Jeneba Ghatt
+ FollowClyburn Racks Up Endorsements In Race for No. 2 House Spot
Congressman James E. Clyburn, the highest ranking Black person in the U.S. Congress and a timely endorser of President Barack Obama, is facing one of the toughest political battle of his career. Following the Democrats’ loss of control of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that she would not step down as leader of the Democratic caucus leaving the two men holding the number two and number three spots to duke it out. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-D), who currently holds the number two spot is now angling for the position of Minority Whip, the partisan equivalent to the post Clyburn has occupied for the past three years.
But Clyburn who has been key to organizing his party during very crucial and sometimes contentious legislative battles such as Heathcare, Wall Street, immigration and energy reform over the past two years, is not backing down.
The wrangling has been ongoing since, as some speculate, even before the November 2 midterm elections which forced the need to reshuffle top spots in the first place. Insiders say that Clyburn already has the votes to remain party Whip, but he isn’t taking anything for granted and in fact has called himself the underdog in the race. In a letter to his fellow representatives released last Friday, Clyburn wrote, “Throughout the course of my tenure, I have demonstrated the ability and willingness to give selfless service to our Caucus. My record of leadership in our Caucus has prepared me well for the challenges ahead. I am confident we can rebuild.”
The 70-year old statesmen who is entering his 10th term as the representative for South Carolina’s 6th congressional district is aligned with the progressives, many of whom were able to retain their seats after the mid-term elections.
Meanwhile, Hoyer, who is a moderate and centrist, saw many of his supportive “Blue Dog” Democrats, party conservatives, lose their seats. Sensing this doom, Hoyer bolted out the gates early making public announcements of the various endorsements he had been assembling, much to the chagrin of Clyburn who called foul.
Immediately after the Democrats lost the House, Clyburn told Politico that his colleagues were contacting him urging him to remain as Whip. Since then, Clyburn has received a series of endorsements encouraging his intentions to remain a part of the Democratic House Leadership.
The two House leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus both came out in support of Clyburn on Monday. Co-Chair Rep. Lynn Woosley (D-Calif) told The Hill: “I support Mr. Clyburn. They both have been effective leaders, but Jim Clyburn is our whip, and he’s been a good whip.” Co-Chairman, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz) is also backing Clyburn.
Yesterday, the Congressional Black Caucus and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Ca), Vice Chairman of the Democratic Caucus endorsed Clyburn for the job.
That same day, Lousianna Senator Sharon Weston-Broome told Politic365 that “James Clyburn is both gentleman and statesman. He doesn’t let partisan bickering or grandstanding get in the way of promoting true progress. He’s a rare mix of comrade and cattle-herder, and at the end of the day, he gets things done.”
Monday, Bob Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television and current chairman of The RLJ Companies, also demonstrated his support by sending a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus urging members to encourage their fellow Democrats to vote for Clyburn to remain Whip. “Black voters are the strongest voting bloc and have continuously shown their dedication to the Democratic Party. As a constituency, African Americans are engaged in our country’s political process now more than ever and Congressman Clyburn is the voice and face that we need to lead the Democratic Party in the Congress.”
Clyburn has said that at least 50 house Democrats have yet to announce their support for either candidate and thus the ball is in anyone’s court. Hoyer and Clyburn met in a closed-door meeting Monday. Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, suggested Sunday that the party’s House leaders were weighing the creation of a new leadership spot. However, there is no indication whether either men will accept a new position.
Either way, Clyburn has said he is best suited and positioned to make sure the Democrats platforms and agenda are promoted and advanced in the House for at least the next two years and has vowed to fight for his position as Democratic Minority Whip of the 112th Congress.
More on Politic365
4 Responses to Clyburn Racks Up Endorsements In Race for No. 2 House Spot
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altondrew says:
James Clyburn's temperament makes him the best choice for the job as minority whip. Mr. Hoyer's connections to Ms. Pelosi will taint him in the minds of the GOP. Although he is a part of the Democratic leadership, he has managed to stay above the fray caused by Mrs. Pelosi, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada.
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We should all be stepping up to support for James Clyburn. His efforts to support the interest of minorities for decades is reason enough. I've spoken on several panels in DC and Mr. Clyburn has always made time to come out and show his support for the issues that affect minorities. If we continue to stay in the background and don't let our voices be heard we can't complain about the changes that can occur. We need to take the internet in numbers and show our support.
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This must happen. James Clyburn has always been a voice for African-Americans in Congress. With no Blacks in the Senate, it is important to keep voices in Congress that will advocate the Black cause. Not only that, but his career record speaks for itself. I hope that we will all get behind Rep. Clyburn and see his way to the minority whip position.
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Jim Clyburn is has earned the right to be minority whip. He served as president of his freshman class in congress, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and now Majority Whip. He is a consensus builder, a proven coalition builder and a leader who can help chart the course back to a democratic majority.