Is the Obama White House too New England? To me, that’s is an interesting question but I do think the South is not “representing” in that camp as well as it should be. Columnist Maureen Dowd just broke it down and made some compelling points based on the comments of a Who’Who in Black politics. A flag should have gone up when the name “Sherrod” was first mentioned. I am proud to say I knew the name and would have known Foxman, Chavez, Evers, Long or even Duke (North Carolina or Louisiana.)
People running America should know America. My pastor recently mentioned the famous “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline and after church I pointed out that the telephone poll of voters only reached people who had phones. I lived long enough to see a president who looks like me (I would have voted for Powell or Rice also) but this gentleman is so unique in his background that he doesn’t know “the trouble I have seen.”
During the presidential campaign, many CBC members were initially for Hillary Clinton because they knew she knew “the history” from living in Arkansas and having friends like Marion Wright Edelman and Grant Hill’s mother Janet, a Clinton college roommate. For some, a Black president was enough but zero members of the CBC are in the cabinet was a concern. I knew our south Georgia congressman would have made a great Secretary of Agriculture. In an interesting twist, my congressman grew up as a member of the Black intellectual elite while Secretary Tom Vilsack’s life story is Sherrod-like and poignant.
My friends from the Clinton-era Official Washington (the administration, Congress) saw it coming: the new White House would be full of Ivy Leaguers and brainy wonks who while diverse still don’t understand regular folks. I don’t care; I still like Obama as much as Clinton and LBJ. Yes, I said LBJ. LBJ was no angel on race matters—none of us are- but he push legislation through congress and knew how to get tough when needed.
The most successful business people surround themselves with the right advisors and the same should be said for elected leaders. An urban senator should have some NRA member, pickup driving, America-feeding farm boys on his staff to provide a range of views on issues. To be honest, every member of the CBC has forgotten more about my community than I will ever know but my background was valuable in other congressional camps. Hey, that’s life.
President Obama and Herman Cain seem puzzled if someone mentions Black issues and I like that. They both seem to think that every issue is a Black, White, Brown and Yellow issue and they are right…in theory or in a perfect world.
Congressional offices, congressional campaigns and every White House should seek a certain amount of “range”. I love the word range because nothing is cooler than having the loyal opposition learn that you have been listening, can outline their arguments and respectfully disagree. Everyday, I learn a little something about people and as Don Henley sang, the more I know the less I understand.
Dowd’s Column
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/opinion/25dowd.html?_r=1&ref=maureendowd
Project Logic Ga 
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