Tag Archives: politics

113th Congress- Most Diverse Ever!

Posted on by
1

Most Gender, Ethnic, Cultural, and Religious Diversity Ever!

Americans want change in the country and that means the Congress has to change, and it is changing slowly.  The 113th Congress is the most diverse in history.  So,  it could be a whole lot worse. Consider these other encouraging facts. There is a record number (20)  female Senators,  with the first openly gay female Senator, and the first female Asian American Senator.  In the house there are  77 female House members and the first American Samoan ever elected, as well as  the first openly gay congressman of color.  The 113th Congress will also be younger, with four new congressmen born in the 1980s. With regard to religious affiliation,  the first two Hindu congress people, the first Buddhist senator, and the first non-theist has been elected.

Latinos Record Number

Latinos won a record number of 28 House seats and 3 in the Senate.  In the final analysis that’s more diversity.  The demographics are changing and that should mean that we should see some real change in the future.  Or does it?  The Republican majority House still has to draft and pass the laws,  the Democratic majority Senate still has to sign off on those laws, and the President still has to sign them.  Senate Democrats still do not have the requisite 60 votes to invoke cloture, the formal mechanism for ending a filibuster.  This means Republicans can still hold up any legislation they find unpalatable. Yes, it could be better, but it could be worse. Let’s hope they all get along and do what’s best for the entire country.

Sources:

http://mobile.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/politics/political-winners-include-women-immigrants-20121108

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/11/13/1175491/113th-congress-diversity/?mobile=nc

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=113th+congress+&view=detail&id=97803655535D3084658B7BDA958B6A1DEBBA34DA

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=131094.0

http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/influencealley/2012/11/5-milestones-in-congressional-demographics-09

I’m Barbara Talley,  The Poet who speaks and inspires.   To find more about me, check out my promo sheet or visit  my website.

Zero African Americans in 113th Senate

Posted on by
2

My father always used to say, “It could be better, but it could be worse.”  And that analysis is so apropos for the African-Americans in the upcoming 113th US Congress.  African-Americans make up 13% of the population but 9.6% of the Congress.

It could be better, a whole lot better if you’re looking at the Senate.  There are zero African-Americans in the United States Senate.  In our entire history there have been only five elected, and one appointed, for a total of six. There are many theories as to why African Americans have not gotten into the upper chambers.

It could be worse, a lot worse.  There is a record number 44 African-American members of the House of Representatives up from 42 in the 113th Congress.  As for power in a majority Republican House, the African-American House members who are majority Democratic lost three full committee chairmanships and over a dozen  sub-committee chairmanships. So to sum it up, if you’re looking at the Senate, it is dismal and downright depressing with zero. But, if you’re looking at the Congress as a whole, we’re making progress as a nation.  No matter how you look at it there’s still more work to do to achieve equality.

Sources:

http://mobile.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/politics/political-winners-include-women-immigrants-20121108
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/11/13/1175491/113th-congress-diversity/?mobile=nc
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=113th+congress+&view=detail&id=97803655535D3084658B7BDA958B6A1DEBBA34DA
http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=131094.0
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/influencealley/2012/11/5-milestones-in-congressional-demographics-09
 
I’m Barbara Talley,  The Poet who speaks and inspires.   To find more about me, check out my promo sheet or visit  my website.

Allegations of Race over Record

Posted on by
Reply

“Collin Powell Endorses Obama,” the headlines read a few days ago.  The media pounced on it and many were shocked and very critical of Powell.  But why? Was it because this well-known Republican was endorsing a Democrat.  Unfortunately, “No!” The criticism wasn’t so much party switching as about race.  Then Lee Iacocca, a well-known Democrat Governor endorses the Republican candidate Romney.  But, the difference was, he was not accused of voting “race over record.”  Check out a few of these links

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/29/why-colin-powell-endorsed-president-obama.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/25/usa-campaign-powell-idUSL1E8LP31320121025

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/29/colin-powell-can-support-obama-because-he-s-black.html

http://www.humanevents.com/2012/10/19/lee-iacocca-endorses-romney-for-president/

http://patriotupdate.com/31253/lifetime-democrat-lee-iacocca-endorses-romney

Notice the absence of any allegations of race in the coverage of Iacocca!  I wanted to remain silent but just couldn’t. I  couldn’t remain silent after so many commentators were saying Colin Powell switched, “because he is BLACK!” and that his endorsement was “race over record.”  Another reason I bring this up is because a black friend who is a Romney supporter said adamantly to me just last week, “I’m NOT voting for Obama just because he is black!” His other reason was because the Democratic Party was originally the party of the KKK.  To me, that excuse is like not living in a town because certain individuals USED TO live there.

In several conversations, I’ve found that too many blacks feel that they have to justify voting for a man who happens to be black or for that matter, against a black man.  It doesn’t seem to matter if you bring up ten reasons for voting for your candidate of choice, still the belief is that you are not a conscientious voter familiar with the issues and that you’re only voting color.

Now I’m wondering, “Whites vote for white people all the time and it’s not assumed they are voting JUST because of color!

Collin Power and Lee Iacocca, one black, one white.  One was Democrat and the other Republican, different coverage!

I am an Independent and I vote my conscience and hope that everyone else does the same. I don’t like to talk politics because they are divisive. Now, even though I don’t get into partisan politics doesn’t mean that I don’t follow it to get facts so that I can vote responsibly. I’m praying you’ll do the same.

There is some good and some bad in everyone.  It seems though during elections, so many people are looking for the worst in their opponent and highlighting it. Also, many vote their party line even if they disagree with their stances on issues that affect their lives and principles. Voting is a basic human right, so vote your conscience too.  That’s why it was so refreshing today to hear a Republican not put down the opposite party and vote his conscience too, even if they happen to be the same color!

I’m Barbara Talley, The Poet who speaks and inspires.   To find more about me, check out my promo sheet or visit  my website.