Practice Pointer: Dont get cute with Congress
4 Comments Published by Augur on Friday, March 7 at 5:22 PM.
Al Kamen of the Washington Post wrote a delightful piece called "The Face of DHS Looks a Little Pale." Take a look for a great example of Congressional showmanship, and a good laugh. Here's a brief recap:
Homeland Security Secretary Cherthoff attended a House hearing questioning his Department's diversity practices. Who did he bring with him to this hearing? Ten aides, all of whom were white males.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) took notice, and asked all of Chertoff's aides to stand up. Watt says to Cherthoff: "You brought 10 staff people with you...all white males. . . . But I hope you've got more diversity in your staff than is reflected here. Please reassure me that is the case." Cherthoff responds: "I think that is definitely the case." So far, not good, but not completely humiliating.
Watt was about to move on when Cherthoff chimes in, "I wouldn't assume that the ethnic background of everybody behind me is self-evident." Watt responds: "I wouldn't assume the ethnic background of everybody behind you is self-evident, but I think I know an African American when I see one. . . . If anyone wants to stand up and volunteer and tell me they are an African American, I hope they will do that right now." Of course, no one stood.
At this point people started laughing. Watt kept pouring it on: "If anybody is a female that's sitting back there and wants to stand up and volunteer to tell me that . . . I hope they will do that right now. And I want the record to show clearly that nobody stood up to volunteer in either one of those categories."
To round out the pwnage, Watt chided Cherthoff: "So if you want to make that point and be cute about it . . . let me be explicit about it. . . . If we are going to do law enforcement in this country . . . we need to understand that there is an element of diversity in our country that is not represented here."
Taking ten white guys to a hearing on diversity -- he deserves it.
Homeland Security Secretary Cherthoff attended a House hearing questioning his Department's diversity practices. Who did he bring with him to this hearing? Ten aides, all of whom were white males.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) took notice, and asked all of Chertoff's aides to stand up. Watt says to Cherthoff: "You brought 10 staff people with you...all white males. . . . But I hope you've got more diversity in your staff than is reflected here. Please reassure me that is the case." Cherthoff responds: "I think that is definitely the case." So far, not good, but not completely humiliating.
Watt was about to move on when Cherthoff chimes in, "I wouldn't assume that the ethnic background of everybody behind me is self-evident." Watt responds: "I wouldn't assume the ethnic background of everybody behind you is self-evident, but I think I know an African American when I see one. . . . If anyone wants to stand up and volunteer and tell me they are an African American, I hope they will do that right now." Of course, no one stood.
At this point people started laughing. Watt kept pouring it on: "If anybody is a female that's sitting back there and wants to stand up and volunteer to tell me that . . . I hope they will do that right now. And I want the record to show clearly that nobody stood up to volunteer in either one of those categories."
To round out the pwnage, Watt chided Cherthoff: "So if you want to make that point and be cute about it . . . let me be explicit about it. . . . If we are going to do law enforcement in this country . . . we need to understand that there is an element of diversity in our country that is not represented here."
Taking ten white guys to a hearing on diversity -- he deserves it.
Labels: Augur, dirty republicans, funny, practice pointer, showmanship
This made me smile. Thanks for posting it.
Wait, wait. Congress hauled in Chertoff because of concerns about minorities in his department and he brought along 10 white, male staffers? Hahahahah!
He always seemed a bit slow.
Seems interesting that the liberals are suggesting Cherthoff had brought along some token minorities simply to look diverse.
obviously i forgot to bring along the word 'should' in that above post