CBC’s event for Clinton prompts grumbles

Black members of Congress supporting Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) presidential bid are grumbling that leaders of the officially neutral Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are trying to help Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

{mosads}The CBC is split 11-9 between Obama and Clinton, while former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) has picked up support from three members, according to a tally kept by The Hill.

Obama’s supporters are privately crying foul because they feel that the group’s neutrality is being subverted by Chairwoman Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) and Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), chairman of the CBC Foundation, who have invited Clinton to a forum at next week’s Annual Legislative Conference at the Washington Convention Center. The forum, to be held Sept. 28, is called “What’s at Stake in 2008 — A Dialogue with Sen. Hillary Clinton.”

Kilpatrick, Meek, Clinton and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, the congresswoman’s son, will participate in the dialogue. But CBC rules dictate that only CBC members can hold these so-called “Brain Trusts” during the four-day conference.

Meek has endorsed Clinton; Kilpatrick has not.

“They sold out,” said a black Democratic lawmaker who asked not to be identified.

“It’s divisive,” said another CBC member.

At the CBC weekly meeting on Wednesday, the issue of Clinton’s forum did not arise, but a third lawmaker playfully suggested letting Edwards and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) crash the event.

Meek said, “I don’t know — people can look at it for how they want to see it. This brain trust will be open and free to the public. They can have a real exchange and dialogue with four elected public servants.”

Keiana Barrett, Kilpatrick’s spokeswoman, denied that the forum was a subtle way for Kilpatrick to endorse Clinton. “The CBC as whole does not make endorsements — that never has been the case,” Barrett added.

A Clinton spokesman noted that Clinton has attended the conference in past years and has worked closely with the CBC. As the Steering and Outreach Committee chairwoman, she co-hosted African American Summits with the CBC. The 2004 summit was called “From Brown to the Ballot: African American Leadership Summit.” 

There is some irony to Clinton’s appearance. Fox News is scheduled next week to co-host a debate with the CBC in Detroit, which Clinton, Edwards and Obama have boycotted.

Past CBC chairmen have gone to great lengths to avoid giving the appearance that the CBC was endorsing a specific candidate. When he was chairman, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) endorsed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D), but repeatedly made it clear that it was a personal endorsement — not a caucus endorsement.

“The chairmen of the caucus and foundation have to be careful in not setting a precedent that undermines either institution,” a source familiar with the CBC said. “They’re basically leaders for short periods of time and whatever they do has an impact on what others might do in the future.”

The competition for endorsements and support from the CBC’s 43 lawmakers and voters comes when black lawmakers are enjoying unprecedented power. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the majority whip, is the third-ranking Democrat in the House, while four black lawmakers chair committees. Another 17 black lawmakers are subcommittee chairmen.

The CBC, however, is undergoing major changes. When it was created 30 years ago, its members were largely products of big-city political machines from northern and Midwestern states. But ever since the Justice Department ruled in 1992 that states could create majority-minority districts, black lawmakers have represented more diverse districts from more parts of the country.

Their strength will be on display next week when those members and others hold brain trusts on topics ranging from crime and healthcare to culture and politics.

Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) has invited Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile to discuss the future of black politics. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) is hosting a forum called “Wall Street in the Black,” and Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.) will discuss U.S. foreign policy toward Africa, according to the CBC Foundation website.

In his capacity as a CBC member, Obama will be at the conference and will be hosting a discussion on climate change. He has attended the group’s weekly meetings, recorded several of its weekly “Messages to America” radio addresses, and helped organize a meeting with the Democratic Policy and Steering Committee and the CBC on the post-Katrina clean-up efforts in the Gulf Coast region.