← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · texoma
Thread ID: 4350 | Posts: 10 | Started: 2003-01-07
2003-01-07 15:56 | User Profile
Brownback proposes panel on race relations James G. Lakely THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published January 6, 2003
A Republican senator wants to establish a temporary congressional committee on race relations that will address such issues as a national apology for racial segregation, construction of a black history museum on the National Mall and reparations for slavery.
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas said he will broach the subject officially with his Republican colleagues as they meet and organize this week on Capitol Hill. He said "feedback has been positive" since he sent a letter proposing the special committee to incoming Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee.
"I think in light of what took place with the Senate leadership change, we need to step up and seriously address the race issues," Mr. Brownback told The Washington Times. "Unless the Republican Party steps up and addresses it, we'll be constantly taking charges that we're not sensitive on race issues."
Democrats have intensified racial criticism of Republicans since Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi lost his Senate leadership job after making comments Dec. 5 that were widely seen as nostalgic for segregation.
In his letter to Mr. Frist on Dec. 23, Mr. Brownback said Republicans could "improve our standing in the African-American community" by backing the creation of a National Museum of African-American History on the Mall and setting up a congressional committee on race relations.
"In the past, we have created special committees of the Senate on important subjects," Mr. Brownback wrote. "We must engage all facets of the issue of race relations in America. The Republicans must continue to be a catalyst for positive change."
Mr. Brownback said a race committee would be preferable to the status quo, "a series of ad hoc initiatives, none of which gives us the comprehensive view that we need on race relations."
While offering few specifics on what the committee would take up, Mr. Brownback said he envisions it being a forum for the Senate to address "disparities in education, disparities in economic opportunity, apologies [for slavery and segregation]. Those would be the ones that I think ought to be put forward, but others would come forward, too."
Mr. Brownback said in an interview Friday that the idea of this committee came to him when Congress held hearings in 2001 to establish a Smithsonian-run National Museum of African-American History and Culture on the Mall. Congress passed a resolution to set up a "presidential commission" to develop a "plan of action" to make it happen. A report is due in April.
Mr. Brownback, who said he was moved by the "depth of anger and bitterness" expressed by some of the witnesses to the 2001 hearings, says now is the time to bring up the museum and other race matters again ââ¬â and for Republicans to lead the way.
"I think those [racial issues] need to be brought out and then solutions sought to make better the American experience for all Americans," Mr. Brownback said. "This gives [Republicans] an opening to address these issues and get support from the African-American community."
Mr. Brownback said he envisions the committee as temporary, bipartisan and probably including senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Few Republican Senate offices returned calls for comment, and many in the party leadership said they were not familiar with the details of Mr. Brownback's proposal last week.
"Senators will meet in conference when they get back and will come up with ideas that will move the country forward," said a spokesman for Sen. George Allen, Virginia Republican.
If Republicans don't address racial issues directly with this special committee, Mr. Brownback said, "we'll be put on the defensive" at nearly every legislative turn, especially when President Bush's judicial nominations are submitted.
David Almasi, director of Project 21, a conservative black think tank, said he is skeptical about Mr. Brownback's proposal.
"It could be used as a weapon against [Republicans]," he said.
Mr. Almasi said Republicans should take a lesson from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which was set up on a temporary basis during the Eisenhower administration. The chairwoman, Mary Frances Berry, has used her position on the commission to bash the Bush administration. It took a federal court ruling to allow Bush administration selection Peter N. Kirsanow, a conservative, to take his seat.
The new Senate committee, Mr. Almasi said, might change into something different than Mr. Brownback's "altruistic" vision.
"I'd hate to see that happen on Capitol Hill," Mr. Almasi said. "There's lots of temporary things on Capitol Hill. This is just asking for trouble down the line."
Asked if the committee could be used to give momentum to the idea of paying reparations to black Americans for slavery ââ¬â long a pet project of Rep. John Conyers Jr., Michigan Democrat ââ¬â Mr. Brownback said, "I think we clearly need to bring that up as a topic."
[url=http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030106-27533431.htm]http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030106...06-27533431.htm[/url]
2003-01-07 17:40 | User Profile
"Race Relations" is as useless as the following:
"Make The World A Better Place" "The Healing Process" "We're All The Same Inside" "Diversity" (any words before or after it) "Giving Back To The Community" "Head Start" Programs
and probably countless others I can't think of at the moment.
2003-01-07 20:04 | User Profile
Originally posted by texoma@Jan 7 2003, 09:56 ** David Almasi, director of Project 21, a conservative black think tank, said he is skeptical about Mr. Brownback's proposal. "It could be used as a weapon against [Republicans]," he said. **
A conservative black think tank, huh? I bet all 6 members voted GOP.
