Powerful Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings has died
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Powerful Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings has died
BRIAN WITTE, Associated Press 24 minutes ago Cummings was a formidable orator who passionately advocated for the poor in his black-majority district , which encompasses a large portion of Baltimore as well as more well-to-do suburbs.
As chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Cummings led multiple investigations of the president's governmental dealings, including probes in 2019 relating to the president's family members serving in the White House.
Trump responded by criticizing the Democrat's district as a "rodent-infested mess" where "no human being would want to live." The comments came weeks after Trump drew bipartisan condemnation following his calls for Democratic congresswomen of color to get out of the U.S. "right now," and go back to their "broken and crime-infested countries."
Cummings replied that government officials must stop making "hateful, incendiary comments" that only serve to divide and distract the nation from its real problems, including mass shootings and white supremacy.
"Those in the highest levels of the government must stop invoking fear, using racist language and encouraging reprehensible behavior," Cummings said in a speech at the National Press Club.
Cummings' long career spanned decades in Maryland politics. He rose through the ranks of the Maryland House of Delegates before winning his congressional seat in a special election in 1996 to replace former Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who left the seat to lead the NAACP.
Cummings was an early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential bid in 2008. By 2016, Cummings was the senior Democrat on the House Benghazi Committee, which he said was "nothing more than a taxpayer-funded effort to bring harm to Hillary Clinton's campaign" for president.
Throughout his career, Cummings used his fiery voice to highlight the struggles and needs of inner-city residents. He was a firm believer in some much-debated approaches to help the poor and addicted, such as needle exchange programs as a way to reduce the spread of AIDS.
A key figure in the Trump impeachment inquiry , Cummings had been hoping to return to Congress after a medical procedure he said would only keep him away for a week. His statement then didn't detail the procedure. He had previously been treated for heart and knee issues.
His constituents began mourning shortly after his death at 2:45 a.m. Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
In a statement, his widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, chairwoman of Maryland's Democratic Party, said "Congressman Cummings was an honorable man who proudly served his district and the nation with dignity, integrity, compassion and humility. He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation's diversity was our promise, not our problem."
Cummings was born Jan. 18, 1951. In grade school, a counselor told Cummings he was too slow to learn and spoke poorly, and he would never fulfill his dream of becoming a lawyer.
"I was devastated," Cummings told The Associated Press in 1996, shortly before he won his seat in Congress. "My whole life changed. I became very determined."
It steeled Cummings to prove that counselor wrong. He became not only a lawyer, but one of the most powerful orators in the statehouse, where he entered office in 1983. He rose to become the first black House speaker pro tem. He would begin his comments slowly, developing his theme and raising the emotional heat until it became like a sermon from the pulpit.
Cummings was quick to note the differences between Congress and the Maryland General Assembly, which has long been controlled by Democrats.
"After coming from the state where, basically, you had a lot of people working together, it's clear that the lines are drawn here," Cummings said about a month after entering office in Washington in 1996.
Cummings chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 2003 to 2004, employing a hard-charging, explore-every-option style to put the group in the national spotlight.
He cruised to big victories in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, which had given Maryland its first black congressman in 1970 when Parren Mitchell was elected.
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RIP Mr. Cummings, you were a good man.
Always working hard unlike his gop colleagues.
Working hard at what? Chasing the impeach Trump fantasy?
the GOP savior just lost the service people that haven't reneged on their oath to defend the Constitution against domestic enemies because of abandoning the kurds.
The best way to honor the bravery, honor and patriotism of Congressman Elijah Cummings would be for the whole US Congress to completely honor his last wishes and his will that Donald Trump be promptly impeached, convicted and removed from office for his multitudinous high crimes against The United States of America...
Because fuck facts its about feelings right?
political steamrollers can go down a street in both directions
I didn't agree with all of his politics but he did serve his community for many years and he was faithful to the people that he served.
May his family find peace.
Another of that generation gone too soon with still so much work left to do.
Rest in Peace.
RIP
RIP
He was a man of honor, and hope, and high expectations for people of color.
If Trump trolls his death, which he probably will, I'm going to lose what's left of my mind.
There are a lot of sad people in Baltimore today. All the folks I work with, (we work in Baltimore City) are sad.
He was a good and decent man.
I don't want to hear any words out of that shithole's mouth regarding Mr. Cummings.
Don't count on him keeping his mouth closed in the matter.
He will tweet something insensitive about the man. Bet on it.
Ouch !
Maybe he'll blame Pelosi or Hillary Clinton for overworking Cummings.
I disliked the man's politics but I still respected him for his achievements. Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. RIP.
Sad to see !
Thank-you for your service to the country. RIP.
I'm listening to Nancy Pelosi speak on Elijah Cummings death right now (30 secs. worth).
Seems H.R. 3, Gun violence legislation, Foreign engagements as to Hongkong, Voting on Syria, Russians in Syria (Obama did it), Crying about Trumps attitude towards her at the meeting, Luvs Adam "Schifty" Schiff on Impeachment, Fake patriotism by the Democrats in Congress, Fake Professionalism…. etc... is more important !
But she did "Thank a Reporter" for they're condolences for Elijah Cummings at the end of her speech.
Now she's talking about everything BUT Elijah ….. AGAIN !
She's so caring.