I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Congressional Black Caucus.  It is a group of congressmen and women who seek to “address the legislative concerns of black and minority citizens.” It’s membership is, as you might imagine, exclusively black and almost exclusively Democrat.

But in the last election Mr. Stephen I. Cohen was elected in Tennessee’s 9th district, which is overwhelmingly black.  Mr. Stephen, however, is white.

Regardless, Rep. Cohen - seeing as how he was representing a constituency made up mostly of minorities, particularly black minorities - decided to try and join the Congressional Black Caucus.  An unprecedented move to be sure, but one that makes sense given Cohen’s constituency.  Unfortunately, Rep. Cohen was denied membership.  Why?

Because his skin is the wrong color.

Freshman Rep. Stephen I. Cohen, D-Tenn., is not joining the Congressional Black Caucus after several current and former members made it clear that a white lawmaker was not welcome.

“I think they’re real happy I’m not going to join,” said Cohen, who succeeded Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., in a majority-black Memphis district. “It’s their caucus and they do things their way. You don’t force your way in. You need to be invited.”

Cohen said he became convinced that joining the caucus would be “a social faux pas” after seeing news reports that former Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr., D-Mo., a co-founder of the caucus, had circulated a memo telling members it was “critical” that the group remain “exclusively African- American.”

Other members, including the new chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., and Clay’s son, Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., agreed.

“Mr. Cohen asked for admission, and he got his answer. ... It’s time to move on,” the younger Clay said. “It’s an unwritten rule. It’s understood. It’s clear.”

The bylaws of the caucus do not make race a prerequisite for membership, a House aide said, but no non-black member has ever joined.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who is white, tried in 1975 when he was a sophomore representative and the group was only 6 years old.

“Half my Democratic constituents were African-American. I felt we had interests in common as far as helping people in poverty,” Stark said. “They had a vote, and I lost. They said the issue was that I was white, and they felt it was important that the group be limited to African-Americans.”

[...]

Cohen won his seat in the 60 percent black district as the only white candidate in a crowded primary field. If he faces a primary challenge next year from a black candidate, as expected, some Black Caucus members may work to defeat him.

Stupid Tennessee voters in the 9th district electing a honky to represent them.  Those voters will not get access to the resources of the Congressional Black Caucus until they learn their lesson and elect someone of the appropriate race. 

Because if the CBC starts admitting whites we might all forget that the blacks are victims and outsiders who must be pandered to.