Hiram College Professor Jason Johnson was interviewed by the PUBLICATION about the race to succeed Congresswoman Barbara Lee as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) are rumored to be seeking the position.
Experts argue the CBC and President Obama will need to spend the next session of Congress mending deep differences over policy and implementation. Hiram College political science professor Jason Johnson is convinced that both the CBC and the White House will find common ground for the sake of political survival. “The new head of the CBC has to be somebody who can think long term,” says Johnson, citing the rising power of House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) who was chair in 2000. “It’s about what they can do for Barack Obama in 2012. And, it’s also about the integrity of the organization in the eyes of the public and press.”
Read the full article “Controversial member might run for CBC Chair.”