House Democrats End Civil War With Simple Solution: Push The Black Guy To The Back Of The Bus

You just knew it was coming. Nancy refuses to fall on her sword for the mid-term tidal wave, so someone in the Democratic leadership was going to be left without a real job. Shockingly, it's Jim Clyburn, the top ranking black member in the Democratic House leadership.

House Democrats have reached a deal to keep both Reps. Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn in the leadership, with Hoyer (D-Md.) serving as minority whip and Clyburn (D-S.C) taking a new, as-yet-still-undefined number three position.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) who is seeking the minority leader's job in the next Congress, reached an agreement with Clyburn on late Friday night, and Democratic leaders quickly announced the deal.

Clyburn's title and responsibilities were not specified in the announcement from Pelosi's office, and Democratic leadership aides scrambled to explain the deal to reporters.

No title, no identified responsibilities? But it'll be super seriously important!

It's funny how everyone took a step down in leadership except the number 4 guy, John Larson who is the caucus chair. When push comes to shove, who gets the squeeze? Clyburn. He's the guy the Democrats are going to knock out of his job? Not Pelosi or Hoyer?

But hey, Democrats are keeping up appearances and that's what counts.

A source close to Clyburn said one of his "primary concerns was maintaining a diversity in leadership that reflected" the makeup the Democratic Caucus. More than one-fifth of House Democrats will be CBC members in the 112th Congress, making it one of the most powerful bloc of votes from Democratic leaders.

This source added that "a significant number of members withheld their support for either candidate because they did not want the whip contest to come to a vote."

"This solution honors the diversity of the caucus as well as the wishes of a majority of the caucus that he remain number three in leadership," the source said.

As of late last night, not everyone in the CBC was thrilled with the idea of Clyburn losing a substantive position for...well, whatever this new job is.

And yet blacks will vote for Democrats at a rate of 95-98%.

Keep in mind, that Democrats are going to be in the minority and that means less money and fewer stafffers. Now, to keep the band together they have to divide those already limited resources among even more offices.

Now, do I really think race is that big of a factor in this? It might be but who knows. The main thing is Democrats are the ones always going on about minority empowerment and yet when push comes to shove...who gets a fancy new title and no responsibility? Why it's almost like the mean racists in the GOP are running the House Democratic caucus or something.

Yes the GOP may wind up tossing Michael Steele out of office but let's be honest, we won big this year in spite of him, not because of him. Also, Republicans aren't about keeping score on skin color, we hold people to account on performance and let's be honest, Steele has left quite a bit to be desired on that front.

I've seen absolutely no complaining in the MFM about Clyburn getting the racial shaft but I bet if Steele gets the boot or even a serious challenge, they'll be plenty of stories about how Republicans hate blacks.

Such is the reality of our "objective" media.

Added: I really wondered whether this post was over the top in terms of racial language. My main point is that Democrats talk one way on race relations when it comes to Republicans and act another way in their own choices.

Any doubt I had about the appropriateness of my attack was dispelled when I saw this. According to Chris Matthews and two Democratic congresswomen the real racist in this situation is...Rush Limbaugh.

I'm sick and tired of the MFM double standard.

posted by DrewM. at 03:52 PM

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