Sen. Brooke replied, "I hit it"
Posted on 10/28/2009 1:26:18 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
Calling Former Senator Edward W. Brooke's life an "unlikely" journey President Obama today honored the first popularly elected African American senator for receiving the highest honor Congress can bestow, the Congressional Gold Medal.
"I think today's honor bears a unique significance," Mr. Obama said in an afternoon ceremony in the Capitol rotunda, "bestowed by this body of which he was an esteemed member; presented in this place where he moved the arc of history; surrounded by so many -- myself included -- who have followed the trail that he blazed. "
The President said that Brooke spent his life "breaking barriers and bridging divides across this country," recalling his journey growing up in a segregated neighborhood, serving in a segregated army, and ultimately running for office on the Republican ticket in Massachusetts.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.abcnews.com ...
Sen. Brooke replied, "I hit it"
What does “popularly elected” mean?
I wonder if he got extra consideration for cheating on his wife and sleeping with Barbra Walters? That’s the kind of thing that will really earn the respect of one’s peers in Congress.
Ted Kennedy was against him before he was for him.
I believe there might have been a black Senator or two elected when it wasn't done by popular vote, but by the respective state legislatures. Could be wrong.
More concentrating on skin color ... whoopie.
Another Skin Color Award. Is he getting a Nobel too?
He was a Republican.
What does “popularly elected” mean?
It means any Black Democrat Senator elected in the south as opposed to Black Republican Senator elected in the south after the civil war.
As we all know only Black Democrats are popularly elected....
Prior to the 16th(?) amendment, senators were appointed by state legislatures, not the people. After that amendment was ratified, statewide elections for senators were mandated.
On February 25, 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first black member of the Senate and thereby also the first black member of the Congress.
States used to elect Senators by the Legislature. There were more.
racism a live and well with the liberal. Give him or her an award because they are black. Huh? I thought MLK talked about not the color of our skin, but our character. Not about the color or our skin but equal opportunity. Seems to me equal opportunity now means just for blacks, hispanics, and woman. No awarding whitey or the white man. Sorry buds. Get in the back of the bus.
Sen. Brooke replied, "I hit it"
According to the woman in question, he did. Over several years.
When was the remark made?? Perhaps over 30 years ago Walters was very hittable. LOL!!!
You usually get the gold medal for coming (sic) in first not 402nd.
What about Hiram Revels (1822-1901)? A free-born Black, he was popularly elected and served as U. S. Senator from Mississippi after helping the Union cause in the Civil War. Known for being respected by both races, he actively opposed the carpet-bagger government in the 1875 election. He was an AME minister, and was for many years a president of Alcorn College.
How could a man of such admirable character be forgotten? It seems that Obama needs to take some history courses.
Brooke was a Republican.
This affair is about as stupid as him getting the Peace thing...
Former Black U.S. Senators elected by Republican Legislatures before Constitution was amended to allow direct election:
Hiram, Rhodes Revels Republican Mississippi 1870-1871
Blanche Bruce Republican Mississippi 1875-1881
Once the Democrat segregationists got control of the South, that of course ended.
They did that in part by having their paramilitary arm, the Ku Klux Klan, murder many Republicans in the South, both black and white.
17th
From the New Georgia Encyclopedia:
“The Ku Klux Klan in Action
The Klan’s organized terrorism began most notably on March 31, 1868, when Republican organizer George Ashburn was murdered in Columbus, Georgia.
Over the following months Klan-inspired violence spread throughout Georgia’s Black Belt and into the northwestern corner of the state. Most Klan action was designed to intimidate black voters and white supporters of the Republican Party. Klansmen might parade on horseback at night dressed in outlandish costumes, or they might threaten specific Republican leaders with violence. Increasingly during 1868 these actions became violent, ranging from whippings of black women perceived as insolent to the assassination of Republican leaders. It is impossible to untangle local vigilante violence from political terrorism by the organized Klan, but it is clear that attacks on blacks became common during 1868. Freedmen’s Bureau agents reported 336 cases of murder or assault with intent to kill on freedmen across the state from January 1 through November 15 of 1868.
The political terrorism was effective. While Republican gubernatorial candidate Rufus B. Bullock carried the state in April 1868 elections, by November Democratic presidential candidate Horatio Seymour was in the lead. In some counties the contrast was incredible. In John Reed’s Oglethorpe County, 1,144 people had voted Republican in April, while only 116 dared to vote Republican in November when Reed’s armed Klansmen surrounded the polls. In Columbia County armed Klansmen not only intimidated voters but even cowed federal soldiers sent to guard the polling place. Not surprisingly, while 1,222 votes had been cast in Columbia County for Republican governor Rufus Bullock in April, only one vote was cast for Republican presidential candidate Ulysses Grant in November 1868. Similar political terrorism and control of the polling places help account for Georgia’s quick “redemption” and return to conservative white Democratic control by late 1871.
Klanlike violence was also used to control freedpeople’s social behavior, but with less success. Black churches and schools were burned, teachers were attacked, and freedpeople who refused to show proper deference were beaten and killed. But, black Georgians fought their attackers, rebuilt their churches and schools, and shot back during attacks on their communities. While these attacks surely terrorized some freedpeople, they failed to destroy the cultural and social independence blacks had gained with emancipation.”
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-694
Hillary Rodham ridiculed him and led a demonstration of her classmates against him when he spoke at her graduation.
It was the Seventeenth Amendment, which incidentally is the worst thing to ever happen to our Constitution.
I guess it means not chosen by the state legislature.
Remember there were Congresspeople and Senators from the south that were black right after the Civil War. Nobody EVER talks about them. They were all Republicans of course.
Just after the Civil War, yes.
Look up “The Radical Republicans”
And about a dozen members of the House that year or something too.
Does anyone remember any Hollwood movies about “The Radical Republicans” sent to Congress after the Civil War?
“...Prior to the 16th(?) amendment...”
-
Close; but no cigar.
Thanks for the correction. I was dithering between the two numbers and picked the wrong one. :=)
It was certainly one of the worst things to happen to the Constitution. My understanding is that, as originally envisioned, senators appointed by state legislatures represented the states' interests. Congressman elected by the people were to be their voice in the federal government. With the advent of direct elections for senators, the states lost their representation at the federal level.
sw
It has basically taken the power away from the states and awarded it to the biggest donors- who often go across state lines.
Senators don't represent states except in name only. They represent Wall Street, PACs, and lobbies.
I couldn't agree with you more!
I get the feeling that Barbara Walters only had two criteria to meet, before electing to sleep with a man. Is he rich and is he powerful, everything else - like marital status for instance - was immaterial.
I think “popularly elected” means elected by voters. Prior to 1913, Senators were appointed by state legislatures. I think there were some black congressmen and senators during Reconstruction in the south, and any senators would have been appointed, not elected.
Don’t forget “The Red Shirts”! The group democrats founded in order to kill blacks and the Republicans who were trying to help the blacks get into office.
He couldn’t have been popularly chosen- must have been state legislature,
was
btt
Appointed black senators represented Southern states during reconstruction.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.