Tancredo takes aim at racially based caucusesA much-publicized critic of South Florida turned his attentions to race-based congressional caucuses.BY LESLEY CLARKlclark@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON - The Colorado congressman who suggested Miami's style of diversity is threatening the United States is renewing his call to abolish race-based caucuses in Congress.
Colorado Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo, who recently announced a bid for the Republican nomination for president, said Thursday he believes race-based groups like the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Conference, of which Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Miami, is vice chairman, are divisive and should be eliminated.
''It is utterly hypocritical for Congress to extol the virtues of a color-blind society while officially sanctioning caucuses that are based solely on race -- and restrict their membership based on race,'' Tancredo said in a letter to the House Administration Committee chairwoman, Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Calif., herself a member of the black caucus.
''Congress should lead by example and end these divisive, race-based caucuses,'' said Tancredo, who is scheduled to pitch his long-shot presidential bid this weekend in New Hampshire.
One caucus member dismissed Tancredo's comments as sour grapes from a dethroned Republican -- who also happens to be running for president.
''This story is really about a member of the minority party using intolerance to advance his presidential campaign,'' said Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo.
Tancredo's letter comes after newly elected Rep. Stephen Cohen, D-Tenn., was not allowed to join the black caucus because he's not black.
Cohen -- while campaigning last March in his majority black district -- told a Washington reporter he had pledged that he would seek to become the first white member of the group, which includes Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, and Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar.
But Cohen -- a 1967 Coral Gables High School graduate -- said he reconsidered as he became aware that the caucus chose to keep its membership all black.
''That's the choice of the caucus and it's fine with me,'' said Cohen, adding that he had been treated with ''graciousness'' by the caucus members. ``What I find unfortunate is that this situation has been turned around to be used against the caucus.''
The Washington Times last fall obtained a strategy memo written by one of the founding members of the caucus, who declared it ''critical'' that the group remain an all-black organization.
The Congressional Hispanic Conference, a Republican group, includes five Hispanic members -- three of them from South Florida -- and 11 ''associate members,'' non-Hispanic members who represent districts with Hispanic populations.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, suggested Tancredo was welcome as an associate Hispanic conference member and wouldn't be excluded ``from a single meeting.
''Many of us are working together with other caucuses to make our great country even better,'' Ros-Lehtinen said. 'I keep welcoming Tom but some folks just want to be cranky. `Chill out, Tom. You need to spend some time in Margaritaville.' ''
For Hispanic Democrats, there is the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Tancredo, chairman of an anti-illegal immigration caucus in the House, last year angered former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Miami officials when he compared the city to a ``Third World country.''
This report was supplemented with material from the Associated Press.