By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
DETROIT (July 30, 2008) – In a city like Detroit, which is facing record unemployment rates, rapid home foreclosures and decreased city services, the last thing Motor City voters should consider is sending a rookie to Washington to watch their backs. But as the race for Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick’s seat heats up, it’s becoming clear that her troubled son, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, has opened the door for the longtime congresswoman’s rivals to overtake her in the race to Capitol Hill.

As a native Detroiter who has watched and waited for Motown’s comeback, I realize the only folks who have been able to come to the city’s rescue in recent years have been Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D) and the “Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus,” Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). 

So on Tuesday, when I read in The Detroit News that Kilpatrick is holding only a razor-thin lead over her two challengers, I was shocked.  Kilpatrick has represented the 13 Congressional District for six terms.  Still, according to a poll of voters in her district, she leads her opponents, former state Rep. Mary Waters, by 4 percent and state Sen. Martha Scott by 9 percent. 

The survey conducted by EPIC-MRA has an error margin of 5 points, so the incumbent has to be concerned.  I believe the closeness of the race is related to the problems her son, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, is facing.

The mayor is under indictment for perjury and other felony charges.
 While the Kilpatricks are related by blood, their political accomplishments or failures should not be lumped together.  Detroit can’t afford to lose the power and influence of a woman, only the second African-American woman and only Michigan Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
  This appointment has given her the clout to secured more than a half-billion dollars for statewide improvements; more than $145 million for Detroit Department of Transportation; $4 million for education; and $18 million in mortgage loans. 

I would hope that a city with struggling public schools, fleeing grocery store chains, and no retail shopping malls folks would think long and hard about the plight of their member in Congress with the best shot to bring funding for their schools, healthcare and transportation. 

Carolyn Kilpatrick, like most other elected officials might not be perfect, but during these troubling times in her district and throughout the state, her constituents need a member with working knowledge of Washington, experience and seniority.  

She is the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus and has pounded her challengers in two debates in as many weeks, asking Waters and Scott how many members are on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee; what department is the largest part of the federal budget; and how many federal departments there are?  Neither of Kilpatrick’s opponents could answer these questions, proving they clearly aren’t aware of what’s at stake.

I’m sure Waters and Scott could eventually get up to speed, but the question is can the folks in the 13th district afford to wait. 
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted April 6, 2008 – The Ford family is considered a political dynasty in Tennessee.  Now, two Fords are telling one Ford to apologize to Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), the man who now represents the Ninth congressional district for making racially charged comments they say are an “insult.” 

This is political drama at its best.

It sounds like Jake Ford, the son of former Democratic Rep. Harold Ford, Sr., and the brother of former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., is still sulking over his loss to Cohen in 2006 and has decided to run again for the seat.

But just the perfunctory process of filing last Thursday has ignited the drama of it all.  While Jake Ford, accompanied by his brother Isaac, were filing papers to challenge Cohen, Isaac Ford told the press, ‘‘Jake Ford is a Black candidate; it’s a Black district, and we need Black representation.’’

Translation, Cohen is White and can’t do a good job.

Friday, when the comments were reported in Memphis The Commercial Appeal newspaper, they brought swift responses from both Harold Ford, Sr., and  Harold  Ford Jr., who told the newspaper they did not agree with the comments made by Isaac. 

Cohen beat Jake Ford in 2006 when he ran to fill the seat vacated by his brother Harold Ford, Jr., who ran for the Tennessee Senate.  Ford Jr., followed his father Harold Ford, Sr., into the seat where the two Ford’s represented the predominately Black district for 32 years.

The family has a long tradition in the Democratic Party, but Jake Ford filed as an independent to face off with Cohen in the fall. 

In an effort to defuse the comments and the racial overtone, Jake Ford said Saturday that his brother’s comments were taken out of context and weren’t meant to have racial overtones.

  ‘‘My brother and I were not saying we have to have a Black representative in this district. We said in the state of Tennessee, the western district was created as a predominantly Black district so we would have Black representation in Congress,’’ he said.

Ford Jr. who no doubt has plans to see his name on a Tennessee ballot in the future, and his father Ford, Sr., called the comments “an insult” and they want Jake to publicly apologize for Isaac’s comments.

