"D.C.
Vote: It is Never Too Late to 'Do the Right Thing'"
By Leroy
Jones, Jr.
Political Commentator & Columnist
"I
thought of Richard Holmes, a slave in the District until Lincoln
freed the slaves here nine months before the Emancipation
Proclamation. I thought of my great grandfather who came here
in a furtive search for freedom itself, not the vote on the
House floor. I thought of what a man who lived as a slave
in the District, and others like him would think if his great-granddaughter
becomes the first to cast the first full vote for the District
of Columbia on the House floor. I hope to have the special
honor of casting the vote I have sought for 16 years. I want
to cast that vote for the residents of this city whom I have
had the great privilege of representing and who have fought
and have waited for so long. Yes, and I want to cast that
vote in memory of my great-grandfather, Richard Holmes."
Excerpt from the speech of Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton (Del.-DC)
on the floor of the House of Representatives (Monday, 3/12/07)
The words from Washington, D.C. Delegate and life long resident
Eleanor Holmes Norton is both moving and inspirational. Congresswoman
Norton is one of those Strong African American Women who continue
to push for fairness and equality not only for District of
Columbia residents, but all Americans. Her compelling story
and the stories of other District residents demonstrates how
deep and far reaching the issue of full Congressional voting
rights are for the District and its 500,000 plus residents.
In the 206 years since Washington, D.C. lost its vote in the
House of Representatives, much has changed in our county.
Much is better, and much has come to light. Nevertheless,
the issues of race and politics continue to run through the
veins of our country, Washington (the City), and our Nation's
Capitol.
This
week, the House of Representatives is scheduled vote
on H.R. 1433, the District of Columbia House Voting
Rights Act of 2007. This legislation, co-sponsored by
Rep. Tom Davis [R-Va] has some bipartisan support, and
would give the District of Columbia a right that it
has not had since 1801. It would eliminate the "D.C.
delegate" position, and add two extra seats to
the House of Representatives, one for District of Columbia
and one for Utah, which is next in line for an increase
to its Congressional delegation based on the most recent
census data. This would raise the number of seats in
the House to 437. Both new seats would be selected by
special election. Note: The Utah seat is designated
to be the at-large seat and any change to the seat could
not take place until the next census and reapportionment
in 2012.
The bill is expected to pass in the House of Representatives
this week. After that, the bill will be sent to the
Senate for its approval. Not surprisingly, given recent
trends since the change of control in Congress, the
likelihood of passage in the Senate looks very uncertain.
Even if it passes in the Senate, however, it seems unlikely
to pass with a "veto proof" 60 plus votes.
It is noteworthy that the White House has announced
its opposition to the bill because of alleged questions
about the constitutionality of "District residents"
being entitled to a vote in Congress. Although slim
hope remains that the bill will not be vetoed if it
passes in the Senate, a veto in this Post-Katrina world
would be very unfortunate for citizens of the District
of Columbia and our nation for several reasons.
First, the fact that the District of Columbia, with
a population comprised of more than 55% African Americans,
has no voting power in the House, speaks to power of
race in our country. In our community, we understand
clearly that such a circumstance would not exist but
for the color of our skin. When I was growing up, everyone
called the District, "Chocolate City". Even
suggesting such a thing in 2007 is considered racist
by some, and certainly impolite in mixed company. Ironically,
when folks said it "back in the day", no one
seemed to mind. I guess the concept of a "Chocolate
City" without full voting rights was not a threat.
It could be the Powers-that-Be thought it was a cute
way for "those people" to express themselves.
Everyone knows that the District of Columbia, and its
majority African American population, has no real control
over its own destiny. As a result, the prospect of empowering
a place in America formerly known as the "Chocolate
City" is unthinkable to quite a few in and out
of power.
Some oppose this legislation on the grounds that it
supposedly is unconstitutional. The argument is that
only "states" have the right to representation
in Congress. Because the District of Columbia is a district,
some argue, it is not entitled to either representation
or a vote in either chamber of Congress. The argument
apparently overlooks the Constitution's so-called District
clause, that grants Congress broad authority over the
District of Columbia. The argument also conveniently
forgets that the Constitution is a "living"
document, which has evolved over time to expand the
definition of "We the People" to include many
folks, including District residents, who were not considered
citizens when the Constitution was ratified. Some Constitutional
Scholars, including former D.C. Circuit Judge and Special
Prosecutor Kenneth Star, recognize that Congress already
has the authority under the District Clause to make
the change by statute, which is compelling considering
his generally conservative views on all things constitutional.
Congress should exercise its power and enact this legislation
with or without the support of the White House.
Even the need of adding another Congressional seat from
the Great State of Utah shows the true political nature
of this measure. Making sure to either neutralize or
even up the count in the U.S. House of Representatives
is pure politics. No problem there. Everything in our
country is inherently political, and our country thrives
and survives because of the willingness of our political
leadership to at times find common ground. The trueness
of what makes our democratic process work and grow is
a remarkable statement about our nation’s political
system. The quote by former House Speaker Tip O’Neal
is never more true, “all politics is local”,
and both D.C. area and Utah politicians have agreed
to work together to achieve something both of them see
as a just cause. The fact that the District of Columbia,
with its "Democratic leaning" voting population,
will add another vote for the Democratic majority; and
Utah, with its "Republican leaning" voting
population, would cancel out any real or perceived advantage
in the House, seems to make some very comfortable with
supporting the bill. Once again, both sides find common
ground for a just cause.
Those who argue that the residents of D.C. should be
allowed to cast their votes with either the residents
of Virginia or Maryland have missed the point. When
you chose to live in Washington you are choosing to
live in the District, not Virginia or Maryland. The
uniqueness of the District and what makes it a special
place for our nation and our community cannot be overemphasized.
It is a lifestyle choice for which no citizen (or group)
should be penalized.
To
penalize D.C. residents because of where they live and
die, pay taxes, serve in the armed services and fight
in the wars that keep our country free is not democracy,
but unjust. Such injustice was unacceptable in 1777,
and remains so in 2007.
Leroy
Jones, Jr., is the creator of PoliticalJones.com and
a Political Commentator and Government Affairs Consultant
based in Washington, D.C. He is a regularly scheduled
guest on " The Right Side with Shelley Wynter"
daily radio show on WAOK-1380 AM (Atlanta/CBS), XM Satellite
Radio, Blacknews.com and various other media outlets.
Email Mr. Jones at ljones@politicaljones.com
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