An Open Letter to All 'African-Americans' on Roland Burris and Their Charges of "RACISM!"

In January of 2007 Tennessee Democrat Stephen I. Cohen attempted to become the first white member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was turned down. The reason given was, "It's an unwritten rule. It's understood. It's clear [that white people will never be a member]." Mr. Clay added that since Mr. Cohen had been refused membership, "It's time [for Cohen] to move on."

Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr., D-Mo., a co-founder of the caucus, had circulated a memo telling members it was "critical" that the group remain "exclusively African-American."

Other members, including the new chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., and Clay's son, Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., agreed.

The explanation given by the CBC for why non-Blacks are not allowed being that, "It's an unwritten rule. It's understood. It's clear." Sounds kind of like the KKK's "unwritten laws", doesn't it?. But the CBC is NOT the KKK.

The Congressional Black Caucus is an actual race-based, for blacks only, organization that's filled with our elected government officials in Washington D.C. whose salary comes from American tax-dollars! Your initial response is the CBC is a black-only organization. Well, isn't that racist enough? To have a race-based governmental caucus seated in Washington? What would you say to a Congressional White Caucus? "RACISM!" is what you would say.

It makes no matter that Cohen is Jewish, and not White. What matters is that he was turned away because he was not Black.

Back to Burris. The Dems said since Blagojevich is himself a distrustful individual, not to mention an elected politician, they would seat NONE of his choices. So far, the Dems have held to their word. That's until Burris, a black man, was mentioned. This left the Dems in a bad situation. Do they hold to their word and deny Blagojevich, or do they turn away an 'African-American' and look like bigots? Seems to me they WILL no doubt seat Burris BECAUSE he's 'African-American'. Not despite it.

It's clear the ONLY reason you want Burris to hold Obama's Senate seat is BECAUSE he's black. Scream "RACISM!" all you like. But, it seems the so-called "racists" are the 'African-Americans' (aka blacks) and not "whitey".