Isnt this segregation?
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
March 12, 2010 9:15am CST
A spokesman for President Obama has "skipped" on a question on whether the commander in chief approves of the Congressional Black Caucus' race-restricted membership requirements.
"Why is the president meeting today in the White House with the racially segregated Congressional Black Caucus, which rejected the membership applications of Democrat Congressman Pete Stark of California and Steve Cohen of Tennessee because of their white skin?" asked Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House.
Why cant the white boys play too?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=127743
1 person likes this
7 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
12 Mar 10
Yes, it's segregation but I believe the goal of the Congressional Black Caucus is to identify, support and promote issues and goals that effect the black community. I, personally, don't see anything wrong with that since black Americans have had to play "catch up" since the Civil Rights movement and are still faced with serious problems that need to be addressed. I don't believe that it's necessary to include white members in the Caucus...who would not have the same familiarity with the community the Caucus serves as black members.
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@spalladino (17891)
• United States
12 Mar 10
As far as I know the Congressional Black Caucus does a lot more than simply bringing young black Americans into politics. They give a voice to issues that are of importance to the black community...school funding in poor neighborhoods, higher education and economic issues. I don't know what they are...I haven't checked. This isn't about equality...it's about the specific needs of a specific group, which is black Americans. I'm not saying that white members couldn't relate to the issues but they would have nothing in common with those this caucus serves.
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@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
12 Mar 10
It is segregation and would be a clear violation if it were White Caucus. If you start a group a group of National Association for the Advancement of White People there would be an outcry. What would happen if you offered a scholarship for Whites only.
This is why it is all about class warfare. Hate the whites because you are poor and a minority.
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@spalladino (17891)
• United States
12 Mar 10
Oh come on, Bob, black Americans...as well as the disabled...have been getting the short end of the stick for decades and it's only because of the efforts of organizations that have brought their individual issues to the forefront that they have been able to make any headway at all. Too many black children still enter life disadvantaged...many more than white children...and these disadvantages follow them throughout their lives. Poverty...poor schools...discrimination and a lack of opportunity. I spent a lot of time years ago working with disadvantaged children living in low income areas and 99% of them were black. The white community doesn't have a Caucus or an Association for their advancement because the white community doesn't need the help.
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@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
12 Mar 10
It's a private group, not a business, so they really have the right to do as they please when it comes to membership. It's not the same as a company hiring based on race which would be discrimination (although affirmative action makes that legal too). Personally I think they should have made an exception for the white guys as they were representing districts that were primarily black, but it's their call.
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@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
12 Mar 10
They are a private group so they can decide who gets to join.
But let me ask you this....why is it that people are ok with a "special" group for people of different colors or nationality...but if their was a 'Congressional white caucus" then it would be racist?
1 person likes this
@trruk1 (1028)
• United States
12 Mar 10
I think it is a non-issue. If people want to form a group consisting only of members with specific characteristics, and many people want exactly that, they can do so. Insisting white people be admitted to the Black Caucus is like letting NFL players enter the Special Olympics. Is it segregation? Yes. Is it discrimination? Yes. Mostly, it is not important.
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@spalladino (17891)
• United States
12 Mar 10
White Americans have never been in the minority so there has never been a need for an organization to seek equality for them. Many minority groups have organization that support their efforts to improve their lives. Disabled Americans have benefitted greatly from such efforts for example. Statistically, there still is a larger percentage of black Americans living below the poverty line than white Americans. Statistically, the schools in predominently black neighborhoods are underfunded and receive low scores. Statistically, less black children graduate from high school and go on to college. This community still needs help in many areas.
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@hofferp (4734)
• United States
12 Mar 10
I think the Congressional Black Caucus made a mistake by not allowing Congressmen who represent primarily black constituents in to its Caucus. I think it would have helped their cause. A spokesperson for Obama skipping on the question tells me the President is probably ok with the segregation, but declined to say such.
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