The Hutchinson Report: Should We Hold Black Lawmakers to a Higher Standard Than Whites? Absolutely

The Hutchinson Report: Should We Hold Black Lawmakers to a Higher Standard Than Whites? Absolutely
Date: Thursday, May 25, 2006
By: Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com

The instant the news broke that FBI agents raided the office of black Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson and announced that they had a videotape of him allegedly taking $100,000 in bribe money, some blacks loudly grumbled that Jefferson was the victim of a racial double standard. They noted that the FBI did not ransack the offices of Ohio Congressman Robert Ney, also under legal fire, or convicted California Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham, and that federal prosecutors and FBI agents generally issue subpoenas or informally request that lawmakers being investigated turn over documents or other relevant materials.

But the Jefferson case is special. He has been on the hot legal seat for many months. He’s been the target of an ongoing criminal investigation and a House ethics probe. He left a bitter taste in the mouths of many New Orleans residents during the Katrina debacle when he allegedly commandeered a National Guard truck to check on his personal property and save personal belongings at the same moment nearby residents needed rescue from possible drowning.

The case is also special because Jefferson is black, but for a different reason than some blacks claim.


Though he mercifully did not scream the “R word” -- racism -- at his abbreviated and prickly press conference, many other black politicians do when they’re indicted, jailed, accused of financial improprieties, ethics violations or other wrong-doings, like the case of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who initially screamed race when she took a swing at a Capitol Police officer.

All, like Jefferson, were once hailed as the best and brightest among political newcomers. They were expected to instantly improve conditions in their underserved communities.

When they’re popped, they wail that they should not be held to a higher standard of accountability than white officials that get caught with their hand in the campaign or union cookie jar. When whites are jailed or pay hefty fines for violating campaign finance and ethic laws, nobody says that they have to be a cross between Mother Theresa and St. Paul.

Yet, blacks should be held to that higher standard. Their mostly black constituents view them not as politicians, but as leaders and advocates. They look to them to represent their interests and to confront institutional power. Any legal smear on them, which in some cases may be questionable, soils their name. This makes it much harder for blacks to have and retain confidence in them. This diminishes their political power and influence and creates distrust and dissension among black voters. This, in turn, makes it that much more difficult for blacks to generate any enthusiasm to get out to vote or get involved in community improvement actions.

It’s not just scandal that hurts black officials; it’s the race card that hurts too. In far too many cases, blacks accused of wrongdoing reflexively deflect, dodge and muddy the charges and accusations against them, even their guilt, by screaming racism. They strongly imply that racist prosecutors unfairly target them. They then promptly wrap themselves in the martyr’s cloak of persecuted civil rights fighters.

More @ http://tinyurl.com/jmjb7 blackamericaweb

This article was written about a black congressmen, by a black man. Yes I've heard all the Oreo, and Jim Crow comments that can be made. In fact I'm white and I'm old enough to remember Jim Crow in practice.

My take on this is, while I don't hold blacks to a higher standard I do hold them to the same standards that should govern all people who serve in any capacity at any level of government. Politicians of any race must not be above any law or allowed to hide under some newly thought up just in the nick of time provision of the US Constitution.

Politicians of any race, creed, religious calling, etc must be squeaky clean at all times without the least hint of scandal, bride takings, or misuse of tax payer dollars. Of course it doesn't work like that and most politicians of any stripe have closets full of skeletons.

As for blacks playing the race card, that dog has stopped hunting with many people in this nation. The card has been played so often when all evidence to the contrary says otherwise, that the race card is now a thing to mock and make jokes about. Blacks do themselves a huge disservice each time the race card is played by one of their own or goofy white liberals because the playing of the race card once again reinforces the stereotypes that blacks desperately wish to put behind them.