No matter how effective the whip is it will be tough to pull everyone together."
In addition even if Pelosi and Clyburn are able to line up enough Democratic support in the House there is still the difficulty of winning passage in the Senate where at least a few Republican supporters are needed to avoid filibusters.
Clyburn said he is not focused on the other chamber although he says he meets routinely with Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin D-Ill.
Clyburn communicates frequently with White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett but less so with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel the hard-charging former Illinois congressman (2003-09). Emanuel considered challenging Clyburn for the whips post in 2006 but opted out after it became clear the CBC preferred Clyburn.
Walking Softly
A former state official and school teacher who as a young man organized civil rights protests in South Carolina Clyburn employs a more-carrot-than-stick approach with his fellow Democrats. They say he seeks to reason with them rather than say threatening to withdraw fundraising help or provide less desirable committee assignments for opposing legislation.
Jim is a charming gentleman. He is not a whip in the sense he beats you with 30 lashes" said Jim Cooper of Tennessee a Blue Dog Democrat who has clashed with the House leadership. I want to help him. A lot of folks ask you to do things and I can care less."
G.K. Butterfield D-N.C. one of nine chief deputy whips who are Clyburns main foot soldiers in rounding up votes said that Clyburns roots might explain his softer approach.
Were from the South" Butterfield said. Were not about getting in your face. We want to reason with you."
Others say that Clyburns nice-guy approach is balanced by Pelosi who can be much tougher with members who dont fall in line.
She does her own whipping" said Gene Green D-Texas a former senior whip. Green recalled his own experience with Pelosi last session when he was trying to drum up opposition to an energy amendment that the Speaker supported.
She grabbed me by the cheeks and said I need to talk to you " Green said. He said Pelosi made it clear that she didnt want him working against her measure.
Clyburn however denied he plays good cop bad cop" with Pelosi.
Missouri Republican Roy Blunt the former House minority whip said it might be difficult for Clyburn because both Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer D-Md. once held the chief whip job.
Mr. Clyburn has two people at the table who have their own idea of what the whip should do because they were the whip" Blunt said.
His colleagues say Clyburn can be firm with members when necessary such as at a caucus meeting several weeks ago when he chided several Democrats for not voting the way they had said they would.
I dont like to be surprised" Clyburn said he informed renegade lawmakers.
A Fast Riser
Clyburn has sought to bolster his colleagues in a number of traditional ways such as fundraising. In the last election cycle Clyburns political action committee BridgePac doled out $921500 to 125 Democratic candidates according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Clyburns office is also solicitous of members during long legislative days providing hot breakfasts during morning meetings and taking dinner requests during late evening votes. Clyburn was first elected to his House seat in 1992 the first African-American elected to Congress from South Carolina since his great-uncle George Washington Murray served during Reconstruction (1893-95).
In the House Clyburn moved up quickly nabbing a spot on the Appropriations Committee and becoming head of the Congressional Black Caucus and later chairman of the Democratic Caucus. He was chosen as whip after Democrats took control of Congress in 2007.
In the last legislative session Clyburn was largely successful in keeping party splits to a minimum. In 2008 House Democrats voted on average with the majority of their caucus 92 percent of the time tying the record for unity they set the year before according to a CQ party unity analysis.
However Clyburn suffered one very public setback last year when the House initially defeated the $700 billion bailout plan in part because of the defection of 21 of the CBCs 39 members. Clyburn later persuaded 13 CBC members to vote for the financial package which passed the second time (PL 110-343).
Some Democrats also grumbled when he was unable to prevent Republicans from successfully offering motions to recommit bills in the 110th Congress.
Although Clyburn keeps a relatively low profile in the House he does at times seize the public stage. For example during the 2008 presidential primary season he chided former President Bill Clinton for suggesting that an Obama victory over then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton D-N.Y. (2001-09) in South Carolina would not be that impressive because Jesse Jackson had won the states primary years before.
