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What Clinton does next
Now that the Democratic primary process is winding down, with Barack Obama as the apparent nominee, Hillary Clinton can return her attention to the Senate. I assume that having discovered, in the last few months, that her greatest passion is voter empowerment and voting rights, she will devote all her energy to securing congressional representation for the District of Columbia. After all, DC is home to nearly 600 thousand people with no voting power in the House or Senate.
Senator Clinton co-sponsored the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007, which came within three votes of the 60 needed to end discussion and pass the bill. With high-profile support from Senator Clinton, it seems likely that this long-standing injustice will finally be ended. I look forward to seeing this become her top legislative priority when she returns to the Senate.
Comments (8)
Yes. Well said and I hope she does it. Significant Democratic majorities in Congress ought to be able to move this forward.
June 2, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
In reply to LBJ's Brain, you took the words right out of my mouth.
June 2, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just want to let everybody know, for historical reference, that June 2 was the day the Court of Oyer and Terminer convened for the Salem Witch Trials.
I just automatically think of June 2 as Salem Witch Trials Day, in case that ever pops up in conversation and it seems inexplicable or inappropriate to you.
That's just how I remember it's June 2.
So don't freak out or make a big deal out of it if I bring it up.
June 2, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Snark-based comment: She'll get to that right after she takes care of the working, hard-working, Americans, white Americans and all important island-based Puerto Rican vote helping them get the constitutional hurdles out of the way to statehood that it's not exactly clear they want. Then she'll tackle somekind of driver's license for undocumented immigrants who are not "illegal" while single-handedly building the border fence. Then come the unions, the people on the night shift, the folks who don't want to get any three a.m. phone calls, followed by the Prius driving latte-sippers, then anyone else with any other issues and then.... (drum roll please) last, but certainly not least... well, last... is there anybody else we forgot??? no??? Well, thank you and good night!
Reality-based comment: Let us remember that the so-called "first black president" did precious little for his real black constituents. Remember that D.C. was just as disenfranchised from 1993 until 2001 as it is today. Eleanor Holmes Norton has been fighting that battle for years and years -- even with the Clintons in the White House. Most black folks would say, "what the hell took you so long?"
Clinton should just go back to the Senate and be the champion of her base: angry white women.
June 2, 2008 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh... Hillary's Mnemonic Calendar... help me out... how do I remember tomorrow June 3 and the day after June 4? I know the unfortunate anniversary of the unfortunate events at the Ambassador Hotel are coming up, but isn't there something else I should be remembering?
June 2, 2008 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since you mention June 3, I just want to let everybody know, for historical reference, that June 3 was the day the week-long Zoot Suit Riots began, when a mob of 60 from the Los Angeles Naval Reserve Armory beat up everyone perceived to be Hispanic.
I just automatically think of June 3 as Zoot Suit Riot Day, in case that ever pops up in conversation and it seems inexplicable or inappropriate to you.
That's just how I remember it's June 3.
So don't freak out or make a big deal out of it if I bring it up.
June 2, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
This may be a heretical view, but I think it makes much more sense for DC to become part of Maryland again for Federal voting purposes than for it to get a full Representative and Senators. I don't know for certain if a Constitutional Amendment would be required (I think it might), but I think the existing bill has several problems, but seems better than the earlier version (Rep. Tom Davis's bill) which talked about an "at large" representative for Utah. (That struck me as being unconstitutional and fundamentally unfair because each person in Utah would effectively have 2 representatives in the House (their normal rep and an At Large rep). )
I think a very good case can be made that the Constitution says that the States have representation in the House and Senate. DC isn't a state (and shouldn't be one, IMHO). It's a city. It should be part of Maryland.
But even that may require a Constitutional Amendment to change the plain language in the Constitution. Recall that the 23rd Amendment was required for DC residents to be able to vote for Presidential electors.
On your greater point, I agree that Hillary should return to the Senate and get back to work there. ;-)
My $0.02.
June 2, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can't help yourselves can you.
June 2, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
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