That Right There
The main focus of the Congressional Black Caucus is a firm commitment to "using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream." At least, that’s what they say on their website and in their speeches.
It should be no surprise, then, that when a black female US Air Force veteran enters the political race for a seat in Indiana against an incumbent white male, the Congressional Black Caucus would see fit to get involved and make a contribution. No one could possibly fault an organization founded upon and devoted to the advancement of African Americans for throwing its support behind a candidate in a race like this one. After all, with but one singular exception (Andre Carson), every single elected official representing Indiana in the House and Senate are white. The Governor of Indiana is white. The Lieutenant Governor is white. Nobody should feel the least bit surprised that the Congressional Black Caucus is making its voice heard in this mid-term election race in which one of the candidates would be the only black female elected to Indiana’s cadre of Representatives in Congress, right? So what’s all the uproar at the fact that the Congressional Black Caucus made a donation to support the Democrat candidate?
Because they gave it to the white guy.
That is correct. Your eyes are not failing you. You read it correctly – the Congressional Black Caucus, the political organization devoted to the advancement of African Americans, chose not to back the candidate that would be only the second African American currently representing Indiana in either house of Congress, chose not to support the candidate who would be the only female African American elected official in Indiana politics. They chose to support the middle-aged white guy instead.
It's another example in a long list of examples that really ought to snap into sharp focus the fact that American voters are being used. We’re being lied to and manipulated. The profiteers and tyrants at the top of the political dogpile will quite literally say anything they feel they have to say to get us to send them money and keep them entrenched. They’ll do whatever they must to hold onto the money-printing machine that elected office has become. They will – and have! – hurt you and your family specifically and then turn around and tell you that it was for your own good. They’ll bandage up all the damage they do with some soothing tripe about how you’re good and everyone else is bad because you are loyal. You support the party. You get it. You see the big picture. You’re one of us. Now shut the fuck up, give us more money and do what we say, or else.
The truth of it is, I don’t care on principle who anybody supports in politics. Moreover, I don’t much care why they support them. A person’s politics are as much within the realm of their own free thought and choice as anything. The reason I bring this up isn’t to point and shame the Congressional Black Caucus. It’s to illustrate the patterns I’ve been writing about lately with regard to thought, rhetoric, and persuasion. In the Credibility Conundrum, I outlined why it is that people will see something like this and go right on defending the hypocrisy as if it doesn’t exist. I talked about why an organization like the Congressional Black Caucus can pull this off and still make all the dupes who believe them think they’re somehow separate from the dupes who don’t. I don’t suspect it will change anytime soon. The methods and tools of mass movements are tried and true and have worked for centuries on groups of all cultures. Still, I sometimes feel compelled to point out real instances of the things you read in these entries if for no other reason than the personal satisfaction of being able to say “That. That right there. Not some past historical example, but that thing that just happened. That’s what I’m talking about.” Feels more evolved than “Told ya so.”
By the way, if you’d like some more depth on the Indiana House race, here’s a start: Black GOP congressional candidate slams Black Caucus for backing her White male Dem opponent: ‘It’s sad’ | Fox News