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Disparate Impact: Black Lawmakers and Ethics Investigations
The Atlantic ^ | 3/3/2012

Posted on 03/05/2012 2:52:42 PM PST by Altura Ct.

A disproportionate share of cases have been brought against Congressional Black Caucus members. African-American lawmakers would like to know why.

Emanuel Cleaver, a Methodist minister and the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, stood up and began searching his desk for a Bible. Cleaver wasn't looking up a particular verse or Psalm. He grabbed the Good Book for emphasis. He wanted to hold it in his hands as he declared, with a firm shake, that the way Congress investigates the ethics of its own lawmakers is horribly broken.

"I think," Cleaver said, "the facts speak for themselves."

The facts say this: African-Americans make up 10 percent of the House, but as of the end of February, five of the sitting six named lawmakers under review by the House Ethics Committee are black. The pattern isn't new. At one point in late 2009, seven lawmakers were known to be involved in formal House ethics inquiries; all were members of the Congressional Black Caucus. An eighth caucus member, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, had also been under investigation, but his probe was halted temporarily while the Justice Department undertook an inquiry of its own.

All told, about one-third of sitting black lawmakers have been named in an ethics probe during their careers, according to a National Journal review.

Only two members of Congress have been formally charged with ethics violations in recent years and have faced the specter of public trials -- Reps. Charles Rangel of New York (censured) and Maxine Waters of California (investigation ongoing). Both are black. There are no African-Americans in the Senate. Remember the most recent black senator, Roland Burris of Illinois? Reprimanded by the Senate Ethics Committee in 2009.

Those are the facts, as Cleaver said. The question is why so many African-American members have been...

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 03/05/2012 2:52:48 PM PST by Altura Ct.
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To: Altura Ct.

Could it be because of the same reason that blacks in the general population commit a disproportionate amount of crimes?

Just a wild guess.


2 posted on 03/05/2012 2:57:44 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Eccl 10 v. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.)
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To: Altura Ct.
This is the SAME as the argument that Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned.

If you do the crime, you do the time. If no laws are broken, there wouldn't be prosecution.

Now, using Holder's People, blacks can intimidate voters, assault the police, etc., with impunity, by claiming "racial bias" was the reason they were FORCED to take the actions.

Whitey is not a protected class, like Blacks, Hispanics, Women, Sex Deviates (fags and dykes), cross-dressers, etc., etc.

3 posted on 03/05/2012 2:58:49 PM PST by traditional1 (Don't gotsta worry 'bout no mo'gage, don't gotsta worry 'bout no gas; Obama gonna take care o' me!)
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To: Altura Ct.

“The question is why so many African-American members have been”

Because they’re crooks and they’re the only ones who’ve been caught so far.


4 posted on 03/05/2012 2:59:04 PM PST by jimmyo57
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To: Altura Ct.
Oh, another reason is they are liberals. Let me know when a conservative black politician is accused convicted of a crime.
5 posted on 03/05/2012 2:59:49 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Eccl 10 v. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.)
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To: Altura Ct.
>"A disproportionate share of cases have been brought against Congressional Black Caucus members."

What do you suggest Mr Cleaver?

Look the other way?

Don't look at all, till it's all gone?

Cerially! Just Win the future do ya suggest?

6 posted on 03/05/2012 3:03:08 PM PST by rawcatslyentist (BO Stinks! Like Mitts magic underwear!)
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To: Altura Ct.

“A disproportionate share of cases have been brought against Congressional Black Caucus members. African-American lawmakers would like to know why.”

Because Congressional Black Caucus members, like blacks in the population at large, apparently commit a disproportionate number of crimes.


7 posted on 03/05/2012 3:10:13 PM PST by FerociousRabbit
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To: Altura Ct.
I think," Cleaver said, "the facts speak for themselves. *


*Duhhh of the Day Award winner

8 posted on 03/05/2012 3:12:10 PM PST by tomkat (FU.baraq)
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To: jimmyo57

NY Chicago LA Baltimore Detroit Atlanta Memphis-D-political machine crime


9 posted on 03/05/2012 3:13:57 PM PST by colonialhk (Put them in green jails doing green jobs)
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To: Altura Ct.

What comes to mind for me is what Jim Carrey’s character said to his client in “Liar, Liar”:

“Stop breaking the law, a**hole!”


10 posted on 03/05/2012 3:17:28 PM PST by MeganC (No way in Hell am I voting for Mitt Romney. Not now, not ever. Deal with it.)
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To: Altura Ct.

FBI stats indicate that 43% of all crimes committed in the USA are committed by Blacks. Blacks are 12.9% of the USA population.


11 posted on 03/05/2012 3:17:59 PM PST by blam
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To: Altura Ct.

The real question should be why do blacks committ a disproportionate amount of the ethics violations?


12 posted on 03/05/2012 3:17:59 PM PST by WashingtonSource
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To: Altura Ct.
Black Congress Critters are a reflection of their constituencies. And, blacks commit far more crimes than do whites.

Nothing remarkable about the Black Caucus conviction rate except the behavior of said Congress Critters.

13 posted on 03/05/2012 3:23:02 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles."...the public interest)
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To: WashingtonSource
The real question should be why do blacks committ a disproportionate amount of the ethics violations?

That's what nearly all the Atlantic responses said, even the early ones. Even those blue state, would-be intellectual readers are tired of the excuses and accusations of racism.

14 posted on 03/05/2012 3:25:30 PM PST by heartwood
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To: Altura Ct.
Emanuel Cleaver, a Methodist minister and the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, stood up and began searching his desk for a Bible.

Don't stand too close to him when he does this, a lightning bolt could appear at any moment.

15 posted on 03/05/2012 3:33:36 PM PST by Mark17 (California, where English is a foreign language)
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To: blam
FBI stats indicate that 43% of all crimes committed in the USA are committed by Blacks. Blacks are 12.9% of the USA population.

Who knew the FBI was so racist?

16 posted on 03/05/2012 3:35:40 PM PST by BfloGuy (The final outcome of the credit expansion is general impoverishment.)
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To: Altura Ct.

If members of the Congressional Black Caucus would cease their criminal activities then they wouldn’t have to worry about “ethics” investigations.


17 posted on 03/05/2012 3:45:37 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (Liberal Democrats love direct democracy until it's time to vote on something)
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To: blam

“FBI stats indicate that 43% of all crimes committed in the USA are committed by Blacks. Blacks are 12.9% of the USA population.”

Is there a web site where I could find that sort of data?


18 posted on 03/05/2012 3:57:04 PM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: BfloGuy

Whoever put those stats together will be summarily fired.


19 posted on 03/05/2012 4:03:10 PM PST by TruthSlayer
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To: TruthSlayer

How about presidential impeachment attempts? What’re the stats there?


20 posted on 03/05/2012 4:23:47 PM PST by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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