Black Caucus on Libya War: The Good, the Confused, and the Hopeless

[ej510]

http://blackagendby BAR executive editor Glen Ford



With a total of 14 CBC members withholding authorization for Obama’s North African war (6 “Good” – 8 “Confused”), that leaves 24 members who have absolutely no redeeming political value. When it comes to an undeclared (actually, fiercely denied) war against an African country that has done nothing to harm the United States, these 24 members of a caucus that claims to be the “conscience of the Congress” will sign any check and authorize any amount of killings. It is far too kind to call them:

At this critical juncture in history, the Congressional Black Caucus is near useless to the cause of peace. The recent congressional vote on Libya shows that, in the CBC, “there are more Confused members than Good, and The Good are outnumbered four to one by The Hopeless.” Much of the Caucus has bought into President Obama’s “humanitarian intervention” scam, notably Minneapolis Rep. Keith Ellis. “Ellis has given a blank check to arbitrary global rule by U.S. military fiat – to endless wars that need no declaration, and to the end of international law as it has evolved over the centuries.”



Black Caucus on Libya War: The Good, the Confused, and the Hopeless

by BAR executive editor Glen Ford

“These 24 members of a caucus that claims to be the “conscience of the Congress” will sign any check and authorize any amount of killings.”

When the crunch came on June 24, only six members of the Congressional Black Caucus showed themselves to be of any use whatsoever to humanity and the cause of peace. We shall call them The Good. These three ladies and three gentlemen voted both to cut off funds to President Obama’s war against Libya – which he bizarrely insists is not really a war – and to directly withhold congressional authorization for that war, authority Obama claims he does not need.

Obama’s bombers won the fight over funding, 238 to 189, with only 36 Democrats willing to pull the money plug on the Nobel Peace Prize-winning warmonger. Six of those Democrats comprise the fraction of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) that is worth a damn:

The Good

John Conyers, Jr. (MI); Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL); Barbara Lee (CA); Laura Richardson (CA); Bobby Scott (VA); Maxine Waters (CA)

Thirty-one CBC members opted to allow Obama to continue spending on the Libyan operation, which will have cost $1 billion by September. Three failed to vote at all.

>snip

The Confused

Sanford Bishop (GA); Andre Carson (IN); Yvette Clarke (NY); Hansen Clarke (MI); William Lacy; Clay (MO); Danny Davis (IL); John Lewis (GA); Gwen Moore (WI)

With a total of 14 CBC members withholding authorization for Obama’s North African war (6 “Good” – 8 “Confused”), that leaves 24 members who have absolutely no redeeming political value. When it comes to an undeclared (actually, fiercely denied) war against an African country that has done nothing to harm the United States, these 24 members of a caucus that claims to be the “conscience of the Congress” will sign any check and authorize any amount of killings. It is far too kind to call them:

>snip

The Hopeless

Karen Bass (CA); Corrine Brown (FL); Emanuel Cleaver (MO); James Clyburn (SC); Elijah Cummings (MD); Donna Edwards (MD); Keith Ellison (MN); Chaka Fattah (PA); Marcia Fudge (OH); Al Green (TX); Alcee Hastings (FL); Sheila Jackson Lee (TX); Hank Johnson (GA); Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX); Gregory Meeks (NY); Donald Payne (NJ); Cedric Richmond (LA); Charles Rangel (NY); Bobby Rush (IL); David Scott (GA); Terri Sewell (AL); Bennie Thompson (MS); Mel Watt (NC); Frederica Wilson (FL)

G.K. Butterfield (NC) and Edolphus Towns (NY) did not take part in either vote. Call them Irrelevant and Hopeless.

More at the link: http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/black-caucus-libya-war-good-confused-and-hopeless

[Starry Messenger]

1. k&r

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. K&R

[ej510]

3. Fund this bullshit, but can't fund programs to help this country.

When will Americans get tired of this shit?

[jakeXT]

4. The leader knows best

The president flatly stated at one point: "Do I think that our actions in any way violate the War Powers Resolution? The answer is no."

"So I don't even have to get to the constitutional question," Obama said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/169043-obama-dismisses-libya-fuss-congress-as-political-game-playing

[ej510]

5. Nixon - When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejvyDn1TPr8

[EFerrari]

7. "Caesar never does wrong but in a good cause." - J. Caesar

:)

[EFerrari]

6. K&R