In recent months Clyburn has slammed a number of southern governors including South Carolinas Mark Sanford a Republican for suggesting they might reject portions of the stimulus package. Sanford officially turned down a portion of the money March 20. Clyburn said the governors rejection was a slap in the face of African-Americans" a statement that prompted a Sanford spokesman to accuse the congressman of playing the race card."
Clyburn has also been an outspoken supporter of earmarks the funding attached to appropriations bills for specific projects sought by lawmakers for their districts. Although earmarks have come under fire from Republicans as well as Obama Clyburn defended them as necessary to meet the needs of his constituents.
Earmarks arent bad. Earmarkers may be bad" he said. Clyburn however has been criticized for directing such funding to institutions that employ family members such as the International African American Museum in Charleston. Clyburns nephew is part of an Albuquerque-based architectural firm chosen to help design the museum.
Clyburn last year resigned as chairman of the museum board. The lawmaker said he did not believe there was a conflict of interest but left the board so he would not have to wake up to negative headlines.
Rep. James E. Clyburn who has gained a reputation for his soft touch as majority whip will find his conciliatory style tested in coming months as Democrats consider a budget that threatens to fracture a party known for its recent unity.
Clyburn a low-key South Carolinian who rarely raises his voice or uses strong language other than when he perceives slights against minorities might not seem the profile of a whip to those who recall the intimidating presence of past leaders such as former Republican Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas (1985-2006) known as The Hammer" for his ability to keep lawmakers in line. Others say Clyburn the highest-ranking African-American in Congress is aided by Speaker Nancy Pelosi D-Calif. who they contend is the one who carries the stick when it comes to maintaining party unity.
But the 68-year-old son of a minister said he subscribes to the view that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar." To that end he has been meeting with senior whips to plot strategy for bridging the budget concerns of the diverse groups that make up the Democratic Party from the liberal Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.
Tackling the Budget
Clyburn conceded that it wont be easy corralling Democratic votes for President Obamas ambitious agenda including a proposed $3.6 trillion budget that has already drawn howls from some in both parties.
Its going to be very very challenging" Clyburn said during an interview in his third-floor Capitol office which is lined with photographs including one of him seated near the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at an event in Charleston S.C. in 1967.
Clyburn said he hopes to reach party consensus before the bills hit the floor to avoid a frantic effort to round up the minimum 218 votes needed to pass legislation in the chamber where Democrats hold a 254-178 advantage.
I see my job as taking all the caucuses and their sensibilities into account" Clyburn said.
Given his partys recently expanded House majority Clyburn would like commitments from 225 Democratic lawmakers for the budget. But Clyburn said he might have to settle for the minimum number of Democratic votes and none from the GOP.
You cant assume we are going to get Republican support" he said. They are in campaign mode. We are not going to get anything from them."
Despite Democrats initial success at the outset of the 111th Congress in passing Obamas economic stimulus package (PL 111-5) and the omnibus spending measure (PL 111-8) experts say the fiscal 2010 budget will be a tough sell within the caucus pitting fiscal hawks in the party critical of higher spending and taxes against more liberal factions who are clamoring for more programs.
There is increasing tension between liberal Democrats and the Blue Dogs" said Norman Ornstein a government scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. No matter how effective the whip is it will be tough to pull everyone together."
In addition even if Pelosi and Clyburn are able to line up enough Democratic support in the House there is still the difficulty of winning passage in the Senate where at least a few Republican supporters are needed to avoid filibusters.
Clyburn said he is not focused on the other chamber although he says he meets routinely with Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin D-Ill.
Clyburn communicates frequently with White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett but less so with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel the hard-charging former Illinois congressman (2003-09). Emanuel considered challenging Clyburn for the whips post in 2006 but opted out after it became clear the CBC preferred Clyburn.
Walking Softly
A former state official and school teacher who as a young man organized civil rights protests in South Carolina Clyburn employs a more-carrot-than-stick approach with his fellow Democrats. They say he seeks to reason with them rather than say threatening to withdraw fundraising help or provide less desirable committee assignments for opposing legislation.
