The Racist Defense Surfaces Again

On March 11, 2008 by a vote of 229 to 182, House Resolution 895 was approved by the Congress of the United States. By the passage of this matter, the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) was created. Not quite 2 1/2 years later this group is under attack by the Congressional Black Caucus as being guilty of "unfairly targeting" black members of Congress. What has caused this irrational, knee jerk reaction by a racial minority group in Congress are the actions that are pending against Charlie Rangel (D - NY) and Maxine Waters (D-Calf).

Rangel and Waters, who are both black, are charged with ethics violations and will have separate hearings before the Ethics Committee of the House unless a "plea" is first negotiated. Misusing their offices for personal financial advantage are the bottom line of these pending charges.

To label the acts of the OCE as being even remotely unfair is evidence of either a foolishly loyal attempt to protect someone strictly because of their skin color or an admission that there is an ignorance as to how this Office works.

The Office of Congressional Ethics consists of 6 (six) members each of whom is not a current member of Congress. Three of the members are nominated by the Republican House leader and have to be approved by the Democrat House leader. The other 3 (three) are the reverse -nominated by the Democrat leader and approved by the Republican leader. Each member so selected can only serve for 2 (two) consecutive terms of 4 (four) years each. As you can imagine, the internal procedure of this Office is strictly defined and absolutely followed with neither political party allowing the other an advantage.

The best that this group of 6 (six) can do is recommend action by the Congressional Ethics Committee and from time-to-time release reports on what the OCE is doing and what they have determined as factual. They have no power to enforce or punish.

The Black Congressional Caucus is urging that no investigation can begin by the OCE unless a signed, sworn complaint is received from an American citizen and that the OCE cannot disclose to the public any one whom it is investigating or the veracity of anything alleged. If these limitations are passed by Congress, then the OCE will cease to be of any real use.

What a strange situation. With a thinly veiled reference to a "racist" attitude by the members of the OCE, the Black Congressional Caucus wants to pressure Congress to gut the power of the OCE. One has to believe that many current House members, the vast majority of whom are Democrats, are so afraid of even a hint of a "racist" label that they will fold on their own ethics standards. It also makes you wonder what the members of the Black Congressional Caucus want so desperately to hide.