J.C. Watts retiring

NBC News ^ | 7/1/2002 | me

[tdadams]

Just breaking... NBC News is reporting that Oklahoma Republican representative J.C. Watts is going to announce that he will not run for reelection after his term expires.

J.C. Watts is the lone black Republican in the House of Representatives. He came into office in the 1994 Republican revolution.

Any links to this story would be appreciated.

[tdadams]

ping

[rintense]

A sad loss for the Republican party.

[tdadams]

Here's a link from MSNBC.com: Rep. J.C. Watts to retire?

[VA Advogado]

Good. He's been nothing but a cry baby this past year.

[Movemout]

My conservative daughter, who lives in his district, says good riddance!

[Azrael]

I agree. What a whiner. Good riddance. You are either with the team, or your not. He is not a team player.

[Mr. Bird]

Time to cash in, I guess....

[demkicker]

Check out my post from last night. I "thought" I heard Rita Cosby and guests say he was retiring, but that he would formally announce today.

The moderator changed the title of my post because it was titled like yours. Until J.C. officially announces, you cannot claim he is retiring.

[NittanyLion]

My conservative daughter, who lives in his district, says good riddance!

Really? I was under the impression he was a staunch conservative. What's he done (or not done)?

[Movemout]

Her opinion is that he is a smarmy, lying politician. I told her that I thought he was poster material for the Pubbies. Her reply was that we don't need the baggage. It didn't get more specific than that.

[billbears]

You are either with the team, or your not. He is not a team player.

Everything I've heard about him, while somewhat limited, has been generally good. So tell us, what constitutes a team player in the Party BTW?

[carmody]

Isn't he one of the "Contract with America" congressman? And if memory serves he was for term limits. Is it possible he's mereley living up to his belief that congressman should not be lifetime members?

[WestPoint90]

Boy do we eat our own around here sometimes. Perfection is a hard thing to attain.

[mountaineer]

do we eat our own around here sometimes.

... which I believe is a significant factor in the Republicans' ineffectiveness.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Bingo!

[zip]

Boy do we eat our own around here sometimes. Perfection is a hard thing to attain.

Does anyone know what JC has done that is so bad (other than not being caucasian)?? I respect Mr Watts and wish him well in his future endeavors.

[billbears]

Well I'm just a bit worried that he might not be up to snuff because of his stance is too conservative. Living here in NC, I've been attacked enough because I don't support certain Senate candidates that haven't even faced a primary but the VP is already out stumping for her against her Democrat candidate just because of her name. Nevermind the woman hasn't had a conservative thought in the past 30 years

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Does anyone know what JC has done that is so bad (other than not being caucasian)?? I respect Mr Watts and wish him well in his future endeavors.

I'm as surprised as you are that people are saying negative things about Watts, but why in the world do you accuse people here of being racist? Your comment sounds like a typical liberal attack on a conservative, if you ask me.

[anniegetyourgun]

"....heavy handed neo-con management of GW Bush's political affairs."

LOL! It's so funny to hear the different factions within the GOP accuse the others of being heavy-handed! I thought the problem was the "country clubbers"....no, wait, it was those dastardly Christians.....no...it's the neo-cons....blah, blah, blah.....

[YaYa123]

I love your screen name, and you know what? Sometimes people "cantfindagoodthingtosay" about anyone, even the loyal republicans, like JC Watts, who've fought the good fight for years. Don't let the goobers get you down.

[anniegetyourgun]

I agree - a loss of one with a pretty darn good conservative voting record. Perhaps his rise to leadership had hit a wall? Or perhaps he is being groomed to run for VP with W?

[b4its2late]

I "thought" I heard Rita Cosby

Ugh. How can you stand to listen to her? Her and Greta are the only 2 on FoxNewsChannel that I refuse to listen to. Greta just because she's Greta and Rita 'cause she whistles or something when she talks.... annoying (maybe she can't help it, but I can't stand it!)!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I've followed JC's career off and on since he was first elected. My impression has been that he's voted consistently conservative...

[NittanyLion]

Well I'm just a bit worried that he might not be up to snuff because of his stance is too conservative.

Up to snuff for who? Folks here on FR, or his home constituents, or Americans as a whole?

[robjna]

who do think has smellier farts, rita or greta, my guess is greta because hygiene is not a priority for her

[zip]

Did not mean to be negative to conservatives but was aiming at the negative posters. Big difference.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Did not mean to be negative to conservatives but was aiming at the negative posters. Big difference

Why can't someone make a negative comment about a member of a minority group without being accused of being a racist? Surely on FR, someone ought to feel safe criticizing without being accused of being racist. You made your comment without any indication from the posters that skin color had something to do with their negative comments. Why did you assume it did? It seems to me that *you* are the one who cares about someone's skin color since you are the one who mentioned it.

[b4its2late]

ROTFLMAO!!!!! Thanks. Made my Monday.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Don't let the goobers get you down.

Oh, this guy isn't getting me down. I just felt a need to defend the people who may have legitimate non-racist reasons for disliking J. C. Watts. It sickens me that on a conservative forum, one can get accused of being a racist if one disagrees with a member of a minority race. I thought only liberals did that.

Thanks for the compliment on my screenname. I'm getting sick of it....it's just too long. Thankfully, I don't have to type it out very often.

[PhiKapMom]

Well not only do my two daughters and son live in J.C.'s district, but so do I and J.C. is very conservative and the best Congressman I have ever had!

Would just like to know why some folks on here do not like him. He always responds to his constituents and cares about the people of the 4th District and "all" people of this Country.