Like always, the Stupid Party clumsily plays me-too politics. At least Mr. Almasi spoke the truth: it WILL backfire. Like always.
-Jay
2003-01-07 20:44 | User Profile
Just think, the Repubs have been patting themselves on the back for the way they "deprived" the Dems of the race card issue by being the first to dump on Lott. Yet, we see them again determined in their own stupid way to give the Dems a weapon to beat them over the head anyway. The so-called "conservatives" today are such a collection of wusses.
Robbie,
Here`s one of my favorites for your list:
Visualize World Peace. :)
Jay,
Another great idea of Brownbacks (and **Edward Kennedys** as well.) that I know will warm your heart.
They wish to sponsor legislation to resettle North Koreans in America! How humane! Here it is the South Koreans dont wont them, but here to the rescue comes these two dimwits.
2003-01-07 21:37 | User Profile
If Republicans don't address racial issues directly with this special committee, Mr. Brownback said, "we'll be put on the defensive" at nearly every legislative turn, especially when President Bush's judicial nominations are submitted.
:lol: Can you imagine the GOP not being on the defensive?
I wonder if the committee will just stop at relations with blacks? After all, we also have hispanics, orientals, moslems and jews to consider. For that reason, why just race? Don't we need ones on gender and sexual orientation too?
I'm sure the Democrats will always keep the GOP busy chasing after it, as long as the GOP keeps trying to be the "diversity - rainbow coalition party" # 2.
2003-01-08 05:05 | User Profile
This type of news story used to make me furious. I thought that an energized white racialized republican party was our only realistic option for saving the country and this Brownback proposal was just setting the timetable back several years. Now I realize that the GOP is just as much an enemy to the white race as the Democrats are maybe in some respects moreso. Now I know that the main problem isn't a non-pro-white GOP but the white middle class thinking the republicans are the lesser of two evils. Brownback and company can do as much racial pandering as they want; make Malcolm X's birthday a national holiday go on board for "repamarations". The sooner the GOP lets the mask slip to show it;s anti-white face the better. Though Alex Linder is a controversial person on this board one thing we all can agree on is that he came up with the perfect term for the GOP the "republicunts".
2003-01-08 06:09 | User Profile
Originally posted by martel@Jan 8 2003, 05:05 ** The sooner the GOP lets the mask slip to show it;s anti-white face the better. Though Alex Linder is a controversial person on this board one thing we all can agree on is that he came up with the perfect term for the GOP the "republicunts". **
I don't want to minimize to over minimize the differences between the GOP and Demo's, but very often they certainly are insignificant. The GOP is just becoming "multiculturalism lite".
Republicunts - that's great :lol:
2003-01-08 18:02 | User Profile
We need to strongly and seriously support the idea of mass suicides among whites as the only way to atone for the sins of our race. After all, isn't that what we're already doing, just more slowly?
Anyone taking such advice would be no real loss to the gene pool and it would be hilarious to watch Jackson, Sharpton and their ilk argue that that's not really what blacks want (though I suspect it's probably close) they really just want X, Y and Z, whatever they are. Finally get them to pin down exactly what on the spectrum between white extermination and doing nothing would make them shut up and go away. We all know nothing will make them do so, but it might jolt some folks into seeing that fact.
2003-01-08 19:15 | User Profile
Originally posted by Okiereddust@Jan 8 2003, 06:09 > Originally posted by martel@Jan 8 2003, 05:05 ** The sooner the GOP lets the mask slip to show it;s anti-white face the better. Though Alex Linder is a controversial person on this board one thing we all can agree on is that he came up with the perfect term for the GOP the "republicunts". **
I don't want to minimize to over minimize the differences between the GOP and Demo's, but very often they certainly are insignificant. The GOP is just becoming "multiculturalism lite".
Republicunts - that's great :lol:**
"multiculturalism lite" is pretty good too. :lol:
2003-01-08 23:40 | User Profile
Originally posted by MadScienceType@Jan 8 2003, 12:02 ** Finally get them to pin down exactly what on the spectrum between white extermination and doing nothing would make them shut up and go away. **
I actually do believe that JackSIN and his ilk want a society where everyone is equally successful. I think he'd be ok with that, honestly.
The obvious problem is that blacks don't live equal lives as whites. they don't get educated, they have 75% illegitimacy, drug addiction, and lack brainpower. They cannot ever attain equality b/c they refuse to behave. And JackASS knows the only way to be equal is to expropriate it from us - via demands or the usual: white guilt.
-jay