Black Caucus Confab

“Let’s Talk Politics,” From: AwashingtonNote.blogspot.com: For Lyndia Grant’s ‘Think on these Things” show on WYCB-AM (1340), www.MySpirtDC.com on Friday, September 21, 2012:

You know that fall has officially arrived in the DMV (District/Maryland/Virginia) when the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Legislative Weekend takes over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for four days at the end of September. With its glitz and glamour fashions, endless networking receptions, government policy gabfests and free “braintrusts” and seminars about all types of national and local issues, including DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s seminar on local budget autonomy and statehood, as well as jobs to education to health, including one entitled “When Fat is no Longer Phat,” the 42nd annual CBC Weekend will focus on two main issues facing their African American constituents, mainly a town hall on the economic recovery and another on protecting voting rights. In fact, the CBC will be hosting “For the People” events nationwide as part of the massive Voter Registration Day program Sept 25. A bit odd, however, is that even though this is a tight election year, President Barack Obama will not be speaking at the CBC’s gala awards dinner this year, presumably to avoid any controversy that might arise as it did last year when folks got upset about his comments that they needed to do more. Instead, First Lady Michele Obama will be the featured gala speaker.

Mrs. Obama is the president’s best weapon as she is wildly popular on the campaign trail as we witnessed when she came back to Virginia last week to set up her husband’s appearance in the Old Dominion again today in Woodbridge, which is more diverse than you might imagine. Guess who else was in Virginia this week? Tavis Smiley and Prof. Cornel West hosted a forum at TC Williams High School in Alexandria, trying to interject poverty and themselves into the presidential campaign. In battleground Virginia, where the president has seen an uptick in the polls, especially among women, he was courting 100% of voters including African Americans and Latino voters who gained center stage in the presidential race this week when Univision broadcast town hall-style interviews with each of the candidates from Miami. Latinos are seen as a critical voting bloc this year and they appear to be favoring the president. Pressed, President Obama apologized for not getting comprehensive immigration reform passed but blamed uncooperative congressional Republicans for the failure. But let’s give him credit for issuing the executive order that provides work visas for young Latinos so they don’t have to fear deportation. Mr. Romney, on the other hand, has opposed any type of Dream Act measures in lock step with the conservative GOP party line.

The Dream Act is actually on the Maryland ballot as those who opposed it were able to get enough signatures mainly online to challenge its implementation. Primarily, the Maryland Dream Act would provide lower in-state college tuition rates to Latino children who graduated from Maryland high schools and enroll in community college first. Md. Congresswoman Donna Edwards will not be dealing with the Dream Act at the CBC Weekend, but rather she will be hosting a forum on empowering women.

While we’re in Maryland, this week the county executives, Ike Leggett in Montgomery, Rushern Baker in Prince George’s County and Ken Ulman, in Howard County, joined forces at a press conference this week to gin up support for the Question 7 gambling referendum saying if the measure doesn’t pass to allow expansion of casino and table games, for certain at National Harbor, all those jobs and all that money, millions of dollars for schools, will go to West Virginia.

As for gambling, talk about taking a long shot, D.C. Democratic State Committee Chairwomen Anita Bonds, longtime back room political operative, was talking to the local media about possibly running for an at-large seat on the DC Council should there be a special election to replace Acting DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson’s seat should he win the special election to replace former council chairman Kwame Brown, who resigned over charges of bank fraud with his personal finances. Who can keep track? The other Brown, at large Independent Michael Brown, who is seeking reelection, has been busy this week defending among other things his driving record, contracting record, and campaign finance records, against his challengers who include Independent David Grosso, Republican Mary Beatty Brooks and Independent Anne Wilcox who some will remember from her days on the DC School Board. All are considered long shots, too to unseat Michael Brown, who once had mayoral aspirations. The at-large race is not the only good game in town. In Ward 7, pay attention as the race for that council seat may tighten between incumbent Democrat Yvette Alexander and biggest challenger, community activist turned Republican, Ron Moten, formerly of the Peaceaholics.