That is why J.C. has gotten over 60% of the votes because the people of the 4th District think he has done a very good job as a Congressman. His Family is one of the nicest families in Norman where I just happen to live.

Anyone that says J.C. has not been GREAT for this district, either is a DemocRAT, not a conservative, or I hate to even mention the 3rd option but we all know what that is!

[Mudboy Slim]

J.C. will be missed...hope he'll consider running for higher office in the future...MUD

[PhiKapMom]

You are wrong about that -- last night on the thread racism was alluded to so much that someone wondered if Freepers were wearing hoods. I just alluded to same thing. Zip is right!

If you think it doesn't exist on here than you obviously don't read some of the threads on here about immigration and also about blacks!

[D. Miles]

perhaps he is retiring because the RNC wants more from him than he is willing to give. Maybe his asperations and theirs don't jive!

[chemainus]

I would vote for J.C. Watts for most anything....I think he is top quality.

[PhiKapMom]

Let's put it this way, Cleveland County home of Cong Watts just had their annual picnic for us to meet our "Conservative Republican" candidates and to be with your "Conservative" Republican friends. Now does that answer the question about being too conservative -- this 4th district and Oklahoma are very conservative! Congressman J.C. Watts has a very conservative voting record as do my two Senators Nickles and Inhofe and the rest of the Republican delegation.

If you want a liberal -- go check out the RAT Carson from NE OK. He voted against the tax cut the second time it came up for a vote.

[PhiKapMom]

J.C. will be missed, but now he will have more time to work on his outreach into the Black communities for the President and to spend more time with his family. He almost retired in 2000 because he had said he would only serve three terms but was talked into staying for one more term.

We have some really good candidates here in the 4th that are also conservative to replace J.C. He has served this District very well along with the military he represents. Believe he ran the last time to protect our military bases in case Gore slipped in. That is just my opinion.

[PhiKapMom]

Let me put your comments on RNC to rest -- J.C. gets along very well with the folks at RNC. Why cannot you all understand that in 2000 like I stated J.C. was not going to run because he had said like Dr. Tom Coburn that he would only serve three terms and that was it.

He was convinced by a lot of people that he should stay at least until 2002 which he has done and now he will have more time with his Family which was a priority. When his children did not want to leave Norman to live in D.C. (who could blame them), then he decided that he didn't want to be separated while they were in school and miss any more of their activities.

End of story!

[1Old Pro]

I tend to respect politicians who don't make a career out of it. Especially house members, they should ALL have the sense to spend less than 10 years there.

[GalvestonGal.com]

I trust PhiKapMom's posts. She's an old timer and her views carry some weight with me.

My guess is that his retirement is due to his FIVE children and belief (if that is indeed the case)in term limits.

Thank you for your service to your country Mr. Watts, and we hope to hear more of your success in the future.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Watts' retirement will get a lot of press play simply because of his status as the only black Republican in the House. I suspect (admittedly, I'm viewing the situation from afar) that his decision was based on one or likely several of the following rather ordinary reasons: 1) no opportunity for promotion to the Senate in the forseeable future, since conservative and not-too-old Senators Nickles and Inhofe figure to be around a long time; 2) time to start a non-political career while still young, and "cash in" (I mean this in a non-judgmental way) on his fame as a unique Congressman and (probably more important in Oklahoma) as a great OU quarterback -- if he waits until he's 50, the magic may be gone; 3) tired of the pressure -- some expected him to be a great orator, and to lead a crusade converting hundreds of thousands of black voters to the GOP -- an unrealistic expectation; 4) family concerns -- yes, Members of Congress have private lives.

Representative Watts has been a good, solid conservative, and he served the people of Oklahoma well. Unfortunately for him, the spotlight was focused on him from the start, and I'm sure the pressure was immense. Even before he took his seat in Congress, talk of a Vice Presidential nomination began, which was absurd. Very possibly, J.C. Watts simply decided "I don't need this anymore."

[AppyPappy]

I agree. What a whiner. Good riddance. You are either with the team, or your not. He is not a team player.

Why do you say that?

[PhiKapMom]

I thought that Dr. Tom did the right thing although I really hated to see him retire and J.C. is doing what is best for him and his family too!

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for your kind comments!

[NittanyLion]

Well not only do my two daughters and son live in J.C.'s district, but so do I and J.C. is very conservative and the best Congressman I have ever had!

That's what I thought. He always struck me as a good candidate for VP, except for the child out of wedlock. I think it may still be difficult for some folks to get past that (even though he's done right by her).

[kinghorse]

Watts hit the glass ceiling and that was that. He's retiring because he felt dumped on I am sure. Watts was a tireless organizer through email. I guess he felt he wasn't being given the plum assignments. It appears he was relegated to secretarial duties.

[mwl1]

The reason this party cannot ever maintain solid majorities in either chamber is that, unlike Democrats, our people refuse to take their commitment to the party seriously.... we retire instead of staying for life. How about once, get some solid majorities in both chambers, hang around for 6 years or so, and get something accomplished?

I am not happy with people like Watts, Fred Thompson, Connie Mack, and countless others over the years who whine and then throw in the towel and quit. Every open seat costs us a fortune to defend, and it's a key reason why we lost ground in both chambers, especially the Senate, in both 1998 and 2000.

[bert]

All this negative ooze (FRooze) presupposes he can't be more effective for various conservative efforts somehwere besides Congress.

He probably does think Congress is not a career. He will never achieve the white mane of Sen Byrd or Hollingsworth so why stick around forever.

People who live their lives in an ever deepening rut can't comprehend that a change of direction can be not only fun, but rewarding.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you're on to something.