Democrats And Republicans In Agreement On The Black Press

By Hazel Trice EdneyNNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill in Washington rarely agree on anything. But last week both parties gave high praises to members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) on the 178th birthday of the Black Press. “Over the years, NNPA has remained a voice of conscience and reflection, gauging the progress and fairness of our nation’s laws and cultural values,” said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada)in a statement after a Capitol Hill meeting with NNPA publishers. “The community papers that make up the NNPA have also served as a forum for issues that were, and continue to be overlooked by other media venues.” Reid thanked the NNPA for “continuing to call for a fair and responsible judiciary, for economic development and security, and for creating opportunity for African-Americans and all Americans to succeed.” On the opposite side of the aisle, Republican leaders issued a resolution congratulating NNPA on its 65th anniversary. “The Senate commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Black Press of America by recognizing the significant contributions all African-American newspapers have made from the time of slavery and segregation to today; and the continued contributions African-American newspapers make to the ideal of equal opportunity for all Americans,” reads Senate Resolution 83. “The African-American press has operated as an instrument of social change for decades as it has protested inequality and spotlighted the achievements of African-Americans. The sessions with Black publishers were not always smooth. During a breakfast meeting, James Belt, publisher of the Dallas Examiner urged Senate Republicans to stop supporting federal judges that are insensitive to civil rights. Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist responded, “I would never support a judge that would support discrimination.” Many Black lawmakers and civil rights advocates have objected to some of President Bush’s nominees to the federal bench, some of whom were rejected in the last session of Congress or held up in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bush did not endear himself to civil rights leaders when he said he would appoint federal judges in the mold of ultraconservatives Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. And Reid, the Democratic leader, was criticized for saying he could support the elevation of Scalia to become chief justice, but not Clarence Thomas. The two are the most conservative members of the High court and have almost identical voting records. In his meeting, Reid told the Black publishers why he opposes President Bush’s proposal to privatize Social Security, which provides 44 percent of the total income and is the only source of income for one in three African-Americans 65 and older. The president’s plan is risky because “Social Security is not really in a crisis, and will remain solvent for decades,” Reid said. Many Republicans are also leery of the privatization of social security. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas hosted the breakfast with Republicans sponsored by the Republican National Committee. Texas Sen. John Cornyn also appeared. While Frist spoke to the publishers about initiatives to increase funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and technology for inner-city schools, none mentioned President Bush’s Republican-backed budget proposal to cut funding for Pell grants, a cut opposed by Black civil right organizations. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.)made a point of telling the Black publishers about his bill to apologize for the Senate’s having never passed anti-lynching laws. Replying to a question, he said he is against reparations for the damages done to Black people by lynching, Jim Crow laws or enslavement. Member of the Congressional Black Caucus gave the publishers a copy of their legislative agenda for the 109th Congress, listing many issues on which they disagree with President Bush, including a ban on racial profiling and seeking to close racial disparities in health, economics and criminal justice. CBC members favored an alternative budget that passed the Senate 52-48 during Black Press week. Said Del. Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI) told the publishers, In comparison, “It’s the best budget.”