As West aptly observed, the CBC seems to think government intervention and programs are the answer to problems plaguing some blacks: poverty, crime, drugs, etc. The group’s approach seems to be if more blacks are being affected by a problem than another ethnic group, it’s time for government help. You’re black and fallen on hard times therefore you must need the government’s help. Where does individual responsibility come into play? West noted, “it is about the content of your character, not the color of your skin and this is what we need to convey.” As West explained to reporters, he wants to join the CBC to shift the focus “away from some of these failed social welfare policies that people have been pushing.” Instead of pushing education and strong family values like West experienced, lawmakers are pushing government programs.

Yes, the government should offer a safety net for its citizens when they critically need it but it shouldn’t become a way of life. West made this common sense point to the reporters. “It is not about being a victim. It is not about having to be dependent, said West. My philosophy is that every child born in America gets a ladder. There is no top of that ladder. You can climb as high as you want. Sometime you do fall off that ladder there’s a safety but we want you to climb back on that ladder.” Wise words and the CBC should bring Rep. Elect West into the “club” and promote more ladders than handouts.

The Republican Jewish Coalition has a list out congratulating Jewish Republicans who were elected to office this election cycle. Curiously, the list also mentions Nan Hayworth the newly elected Representative from New York’s 19th congressional district. This inclsuion is a bit strange given that Hayworth was born Lutheran. So is Nan Hayworth Jewish?

Forward Magazine provides the answer with a quote from Ron Kampeas the Washington, D.C. bureau chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency : “There’s nothing in Hayworth’s official bio to indicate that she’s of the tribe, though Ron Kampeas at JTA reports that she “was born and raised Lutheran, but is married to a Jew and has told friends she is a ‘Jew by choice’.” The second Republican candidate (should he win) would be Randy Altschuler who is running in New York’s 1st District. The online magazine Politico has an article (listed below) that details the nuances of his particular race.

The third Jewish Republican in Congress would be Eric Cantor who currently is the second-ranking member of the House Republican leadership, having been elected Whip in November 2008. It should be noted that the Republican Party and the Jewish community have a long history. Florence Prag Kahn who was the first Jewish American Woman ever to serve in Congress in The United States was a Republican.

From The Daily Show to the doughnut shops of America, it looks an awful lot like 2008 all over again — and not just because 1,000 candidates are actively engaged in heated debates across the nation in the quest to control Congress in January.

Nan Hayworth is a doctor, small businesswoman, and the 2010 Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 19th congressional.

I don’t know his politics, I don’t know which issues he’s campaigning for, and I don’t know about his background but I do know Democrats. Most importantly, I know racism when I see it. That’s why I’m supporting the candidacy of Alvin Greene in South Carolina. I am not endorsing him but I do endorse his right to run. Liberals hate that I constantly accuse them of being the racists that they are. Too bad. The colossal push to force a black man out of a race he won fairly provides more proof why the Democratic Party is the most racist institution in America today.

The Alvin Greene story reads like a Hollywood script. Here you have a veteran without any political pedigree, get rejected by the party machine then miraculously gets accepted by the people. He achieves the improbable goal of winning his party’s nomination in a statewide race with few resources. Unfortunately for Greene, he has reached far beyond the boundaries reserved for black politicians. He will now suffer the wrath of the Democratic machine because of his ambition and desire to serve his state. While blacks are the most loyal Democrat voters, the party has made it clear that as long as a black person runs for a seat in an all-black district, he won’t have any problem with his party. For the record, Obama doesn’t count. When I say “black,” I am referring to Americans like me that trace their roots to enslaved Africans.

HHR Blog had the opportunity to interview GOP candidate Cory Ruth who is running for Georgia’s 4th congressional district. He will face Liz Carter and Larry Gause in the July Republican primary. The Fourth Congressional District of the U.S. State of Georgia includes parts of Dekalb, Rockdale, and Gwinnett Counties in the metro Atlanta area. The district is currently represented in the 111th Congress by Democrat Hank Johnson.

I am writing to thank the Hip Hop Republicans for the embrace of the civic process and attention to my candidacy for the Republican nomination for the 13th Congressional District of Georgia. I am heartened by the fusion of the highest contemporary African American cultural and political discourse, finding its way into the great debate over who will represent the 629,732 residents of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Henry counties in the nation’s ‘factory of ideas,’ the Congress of the United States.

