Ms. Pelosi should nominate an African-American in the House leadership

[AlamoDemoc]

I think it is high time we place an African-American in the house leadership....Not because it is the right thing to do, after so many years, but now that the republicans are looking to employ Micheal Steele to replace Ken Melman as their RNC chairperson.

Do you agree, or disagree? What do you think?

[gully]

1. Agreed.

nt

[KingFlorez]

2. The caucus as a whole elects the leadership

And I think Jim Clyburn of South Carolina has a chance of becoming Majority Whip.

[Rowdyboy]

12. Clyburn has it sewn up.....

[Pirate Smile]

3. The Whip will be African American.

[Bluzmann57]

4. Who?

Harold Ford? Is he still going to be in the House? I think Murtha may have the majority leader wrapped up anyway.

[bigwillq]

8. Harold Ford will NOT be a congressman.

He decided to forego reelection to concentrate on a Senate bid.

[Arkana]

5. How about we appoint the people who are most qualified?

If it happens that there are African-Americans in the House who are qualified to be in leadership positions, then by all means put them there--but don't just trot them out. That makes us no better than the Pukes and their "HAY GUYS IF WE PUT A TOKEN BLACK GUY BEHIND THE PREZNIT AT THE NEXT PRESS CONFERENCE THEN THE BLACK PEOPLE VOTE FOR US!"

[Skidmore]

7. Barbara Lee has my vote.

[AlamoDemoc]

14. I think there are many African-American Democrats tht qualify such position(s)

wouldn't you agree?

[qanda]

15. There are plenty of qualified African Americans in the House

And it's way past time for the Demcrats to appoint one of them to a position of leadership. I'm black and I'm getting pretty sick of the argument that there aren't black Democrats qualified enough for key positions. Actually it's pretty offensive.

[Arkana]

20. I never said there weren't.

All I said is that we should avoid tokenism.

[BlooInBloo]

26. Yah - qualified black folks = tokenism. Gotta love "good whites".

[Arkana]

27. What the hell are you talking about?

[NOLADEM]

6. I'm for merit instead of tokens...

If a man or woman who should lead is black fine. White? Fine. Pink? Fine.

A cynical appointment of a black man for a political gain b/c our enemies have found their token? NO.

Repukes have only 2% of the black vote for JUST THIS TYPE of shit. Tokenism followed by nothing substantial.

The black community knows what party LBJ was in, knows where civil rights legislation came from and knows who their real friend is. Do you recall what an outcry Repukes created recently when they intimated in an ad that MLK was black?

We have work to do in the black community to be sure, but this ain't it.

Besides, they don't need any special consideration for political advantage. Mr. Rangel and 38 other black members of the House work every day for their constituents, and many of them would make fine leaders.

[AlamoDemoc]

18. Politics is about having a face on national television...merit has nothing to do with it

I doubt the civil rights legislation would have been accomplished without the face and grace of Dr. King. I think African-Americans need an inclusion in the political process today (after Katrina)....African-Americans overwhelmingly vote Democrats and they need a leadership representation in congress.

[NOLADEM]

21. you now are making a different point now

I agree that African-Americans are loyal dems and deserve leadership.

I don't agree with giving it to them because they are black, though. I would give leadership to ANY Dem who has contributed and MANY black Dems CERTAINLY have.

I live in New Orleans. Let me tell you we have black representation (Jefferson-D), and he is there ONLY because he is black and we are a black majority district. He is a crook through and through(was videotaped last year taking a bribe and they found $90K in marked money in his freezer at home), and will be reelected even though he is a corrupt, selfish drag on our city. We have a black mayor that probably should not have been reelected after Katrina (certainly debatable). Not particularly sure merit had anything to do with it. If merit was used, Ron Foreman would have won, but he is white. Black for the sake of black is BAD. Merit and the goal should be the criteria.

Mr. Rangel is a man I would love to see in charge of the House. He is a man with integrity, leadership, balls, and results. And he is tireless. But frankly, I don't give a shit that he is black insofar as to how he does his job and how he got his leadership.

Katrina was as much about class and political affiliation (heavily democratic affected area) as it was about race. We need good leadership.

[AlamoDemoc]

24. you certainly missed my point..and that's human nature..thanks for your response

[OhioBlue]

19. it would not be a token

many House Reps are qualified. From what I've heard, the problem with the whole "leadership appointments" are that they are not necessarily based on merit, but on who raised the most money for whom...

If there are 50 House Reps that are qualified (take out the money factor) for the position, I completely agree with advancing a minority (Black, Hispanic, etc.) to leadership positions. We are the Progressive party. We are the party that advances the influence and the voice of minorities. We should absolutely make it a point to have a diverse leadership contingent. This isn't pandering. This is taking 50 qualified people into account, and taking into account the progress of our nation. We as progressives have to push our Country and create more voices in leadership positions that represent minorities. It is not pandering at all, but pushing our Country toward a more tolerant and civilized society.

[txindy]

9. I think Conyers will be the most feared man in the House to the repubs

John Conyers with subpoena powers..... Life is goooooooood!

[cooolandrew]

10. McKinney would of been fantastic, I would say John Lewis would be a good selection

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. I think it should be a southerner...like John Lewis.

[liberalpragmatist]

13. She is - Jim Clyburn of S.C.

He's the frontrunner for No. 3 in the House (whip) and has Pelosi's support. Rahm Emanuel had been considering running for the post, but Pelosi was against it because of the need for representation from the Black Caucus in the leadership. So Emanuel is running for Caucus Chair. Rep. Diana DeGette is running for whip, however.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

16. Hastert for

House Minority speaker!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[shifting_sands]

17. Leadership

Amy Harmon has the most seniority and that's usually the person who gets it, however Clyburn is right behind her. Neither of them have a great reputation for leadership but most think Clyburn would be a better leader than Harmon, but it may be tricky for Pelosi because Harmon does have seniority

[bowens43]

22. How about she nominate the most qualified person?

[ellenfl]

23. meek, wasserman-schultz or ryan . . .

these three are often found in the house in the evenings debating to an empty chamber. nancy mentioned them a couple of days ago. btw, kendrick meek is black and is from florida (as is debbie wasserman-schultz . . . from florida, not black).

ellen fl

[Blackthorn]

25. Only if the best person for the job turns out to be African-American

Appointing someone because they are black is just as racist as appointing someone because they are white.

[AlamoDemoc]

28. I think I will converse my black district next time so that any nominee

that qualifies their need can have their votes...I guess then their vote wouldn't taken for granted.

[AlamoDemoc]

29. ,,,bye and bye....this link will have you at home

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2953512