GOP Rep. Byron Donalds says that he's being blocked from joining the Congressional Black Caucus because of his conservative views
Category: News & Politics
Via: texan1211 • 3 years ago • 43 commentsBy: insider@insider.com (John L. Dorman) 47 mins ago (MSN)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
GOP Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, a Black conservative, on Thursday said that he was being snubbed by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).
Donalds and his staff have contacted CBC members on multiple occasions since the congressman was first sworn into office in January, according to spokesman Harrison Fields, but their efforts were rebuffed.
"Since starting in Congress, our office and the congressman have engaged with several CBC members expressing his interest in joining, but all we've got is the cold shoulder," Fields said. "The sad reality is although the congressman and those in the CBC share the same race, the (R) behind his name disqualifies him from membership today."
On Wednesday, BuzzFeed News reported that a source with knowledge of the CBC's thinking indicated that the organization is blocking Donalds' membership.
In a response issued on Wednesday, a CBC spokesperson did not directly address the allegation that Donalds was being prevented from joining the organization, but raised the issue of members sharing the organization's "values."
"The Congressional Black Caucus remains committed to fighting for issues that support Black communities, including the police accountability bill, protecting voting rights, and a jobs bill that helps our communities," the spokesperson said. "We will work with those who share our values and priorities for the constituents we serve."
According to BuzzFeed, Donalds has reached out to at least three CBC members in seeking to join the organization.
He said that he was committed to crafting bipartisan legislation and also pointed out that he was a member of the Black caucus as a lawmaker in Florida's House of Representatives.
"My gut reaction is disappointment," the congressman told the Southwest Florida CBS affiliate WINK-TV. "I understand that there are going to be issues we're not going to agree on. But iron sharpens iron. And I think having those discussions are important. And it's unfortunate that it appears those aren't going to happen."
Donalds is one of two House Republicans currently in office, along with GOP Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah, who declined to join the CBC.
While the CBC has been overwhelmingly composed of Democrats since its founding in 1971, it has had Black Republican members in the past, including former Reps. Gary Franks of Connecticut, Allen West of Florida, and Mia Love of Utah, and former Del. Melvin Herbert Evans of the US Virgin Islands.
During a CNN interview on Thursday, Donalds said that he hadn't "heard much from the CBC" in recent months regarding his pending membership.
"I have a perspective being a 42-year-old Black man who's come up in America after a lot of the battles through the civil rights movement that I think would actually be helpful and a helpful perspective to the CBC," he said. "Whether they want to take advantage of that is really up to them."
In January, Donalds voted against certifying the results of President Joe Biden's electoral victory over former President Donald Trump, citing election changes made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I refuse to turn a blind eye to the fact that several states, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, neglected the oath of their constitution and the United States Constitution by their failure to follow their election laws," he said at the time.
When the congressman was pressed about whether his support of Trump made him incompatible with the mission of the CBC, Donalds disputed the notion and emphasized his individual record.
"Whatever the president said in the past has nothing to do with this discussion at all," he said. "As a black man in America, I'm allowed to have my own thoughts on who I choose to support and who I choose not to support."
He added: "This is whether the ideology of somebody who is conservative is welcome in the Congressional Black Caucus. It's really that simple."
Tags
Who is online
115 visitors
Looks like the CBC is practicing prejudice.
Perhaps they should rename themselves the CBPC--the Congressional Black Progressive Caucus.
The black conservative voted to not certify the presidential election. In other words he voted with Trump and the insurrectionists. And you think he should be allowed into a group which uniformly backs "liberal" issues. Thanks for the comedy.
There are two parts to being accepted in the Congressional Black Caucus, one is being black and the other is being supportive of the group's political ideas. You have to be approved on both parts, not just the first.
Please point out where you learned of these rules for membership, and please do post the link so everyone can look for themselves.
It’s not the congressional black liberal caucus. It’s the congressional black caucus. There are two African American Republicans in Congress now who are among our party’s most conservative members.
Here is a list of the current members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Let us know how many people there you see with an R- in front of their name.
So the CBC is prejudiced and has chosen to exclude black members whose politics they don't like.
