MARGINALIZING A BLACK MAN -
IT'S THE VISION THING

Congressman J. C. Watts was a star quarterback at the University of Oklahoma. He also played in the Canadian Football League. Watts, who is black, was first elected to Congress in 1994 as part of a conservative majority that gave the Republicans control of the House for the first time in forty years. He stood out among his fellow Republican freshmen Congressmen because of his football background, his race, and his conservatism. In late 1998, he was elected chairman of the House Republican Conference, which was the number-four leadership post on Congress.

This leadership post made him visible, but the job did not give him clear responsibilities. Watts attempted to help create a new Republican message, but he got nowhere. He was blocked from doing so largely by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois).

Then the Republicans dealt him three body blows in recent days. First, Dick Armey's (R-Texas) announcement of his retirement should have opened the door for his replacement as Majority Leader by Watts. Watts considered running to succeed him, but backed down when the Republicans got behind House Majority Whip Tom Delay (R-Texas), a man whom Watts had feuded with over party strategy. Watts wanted to open the GOP to minority conservatives. Delay disagreed. Delay won, and will be the new Majority Leader - if the Republicans continue to hold the majority - which Watts gave them by his election in 1994.

Second, Watts was passed over for Armey as head of a new committee to shepherd the President's Homeland Security Department through the House.

Third, and probably the most disappointing to Watts, was President Bush's proposal to eliminate the Crusader artillery system. This was a blow to Watts' district, where the system was to have been assembled. It cost Watts' district a lot of jobs. The Los Angeles Times reports:

Bush's decision to cancel the Crusader infuriated Watts, not just because it hurt his district, but because the Administration had not consulted with him or given him advance warning of the decision. "I don't think they handled the Crusader properly," Watts said. "I thought it was unprofessional" (Los Angeles Times, July 2, 2002, p. A-9).

So the Republicans have lost J. C. Watts, son of a preacher, an outstanding Christian, and a political conservative. As the only black Republican in the House, he could have done a great deal to draw at least a percentage of conservative-leaning African-Americans into the Republican Party. But those in the GOP leadership did not have the vision to give this fine man the opportunity to lead which he deserved. "It's time to return home," J. C. Watts said yesterday.

I hope the Republicans don't lose the House over their short-sighted failure to back him up - but they may.

When will the "Country Club" Republicans wake up to the fact that they need blacks and Hispanics in their party? It doesn't look like they will any time soon.

J. C. Watts' election turned the House over to the Republican Party for the first time in forty years. They rewarded him with three heavy body blows. The Bible says:

"Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house" (Proverbs 17:13).

I hope that verse doesn't come back to haunt the Republicans for their treatment of Watts - but I'm afraid it will. If the GOP loses the House by a vote in November - which could well happen - it will be the result of wealthy Republicans not appreciating the contributions of a black man from a lower social background. As Bush Senior said, "It's the vision thing." It looks to me like the Republicans don't have any.

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