While these comments are new, the questioning of Cohen’s ability as a White man to represent Black constituents are not.   During the 2006 campaign, Cohen’s legitimacy as a candidate was made an issue by his challenger, Jake Ford.

‘‘Everyone makes it seem like I’m creating the race issue.   As for my dad and my brother, they’re not running for Congress. I am,’’ Jack Ford said.

But, Ford Sr. isn’t buying it, and has said that even if the comments were taken out of context, they are out of place.  ‘‘That type of message going out is not good for the city or the Ninth District,” Ford Sr. said. “The article and editorial disturbed me. He certainly does not speak for me, and that’s not representative of this family.’’ 

Ford Jr., went so far as to say, ‘‘I want to make clear my brothers’ comments are not mine. I reject them.”

And as if that’s not enough, Ford, Jr. added that he didn’t encourage his brother to run in the first place, a statement Jake Ford says isn’t true.

My suggestion to the Ford family is this: have a family dinner and work all this out. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Producer

Posted March 27, 2008 – Maryland congressman Albert Wynn (D), has decided to leave office early, hoping to allow his presumed successor Donna Edwards to step in quickly.

Wynn lost to Edwards in the February primary.  He’ll now re-start his career as a partner at Washington law firm Dickstein Shapiro LLP.  

 Wynn released a statement saying, “It has been a great honor to serve as a member of Congress representing the wonderful people of the 4th District. However, it is time to move into another phase of my life and I am very excited to be joining such an outstanding firm.”

Edwards, a community activist, will face off with the Republican challenger now in a special election.  Because the district is heavily Democratic, she will most likely win the seat.  If so, she would be the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the United States House of Representatives.
 
“My leaving early will also allow our Democratic nominee Donna Edwards the opportunity to successfully navigate a special election and be sworn in this summer. This will not only give her seniority in the incoming Congressional class of ’09, but more importantly, will allow her to get off to a fast start in serving the citizens of our community. I offer her my best wishes and stand ready to assist in any way possible,” said Wynn.

 New ethics rules don’t allow former members of congress to lobby their congressional colleagues for one year. Wynn’s early resignation will start the clock giving him a head start on completing the required moratorium.

There is also some good news for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).   Wynn endorsed the senator earlier this year and his apparent successor has as well.  Should Edwards win the special election she too will give her super delegate vote to the Illinois senator.
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 13, 2008 – Black lawmakers will be welcoming a familiar face to Washington when the grandson of the late Indiana congresswoman Julia Carson (D) joins their ranks.  The victory will keep the seat on the Democratic side of the aisle and adds another super delegate to the presidential mix.

Andre Carson, 33, won the seat Tuesday in a special election beating out his Republican opponent, state Rep. John Elrod.  Carson won the contest with about 55 percent of the vote to Elrod’s 44 percent.

Carson, the second Muslim ever elected to Congress, will represent the Indianapolis district for the remaining 10 months of his grandmother’s term.  ‘Miss Julia” as she was affectingly called by her constituents died December 15 of cancer.  

“We did it! We did it! Thank God we did it,” he said to a roaring crowd that packed the downtown hotel ballroom. “I want to thank each and every one of you for your sacrifice, hard work and efforts. This isn’t about me. It’s about you. I’m not going to Congress. We’re going to Congress,” he told cheering supporters in the Westin Hotel ballroom in downtown Indianapolis.

With the win Carson will now find himself beginning the next campaign in 55 days to ready himself for the May primary, followed by the November general election to win a full term in Congress and continue his grandmother’s legacy.

“The battle’s not over,” Carson told supporters following his victory.  “Friends and family, we have to hit the ground running,” he said.

This win is only the second in Carson’s political career; he won his first election last year to the City-County Council.  He called his victory an “extremely humbling experience.”

By Pamela Genty, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 11, 2008 – I’m glad to report New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, 77, is feeling better after a bout with the flu last week.

Rangel was released from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital today where he was admitted March 4, due to severe flu symptoms.  While he’s out of the hospital, he’s not back in the office.  His staff advised me he’ll be working for home to insure he’s fully recovered before retuning to Washington.

