President Obama and the Congressional Black Caucas: What Happened?

I am very concerned about this relationship. It appears to me that the CBC has been very quiet almost non existent on major issues. It is unfortunate that the President had to make deals with the Republicans, because the Democrats were sitting on the sideline looking.  They are responsible for this mess we are in as well.  In my opinion, the CBC has stood behind the President instead of next to the President. Let's figure this out and quickly!!!

If President Barack Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus defined their relationship on Facebook, there’s little doubt what the status would be: It’s complicated.

This week, Obama will meet privately with the caucus at the White House in the latest attempt to define a sometimes strained relationship between Congress’s most recognizable legislative coalition and its highest-profile former member. The session with Obama comes just days after a closed-door, clear-the-air meeting last Thursday between the caucus and White House chief of staff Bill Daley.

Neither side would outline the agenda for the upcoming meeting, tentatively scheduled for late this week.

The membership has long complained that, in addressing the sluggish economy, Obama has neglected chronic problems in the African-American community — including an unemployment rate that’s nearly twice the national average. The caucus has also criticized the president for negotiating away funding for key social programs during the last budget fight — most notably, canceling federal funding for abortions in Washington.

But the White House insists Obama hasn’t forgotten black voters, who still give him approval ratings above 80 percent. Aides also note that despite three overseas military conflicts and bare-knuckle budget fights with Republicans — not to mention the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound and the launch of Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign — the president is making sure the lines of communication with the CBC are open.

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