I’ve been listening to all voices in the debate over who should be Minority Whip, Steny Hoyer or Jim Clyburn. You’d be surprised how many progressives, including progressives who have run unsuccessfully for office, have only good things to say about Hoyer. He’s energetic, he raises lots of money, he travels like crazy, and he helps candidates gain credibility with both donors and local media. When it comes to getting people elected, Hoyer doesn’t appear to be ideological at all. And no one has earned more good will. Yet, it strikes me that while these may be admirable qualities they aren’t necessarily qualities that make for the most effective whip. They sound more like the qualities you’d like to see from a DCCC chairman.
The elephant in the room is not ideology, but race. No one can deny that the Democrats have a problem with white voters. Making the face of the party more black is a concern for people who are worried about regaining the support of whites for the 2012 elections. I understand this kind of thinking, but I don’t think the Minority Whip has all that much face-time, and I don’t think the best way to deal with a perception problem is to deny Clyburn a job that he’s earned. Clyburn served as the Majority Whip in the most effective Congress in forty years, and I don’t think he cost us any votes last Tuesday.
I think we need to confront the issue of race head-on. Race is not a reason to prefer Hoyer over Clyburn. When it comes to ideology, Clyburn isn’t the most progressive progressive. He does represent South Carolina, after all. When it comes to issues like Social Security, I don’t think there is a whole lot of difference between Clyburn and Hoyer. So, I think the ideological distinction is a bit overblown.
It may be unfortunate, but Hoyer is a valuable team player for the Democratic Party. I don’t think his talents should be discarded or disrespected. But I do think the party will more effective as a minority with a more cohesive leadership team. I think Clyburn and Pelosi will be a more cohesive team. Hoyer can help us win back control of Congress without being in the number two position.
