APPARENTLY, 5 IS ENOUGH FOR REID

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich before his arrest to argue against his appointing Democratic Illinois Reps. Jesse Jackson, Jr., or Danny Davis or State Senate President Emil Jones to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate "because he did not believe the three men were "electable". He feared losing the seat to a Republican in a future election." Reid, the Sun-Times report says, favored the appointment of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs director Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

In other (related) news, CNN reports that a Senate aide says that if former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, Blago's pick to replace Obama in the Senate, "tries to enter the Senate chamber, the Senate doorkeeper will stop Burris. If Burris were to persist, either trying to force his way onto the Senate floor or refusing to leave and causing a scene, U.S. Capitol Police would stop him ... They [police] probably won't arrest him, but they would call the sergeant-at-arms."

As for the reaction from majority leader Reid, he issued the following statement...."Gov. Blagojevich appears to be trying to distract attention from his daunting legal problems and damaged credibility by distorting information about private phone calls between himself and other public officials," Reid said in the statement. "It is regrettable and reprehensible.
"Gov. Blagojevich’s efforts to try to tarnish others while the cloud of suspicion continues to grow over him are shameful, as are his efforts to further betray the public trust and sow seeds of division. As each day passes it becomes increasingly clear that Gov. Blagojevich is not fit to lead, and he should resign. "I will not allow his corruption charges or his antics to distract me from leading the Senate, to drive a wedge in our party." You will notice he never denied expressing his picks, or who the picks were, merely that they were "distorted."

Which begs the question, why is it that a black man can gain entry into the White House, yet only five have gained entry onto the Senate floor? Five, and two of those five, Revels and Bruce, served in the 1870's (both out of Mississippi). Interestingly, Blanche Bruce was born into slavery, as his mother was a slave, yet most people do not even know his name, I am afraid, but that is a story for another time.

Blacks received the right to vote and serve in the U.S. Congress upon passing of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. Unfortunately, it took from 1776 to 1865 to receive these rights. In the next ten years, Revels and Bruce managed to gain a Senate key. Revels, the first black man to be properly elected, was unable to be an effective senator because of racism during the time, and only served one tumultuous year. It wasn't much easier for Senator Bruce.

The next elected black senator was not until 1966. A full 81 years separate the two elections. Edward William Brooke III represented Massachusetts and went on to serve as the first black state attorney general and the only black to serve two terms. In 1993, Carol Moseley Braun won her election in Illinois, making her the first black woman in the U.S. Senate. And then comes President-elect Obama.

The blame does not rest fully on the shoulders of blacks. Since there are no states in which blacks hold a majority vote, blacks can only become senators with the assistance of non-black voters. Although there has been a multitude of blacks in the House of Representatives, the same representation is missing in the Senate. Truth is, history has shown a distinct lack of blacks running for a senate seat, as well. While many of the 42 black U.S. representatives are from majority-black districts, contenders for statewide offices must appeal to a more diverse constituency. The result is that they play down racial questions, focusing on taxes, foreign policy, and social programs. And, except for five, this represents the glass ceiling for blacks today.

We now have two possible openings for a black to come onto the Senate floor, the seats of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Two out of fifty represents an undaunting ratio, unless you are the Senate majority leader, according to Governor Blajojevich, and the Chicago Sun Times. To me, this is why Obama's silence on the appointment to fill his seat has been deafening. It is time for him to step up and address the issue. Roland Burris carved the way for Obama and Braun to gain a statewide seat in Illinois. He did the hard work. He blazed the way for them. It's time for one of them, if not both, to clear a path for him now.