Black Caucus threatens fight over House leadership if Democrats win

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

In a move that could set off a nasty internal fight, the Congressional Black Caucus — a key voting bloc among House Democrats — is demanding that an African-American lawmaker hold one of the top two leadership posts if Democrats win the House on Election Day.

The CBC action is seen as a potential challenge to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland who have been slotted to return as speaker and House majority leader, respectively, if Democrats gain the majority on Nov. 6.

“Over the past couple of weeks, several of our colleagues have respectfully shared letters of intent expressing interest in various House Democratic Caucus leadership positions,” said Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), CBC chairman, in a new “Dear Colleague” letter. “It is within that context that I’d like to reiterate that if there is any change in our top leadership positions the Democratic Members of the CBC endorse African-American representation in at least one of the two top positions of elected House Democratic Caucus leadership.”

That means, according to Democratic sources, that the CBC would want one of their own to be speaker or majority leader.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/01/black-caucus-democrats-house-leadership-955223

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Somebody will complain that this story is an attempt to depress turnout by showing "discord". Reporting something that's factually true is.....reporting. If you want to complain, take it up with the CBC for bringing this up now.

[montanacowboy]

1. I agree with them

time for some new blood

[Jose Garcia]

6. There definitely neend to be some younger people in charge

I'm not so obsessed with the skin color of these people as much as I am about generational change. Pelosi and Hoyer are too old to be baby boomers.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. 100 percent! It's way overdue for Democrats to share leadership, so as to reflect the demographics

affected by the party's most most loyal constituents. Is that really too much to ask?! I don't think so. Same goes for women. The age of white male dominance is over and should never again be allowed to dominate our politics.

[ck4829]

2. This is good. Bring it out now. From speaker to committee chairs, they should get a bigger voice

And I think they will.

[ancianita]

3. I'm okay with that, as long as they keep Pelosi and women reps close.

[Renew Deal]

4. Another reason for Pelosi and Hoyer to retire from leadership

They had their shot

[Wintryjade]

5. Trying to stir up shit right before election. Media. And I call BS. See Pelosi on Colbert?

It was excellent. Blue wave, baby, blue wave. Straight Democratic Ticket. All the way.

[Jose Garcia]

8. The Congressional Black Caucus chair wrote the letter

Are you deneying this?

[Cold War Spook]

39. I don"t care which Democrats wrote it,

you don't do something that Republicans can use, no matter how small it is, right before an election. I am waiting to hear Trump say that this shows that them there (choice of word here) sure are getting uppity.

[rogue emissary]

7. I agree with those that would complain.

The first sentence of the article says could set off a nasty fight.

The CBC letter states if their are changes in the top leadership position they have members that our interneted.

This politico peices reads like a hill article. Way to much opinion and slant from the writer that's not supported by the few quotes.

[DownriverDem]

9. So Dumb

Win first. Letting everyone know about this is no good. Win first.

[Achilleaze]

10. True that. Debate the leadership after you get it, if you get it

I'm for youth at this point, new vigorous Reps who can overcome the Hate & Hellfire the KGOP russian-republicans are unleashing on America.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. BINGO!

[cstanleytech]

20. Agreed, it's way to early for anyone to be demanding anything.

After the election is when such things should be done as everyone's contribution can then be weighed and judged accordingly.

[awesomerwb1]

11. F*** politico

And guys, let's win this thing first. Eyes on the prize.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Not the time for the letter. Why even have a letter?

And screw JOHN BRESNAHAN and RACHAEL BADE that wrote the article.

[bottomofthehill]

13. Identity politics will fuck this whole thing up

In order to be the big tent we want to be, laying down ultimatums fuck will up the whole process. The majority of the party is still old white guys, there are a lot of women, and of color, a lot of African Americans, a lot of Hispanic Americans , a lot of Asian Americans, the Democratic Caucus needs to look past color and gender and pick the best people for the job. I dont get to vote for Speaker, but Mrs Pelosi did a great time the last time she was the Speaker.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. "Identity politics"

Is a FUCKING RW term.

POC are the TRUE "base" of the Democratic party, with majorities among each of the major minority groups, running from near 60% - 90+% of the votes for Democrats, while fickle whites look for purity because the policies of either side doesn't have the same negative impact on them that it does for us.