Jim is a charming gentleman. He is not a whip in the sense he beats you with 30 lashes" said Jim Cooper of Tennessee a Blue Dog Democrat who has clashed with the House leadership. I want to help him. A lot of folks ask you to do things and I can care less."
G.K. Butterfield D-N.C. one of nine chief deputy whips who are Clyburns main foot soldiers in rounding up votes said that Clyburns roots might explain his softer approach.
Were from the South" Butterfield said. Were not about getting in your face. We want to reason with you."
Others say that Clyburns nice-guy approach is balanced by Pelosi who can be much tougher with members who dont fall in line.
She does her own whipping" said Gene Green D-Texas a former senior whip. Green recalled his own experience with Pelosi last session when he was trying to drum up opposition to an energy amendment that the Speaker supported.
She grabbed me by the cheeks and said I need to talk to you " Green said. He said Pelosi made it clear that she didnt want him working against her measure.
Clyburn however denied he plays good cop bad cop" with Pelosi.
Missouri Republican Roy Blunt the former House minority whip said it might be difficult for Clyburn because both Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer D-Md. once held the chief whip job.
Mr. Clyburn has two people at the table who have their own idea of what the whip should do because they were the whip" Blunt said.
His colleagues say Clyburn can be firm with members when necessary such as at a caucus meeting several weeks ago when he chided several Democrats for not voting the way they had said they would.
I dont like to be surprised" Clyburn said he informed renegade lawmakers.
A Fast Riser
Clyburn has sought to bolster his colleagues in a number of traditional ways such as fundraising. In the last election cycle Clyburns political action committee BridgePac doled out $921500 to 125 Democratic candidates according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Clyburns office is also solicitous of members during long legislative days providing hot breakfasts during morning meetings and taking dinner requests during late evening votes. Clyburn was first elected to his House seat in 1992 the first African-American elected to Congress from South Carolina since his great-uncle George Washington Murray served during Reconstruction (1893-95).
In the House Clyburn moved up quickly nabbing a spot on the Appropriations Committee and becoming head of the Congressional Black Caucus and later chairman of the Democratic Caucus. He was chosen as whip after Democrats took control of Congress in 2007.
In the last legislative session Clyburn was largely successful in keeping party splits to a minimum. In 2008 House Democrats voted on average with the majority of their caucus 92 percent of the time tying the record for unity they set the year before according to a CQ party unity analysis.
However Clyburn suffered one very public setback last year when the House initially defeated the $700 billion bailout plan in part because of the defection of 21 of the CBCs 39 members. Clyburn later persuaded 13 CBC members to vote for the financial package which passed the second time (PL 110-343).
Some Democrats also grumbled when he was unable to prevent Republicans from successfully offering motions to recommit bills in the 110th Congress.
Although Clyburn keeps a relatively low profile in the House he does at times seize the public stage. For example during the 2008 presidential primary season he chided former President Bill Clinton for suggesting that an Obama victory over then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton D-N.Y. (2001-09) in South Carolina would not be that impressive because Jesse Jackson had won the states primary years before.
In recent months Clyburn has slammed a number of southern governors including South Carolinas Mark Sanford a Republican for suggesting they might reject portions of the stimulus package. Sanford officially turned down a portion of the money March 20. Clyburn said the governors rejection was a slap in the face of African-Americans" a statement that prompted a Sanford spokesman to accuse the congressman of playing the race card."
Clyburn has also been an outspoken supporter of earmarks the funding attached to appropriations bills for specific projects sought by lawmakers for their districts. Although earmarks have come under fire from Republicans as well as Obama Clyburn defended them as necessary to meet the needs of his constituents.
Earmarks arent bad. Earmarkers may be bad" he said. Clyburn however has been criticized for directing such funding to institutions that employ family members such as the International African American Museum in Charleston. Clyburns nephew is part of an Albuquerque-based architectural firm chosen to help design the museum.
Clyburn last year resigned as chairman of the museum board. The lawmaker said he did not believe there was a conflict of interest but left the board so he would not have to wake up to negative headlines.
