After all, failure to go along with obsequiously sycophantic language in a resolution honoring Barack Obama can only be based upon race, not mere disagreement with the sentiments expressed.

Frustrated black lawmakers staged a walkout Friday after the Georgia House decided to delay another vote on a resolution that would have honored Obama as a politician with an "uimpeachable reputation for integrity, vision and passion" and made him an honorary member of the black caucus.

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State Rep. Austin Scott, a Republican who led the charge, said he took exception to language that read "no one could be more worthy of a special honor and recognition by the members of this body and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus than this extraordinary leader."

Now look at the language of the resolution:

House Resolution 673

By: Representatives Heard of the 114th, Murphy of the 120th, Smyre of the 132nd, Heckstall of the 62nd, Randall of the 138th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Honoring President Barack Obama on becoming the 44th President of the United States and recognizing President Barack Obama as an honorary lifetime member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, on January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States and the first African American to hold this most important and powerful of world positions; and

WHEREAS, prior to becoming president, Barack Obama faithfully and diligently served as a member of the Illinois State Senate from 1997-2004 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, serving from January 3, 2005, until November 16, 2008; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama was a highly distinguished member of both the Illinois and United States Senates and has a long and distinguished career as a public servant and representative of the people; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is a nonprofit charitable and educational organization established in 1973 with a vision to set the standards for black legislators and other political leaders in the years to come and to boldly assert the power of the black vote and the power of the black voice: and

WHEREAS, the primary purposes of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus are to promote the general welfare of minorities and other citizens of Georgia in matters of health, welfare, education, criminal justice, employment, and economic development; to stimulate professional and intellectual growth; and to advance the study and implementation of solutions to the problems of all citizens of the great State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, throughout his political career, President Barack Obama has enjoyed an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, vision, and passion for public service, and no one could be more worthy of special honor and recognition by the members of this body and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus than this extraordinary leader.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize President Barack Obama as an honorary lifetime member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus; join in commending him for his exceptional service to his community, this state, and our nation; and congratulate him on becoming the 44th President of the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and other state black legislative caucuses are urged to adopt similar measures recognizing the extraordinary achievements of President Barack Obama.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Emanuel D. Jones; the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, Representative Calvin Smyre; and to the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Here are a couple of things I'd object to.

"Barack Obama faithfully and diligently served as a member of the Illinois State Senate from 1997-2004"? What about those 130 votes of present so as to avoid taking a stand on controversial issues. Hardly faithful and diligent in my book.

"President Barack Obama was a highly distinguished member of both the Illinois and United States Senates and has a long and distinguished career as a public servant and representative of the people". Distinguished? How? He had no significant accomplishments in the US Senate other than running for president, and was really pretty insignificant as a member of the Illinois legislature. What did the man do, other than promote himself effectively and get himself elected president?

"President Barack Obama has enjoyed an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, vision, and passion for public service..." Really? I'm personally ready to impeach him right now. Besides, given his backtracking on commitments he made to the American people during the campaign, I'd argue he has pretty well impeached his own reputation for integrity.

[N]o one could be more worthy of special honor and recognition by the members of this body... No one? Really? The Dalai Lama? The United States Armed Forces? The teachers who day-in and day-out toil in the classrooms of the state of Georgia with little or no recognition?

And moreover, why does the legislature as a whole need to adopt a resolution giving Obama honorary membership in a segregationist caucus from which many members of that legislature are excluded because of the color of their skin rather than the content of their character? Wouldn't it be more honest for the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus to pass a resolution of their own giving him that membership, rather than insisting that individuals who are denied membership in that segregationist caucus due to their skin color concur in an unprecedented honor that would not be conferred upon a white president?

Do I think it would be appropriate to honor Barack Obama with some sort of resolution marking his election? Perhaps -- but this is one that I would never vote for were I a member of that legislative body because of its laughable rhetoric and racially exclusive nature. Besides, I thought that Barack Obama was all about ending racial divisions in this country -- so how does granting him honorary membership in this segregationist organization really honor what he claims to be all about, especially given that the group is one that would exclude his own mother solely because of the color of her skin?

Posted by: Greg at 02:21 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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