Washington (WashPost)– The chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus said Monday that Rep. James Clyburn, the highest ranking African-American in the House Democratic leadership, should be the vanquished party’s second in command in the next Congress.
“Jim has spent a lifetime working to bridge what divides us,” Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., wrote in a letter urging the Democratic Caucus to vote for the South Carolina Democrat. “In the 112th Congress, we will need Jim’s dedication to thwart Republican efforts to repeal all of the progress we have made.”
Lee’s letter comes after Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland released the names of 30 rank-and-file Democrats who endorsed him for the same post. Hoyer’s letter, authored by Rep. Linda Sanchez of California, praised him as a listener with the ability to stand up to Republicans.
