White congressman shut out of Black Caucus

The policy of the Congressional Black Caucus to restrict its membership based on race for members of that body to decide, according to a spokesman for the White House.

WND previously has raised the issue of U.S. Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., and his request to be allowed to join the caucas, despite his race.

Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, brought up the issue again today.

"Would it be accurate to say that the president strongly opposes racial segregation anywhere in the U.S. government?" he asked.

"Yes," said Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto.

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Kinsolving asked then asked: "California's Democratic Congressman Pete Stark risked his life on behalf of civil rights in Mississippi in the 1960s, and because his Oakland district has a large number of blacks, he applied to join the Congressional Black Caucus, but he was turned down because of his skin shade. And my question: Does the president know of any change in this Black Caucus segregation, and if not, does he believe there should be?"

"I would say that the executive respects the right of the legislature to make rules on their own organizational practices," Fratto said.

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