by Sam Ford (and Donna Brazile:)
A lot of people have refused to say publicly what they’ve said privately and that is it’s time for DC’s Delegate to Congress Eleanor Holmes Norton to retire.
She was a brilliant member for years, worked with Republicans to give DC students the wonderful TAG program for federal subsidies for tuition to any state university or Historically Black College or University.
In my decades of residence in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, I used to see Ms Norton jog by my house, then walk by. But that’s been years ago. Published reports say she can no longer drive a car, that she’s lost her license.
In the past I recall covering events where the main speaker did not show, so Eleanor stepped in and did a way better job. And if you’re talking Civil Rights heroes, there was the Yale law student Eleanor Holmes in Mississippi with Fannie Lou Hammer and Medgar Evers, middle-class girl from NW DC trying to get people registered to vote and stay alive.
She was EEOC Director for President Jimmy Carter.
But time comes for everyone to move on to a different phase. It’s clear that time has come for Ms Norton.
Today her good friend Donna Brazile joined those calling on the 88 year old congresswoman to not run again.
(Fmr Reporter, DC Bureau Chief of WJLA-TV · Education: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Location: Washington · )