By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

 Posted Oct. 10, 2007 – Last week, Black lawmakers found themselves looking closely at the dearth of high-ranking African Americans in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.  By the end of the week, Rep. Elijah Cumming (D-Md.) was heading to the Coast Guard Academy to find out more about two reported racial incidents this summer involving nooses.

So, what’s going on?
 
Cummings, the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, discovered last week that a noose had been found an African-American cadet’s bag in July and a second one was found in August in the office of a White female officer who was conducting diversity training in response to the first incident.

This is the third reported “noose” citing since the now famous one hung from a tree in Jena, La., which  led to a schoolyard brawl and criminal charges for six young Black men.  The University of Maryland is still investigating the noose found on a tree outside the building that houses the Black students cultural center.
 
Cummings addressed the faculty and students in New London, Conn.  “These cadets are a group of extraordinary young men and women who represent the very best of the best,” Cummings said.
 “However, it is important for them to understand that a service as noble as the United States Coast Guard has no place for hatred and disrespect for others, and they will only be as strong as their weakest link.”

The Coast Guard is part of Homeland Security, unlike the other military branches that report through the Department of Defense. But they also take an oath to serve and defend their country.

In his speech to the 950 cadets, Cummings said “Our greatest strength as a free people is the respect we have for the dignity and values of every human being.”  He warned that racial hatred would damage and weaken their ranks.

The investigation of both incidents at the Academy is underway. Regardless of what we learn about the handling of this incident, we’ll be disappointed.  

Why do you think the noose is being revised as a symbol of hate in 2007? 

Posted Oct. 4, 2007 – President Bush kept his word to Congress and the American people when he shot down a bill Tuesday that would have renewed and expanded health insurance for poor children. 

The veto was no surprise, but the political fallout might be. The White House sent a tsunami of e-mails explaining how bad it would be if this bill were signed into law and the state-federal partnership insurance program was expanded to cover more children.

In a statement from the White House, Bush said, “The policies of the government ought to be help poor children and to focus on poor children.  And the policies of the government ought to help people find private insurance, not federal coverage.”

Bush maintains the expansion that would include up to 10 million children (the cost of which is equivalent to what the United States spends in for 41 days in Iraq) and take the nation’s health care system in the wrong direction. 

 “I believe in private medicine, not the federal government running the health care system,” Bush said.   He wants Congress to come back with something covering fewer children and costing less. 

The reaction from Sen. Edward Kenney’s (D-Mass.) was forceful.   “Today we learned that the same president who is willing to throw away a half trillion dollars in Iraq is unwilling to spend a small fraction of that amount to bring health care to American children,” Kennedy said.
 
The Senate has the two-thirds votes it needs to override Bush’s veto. But it’s not clear whether the U.S. House of Representatives has the  votes it needs. But House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) remains hopeful. “I call on my colleagues in Congress to join the broad bipartisan consensus of senators, representatives, governors and advocacy groups who want to improve the quality of health care that America’s children receive and override the president’s veto,” he said.

The Democrats postponed the vote to override the veto until Oct. 18, which may give members time to take the pulse of folks in their respective districts.  Republicans are worried the veto is a kitchen-table discussion item that could hurt them at the polls in 2008.

 But the real pain may be felt by the 10 million children and their families who will be without health care.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

Posted Oct. 3, 2007 – Black lawmakers joined forces Tuesday to find out from the Department of Defense why so few people of color are being given the opportunity to make rank and become part of the military’s leadership.

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) asked for a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss why Blacks and Latinos are over-represented in the enlisted ranks and underrepresented in the officer ranks.  The meeting took place with lower-ranking Pentagon officers, and no one was happy with the results.

 “I was disappointed that the Joint Chiefs were not there,” Meek said. “It’s not a good thing when you bring the majority whip to the Pentagon, you bring several chairs of committees to the Pentagon, for a meeting to take place, and for those individuals who are making the decisions not to be present is unacceptable.”
Rep. Bobby Scott, (D-Va.) said, “We have a two-fold problem.  One is to make sure we get diversity into the lower ranks, and two is to make sure that once they get in that they get the opportunities to move up.”

Making rank in the military isn’t easy.  Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, (D-Ohio) told reporters, “The military needs to be involved in the process of increasing diversity in the leadership of the military by using mentoring programs and other various ways.”

Meek said this is why it’s so important to open a dialogue about diversity with the military now.  “If you go to a young African American or Hispanic and say in 21 to 22 years you can become a one-star general; nine times out of 10, they will opt for another field with faster upward mobility,” he said.

For example, Meek said that a commissioned officer who starts training in 2007 won’t become a one-star general until 2033 – that’s if they are deemed worthy of that star. 

Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) called the lack of upward mobility a crisis. “Of the 207,000 commissioned officers, 17,000 are African American, which is less than 10 percent.  And one, I said ‘one,’ four-star general.”

Minorities accounted for 15.3 percent of all officers 10 years ago, and that was an increase from 7.5 percent 20 years earlier.  Today, just over 38 percent of all officers in the four branches are minorities, which includes women; African Americans are only 8.7 percent of the officers but make up 20 percent of the enlisted ranks.