An integral part of my campaign is my ‘Urban Initiative’ and as a congresswoman I will present and support legislation that specially targets unemployment, financial literacy programs, education and better, more reliable public transportation in our urban communities. These four tenants are key to any successful community.

I encourage you all to continue your participation in the art of democracy for your voice is much appreciated in the larger conversation. I look forward to honoring your endorsement with my commitment to and working for our urban communities.

Another person has entered the race for the vacant 29th Congressional District seat. Janice Volk of Cuba is vying for the Republican Party’s nomination. In a statement she released, Volk claims to be one of the people, not a typical politician.

“I will not be like so many of the typical, business as usual, fat cat, tax and spend – try to buy your votes with your own money – politicians. I can promise that if the people of the 29th District put their sacred trust in me, I won’t squander it. I won’t let you down,” Volk said in a release. The Republican field is growing crowded, as Tom Reed of Corning announced his candidacy last summer, and Monroe County pizzeria owner Angelo Campini entered the race in April.

In a move that surprised no one, state Senator Bill Hardiman (R-Grand Rapids) announced his candidacy for Congress to replace retiring Congressman Verh Ehlers.

HHR Blog highlights “Rupert Parchment”, a Republican seeking a congressional seat for Georgia’s District 13

I have been recently inspired to begin to share my ideas about the current Congress and itʼs Constitutional proposals (or lack thereof). This past week, our own Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, was asked what I believe to be a very relevant question about the Health Care bill going through Congress. A media reporter asked Mrs. Pelosi “where does Congress get the Constitutional authority to enact a health care mandate?”To this question, Mrs. Pelosi simply answered “are you serious? Are you serious?”

If this is not bothersome to all Americans, then I should be rather worried. This answer, to me, highlights a very specific characteristic about our Speaker of the House. When pausing after the question, delaying after the question, and ridiculing the question, I have come to the conclusion ( a logical one) that Nancy Pelosi simply does not care about the Constitutional powers of Congress (enumerated or implied).

Angela McGlowan today held a news conference in Oxford, Miss. to formally announce that she’s seeking the Republican nomination for Congress. The GOP is hoping to unseat Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.), who has held Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District seat since mid-2008.

The corrupted business, technological, and psycho-therapeutic jargon so prevalent in our society today has no place in the world of politics, there is no room for wishful thinking. It is one thing to have optimism but to have specious optimism is a recipe for disaster.

Navraj Singh has recently announced his candidacy for California’s 27th District. The 27th congressional district covers part of Los Angeles County and takes in a large portion of the San Fernando Valley and Burbank. It is represented by Democrat Brad Sherman.

If you are still reading this post, you can probably guess that I am in favor of keeping the filibuster. As Cost notes, moderates are becoming less and less rare in the Senate, and Congress as a whole. It was the moderates that were the dealmakers that could get legislation passed. A bill proposed by the Democrats would have some Republican support and visa versa. But as the parties become more polarized, it only makes sense that when one party proposes a bill, the other party will oppose it. It also means that the party in power is really in power and the filibuster is the only tool the losing party has.

Klein and others are mad that there had to be so much work done to get 60 votes for health care to pass. If there were no filibuster then a health care reform bill would pass, probably with a public option. The remaining moderates in the Democratic party would be sidelined, and the liberal base would become even more powerful. That would be music to Klein’s ears, but I think it would be bad in the long run for American democracy.

Part of the problem with our polarized climate today is that when one party wins an election, party stalwarts tend to think this is a mandate from the people to get their own agendas done. They also think that a losing party basically has to sit there and take it. So, in the health care debate, Democrats think that all Republicans should basically shut up since they won the election.

But this isn’t a pure democracy, it’s a republic that believes that even minorities have to be listened to. People may not like that the GOP was threatening to use the filibuster, but is the only voice the GOP had. The same goes for when the Democrats were the minority party. They need to be able to have some say in how a bill is crafted and absent bridge building moderates, this is how minorities can speak.

Too the winner goes the spoils might work in sports, but not in politics.