[ck4829]

38. Ever notice the groups we don't use "identity politics" for?

[iluvtennis]

15. I support the CBC, but this should not have been brought up before Nov 6th. We need to WIN first.

[curiouso]

16. Who needs enemies?

This sort of thing is why Democrats can't seize and maintain control of the government - just prior to every election, factions trot out divisive issues that seem tailor-made to encourage far-right voters to flock to the polls and vote against them. WIN THE ELECTION, YOU IDIOTS, THEN DIVIDE THE SPOILS!

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Who are the "idiots" of which you speak?

[wysimdnwyg]

17. "If there is any change in our top leadership positions"

IF there is any change in our top leadership positions

It's not that hard to understand. If there are changes, the CBC is respectfully stating that they would want someone of color in one of the top positions. There's no threat there. There's no blatant discord or suggestion that Pelosi and/or Hoyer must leave. Simply that, should things change, the CBC would like "one of their own" to get a chance.

I may be one of the few on the farther end of the left scale who openly backs Pelosi as speaker, and I have no problems with the CBC's statement.

[Rizen]

21. I'm against the timing

not the statement. Wait until after the midterms; don't bring this up now FFS.

[NCjack]

23. Make sense to me. We should bake the pie before we begin eating it. nt

[EleanorR]

22. They are not just reporting, they are sensationalizing and distorting a normal procedural request

“It is within that context that I’d like to reiterate that if there is any change in our top leadership positions the Democratic Members of the CBC endorse African-American representation in at least one of the two top positions of elected House Democratic Caucus leadership.”

[Maxheader]

24. Wait..No counting chickens before they hatch...

[DeminPennswoods]

25. IIRC, isn't Clyburn currently the number 3 Dem?

If Pelosi becomes speaker, he would be the defacto number 2 behind Hoyer.

[LiberalFighter]

36. Agreed! The reporters need to be called out.

[asiliveandbreathe]

26. Threaten fight???? Seems over the top hyperbol in headline...

“Over the past couple of weeks, several of our colleagues have respectfully shared letters of intent expressing interest in various House Democratic Caucus leadership positions,” said Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), CBC chairman, in a new “Dear Colleague” letter. “It is within that context that I’d like to reiterate that if there is any change in our top leadership positions the Democratic Members of the CBC endorse African-American representation in at least one of the two top positions of elected House Democratic Caucus leadership.

This certainly doesn't sound threatening...is respectful...

VOTE, so that our house DEMS can have this discussion...IMHO

[stonecutter357]

27. Disgusting OP ! voter suppression right here on DU .

[tymorial]

35. That's a ridiculous comment.

How is this voter suppression?

[BlueIdaho]

28. Let's try to win the election first.

There will be plenty of time to sort out assignments after Nov. 6th.

[Me.]

29. "If There Is Any Change"

IF....they want in. IF.

[EleanorR]

30. Exactly! Absolutely absurd, sensationalistic headline designed to cause infighting nt

[still_one]

32. yeah I'll complian, but not at the CBC. I will complain at the over-abundance of stories that

Politico seems to push to put emphasis on disunity between Democrats, and they have been doing more than their share as we get closer to the midterms.

It isn't the reporting of the story, it is the WAY they are doing it.

The Congressional Black Caucus has been an important Pelosi ally, but we don't want to mention that of course, and reading Politico's version of this story leaves the impression that a major fight and division is going to break out between Democrats as though it is a certainty, which is bullshit.

If the Democrats win the majority in the House there will be a legitimate campaign and challenge for the House leaderships. That is what happens. It happened with the republicans too, but for some reason only when it happens with the Democrats it will involve a major division.

As far as I am concerned Politico goes out of their way to present news about Democrats in the least positive way.

[k-dub]

33. How about this...lets WIN first...then talk

I am tired of war horses like Pelosi and Schumer...Schumer is really awful and agree with the CBC, lets get some new folks in charge. However, this is like spiking the ball before we score. Did we not learn anything from 2016?

[FreepFryer]

34. Agitprop, pure and simple. (n/t)

[Kaleva]

37. Bullshit headline

“It is within that context that I’d like to reiterate that if there is any change in our top leadership positions the Democratic Members of the CBC endorse African-American representation in at least one of the two top positions of elected House Democratic Caucus leadership.”



How the authors of the article interpreted that to mean there will be a fight if Dems win control of the House is beyond me.

Further in the article:

""I do not expect there to be any change in the number one and number two spots," Clyburn said, referring to Pelosi and Hoyer. "I will pursue the number three spot which I held before." Clyburn served as House majority whip from 2006 to 2010."

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/01/black-caucus-democrats-house-leadership-955223

Edit: Once you skip over the headline and most of the first three paragraphs, the article is interesting and informative.