Freshman Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) said, “I am disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm, the lack of innovation, the lack of ability for our U.S. military to recognize that there is a crisis.”

Would you make the military a career?  

By Pamela Gentry, BET News Senior Political Producer

Posted Oct. 2, 2007 – Twenty million dollars has been added to Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign fund, and folks are taking notice.

Third-quarter fundraising ended last month and many political pundits speculated that the fundraising frenzy might fizzle.  Usually during the summer months, campaigns hit a slow period raising cash, but this time, folks kept on giving.

Obama’s top competitor Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)  released her numbers this morning boasting $27 million raised.  Yesterday former Sen. John Edwards’ (D-N.C.) campaign announced that it had raised about $7 million and that it would accept public matching funds. 

With the cash Edwards has on hand – about $12 million – and excluding the money he’ll set aside in a general election fund, the campaign will get about $10 million in taxpayer dollars. 

None of the other Democratic candidates came close to matching  Clinton or Obama’s cash flow.  Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) reportedly raised less than $2 million; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson raised more than $5.5 million; and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) raised a little more than $1 million, according to financial statements filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

Last week, during a reception in his honor, Obama told a standing-room-only crowd that he knew folks had doubted he could be a contender for the White House because he faced those same doubts when he ran for the U.S. Senate. “People said it couldn’t be done,” he recalled. 

“They said he can’t raise the money; he can’t pull together an organization; he’s behind in the polls,” Obama remembered. Obama’s camp attributes its fundraising success to “grassroots” efforts and the ability to attract small donations from a large number of supporters.

On the Republican side, frontrunners Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney haven’t released their figures.  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee campaign hasn’t disclosed his fundraising figures either. The official filing date isn’t until Oct. 15, so some campaigns may be taking the opportunity to rake in a few more dollars, especially if they’ve had a disappointing summer.

Even with former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) entering the race late, his campaign said he raised about $8 million, including the first $3.5 million, which he announced in June.  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) wasn’t far behind with a reported $5 million; Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is estimating he’ll raise more than the $2.4 million in the second quarter.

Black folks aren’t quick to give up the cash for political campaigns, could that be changing with Obama in the race? 

By Pamela Gentry, BET News Senior Political Producer

Posted Oct. 1, 2007 – Mobs, lines and cheers were the order last week at every event Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) attended during the 37th Annual Legislative Conference by Black lawmakers held in Washington.

One of the newest members of the caucus created the biggest stir during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s four days of workshops and receptions that ended with a black-tie awards dinner Saturday night. The weekend was a crescendo of Obama mania that peaked during the dinner at the Washington Convention Center.  

As one of 5,000 folks attending the dinner, I was two tables away from Obama, which gave me a first-hand look a the mob-like behavior of the distinguished guests.  It also delayed my dinner.  Servers were blocked from the aisles by those seeking a peek at the presidential candidate. 

Obama and his wife, Michelle, in a beautiful strapless gray gown, appeared to greet everyone with a smile.  They chatted with former Ambassador Andrew Young and other less well known folks who moved in close to grab pictures. 

When members of the Black Caucus were introduced, the audience was asked to hold applause to the end, everyone obeyed until Obama took the stage, and cheers and applause filled the room.  

Obama wasn’t the only Democratic presidential candidate in room; one table over Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and his wife were seated with Rep. Bennie Thompson, (D-Miss.). Sen. Hillary Clinton was seated directly opposite Obama on the other side of the stage with Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).   I didn’t see New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, but he was recognized from the podium, along with other elected officials who attended.

This was the second night in a row I witnessed the “rock star” in action.  Friday night I attended a reception hosted by the three Illinois members of the House: Congressmen Danny Davis, Jesse Jackson, Jr., and Bobby Rush, all of whom have signed on to support Obama’s run for the White House.

A line was formed outside the event 30 minutes before it began. Carolyn Mosley, a congressional staffer, had the task of managing a line of anxious attendees. “Are you on the VIP list,” Mosley asked folks as she relegated them to the proper waiting place. 

“Move back or you won’t get in,” shouted James Stewart, a private security door man whose 250-pound frame was convincing enough for me.  “This place only has space for 900; these folks are trying what’s called the bump rush, so to get control I might have to be little harsh,” he told me.   

Nicole Black, who waited outside for 45 minutes, told me inside, “It’s a fun night to be out.”  Black said she just moved to D.C. from Washington state to attend law school.

Obama’s appearance at this event brought more of the same, massive security measures, long lines, and strict crowd control.

When Jackson took to the stage to introduce his presidential pick, the crowd went crazy.  “He provides the most hope. Ladies and gentleman the next president of the United States, Barack Obama, Jackson shouted.

Barack spoke to crowd with a candor and ease I haven’t seen in his other appearances.  After thanking the crowd and laying out his plans to take the early primary states, Obama led the crowd in a responsive cheer, “Fired up and ready to go.”

He ended by saying, “Let’s go change the world.”  

Have you decided on your presidential pick, if so who will it be?