CBC is NOT really for blacks, then, but for progressive liberalism.
It is BOTH a black group and a liberal group.
What really cooked Donald's goose on this though is that he is a Trump supporter.
so it isn't a black caucus, but a liberal caucus. It's name should reflect who they really are.
is 1.1.1 just too hard to answer, or did you make the claim up?
If you want to look for conservative members of the Black Congressional Caucus, go ahead on your quest.
I am done playing along with this premise.
Mr. Russell, (please note I did not insult you and have used BOTH "L's" in your name.)
Are those "approval" requirements noted anywhere?
Further you ARE aware one would surmise that there have been Black Republicans in the CBC prior to this refusal are you not?
I believe it's nothing more then the radicals of the left, who like yourself cannot dislodge President Trump from your psyche and fear his return more than your fear anything else in your life, previously, currently, or in the future.
Not even close to an answer for my questions.
You claimed something, I asked for proof, and you provided nothing.
Typical.
The answer is in your own seed. Perhaps you didnt read it
So the actual CBC is not bipartisan as it claims?
So they lied about that?
I found this:
Oh, btfw, that came straight from the CBC website itself. Are they lying about themselves, JR?
About the CBC | Congressional Black Caucus (house.gov)
Obviously.
In other words the caucus demands that blacks think a certain way.
Or the congressional black democrats caucus. Interestingly, the congressional Hispanic caucus actually does have rules only allowing Hispanics who are democrats to join it. Hispanic Republican members of Congress are openly excluded from membership in the Hispanic caucus. It seems the CBC should just make it official that they are the CBDC.
Can you even imagine the uproar if any whites formed any caucuses within Congress?
Yes I can….
You probably continually wonder why we cant have a Miss White America contest too.
And you are probably wrong about a whole lot of stuff you imagine about me.
Hey, JR, I am not the subject, so stay in line.
True. It would solidify the racism displayed by the blacks of America. I gather you ARE aware of the Miss Black America Pageants, are you not? they are by the way quite the display of exclusionary racism.
Every one of the first 64 Miss Americas was white. 64 years in a row until Vanessa Williams ( a light skinned black by the way) broke that string in the early 80's.
And you cant see the possible need for a Miss America contest that gave an equal shake to non whites ?
Thats sad.
Immaterial except in the eyes of a racist. Was there anything written that blacks were excluded?
Which is EXCLUSIONARY and by it's very rules RACIST. And you can't see that?
Yes, you're acceptance of a blatantly racist contest is certainly sad. Sadder still is you don't recognize your own obvious racism.
Your comment is too stupid to require a response.
In other words, you cannot logically justify your position without proving beyond any reasonable doubt the veracity of my post. Thank you.
Bingo!
You two should make a comedy movie.
Oh wait, thats been done before.
Always have to get personal when your ass is handed to you in a debate, I see.
Poor, poor Mr. Russell. Have I touched a nerve that's too raw and painful to examine? Or have you examined it and already know the answer?
You have no game.
That is because he is debating, not attempting to play some silly game.
Well if 'prejudice' against his 'conservatism' is the problem, are you 'prejudiced' against Marxists?
Sorry, but Marxism has absolutely nothing to do with any of this.
I am not the topic here, either.
Correct on both counts. The question ought to have been set before Rep. Donalds.
However 'prejudice' appears to be relevant in that it is named in the first post of this thread. You were there, so I asked.
Cheers!
Thread @1.2 locked for slapfighting.
What are the conservative views held by Rep. Donald R-Florida that his fellow congress people find so---------unwanted.
Has to be more to it than simply he is a MAGA. The article said nothing of his views or his votes.
I read an article where he said he thinks his views and support for trump made them not let him join.
He was then complaining that people are allowed to have views of their own.
All I could think is, why can't the group itself have views of their own? Why would the group have to bow down to the views of one individual.
It is not about being fair. It is about him throwing a temper tantrum because they wouldn't let him in.
Personally, considering the stance of the GOP the past couple of decades I can not understand how a person of color would feel comfortable in their midst. Unless there are monetary incentives perhaps.
I don't get it either. Especially him being a trump fan.
No accounting for brains or taste I guess.