WaPo wanted a conflict between the Congressional Black Caucus and the President- So they made one up

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"A frustrated caucus keeps complaints quiet"

By Michael Leahy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 12, 2010 (Front page)

On Thursday, CBC members participated in a rare one-hour policy meeting with Obama at the White House to discuss their concerns, most notably their disappointment over a jobs bill that they regard as largely a package of tax breaks for employers, noticeably bereft of job-training programs, new infrastructure projects and summer employment opportunities for youth. Such issues are vital to the CBC, many of whose members represent districts with high levels of unemployment.

In interviews with aides and members afterward, Obama was described as receptive to their message, even though he did not make any large-scale commitments. "He said he knew what unemployment looks like in 'my own neighborhood in Chicago,' " recounted Cleaver, who stressed that he was speaking only for himself. "He said he wanted to do things as quickly as possible."

"There was no contention at all," said Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.). "The president is very clearly focused on jobs and job creation."

A White House official issued a statement that ignored any tensions with CBC members and stressed the administration's goals: "President Obama is working to develop inclusive policies, whether in health care, education or the economy, that will have a broad impact on the American people, and Thursday's meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus was a productive effort toward reaching that goal."

Not withstanding Thursday's kind words, the CBC's list of complaints with the White House runs from policy to personal . . .


read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031104908_pf.html

[uponit7771]

1. Wapo is starting to get FAUX news sloppy

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2. the most damaging assertions weren't sourced at all

. . . except for the one congressman they found who was compelled to gripe to them. I think their frustration is showing, more than any from the CBC. They want to paint the administration with the same kind of petty, D.C. political reporting they use to bat local officials around. They look to be reporting this from outside of the room, rather than being privy to some inside dope on the relationships. Our CBC legislators are much more politically savvy than they give them credit for in this tabloid piece.

[AllentownJake]

3. I'm assuming there is some tension behind closed doors

The African American community has been the hardest hit by this economic downturn.

I doubt anyone is going to go on the record about it.

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4. I don't think there's any more so

. . . than what's normally the case between the Executive and the Legislature. The inference from this and reports like it are that there's some betrayal (or the sense of betrayal) among CBC members and the President. If there is, it wouldn't be significantly different from the complaints of House progressives in general.

I suspect that what they're getting at is their interpretation that the disaffection (if any) is due to some kind of notion of entitlement (to special consideration) from the parties involved because they share the same race. That's about the level of discourse you'd find among the local D.C. political press corp.; especially at the WaPo.

[AllentownJake]

5. Their communities are suffering the most

I suspect there is tension between the CBC and the entirety of the rest of congress right now as well.