But he’ll remain in close contact with his staff. Rangel has been representing the 15th district in New York City since 1971. He said he will return to the nations’ capitol if any critical votes arise.

Good to know he’s on the road to recovery.

Send your well wishes to the Congressman, he’s a fan of my blog. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Jan. 30, 2008 – The departure of former North Carolina Senator John Edwards from the race for the White House puts a handful of Black lawmakers up for grabs, and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) could be the beneficiary.

Because Edwards announced his run for White House in 2006, earlier than his two top rivals – Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Obama – he secured several Black lawmakers, including two fellow Carolinians, Rep. C. K.  Butterfield, and Rep. Mel Watt. 

  But they weren’t alone in backing Edwards. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and the late Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind.) who died earlier this year, also thought Edwards was a good choice.

Then Obama entered the race.  The loyalty issue weighed heavy on some of the members I spoke with after it was clear they would have to choose between Clinton, a longtime friend of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Obama, one of their own members. But now that Edwards has bowed out of the race, we can watch the two frontrunners morph their message to lure some of Edwards’ supporters to their camp. It will be interesting to see where Edwards folks decide to go.  Edwards sent a message to his former rivals, saying what he wanted in return for his support during his speech.

  “They have both pledged to make ending poverty part of their campaigns,” Edwards said. In recent weeks, following Edwards lackluster showings in early primary states,  Butterfield decided to switch his endorsement to Obama, Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.), who had backed Edwards run in 2004, also signed on leaving only a small pool of members of the Congressional Black Caucus undecided or uncommitted.

Two folks plan to remain neutral through the primary process, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), because of their leadership positions. The undecided are:  Johnson, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Watt.

 Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) who spoke of supporting Clinton in September during their caucus’s legislative weekend, made it official Tuesday with a public announcement in Los Angeles. 

 New Jersey  Rep. Donald Payne’s staff confirmed he’s also signed on to support the New York senator. With the recent additions of Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss) to Obama’s camp, he now has 19 to Clinton’s 17 committed Black lawmakers, thanks to the switch of the two Edwards supporters.     

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Politcal Producer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Posted Jan. 25, 2008) – Lawmakers got the message from the American people this week and agreed to get a check in the mail to help folks out during this economic slowdown.

It’s not hard to figure out why.  The American people are pissed, and lawmakers know what it means if voters take that frustration to the voting booth in November.
 
With the Democratic South Carolina primary just days away, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, a native of the state, said he was pleased that the “stimulus package that will provide timely, targeted, and temporary assistance” to families during the economic slowdown.

While the package has the blessing of Congress and the White House, some Black lawmakers says it’s not perfect. 

“I am disappointed that there are no provisions extending benefits to the unemployed,” says Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio), who’ll be in South Carolina this weekend campaigning for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) “They are the ones who have been hit the hardest by the drastic downturn in the economy.” Ignoring these folks will bring the same problems back, she said.

The deal on table now gives folks tax refunds from $600 to $12,000; provides money to 35 million needy working families; awards tax relief to businesses that make new investments; and ignites mortgage lending reforms.

Rep. Elijah Cumming (D-Md.), who’s backing Sen. Barack Obama, (D-Ill.) for the White House, agrees with Tubbs Jones when it comes to improving the economic conditions for the American people.  “To truly help those who are being hit the hardest, it is critical that any stimulus package include provisions dealing with food stamps and unemployment benefits,” Cummings said.  This package does not.

Both Obama and Clinton issued statements praising the plan and touting their own.

Obama said, “Experts agree that what struggling families need right now is immediate tax relief to stimulate our economy, which is why my plan has always called for a $500 tax cut for working families and a $250 supplement to their Social Security check.
Clinton countered, “I have been calling for extending tax rebates to these lower-income Americans, and will push to ensure that these families receive the full assistance that they need.”
 
The question now is whether the stimulus package will work and will either party or candidate will reap a reward because of it. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

Posted Jan. 14, 2008 -   Another endorsement from a fellow Black lawmaker today for Sen. Barack Obama, Maryland Congressman Al Wynn (D) has joined the list of members of the House supporting the first term senator.

