"Cummings to lead Congressional Black Caucus." The Baltimore Sun, 11 December 2002.

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Cummings to lead Congressional Black Caucus

Democrat from Baltimore immediately assails Lott for salute to Thurmond

By Julie Hirschfeld Davis
Sun National Staff

December 11, 2002

WASHINGTON - Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a Baltimore Democrat, was chosen yesterday to lead the Congressional Black Caucus and immediately criticized Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott for hailing the 1948 presidential bid of retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond.

Thurmond, a South Carolina Republican, ran for president on a "Dixiecrat" ticket that opposed "social intermingling of the races." Cummings called Lott's remarks, made at a 100th birthday party for Thurmond, "extremely upsetting" and vowed that "action will be taken" by the caucus.

In a lighthearted speech at last week's bash, Lott said his home state of Mississippi - one of four states Thurmond carried in his anti-integration "Dixiecrat" bid for the presidency - was proud to have backed Thurmond.

"If the rest of the country had followed our lead," Lott added, "we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years."

On Friday, Lott explained that he had meant only "to pay tribute to a remarkable man who led a remarkable life." On Monday, he apologized, saying: "A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embrace the discarded policies of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth."

But black leaders and top congressional Democrats said Lott's words were not enough, and many called on him yesterday to take further action.

"It sends a chilling message to all people," said Cummings, who will become one of the leading political voices for African-Americans when he assumes the chairmanship next month. "Those are the kinds of words that tear this nation apart."

Cummings would not speculate on what action the Black Caucus might take. The possibilities include introducing a resolution condemning Lott's statement, an official call for a censure of Lott or a call for his resignation.

Kweisi Mfume, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a predecessor of Cummings in both his congressional seat and at the helm of the Black Caucus, called on Lott to quit his leadership post.

"Senator Lott's statement is the kind of callous, calculated, hateful bigotry that has no place in the halls of the Congress," Mfume said in a statement.

Senior Democrats also criticized Lott's comments, with varying degrees of vitriol.

"He can apologize all he wants," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the new House Democratic leader. "It doesn't remove the sentiment that escaped his mouth on that day at that party."

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota had said Monday that he accepted Lott's explanation that his comments had been misconstrued. Yesterday, Daschle issued a more pointed statement, saying Lott's "words were offensive to those who believe in freedom and equality in America."

Cummings, 51, a liberal who has spent his three terms in Congress in a low-key role, will lead a caucus weakened by Democratic election losses. As the majority in both chambers, Republicans will be able to thwart many initiatives important to African-Americans.

The son of South Carolina sharecroppers, Cummings rose quickly through the ranks of the Maryland House of Delegates during the 1980s and 1990s.

He will be the third Marylander to lead the Congressional Black Caucus. Former Rep. Parren J. Mitchell was chairman in 1977-1978, and Mfume held the post in 1993-1994.