“Barack Obama brings a positive energy, a new vision and has the political courage to bring about the change this country so desperately needs,” Wynn said.

Wynn’s district is home to one of the largest Black populations in the state and some of the wealthiest.   Prince George County’s, a suburb southeast of the District of Columbia,   is a political hot spot for folks running for statewide office in Maryland. 

It’s not clear how valuable Wynn’s endorsement will be with his constituents.  He narrowly won re-election in 2006, just edging out challenger Donna Edwards, an attorney and community activist who ran against him.

Wynn joins fellow Congressional Black Caucus colleague and Maryland lawmaker Rep.  Elijah Cummings.

ByPamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Dec. 17, 2007 – Funeral arrangements are planned for Saturday, Dec. 22 in Indianapolis, for Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind.) who died Saturday at home.  On Friday, December 21, the Indiana lawmaker will lie in state at the Indian State Capitol, allowing a final farewell from the Indianapolis community she served for more than a decade.
The business of the 7th District will continue under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives until her successor is sworn in.
Carson was 69. Carson’s career is filled with “firsts,” but she will always be remembered for leading the charge to bestow civil rights activist Rosa Parks with the Congressional Medal of Honor.  I witnessed the pride she felt in June 1999 when the medal was finally presented  to Parks in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. 
Rep. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), who heads the Congressional Black Caucus, remembered Carson as an “esteemed colleague, friend and sister.”
“As a tireless public servant for over 35 years, ‘Miss Julia’ was unapologetically outspoken and equally relentless in her pursuit of parity for women and minorities in Indiana’s Seventh Congressional District and across the globe. She was a stalwart for social justice and a trailblazer – serving as the first woman and first African American Indianapolis has ever sent to Congress,” she said.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) praised his colleague as a “trailblazer and an inspiration.” “She was not only a friend and a colleague, but a kindred spirit in the fight for equality and justice. The support that she generously offered me over these last few years, as well as her dignity, good humor, and faith, will never be forgotten,” he said.
 Sen. Evan Bayh, (D-Ind.) praised his fellow native as someone who ” overcame much and accomplished much, and devoted her life to helping other people do the same. She was elected to important public offices, but never forgot who she was, where she came from or who she was there to serve.”
“The Congressional Black Caucus, the United States House of Representatives and the world has lost a star and a stripe,” Kilpatrick said.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted Dec. 13, 2007 – It has taken 20 years for the courts and Congress to right a wrong right when dealing with sentencing for cocaine possession.   A day after the U.S. Supreme Court restored power to federal judges to use their discretion when meting out punishment for drug crimes, the U.S. Sentencing Commission gave judges additional authority to reduce prison terms.

This means that for those federal inmates already serving crack cocaine-related terms, shorter sentences and the effective date will be retroactive to Nov. 1 of this year. This could affect more than 19,000 inmates, 86 percent of whom are Black. 

On Wednesday, Black lawmakers applauded the Supreme Court and the Sentencing Commission decisions.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) said, “The Commission’s decision today [Wednesday] is a good first start, but it is only a beginning. At a time when our nation’s prison population continues to expand exponentially, at a huge cost to taxpayers, we must get smart about our nation’s drug policy.”

The debate about the fairness of drug sentencing has revolved around race.  Poor and Black folks disproportionately used the less expensive form of cocaine, “crack,” and therefore received stiffer sentences than those more affluent users who were more likely to use  powder cocaine.

Carolyn Kilpatrick, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that one of her Black colleagues in Congress signed a letter in support of applying this modest guideline change retroactively.

Under the new ruling the guidelines for crack and powder cocaine are more equal.

Conyers calls this a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. “Congress must act to change crack/powder penalties,” he said. “I intend to hold hearings next year to begin the long-overdue process of changing these unfair laws.”
U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo, vice chairman of the commission, agrees.  Castillo told The Baltimore Sun, “It is the right thing to do.”

“There is just no way to justify the ratio of crack cocaine crimes being penalized much more harshly than those involving an equal amount of powder cocaine,” Castillo said. 

What do you think, should the punishment be the same for crack and powder?